I have been vacationing in Canada almost every year of my life. Usually, crossing the border, especially into Canada, is quite easy. The border guards want to know where you are from, where you are going, and for how long. Sometimes it isn't so easy and you are asked to pull over and they inspect your car, but this is usually on the way back into the US. This time was a new experience for me. We pulled up to the gate and handed over our passports.
Guard: Citizenship?
Michael: US
Guard: What is your license plate number?
Micheal: I don't really remember, I just got new tags.
So the guard gets out of his little box and checks.
Guard: Where are you headed?
Michael: Muskoka lake country.
Guard: Why there?
Michael: Her family has some property up there. We're going there for a vacation.
Guard: What is the purpose of the visit?
Michael: Vacation.
Guard: How long is your trip?
Michael: About a week.
Guard: Have you ever been arrested?
Michael: No. ( I shook my head in reply.)
Guard: What is your occupation?
Michael: We're graduate students.
Guard: What are you studying?
Michael: Mechanical Engineering.
Guard: Do you have anything to declare?
Michael: No.
Guard: What's in the car?
Me: Clothes, bedding, telescope.
At this point he hands us our passports and tells us we can go. I have never been questioned quite so thoroughly and had to resist the urge not to be a smart ass. Here is the way I was answering the questions in my head.
Guard: What is the purpose of your visit?
Me: To escape the rioting due to our credit downgrade.
Guard: What is your occupation?
Me: Well I am a graduate student, but to pay the bills I train terrorists.
Guard: What is in the car?
Me: 6 pairs of socks and underwear, a couple of shorts, shirts, and about a kilo of coke. Primo stuff.
Of course all of these answers would probably have gotten me pulled over and stripped search so I held it in. Now I am very curious to see what the US border agents are asking when I try to go home.
Guard: Citizenship?
Michael: US
Guard: What is your license plate number?
Micheal: I don't really remember, I just got new tags.
So the guard gets out of his little box and checks.
Guard: Where are you headed?
Michael: Muskoka lake country.
Guard: Why there?
Michael: Her family has some property up there. We're going there for a vacation.
Guard: What is the purpose of the visit?
Michael: Vacation.
Guard: How long is your trip?
Michael: About a week.
Guard: Have you ever been arrested?
Michael: No. ( I shook my head in reply.)
Guard: What is your occupation?
Michael: We're graduate students.
Guard: What are you studying?
Michael: Mechanical Engineering.
Guard: Do you have anything to declare?
Michael: No.
Guard: What's in the car?
Me: Clothes, bedding, telescope.
At this point he hands us our passports and tells us we can go. I have never been questioned quite so thoroughly and had to resist the urge not to be a smart ass. Here is the way I was answering the questions in my head.
Guard: What is the purpose of your visit?
Me: To escape the rioting due to our credit downgrade.
Guard: What is your occupation?
Me: Well I am a graduate student, but to pay the bills I train terrorists.
Guard: What is in the car?
Me: 6 pairs of socks and underwear, a couple of shorts, shirts, and about a kilo of coke. Primo stuff.
Of course all of these answers would probably have gotten me pulled over and stripped search so I held it in. Now I am very curious to see what the US border agents are asking when I try to go home.
