Re: Defending Canada!

[P3D George Gioumousis <georggms@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Mary Ann Sell wrote
> 
> You don't have to defend Canada...I'm all in favor of a Canadian convention
> but can't defend the U.S. Customs agents who will ransack cars re-entering
> U.S. boarders.
> They have a tendency to feel that, even if the stuff was made, bought and
> brought from the U.S. into Canada, it should not be allowed back in without
> the driver paying a duty or worse!!!!  
> 
When I went to a temporary teaching job in 1996 in Vancouver, I knew I
should register my camera and a very expensive Irish wool sweater with
US customs. Problem was that I could not find them in the airport, and
I chose not to miss my plane.

The people on the Canadian side were exceedingly polite; I suppose 
the letter the University of British Columbia had sent them convinced
them them that I should be treated as an honored guest. On the other
hand, one of the graduate students insisted that Canada had the best
Civil Service in the world. My one experience, a visit to the Canadian
equivalent of the IRS, amply confirmed this.

Coming back, the customs agent spotted the sweater and the camera right
away. I did convince him that the camera looked worn but he was adamant
on the sweater, so I didn't bother to tell him about the expensive 
Canadian-made raincoat I was wearing. 

[I promise not to say anything more about the 2001 convention till
either I or someone else talks to US Customs and the Canadian
consul, unless, of course, something new sets me off.]

[Really.]
-- 
George Gioumousis           /---\        |       /---\ 
                             o o         |       o o  
georggms@xxxxxxxxxx           |          |         |   
(415) 494-6276              \===/        |       \===/ 


------------------------------