Having crossed more international borders in my lifetime than 99% of you, I
will tell you a couple simple sets of rules. I have never had an issue
except with the Israelis, and everyone has an issue with them.

1.) Don't lie.
2.) Don't volunteer anything.
3.) No jokes, no humor, no being friendly, no personal contact point, no
nothing. They are doing a job and so are you.
4.) If you are transporting through a country such as Canada, have a
reservation or a point of contact in the destination place that you can
refer them to. They want to know you are entering, then leaving their
country, with nothing left behind.
5.) Be polite and do whatever they ask you to. You don't have a leg to stand
on.
6.) When in doubt, shut yer mouth.

And yes, I have done 25 trips to Japan, 2 trips to Israel, 2 trips to Korea,
lived in Germany for two years with a ton of travel to all other local
European countries (before there was a EU), six trips to Germany in the last
three years, including 4 this year, two trips to London, any number of trips
to Canada and Mexico, and finally one trip to Iceland.

Be cool, all they want to do is their job.

tim in san jose

On Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 3:34 AM, Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@gmail.com>wrote:

> dear laughing at the border
>
> bernie that is simply too funny
> and speaks clearly to what an emotional experience crossing the border can
> be
> searching for words ... words that should come naturally ... as if one has
> to think to speak ...
> one last word from me on crossing ...
> if you approach with your sunglasses over your eyes ...
> remove them and fold them up .. look the officer in the eye as you speak to
> them ...
> yours
>
> On Sun, Sep 13, 2009 at 9:10 AM, Bernie <berniej@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>