We are going to the dental clinic's history now that I have described the Marlborough ghetto to you. There was this Japanese-Canadian doctor when I first started going there: Dr. Higashi, if I remember correctly. He was very respected by the staff who at the time consisted of all or mostly Canadian young women and as far as I remember all pretty. He was not only respected because he was a dentist. He was tall, handsome and well-dressed and it comes from a heterosexual person. Imagine how those girls thought about him! Once I asked if he was Japanese and one of the girls said: His English is better than mine!
I was told later that he had moved to New York City to pursue his career and education, I think, when one day I went there and he was not there. I also remember most of the hygienists and assistants were all beautiful Canadian girls. I was there once on a Fri. afternoon and I realized that one of the girls seemed a little bit impatient. I told her that I understood it was Fri. night and everyone wanted to join their boyfriends! She said that was true and she really wanted to see her boyfriend! It's not that because I'm a loser myself and don't understand the need of a good partner in life but Canadians and I guess generally Westerners do not consider the single life as part of their lives!
There are still a few Canadian girls in the clinic and they're all pretty but the front staff has been changed mostly to either Indian or Filipino girls. I started seeing Dr. Popp after Dr. Higashi took off and my experiences has been generally good but I heard many years ago that he overcharges and doesn't talk nicely and that came from a Canadian woman! What do I care? I'm just an expat! I don't have many choices. I would be treated almost the same or worse if I switched, I believe. The only time that I did not use Dr. Popp's services was when I was in British Columbia. In Squamish there was a dentist and in South Surrey-White Rock there was a very nice Vietnamese dentist. I remember he even called me after a procedure to see how I was. What a gentleman. When I moved back to Alberta, I went directly to Dr. Popp and I've been seeing him since. Would I change to another dentists? Maybe. I'm not sure. He's fine and I don't have any issues visiting the ghetto from time to time. Dental procedures are not something pleasant that you think about who does it. You just want to get over it! Is Marlborough Dental more expensive than other dental clinics? I don't know. I don't care about the cost at this time of my life, much. My insurance covers part of it and that's all I need. Can you shop around to see what clinic has a more affordable service?! I think not but there's something that I can recommend to people who might find that clinic or generally dental services expensive: You don't have to drink every day or smoke Marijuana 3 days a week or eat out every single night or do shopping for new cloths every week but you need to have good teeth. So cut other costs and do your dental. All those clothes, wines, shows, etc. are these and newer are coming every year. You will get your hands on them.
(Photo: Lots of violence, drug using and homelessness is seen in the neighbourhood. This poor man was sitting at a corner next to the rear entrance to the so-called mall)