DRAMA!

When I was younger I used to anxiously count down the minutes, the seconds, the hours till I departed on a big adventure. As I get older I’ve become a bit more subdued. Luckily the moment I hit that airport curbing my subdued nature soon melts away turning into excitement as if I am an athlete ready step up big game!

I went into the day thinking this would be an easy day. After all I was just flying about an hour from Seattle to Vancouver, Canada. But instead of being an easy no drama type of day it turned into one with unexpected twists and turns that reminds me that you must be ready for anything to happen!!

The drama began early when I showed the Air Canada agent my documents to have my boarding pass stamped for approval in order to board the aircraft. He asked me the reason for my visiting Vancouver and I stated I was laying over for the night on my way to Shanghai. Instead of handing my passport right back to me he flipped through my colorful passport with its many stamps and asked where my Chinese visa was. I stated it was possible to apply for a 144 hour visa once I arrived in Shanghai. After some back and forth about the rules he finally gave up and just gave me my passport back saying I’d have to talk to Air Canada once I arrived in Vancouver. It reminded me of how much more information I know usually than these people who are paid to know this stuff for a living. Oh well….whatever! I was worried that somehow I would not be able to board the flight the next day due to this visa confusion. Luckily once I reached Canada I eventually spoke with an agent who confirmed that I could apply once I reached Shanghai.

This should’ve been my only drama, but unfortunately the travel gods had other plans! Once I touched down I approached the NEXUS (a trusted travel program for travelers in both Canada and the US) kiosk where I inserted my NEXUS card. The voice prompt told me to look into the mirror camera for an iris scan. This should not have been a problem since I had already had my irises scanned when I applied to be a member of this program. After several failed attempts, I finally got my eyes to line up correctly and it seemed I was on my way. WRONG!

Within seconds the screen flashed red and said I was “not a member” of the program. This despite I’d just used my NEXUS card three weeks ago to go walking up in Canada with my pooch, Sashi. I was a bit freaked but knew it was probably a glitch, so I went to the customs officer who told me to fill out a custom’s form. No problem I thought, scribble in my info, hand him my form, answer a question or two from the officer and I’d be on my way to the beautiful hotel inside the airport that I had booked overnight. The officer looked at my form asked me a few questions and scribbled all types of crap code in red sharpie ink. I thought this a bit odd, but quickly blew it off as my overzealous paranoia taking over.

As I walked toward the custom’s officers who took your forms I could see the exit and was relieved the drama was just about over. I handed my form to the officer and just as I was ready to walk out the door, the officer told me I needed to take a right turn into an examination room!!!

I was shocked! I was unable to understand just what the hell I did to prompt such a draconian measure. Once I got inside there were several people waiting in line, mainly Asians. After a spat with an Asian woman over whether I took her place in line or not, I eventually stepped up to the officer to have my bag examined. After barely getting my bag totally packed correctly, I shuttered at the sight of the officer putting on his latex gloves and readying to undo my perfect pack!

He rummaged through my bag looking over everything thoroughly and pressing me with all sorts of personal questions as if I had somehow snuck across the border illegally. I answered all his questions calmly, knowing anything else would likely lead to even more serious consequences. He finished with my bag and took my passport and NEXUS card with him to some back room to look it over. As I waited there for ten minutes all types of crazy thoughts starting racing through my mind. I was simply perplexed to what I did wrong. After all this is Canada, not North Korea! He eventually returned and by his body language it did not look good.

He called me over and walked over with dread expecting at least another round of unnecessary drama. He told me somehow there must’ve been a glitch and that I am still a member of NEXUS and that I was good to go. He then pointed toward the exit and off I went shook up but still standing! It taught me a lesson and that is to be ready for anything, especially when traveling.

Tomorrow I fly nearly 12 hours to Shanghai where I stay several nights. After that I fly to Seoul where I layover at Incheon Airport for the night and continue up to The Far Eastern Russian city of Vladivostok.