Reflecting on US Customs
US customs really scared me. I was really scared. I saw overhead the directions to the inquisition room. There was a webcam at each one with a fingerprint scanner. A big crest that says "US Department of Justice".
The chinese travel agency who booked my ticket with a stopover in Chicago and said it was a bit more convenient with me being Canadian. When they book tickets for chinese citizens, they don't book trips through the US because the US won't accept them - or something. Don't even want them touching US soil. I thought I was lucky having a Chinese customs officer - and I was actually looking forward to telling her my interest to go to Hong Kong. She was ruthless. She shot out questions looking for something, anything to pin down on me. I knew it. She asked about my degree, destination, my aunt. I started to doubt myself. I wanted to belt out "Okay, you got me!" but I kept my cool. She asked my destination. "Hong Kong". She asked how much American dollars I was bringing to my stopover in Chicago. I said $40. Dammit! It was really only $30! They got something. They're going to send to Scotland to rejoin my grandmother's family! Keep cool. After a few more questions she casually asked again "Where did you say you're going?" I forgot! I looked around - "Hong Kong!" Phewf. She let me go. She told me to "Keep out of trouble." Walking away I gathered my dignity, and recollected how sharp that woman was. Trying to get me by asking where I was going a second time. I wonder what questions get asked to notable dissidents - Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore or Howard Zinn.
The chinese travel agency who booked my ticket with a stopover in Chicago and said it was a bit more convenient with me being Canadian. When they book tickets for chinese citizens, they don't book trips through the US because the US won't accept them - or something. Don't even want them touching US soil. I thought I was lucky having a Chinese customs officer - and I was actually looking forward to telling her my interest to go to Hong Kong. She was ruthless. She shot out questions looking for something, anything to pin down on me. I knew it. She asked about my degree, destination, my aunt. I started to doubt myself. I wanted to belt out "Okay, you got me!" but I kept my cool. She asked my destination. "Hong Kong". She asked how much American dollars I was bringing to my stopover in Chicago. I said $40. Dammit! It was really only $30! They got something. They're going to send to Scotland to rejoin my grandmother's family! Keep cool. After a few more questions she casually asked again "Where did you say you're going?" I forgot! I looked around - "Hong Kong!" Phewf. She let me go. She told me to "Keep out of trouble." Walking away I gathered my dignity, and recollected how sharp that woman was. Trying to get me by asking where I was going a second time. I wonder what questions get asked to notable dissidents - Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore or Howard Zinn.
posted by Canadian "Civil" Servant at 23:08
3 Comments:
Where is ur experience in hk or quebec???
> I wonder what questions get asked to notable dissidents - Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore or Howard Zinn.
I wonder what questions get asked to not-so-notable young, male arabs.
-rc
TO Cousins:
This was at the Customs at the Montreal airport.
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