I identify with people affected by the USA's EO for extreme vetting dated January 27th to a small extent.
Going through Canada customs yesterday afternoon, I was the only person getting off the almost-full plane held over by Canadian customs. I was told to collect all my bags and take it to the end of the hallway. I was not given a reason. I asked and was told to go where I was told. I stood there a few minutes and saw two customs officers talking in a big room so went in. I was told to go back where I was suppose to be. I obeyed.
In a few minutes, I was waved in. The security man x-rayed my bags. He wanted my passport and flight ticket and customs paper. I asked if he wanted to see both passports and he just wanted my Canadian.
He put my suitcases on a table, put on nitrile gloves, unzipped the bags and took about everything out of my suitcase as he disarranged everything else as he pawed through my stuff. He asked how much alcohol I brought back. I said one 750ml bottle to donate to my church for the spring auction and told him which bag it was in.
He had me un-nest my singing bowls and trying to be helpful and friendly, I offered to play them. He asked me to and we discussed vibrational healing for a couple minutes. His boss had done yoga for years and she heard the bowl and was curious. She came in, asked a couple quick questions and left.
Then he told me to repack my bags. He said he had to stay there until I left. I smashed all my clothes in, now wrinkled and disorganized. As I stuck it back in, I asked why me and he said he didn't know.
I realize I'll never get those 40 humiliating minutes back where all my underwear were spread on a table, well checked for bombs and flammables (Grandma is not that hot, nor are her underwear). But as I left, I said with honesty and sincerity:
"Thank you for keeping my country safe."
Even had it taken longer or overnight, I would have felt the same way. I'm grateful I live in two countries that make efforts and laws to keep their citizens safe.
I'm grateful for my faith that kept me peaceful and in the now without worrying what would happen next or why I was detained.
