I know that this TV series which was aired on National Geographic had a lot of fans – myself included. Unfortunately the series has been pulled because of some rights violations so now we will no longer be able to sit in our lounges and pass judgment on people who are “pulled over” going through customs and immigration.
You know how it goes “There you go… I knew she looked edgy” …. Or “You see – I knew he was lying” … yep – my kids hate watching TV with me and having to put up with a running commentary. (Below follows a message from my kids).
Being in the travel industry it is just so interesting to see behind the scenes at Canada’s major airports and how people are questioned. It also has made me quite neurotic about filling in the proper information on my customs form when I return to Canada.
I keep a note of all purchases and also keep the receipts and even if I have bought an item of clothing which I have already worn I still declare it. Really I am not a huge shopper so I never exceed the limit but it has certainly made me more conscious of what I buy. So on my flight home I sit down with a piece of paper and make a note of all my purchases in Euros or whatever currency I spent and then convert out to Canadian so I have a total of what I have spent. I keep this note handy so if the customs officer asks me what I spent the money on or what I bought then I give him my list.
So why do I still feel guilty?
Maybe it is something to do with having watched the TV series. Standing in a line up after a long international flight it is a bit daunting when you are finally at that painted line on the floor waiting for the next officer. And all I have are some t-shirts and the odd dress and some chocolates or candy for the girls in the office.
So why do I still feel guilty?
I can’t imagine how someone would feel who was actually smuggling something in that they shouldn’t. Remember that scene in Midnight Express – oh my goodness – I would be shaking like a leaf.
Apart from the usual suspects (drugs and alcohol), people have tried to smuggle in the weirdest things – like lizards! Yes, 6 baby lizards to be exact, smuggled into Canada by some guy in the pocket of his hoodie. Yep – he was caught and fined $6000. A lot of the confiscated goods at customs are food items (and we always see that on Border Security). I can’t quite see myself smuggling in chicken wings or fish cakes or even a human skull (yes someone was caught with one of these in her bag).
So I will keep making my lists on the flight and declare everything I buy and try not to look too shifty when I pass through customs – and try not to feel guilty.
