Yesterday I was flying back to Toronto from Panama, and had to go through Miami. Due to my fantastic luck, I keep getting chosen at ‘random’ for extra security. This time they went all out, detaining me for almost 4 hours, which led to a lost flight, which led to me having to get to Fort Lauderdale so I could get home that night.
But I digress.
While being grilled about my nomadic nature, the customs officer said I did not seem very loyal to any place. Careful to keep the tone as civil as possible, I did snap back that Canada was and always will be my home. It was where I got my start, and no matter where I go or what happens, I will love Canada simply for the opportunity I got.
It was while reading Fred Wilson’s post on immigration that I realized the reason I got so angry – loyalty. I was so loyal to Canada as it was where I got my start. Looking back, I see that all of my most loyal people were the ones that I gave the opportunity to properly grow and flourish. It is something more than money – it is actual personal growth.
Not an easy thing to foster, but oh so important.
2 Responses to Loyalty
branden
March 15th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
frustration i am sure. you know…i travel almost constantly throughout the year. of all the borders i cross, i find the canadian ones to be the stiffest.
i pay my taxes and am, like you, proudly canadian. so why is it that we’re made to feel like criminals each time we return home? if you don’t conform to a conventional lifestyle with a 9 to 5 job and a 2-week all-inclusive vacation you are somehow a black sheep.
Frank Michlick
March 23rd, 2011 at 10:43 am
@Branden: I think Sol was talking about what happened to him while passing through US immigration during a transfer from another country back to Canada, not what happened to him when entering Canada.
I personally found Canadian immigration staff almost as lax as some European customs/immigrations officers. They also never quite seem to know what to ask either. But maybe this is because I am just a Canadian resident, not a Canadian