It’s a problem

Why, you wonder?

Well, airport security personnel is very cautious about “not profiling,” especially in the US, but elsewhere as well. So they pick me to search and pat down and question. That way they can’t be accused of profiling because the only profile I fit is no profile.

Just sucking it up

I travel with my man a lot, but it’s always me they pull out. I’m used to it. It’s my lot in life to get searched and groped in airports. Better than in a dark alley, I’m thinking.

One of my favorite airports is Schiphol, Amsterdam. Since this is my birth-country airport it is not surprising I’ve spent many hours there, coming and going. Here are two of my more gentle security experiences there while just transferring:

Some years ago now: I’m at the gate, waiting for my flight to Washington DC. I live in Ramallah, Palestine (at the time of this writing), and I’ve just arrived on a flight from the Tel Aviv airport in Israel. I’ll be in the US for a week to visit the kids and then go back to Ramallah.

I love smiles

A tall, handsome Dutch security guy in a spiffy uniform asks for my documents. He smiles at me. He has very nice teeth, I notice. I’m sure he smells nice too, but I’m not really close enough to tell. I’m sorry, I digress. I’m a romance writer and fantasize a lot.

“Are you familiar with airport security checks?” he asks politely. If he’d checked my passport first (and seen the many colorful stamps, visas and exotic alphabets therein) he would not have found it necessary to ask, but hey, he’s doing his job.

“Yes,” I say, “I’m especially fond of the Tel Aviv variety as you leave there.”

He breaks out in a broad grin. “Oh, but we are so much nicer here!” he says.

I love the funky art at the Amsterdam Airport

Another trip, another security check

Again at Amsterdam Airport, Schiphol:

I’m once again at Schiphol Airport waiting for a flight to the US, and at the gate extra security is in progress. Once again I’m pulled out to get a pat down. The female security person who asks me to step aside now hands me over to a young blonde thing in training.

She looks nervously at me

“Do you speak English?” she asks softly.

I tell her I do, but Dutch will work too.

“Oh, good,” she says, and takes a deep breath. “This is my first time,” she whispers. “I haven’t done this before.” She gives me a pleading look.

I am aware now that the older agent is watching us, checking up on her charge. I smile at the girl, take the position: legs wide, arms out.  “Go for it,” I tell her, “do your thing.”

And she does, quite expertly, no longer nervous.

“Thank you for being so nice,” she says when she’s done.

I’ve done my good deed for the day. For an airport security person no less. Go figure.

Expat life is not all about big exotic adventures. It’s the little ones that count too.

* * *

Go ahead, tell me your airport tales, nice or otherwise. I know you have some!

The post Expat Life: The Joy of Airport Security appeared first on LIFE IN THE EXPAT LANE.