Visiting the border...

 Most people would word it:

     "crossing the border"

     "going through customs"

     "getting passports checked"

I call it a visit. Because indeed it was a visit...lasting longer then a few moments! Like perhaps 30-45 minutes. I also should preface this with the fact that I don't travel a lot, even within the United States, and I had to get my first passport ever to travel to Canada. So, I was already outside of my comfort zone, but was so excited about this trip to the American Counseling Association conference in Toronto with my sweet friend, Chris, along for the ride.  We were chatting away, filled with excitement, when it became our turn in line to check our passports. 

The lady in the booth asked the expected questions of where were we headed, why we were coming, how long would we be staying, if we had traveled to Canada before, how long we'd known each other. As we think that we are ready to be sent on our way...She folded up our passports and ID's and put them under the windshield wiper. She told us that she was flagging us for inspection and told us where to go to park our car. We were shocked and even laughed a little bit as I drove the car over and we wondered why on earth we were selected. As I pulled into the parking area, 3 border patrol people (is that what they are even called???), quickly approached and surrounded the car. The woman told us to turn off the car, leave the keys in the ignition, step out of the vehicle taking nothing outside of the car except ourselves. We were told to stand between the front headlights and were informed that the entire car and all of it's contents would be searched. And indeed the two men did Search. It. All.  Every nook and cranny of the vehicle, including shaking each door really hard, and every bag was searched with no compartment or pocket left unchecked and even questioned our bottles of medicines that we brought.  The woman stayed "guarding" us at the front of the car, asking all of the same questions that we were asked at the booth. When they finished searching the car, we were told we could get our purses and phones out of the car and then we needed to move to the office area where they would further question us and do a background check. 

As we walked the short distance to the building, we couldn't help but giggle. I mean...if you know the two of us, we are definitely not a threat to ANYONE...We entered the facility and you can picture "To Catch a Smuggler" type set up...no one smiled and it was all business. Our "interrogator" asked us to step down to her area and we went through all of the questions again. She told us to have a seat while she did a background check on us. As we took a seat we were trying to hold it together and take it all in. Another two ladies were there because the one forgot her passport and jokingly told us they felt like they were on "To Catch a Smuggler", which made us giggle, yet at this point I'm feeling a little nervous. And we were afraid to breathe wrong, let alone do or say something that would make it look like we weren't taking it seriously.

I honestly thought they were questioning why Chris was coming along to this conference...I mean...I had a significant reason to be in the country.  But...quickly I realized that I was indeed the target of this questioning!  I was called back up to the counter where the lady DRILLED me with questions. (Chris wanted to take a picture of me standing at the counter, but couldn't figure out a way to do it without being obvious) I can't even remember them all, but some were:

     Who invited you to the conference? When were you invited? What are you speaking on? What is the title of the presentation and what does it entail? Show me the email that invited you to present (to which she read the entire email and further questioned details in it). What is your job? Where do you work? Who is paying for your trip? Are you being paid to speak? What are the handouts that are mentioned in the email that I must submit? Where are my handouts? How long are you staying in relation to the conference dates?

Of course as she is asking me all of these questions, I'm a nervous wreck and am stammering around which likely made me look really guilty (of something...what? I don't know!) She finally stamps the paper and tells us we are free to return outside, give the paper to the agents outside, and then we would be free to leave. WHEW!  As Chris and I busted out of the office building, we were trying not to laugh hysterically and yet I was shaky as all get out! (I'm not sure what Chris was feeling...but I was a hot mess of emotions!) The adrenaline was definitely pumping and kept pumping for the next couple of hours of the drive for me! We got in the car and as we drove away we burst out laughing and reviewing all that had happened.  Wondering why on earth they cared about me presenting on informing educators of the effects and signs of trauma in students and how we can help them.  

We discovered later that I was on such an adrenaline rush that I barely remembered driving through the town right across the border. (After this town, you don't see towns off of this road for a LONG time, so it was significant). As we drove back through on our way home I told Chris I didn't remember driving through this, and she died laughing and told me things I had said and done while driving through the town the first time. I did in fact remember those things, but not until she reminded me! 

At this point...we knew for sure we were up for an adventure! What else would Canada bring us?  Stay tuned...more blogs about the trip coming up. We crossed the border laughing and continued laughing and having fun for the next 3 days...and laughed our way back across the border to come home!!! While the whole trip was a blast and simply perfect in so many ways...it was definitely an adventure...and it all started at the border!!!