In 2004, we went on a holiday to the States. The gruff border patrolman asked if we had any fresh produce. Since we are honest people, we confessed that we had an apple. He made us go and declare it. My Husband said that the people inside laughed that their patrolman had asked that he bring it in.
On the way back from our holiday, we took a drive around the little American town that the border crossing was in. We passed a run down hotel with several mean- looking motorcyclists in front of it. We quickly drove by while I complained of the border patroller's strictness with us while these suspicious characters were in his back yard.
Standing in line, to come back into Canada, I didn't know what to expect but certainly I wasn't prepared for what did happen.
As we approached the patrolman, he greeted us with a big, warm smile. As he asked questions, we found out that he used to live in my Husband's hometown and that he had just recently visited my Husband's brother!
My Husband said that even though he was friendly, he still found a lot of information out about us.
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
To read about Canada's commitment to maintaining a safe border crossing, read Connect2 Canada.
6 comments:
Oh, the border crossing stories I could tell you! :) Your account reminds me of the time a very zealous American customs officer - new on the job - was convinced I and my friends had oranges hidden in our vehicle! So at two in the morning, he made us empty all our luggage while he looked through every crevice in our car. Two-thirds of the way through, other customs officials came by to apologize for their colleagues -- ummm -- zeal? :)
WE ALL HAVE OUR BORDER CROSSING STORIES ALRIGHT.. OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE CANADIAN BREED AND SHOW OUR DOG..KEMO IS A CANADIAN CHAMPION ANYWAY MY GIRLFRIENDS MUM WAS ON HER WAY BACK FROM USA BACK HOME OVER THE BORDER THE PATROLMAN ASKED WHAT SHE HAD TO DECLARE THAT SHE MAY BE BRINGING BACK FROM USA..SHE SAID JUST MILK AND COOKIES... HE THOUGHT SHE WAS GETTING SMART WITH HIM AND SHE HAD TO GET OUT PULL OVER ETC. IS THAT NOT STUPID...ONCE WE HAD A NAZI PATROLWOMAN AND SHE AND I GOT INTO IT AND SHE JUST WANTED ME OUT OF HER FACE AND LET US GO...ONCE WHEN MY SON WAS DRIVING BRINGING THE DOG OVER TO CANADA TO GET GROOMED THE GUY ASK IS HE PLANNING ON TAKING ANYTHING OVER OR LEAVING ANYTHING THERE..HE SAID JUST ONE THING WILL BE LEFT THERE REFERING TO THE DOG GOING TO THE BATHROOM AND THE GUY JUST BUSTED UP LAUGHING. THE PLACE THAT I HAD A HARD TIME WITH WAS THE AIRPORT...I WAS A CANCER PATIENT AND BALD WITH A BASEBALL CAP ON...THE WOMAN SAYS LET ME SEE SOME I.D. I GAVE HER MY DRIVERS LICENSE AND SHE LOOKS UP ALL SERIOUS AND SAYS" THATS NOT YOU" I SAID YES IT IS ME..SHE SAID NO IT ISN'T! SO WE ARGUED AND FINALLY SHE SAID "WHY DID YOU CUT OFF ALL YOUR HAIR"? I SAID WELL I DIDN'T I HAVE BEEN DOING CHEMO FOR CANCER...OH BOY DID SHE FEEL BAD..PLUS I HAD TO TAKE THE CAP OFF AND GET WANDED IN FRONT OF EVERYONE THEY REALLY FELT KINDA BAD AS I SAID I WAS A CANCER PATIENT.. OH WELL WHATEVER..
HI CAROL TRIED TO LEAVE A COMMENT ON LAZY DAISYS BLOG HER TUES TASTE THING SPIRITUAL FOOD WAS BRILLIANT..SEE IF YOU CAN POST A COMMENT THANKS...GOD BLESS
Hi Aurora,
(Lovely name)
That is a good one. It complements my story well too. (Apples and oranges, you know.)
Sister Celtic,
Yes, this post needs to hear an American's experience, too.
That Canada link is interesting. So far as not harrassing bikers but "normal looking" people, can't judge a book and all that. The border guards know that scary looking dudes aren't always but the real criminals are at least as likely to be "wrong-doers" as the one looking like the boy-next-door.
Pearl,
Regardless, I don't think that the border patrolman would've asked those bikers to check their apple.
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