This time I flew out of SF, that was first mistake. Then I left some water in a bottle going through security. Darn! How dare I leave pure H2O in my bag! have I not heard of that new technology by which its possible to create bomb out of water? Or maybe I will threaten to drown someone in that water! So yeah, they caught me with 1 gulp of water left in my water bottle. And well, it was treated like a bomb! The (obviously does not know how to use his brains) person at security put on his gloves, ran bunch of tests on it, then took the bottle out, ran my bag through security again.
me: I planned to drink it, I forgot can we empty it now? It just water.
But even I knew its lost cause.
him: Its against the rules mam'.
me: I was planning to drink it, its just water can I drink it now.
He was looking at me thinking maybe he should arrest me. But he probably was in good (!!) mood. So did nothing.
me again: Can I have my bag back? Are you going to take the bottle away?
him: I can't do that. Its against the rules.
(well, so what is in the rules can you read that out or you have lost the ability to read also)
me: I said I am going to need my bag back, it has my passport (duh!). Can I drink the water, its very little.
So he shakes the bottle and says its more than little. I said, its ok, I can drink it right here. No mam' that is not allowed. I am getting frustrated now.
Then he finally says, you have to take everything and go out, throw the water and go through security again.
I look at the line, and time, and say are you kidding me. Ok, you can close your mouth, I did not say that, I know that's one way ticket to jail in US.
me: Its a long line, and this is just water.
him: No mam' rules are rules, there is nothing I can do. You can show your boarding pass and come back to front of like.
Well, you can use your brains maybe. So I get ready to take my bag and go out. He won't hand me my bag.
I am like, can I leave all this here since it has already gone through security?
him: No mam' you have to take everything.
me: So, then can I have my bag back (duh!).
him: No, I have to escort you.
Awesome! So I collect my other stuff in hand, he takes my bag and bottle and escorts me 2 ft out the security gate. I stand right outside there, drink the water in front of him and get back in line 2 steps away. It was just all so foolish. These people really need to at some point start using their brains. Its when you stop using brains and just go by rules that its easier to fool you. I always thought US school system at least encourages full development, including the creative side. But then they must be taking all the lower IQ people in airport security.
So I go through security again, swearing that I am never flying out of SF or into US. And then I think of all the wonderful and friendly people I met, and the price seem almost worth.
Entering Switzerland is completely different. Immigration takes literally 10 min. Though in front of me there was a American family on vacation. The poor souls so traumatized by their American experience looked quite scared at immigration. The immigration person asked them how long is their stay. The woman mumbled 2 weeks, and the man immediately corrected her loudly - 11 days, we are here for only 11 days. Immigration person also looked up, probably waiting for him to tell - 4 hrs 3 min. He smiled and said its ok. And me too thinking poor souls, they can relax now.
While in US you are greeted with warnings - don't use your cell phone, don't open your bag, just keep walking straight, don't look anyone in the eye, head down! In Switzerland you are greeted with cowbells and heidi :)
