Juarez is a People's Place
Page 1

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Hello my name is Marc, 27 years old from Rotterdam, Holland. For 2 years I have known a girl via the internet who is living in Ciudad Juarez. This winter I went to visit her and her familia in wonderful Juarez! 

It's January 22, 2004, and I am leaving from Amsterdam airport in the Netherlands to start my trip to El Paso, where my friends will be waiting for me that same evening. I have never met them in real life, but they always given me a warm and nice feeling!  What do I expect? I have never been to USA and never been to Mexico. This winter I did both!  I had never even been outside of Europe! So, I wondered how is it? Is it really bigger in USA, and what is the contrast between Mexico and USA in this borderland? 

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The meeting with my Mexican friends is excellent! I feel at home immediately and I am part of the family in a cool relaxed way... I don't speak Spanish (well, just a few words), but some of my friends here in Mexico speak both! 

Next we cross the border with Mexico. I am in another part of the world, but I don't really realize it. It's different, but it's not.

The trip from Amsterdam to El Paso is like a bus!  It's very efficient, just one stop in Atlanta and that is it! Next stop El Paso Texas!