Originally Posted by daeira

For the most part, compared to some of the other unpleasant interrogations I've had exiting or entering other countries, Canada customs doesn't seem so bad. The only time I can actually say that I was insulted by a Canada customs agent was because he called me old and insulted my work. I had just stepped off the plane, wanted to just go back home and he started to drill me. What was the purpose of my visit, who was I visiting, what did I see, did I enjoy myself, how much money I had in my wallet, where I lived, what was my profession in Canada, what discipline I was studying (I'm a student). He then looked at me with skepticism and said, "you're a little old to be a student". I responded that I was a graduate student and asked him if he had just called me old". He said, "well yes, you are old". He then requested that I summarise my research for him. I looked at him in disbelief thinking he was just trying to be amusing. He reiterated his request and I attempted to spew out a succinct but understandable version of my research, none too successfully. I was tired, I was irritated and I certainly didn't appreciate some Customs Agent giving me a hard time because he felt that my work didn't "sound too interesting".

Before I crossed to the other side, I told him that if he ever gets a girlfriend or lover, he should never ever call her or him old because he'll get dumped.

What bothers me is being called old and that in his attempt to prove that I was indeed a student, insulted the very basis of my research. More importantly what disturbed me is that at no time during that questioning did he even ask about the nature of the goods I brought back. The questions he posed didn't even seem relevant to assessing whether I should be given a secondary or whether I had duties or taxes to pay. It seems as he was on a fishing expedition to make me feel purposely lousy about myself and my profession.

Well done customs guy (with the brown hair), your idiocy is truly appreciated. I'm sure you're giving yourself pats on the back for a job well done.