Going back into the US......

Then one weekend it was our turn to re-enter the USA.

Our youngest son, Elliot, had made arrangements to go for a three week vacation with his bestfriend back in Essex, Iowa. Before we left the US our visas had lapsed though our I-94s were still current. When we landed I could not find the I-94 so as far as the US is concerned (I think) we had not yet left the country. I was a bit worried about our re-entering the US. And, to be honest, even though we have officially landed I was still slightly uneasy about leaving and coming back. Yes I know, I am a natural over-worrier (nice new word for the English Language!) but I am not alone, I know that. Many, many new applicants/immigrants worry about the same daft things I do.

So at 5.00 am last Friday morning we set off for Iowa. We reached the border at 6.00 am and clutching our passports, we drove up to the US Immigration post. Now I have explained to you in the past about my gloriously joyful experiences with the tender, loving and caring attitude of US Imm. people at airports across the US. Whether I was traveling as tourist, on business or even with a visa that allowed me to reside in the US they were almost entirely ......ummmmm...well let"s just say that a lot of them must have had a bad day or something, but charm and politeness are not required talents for the job. With one notable exception of a really great lady in New York who agreed it was a bloody silly question (Are you carrying more than $10,000 incash - yeah right, that"s why I just flew in APEX - tourist class - ten hours beside mighty mouth or a screaming kid). But I digress...but by now you must be used to my digressions- grin! So,back to the story...are we all up to the same point? Alan, Carolyn and Elliot, all approaching US Immigration type gentleman, crack of dawn, re-entering the US.

We handed over the passports - whoops here"s another bit of a problem. Alan and I both have the " new" EEC passports (look sort of like American passports and have the photo in the back) but Elliot still has an " old" navy blue passport with two photos....one which expired after 5 years and the renewal photo on page 11, but back to story - we handed over the passports and the man says:-"You"re all landed?"

"Yes sir."

"All of you huh! (laugh!)" he was a really nice guy....I can"t believe he will last in the job! The Immigration Department will realise he is a nice guy and undoubtedly either fire him or force him to be re-educated...sorry another digression.

He glanced at the passports and looked at the landing papers stapled into them. He DID NOT ask how long we planned to be in the US. He did not stamp a thing. He did not make out I-94s. He simply said:-

"Have nice trip."

And we drove away!!

Oh yes, he did ask if we were bringing in any tobacco or liquor. Yeah, right! It costs twice as much in Canada - we"re going to import it and sell it at half price...best money making schemeI"ve ever heard of! But of course he knows that too so I imagine they do not search too many cars of suspected smugglers on the way IN to the US!

Well, we had a lovely time in Iowa. Saw lots of old friends and the corn looked good - though you wouldn"t think so to hear the farmers whine...but that is universal! We dropped Elliot off at his friend and promised to go back for him in three weeks.

Sunday we set off again for the 11 hour drive home. We bought some meat in Iowa - it is the best in the world :-) - and when we got to Pembina we went to a Duty Free shop for some booze. We bought a bottle of Scotch and a bottle of Gin...and I lingered by the perfume counter but Alan didn"t get the hint.....sigh... but perhaps it's just as well..... I did try out Elizabeth Taylor"s Black Pearls.. it"s awfully sweet and sickly .......smells a bit like talcum powder to me ...so it"s not my cup of tea...another digression...however if anyone would care to e-mail Alan and point out that other perfumes are pretty nice I would be most grateful.... back to story......

What happens is this... you go to store and pick out items. Pay for them and they give you a receipt and a " ticket". Then you drive to the border. Just at the border you stop by a line of grey trailers and they come out, take the ticket, return with your purchase and off you go. Next you line up by a booth ....like a toll booth ......and you talk with Immigration/Customs .... the conversation went like this:-

"You are both Canadian Citizens?"

"No Sir we are landed immigrants." waving tightly clutched passports and driver"s licenses.

"Where do you live?"

"Winnipeg."

"Have you been out of the country more than 48 hours?"

"Yes since Friday, 6.00 am."

"Did you buy or were you given anything in the US?"

"Yes we just bought $24 dollars worth of booze. And we bought some meat."

"You have the meat with you?"

"Yes"

"Value?"

"About $50."

"OK welcome home."

And that, dear readers, was that. He didn"t ask to see our passports or papers. Though of course he could see Alan holding them. And then we drove home.

And it felt GOOD. Really good.

And now.....

I worked for 18 months on a contract basis for a local company here in Manitoba. Very odd experience. Unlike anything I have seen or been involved with before and with any luck, ever will be again. It seems that it is quite common- at least in that company - to keep people on short term contract after short term contract with little or no word about the future. In fact twice I actually got to 5.30 on a Friday with my contract expired and wandered into my boss' office and said "So? Do I come in on Monday?". The answer was "Yes! Of course!" Until the last (third)time when it was "No, we're not picking up your contract." So there I was, very suddenly one of the great unwashed and unemployed! I would add at this point that this was a recently privatised ex-government owned company and all the little captains are politicking themselves into a tizzy trying to get to the seat in the corner office which is currently occupied by a space-cadet character straight out of a Dilbert cartoon.

Now I have my own web editing, design, maintenance business:-

I am having reasonable success and have picked up a regular full time contract - ironically I now handle the same product but for the national company rather than the local licensee. Added to that Alan and I have created, updated and managed a number of other sites. So we are both in entirely new occupations.

I am much happier working from home. Take meetings for example, ....in both our jobs we repeatedly ran up against the same thing, time and again. We think it is a Manitoban - or even a Winnipegan - thing. A meeting is set for, say,10.00 am. We arrive. And at anwhere from 10.10 to 10.30 the rest arrive....or sometimes they don't show up at all! Very odd.

We have moved into our home. I have to tell you it is really lovely. Not at all big, but just right for the three of us (Matt is still in the US studying most of the time - so that just leaves me, Alan and Elliot).

Summers here in Manitoba are glorious! It's hot, it's sunny, it's bright and it's not humid! Everythinghas suddenly burst into flower and even though we live almost in the city centre it feels like the country.

Winters too have their charm albeit a very frigid one! White Christmasses. Ice and snow. It is all very beautiful.

Overall coming here has been the best move we ever made. It's worth the worry.

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