I'm from canada and go into the states quite a bit to go shopping and for concerts and stuff. I have to go through customs, and more often than not we are greeted by well mannered customs officers. Sometimes though, they are tough guys who have something to prove. For instance, my fiance and I went to the Santana concert the other day, and the customs officer was asking us where we were going, and we said "A concert" and he said, "Who" we said, "Santana" to which he replied, "They must be losers because I have never heard of them!' Then he looked in our trunk and asked my Fiance what he did for a living. Which I didn't think mattered to homeland security, AND he didn't even bother to ask me. I'm not sure which bothered me more. haa haa Anyways, since 9/11 the security has been beefed up at all borders and the customs officers think that they have the most important job in the world, and that every mild mannered, skinny girl and her skinny mild mannered fiance are potential terrorists, so it's important to act like a jerk to make them feel inferior to the customs officers. And the worst thing is, you can't even say anything to them, or you will be laying face down on the ground with a knee in your back. Sorry, just a rant as I was thining back to those good old days when customs officers weren't AS jerky.
Heh, the officer must have been a loser for never hearing of Santana.... I wouldn't worry about those guys. Whenever you get people in authority positions there are always a few that turn into power-tripping assholes. Whenever you come across people like that just consider a chance to practice at biting your tounge. Unfortunatly, there will always be people like that in the world so you'll need all the practice you can get! I do have to say,though, that I grew up about 30-45 minutes from the Canadian border in Michigan, and crossed all the time around Port Huron and Detriot. I never came across a rude Canadian guard, but did come across an ass or two from the American side - but they were generally younger guys actining like they had something to prove. This was all before the Sep. 11th attack though, attitudes may have changed now. I hope you enjoyed the concert!
Fizzy, I'm a US citizen, and I had to deal with some very similar questions when I came back from Toronto in March. The customs agents were very interested in searching my backpack, where I worked, and whether or not I met anyone in Toronto. They challenged my photo ID, and really stretched the process out as much as possible. Until I read Fizzyliftingdrink's post, I wondered if this was all because I was on a bus. The bus was late to begin with, and almost all of us ended up missing connections in Buffalo for planes and other buses.
I have often wondered what happened to high school football players and now I know. They become customs officers.
When my boyfriend and I went to New York the customs officer was quite rude, but I wasn't all too suprised, as most of the airport secruity was. The customs officer litterally yelled at us for trying to go through together, because although we are commonlaw married, we're not 'actually' married.. so we had to go through sperately.. It wouldn't have bothered me so much if the Customs lady who was controlling the line hadn't told us we could go through together, or if he hadn't screeched at us for it. Also, he not only asked me where I worked, which is a coffee shop.. he then asked me what I do there.. What do you think I do.. I make coffee! Then he rudely asked my why I was going to my boyfriends cousins wedding with him, because I'm not related to her, I shouldn't go to her wedding? Geeze.
