I’m back in the U.S., and experiencing a rush of patriotism! This is unexpected.
Going through Customs used to be fun, back when I traveled with my family. I’d get to fill out the Important Form, while my dad would criticize my handwriting and generally give the impression that he’d talk or bribe us over the border no matter what. Now, however, I’m traveling alone, and it sure is lonely without habeas corpus.
On this particular flight back from Moscow I was entrusted with an imaging prototype from my family’s company. The device is simultaneously dangerous- and obscene-looking. I was really looking forward to trying to explain it to the authorities. My mom helpfully gave me a letter to help with the process. The letter refers to me as Anush (not my legal name) and is in English, so maybe I could have made a pretty boat out of it for Russian security, because it had virtually no other use.
So getting through Customs, security, and Baggage Control without any awkward conversations pretty much made my day, and then! The guy at passport control smiled and made small talk with me about what I was doing in Russia! It might have been a part of his job, a kind of Small Talk Terrorist Screening Protocol, but it completely made my day. Non-surly service personnel are why I love America.
I was checking out waferbaby and looking at the new user list and lo and behold…
they always make small talk about how long you were gone and what you were doing, i guess just in case you accidentally say “well, i was making bombs and getting together my group of terrorist buddies… i mean… crap”
“Hi,
This is a good post. This is the stuff I was actually looking for.
I have a question though – Frequent number of times I have got a warning as “spam” when I try bookmarking on sites like dig.com or muti.com.
I don’t have any spam pages or websites.
Any idea why do I meet with all these?
Thanks.”
Hi,
This is a good post. This is the stuff I was actually looking for.
I have a question though – Frequent number of times I have got a warning as “spam” when I try bookmarking on sites like dig.com or muti.com.
I don’t have any spam pages or websites.
Any idea why do I meet with all these?
Thanks.
Sounds like a relatively painless experience. Customs can be the worst part of any trip. Try coming into the US from Vancouver and see how much fun it is. Glad yours was pleasant.
a guy doesnt have to be screaning for terrorists to make small talk, maybe he just thought you were attractive, and was trying to flirt
Hi Anush,
It sounds like you didn’t fly into LAX. I travel internationally for pleasure at least 3 times a year. It seems like every time I get back those people become nastier and nastier. I’m not even sure if they have humans working behind the counter anymore or if they replaced people with barking machines.
Glad that you made it safe on the way back and that you haven’t run into the same troubles I have.