Thursday, June 11, 2009

Border crossing stories

Alrighty everyone...I'm going to need some participation here. Read and respond, especially if you've been before.

Crossing the border back into the US can be an intimidating event. You pull up to the gate, and there is tons of activity all around you. There are dogs, cameras, tons of armed police officers, snipers, big X-ray machines for cars, cement barriers, etc. When you get up to the big moment, the border patrol police will simply ask you one question. Only one question. It's a simple question...but ironically, it can be a hard question. If you get it right, you're fine and you walk right through. If you get it wrong, people will laugh at you (including me), and then you'll get pulled out of line to answer more questions. It never fails that someone will answer incorrectly, no matter how many times I prompt you how to answer.

The border patrol officer will simply ask, "Citizenship?"

Now, granted, it is kind of confusing...first of all, they don't really make it sound like a question, but they simply state the word. Second, you are left wondering what they mean. What they really mean is "Where is your citizenship?"

Alright, so here is the answer you need to know...the only thing you need to say in that moment is simply "The United States"...or "the US" would even work just fine. Easy, right?!?!

However, it cracks me up to hear all the different ways people answer the overly simplistic, very difficult question of "Citizenship?"

What are some wrong answers to the question of "Citizenship?"

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