Here's Why I Came Back to Mexico for 10 Days

...maybe I had ulterior motives.

I left Mexico on October 4th. On October 5th, I started my first day as a Google subcontractor on the Magi AI team. It was a huge pay cut from what I’ve made over the past few years (almost half!) as a copywriter. But it’s been a steady paycheck after months of the writing industry buckling under AI.

No regrets!

Moving back to California has also been an amazing experience. It was great to meet up with Kevin again. And for the first time in three years as a full-time RVer, there are other millennials at camp. We even have some borderline Gen Xers. In all, there are about 10 of us under 45. I have never experienced that before.

So, then, why would I make a 16-hour roundtrip to Mexico?

Almost losing my 17-year-old business wasn’t the only tragedy of this summer. After months of a mysterious illness, I was finally diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. I received my diagnosis while in Barcelona. I had only just gotten my stitches removed after the biopsies that would confirm my condition.

The doctors had also finally created a treatment plan they felt would work — after months of me being a guinea pig. They had never had a Black patient before, and they had never had a patient with dreads before. The condition affected my hair and skin, so kinky hair was a whole new adventure.

Before I left in October, they confirmed that the treatment was working and put me on a months-long plan. I promised to return in December for my follow-up, so here I am.

Why go all the way to Mexico for treatment?

A few people have asked me why I travel all the way to Mexico to see a doctor. Why not just find a doctor in America? You’re probably also wondering exactly the same thing. Here are my reasons:

• Familiarity: I lived in Mexico for two long years. That means almost two-thirds of my time as an RVer has been in this country. I am more accustomed to their medical system than the U.S. because I can actually afford care here and go often. I rarely see a doctor in the U.S.

• Cost: Healthcare in Mexico is ridiculously low-cost. That’s true for pets as well. I never have to skimp on the care I need because I can’t afford it. Paid subscribers will get more details on the low costs I have paid at dentists, labs, general practitioners, and vets.

• Quality: I’ve heard all the stories of bogus doctors in Mexico, but my experiences have been 100% good. For example, dentists in Mexico removed a tooth that dentists in Jamaica, Georgia, and Nevada all refused to touch. I have also never experienced the gaslighting and denial of pain or seriousness that many women (especially women of color) experience in the United States. I experienced that for the first time in Georgia and never want to go through that again. Healthcare is too expensive in America to take sh*t from someone I’m paying!

• Complexity: Like all autoimmune cases, mine is incredibly complex, and there is a long game of trial and error before a treatment works. There is also no telling how long it will work before a person has a medical relapse. So, I like that I can come back and see the doctor who knows my case inside out.

Now, let me explain the ulterior motive…

My master’s degree program does not allow me to sit exams via a hotspot. I originally decided I would just book an Airbnb or hotel with internet for the days I had an exam. Then, a few of my friends got Starlinks. When Jessica and Melissa got it and shared how it changed their remote work options, I had to reconsider my Support-Nothing-Elon-Makes mantra.

“Do you remember how we had no service for work at Lake Mead?” Jessica asked me. “We went back with the Starlink and had service the whole time! Good enough for video calls!”

I crunched the numbers and saw that I could buy a Starlink with the hotel costs for exams. So, I did. I activated a plan and have taken it to Mexico for testing. Why? The regional plan is supposed to work here. If it does, I have essentially solved my internet problem in Mexico.

No, it doesn’t mean I’m ditching California to move back here. But it does broaden my options. Unfortunately, my hotel is in the city, so I haven’t had open outdoor space to set up the Starlink yet. I plan to test it at my old campsite before heading back to California.

Next week, I’ll share details on healthcare costs in Mexico. I’ll also share some more juicy details about my ulterior motives. For starters, Mexico isn’t the only country I’m testing!