[Nettime-bold] intimidating customs (Re: <nettime> Chile Night)

[ReindeR Rustema <subscriptions@reinder.rustema.nl>]

At 15:25 +0100 23/11/01, Nina Czegledy wrote:
>try the bus by Buffalo to find out how unpleasant US/Canadian crossings
>can be. Over the years, I have been deeply embarrassed on several
>occasions for the unsuspecting European students, and others, who (by the
>border/customs guards and their sniffing dogs) seem to be considered petty
>criminals rather than tourists or travellers. nina

I had a similar experience once when I took the bus from Amsterdam to 
Paris. The bus is the cheapest way and therefore the passengers are 
searched for drugs possession. When I take the train or an airplane I 
have no problems.

The sniffing dog became restless when he sniffed my chair so I had to 
get off. I had to show all my luggage. They couldn't find anything. 
Then everyone with a North-African appearance had to descend also and 
open their luggage. Even an older man who had the misfortune of 
having Tunis written in his passport. He complied without any 
resistance, he was used to this routine it seems. During the whole 
trip from Bruxelles to Paris he was reading a brochure for a Peugeot 
206. It makes sense to want to buy a car, even if it's your last 
money, just to avoid these intimidations.

Customs couldn't find anything so everyone had to get out and take 
out their luggage so the dogs could sniff it. A friend took a picture 
of me on the parking lot with all the luggage out. 
http://reinder.rustema.nl/photo/eurolines.jpeg The Peugeot 206 buyer 
is the one in the grey jacket next to the black bag. They couldn't 
find anything. So we all got back on the bus and continued our trip 
to Paris with one hour delay.

I ate an apple and when I opened the ashtray to put the remains in it 
I sniffed that peculiar smell. I don't know what particular kind of 
stuff it was, but it was a little darkbrown chunk that smells a bit 
like thyme I  sometimes use in pasta sauce. Don't know exactly what 
it was, it was not the kitchen thyme I know (although/because I live 
in Amsterdam I am not interested in drugs at all). I think someone 
put it in my ashtray during the stop in Bruxelles. I was the last one 
to get back on the bus when everyone was allowed to get back in after 
the stop. I warned the driver upon arrival after I got my luggage. He 
said he always checks the ashtrays for that purpose during the stop 
in Bruxelles when everyone is outside and the doors are locked. We 
went back to my chair to see it but somebody already took it out. I 
was one of the first to get off the bus.

It was quite impressive because I haven't experienced any customs 
intimidation ever in my live (although I toured Europe by train). 
Except the barking customs official at JFK once in 1994. But after 
three questions I found his sense of humour and I could pass. It was 
the question about my work that made him smile. I forgot what I 
answered at the time, I just was glad that he was less intimidating.

Fun with people in uniforms is more interesting and difficult than 
fun with friends.

-- 
ReindeR


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