Yep, I think the bloke thought it was a lost cause - he never thought I actually ever get the KX running again. His surprise when I showed him a video of the KX running was palpable. As for parts, nobody is prepared to send them here. Reading the replies to my topic "Castor Oil Premix - Who's using it?" I totally understand the reluctance to send stuff, and the reasons are entirely valid. They're all in cahoots to rip people off, and take a perverted pleasure in buggering everything up, especially for Americans. "We're Americans too." they say - which they are. Except I point out you chose to call yourselves "The United States of Mexico" not "The United States of America."
Racism is rife here and because I speak the lingo I hear the comments as I walk past "pinche gringo" etc. etc., and sometimes I respond if they're not drunk, telling them I'm a Londoner. If I say I'm English, well, for them that's synonymous with being American. I've been beaten up and left unconscious - basically for dead, and I've lost count of the number of assaults and fights I've had. ALL of them, bar none, were sucker punches or 2 or 3 onto one. I'm now in my mid fifties and still only weigh 10 stone (140 pounds), and they're just racist bullies. Never actually been mugged, but the police have robbed me about 8 times - and I've no recourse. I live here and don't want any more trouble. Been locked up twice as well - they love to lock up a "Gringo."
A Mexican mate of mine was mugged at pistol point a month ago, and didn't even bother to report it - what's the point? My girlfriend worked in what you guys call a "drugstore" and it was robbed at pistol and knifepoint 5 times in a month. She's left now, thank God. I live in a big city and in 10 years have never seen the sea, let alone a beach.
Sandgroper, I know what you mean. Those that can talk English, speak American English here; sometimes it's only Britons, Kiwis and Aussies that understand one another, and most of the time the Mexicans can't "hear" the difference in accent, and it's taken for granted I'm a Gringo. The business over the wall has hardened people's attitudes. A lot of the time I'm openly discriminated against. Last week a bloke wanted to start an argument about the Gringos and Russians and was surprised when I said I was English. So then he switched to Scotland and England. So I said, "Look, we're neighbours and get on very well, especially being UK citizens abroad." I told him he'd watched too many historically perverted films (e.g. kilts weren't worn in the 13th century, they took off in the early 18th century). He was stumped.