As part of CoFL’s #content for the recent PNW Oppo meet in B.C I figured I would tell the story of my interaction with Border Patrol going from the US to Canada. When crossing the border, there is an officer in a booth that you have a quick interaction with before being allowed into the country. Depending on the security/threat level at the time, you might get more or fewer questions. In this instance there were just a few but it was funny considering the circumstances.
BP: Where do you live?
Me: Los Angeles, California.
BP: Where did you come from today?
Me: Seattle.
BP: Where are you going?
Me: Vancouver and then to Whistler for the weekend.
BP: When are you leaving?
Me: Sunday.
BP: Who are you meeting with?
Me: (INTERNAL PANIC) Friends.
BP: Where did you meet these friends?
Me: (MORE INTERNAL PANIC) On an internet forum. (This sounded super sketchy to me and I wondered if I was about to be strip searched and deported)
BP: Have you ever met these friends in real life?
Me: (DOES HE THINK IM A TERRORIST GOING TO A BOMB CONVENTION??) Yes, in Seattle a few months ago (I’ve met CoFL before in Seattle so it was true!)
BP: What kind of internet forum?
Me: For cars.
BP: What kind of cars?
Me: Weird cars I guess?
BP: Uhh okay, have a nice stay then!
Me: Thanks.
...
It was much more benign than my internal thoughts were saying of course but it was still a funny interaction to me. Explaining to border patrol that I am meeting with random internet strangers that I share memes and stories and pictures with. Thankfully I didnt get murdered by internet strangers and it turned out to be a great group of fellow enthusiasts. Maybe next time at the border I should worry less since it really wasnt as stressful as I was making it out to be haha.