I know I'm being silly but AHHH WAHHHHH NUUUU

[cuddlefish]

Me: *gets in line for security with parents and hands over high school ID, birth certificate and boarding pass*

Guy: *looks at ID etc.* How old are you?

Me: (I have to remember how old I am…) 2...2...

Guy: Um…do you have a driver’s license or anything? Passport?

Me: No…but that’s my birth certificate.

Guy: It needs to be some kind of picture ID, like a driver’s license or passport.

Me: Um. (Translation: I DON’T HAVE THEM AHHH GO AWAY)

Mom: We’ve gotten on planes before with this---

Guy: It’s different here.

Me + family: Oh. (Translation: WHAT)

Guy: Go over here. *directs us to the part of security where they make you do more stuff*

Me: *suffers, mutters* (Translation: I’M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE MY CLOTHES OFF SOMEBODY HELP MEEEE)

I did not have to take my clothes off, haha. I’m such a big baby. I hear students traveling alone always get searched and stuff, and this is only the first time it’s ever happened to me. And the lady who patted me down could tell I didn’t know my head from my ass, at least in this situation. If she’d asked me if I have a bomb, I’d say, “Oh, yes, I bought this in New York, it’s got red beans and chestnuts in it and it’s very expensive but fresh.“

Certainly gave me a healthy twinge of that, “OMIGOD THEY DON’T LIKE ME ANYMORE” feeling. Er, you know, the certain feeling of entitlement/disgruntledness pretty innocent Americans feel and possibly express when asked to just go through some goddamn security. I think it’s like not being able to make people pay for something they used to get for free. I got on planes for years and years without all this hoo-hah and NOW they’re fussing? I LIVE here, you know!!!!! etc. No, I really felt that way! I just didn’t SAY anything. And I’m sure searching all those frail old people and pretty young girls who know where to eat yakitori will save us.

Other wonders of the modern world: I typed this entry and updated it all sitting here at the airport waiting for our plane. I'M A COOL HACKER NOW.

Comments

[selphish.livejournal.com]

I had no idea you weren't American. What are you? :O

How was the patdown? Was it every bit as humiliating as I would anticipate it to be?

[runan.livejournal.com]

She's American o.O

...Man, now I won't be able to look forward to plane trips anymore.

[moumusu.livejournal.com]

...I stopped liking it a long time ago. I think it was when my family started taking these stupid little puddle-hopper "commuter jets" that are unpleasantly noisy and pretty cramped. You usually don't even get to go out in the plane in one of those corridors, and haha, no funny airplane food either. It's like planes without the fun.

Honestly, the NORMAL security is okay. Especially if you're BLINDINGLY American, they're just like, yeah whatever take your shoes off. (Wear shoes that are easy to take off. WEAR. THEM.) As awful as it sounds, I take it as an opportunity to smile at army types (the show up when it's busy) and other Fine Young Men.

[moumusu.livejournal.com]

Oh, I AM American, I just don't have a passport, ID, or driver's license. This is why I was so miffed, and also why I know I mustn't make a big fuss about it.

The patdown was really the easy part. The sucky thing was getting kicked out of the normal line in front of all the GOOD citizens. D'oh. Also the part where they ordered me around and told me to bring my stuff somewhere, but again, the lady who did it was nice and didn't seem to want to look at my privates or anything, so.

[the-olive.livejournal.com]

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

To get a passport, you need:
1) Your birth certificate,
2) Some things you've signed, like a library card or bank card,
3) Your Mom,
4) Your Mom's ID,
5) Your social security number.

It's a reeeeally good idea to get one now, before you decide to do international travel but have to wait 6 weeks.

Also, I think there was a case a long time ago of a terrorist attempting to bundle his pregnant, Irish girlfriend (or someone like that) onto a plane with a bomb, so, uh, profiling doesn't work, the end.

[themp.livejournal.com]

Better off to wait at least two months. You never know with that crazy Department of State. ._. And you also need to get two passport regulation photos, which can be taken practically anywhere these days like CVS, Walgreens, etc etc. And submit the passport to your local post office. Passports are good for ten years. For those that don't have a driver's license, it's the best option these days. Solid proof you're a citizen. Plus these days it's sparkly with pink and blue shinies! :D I just got mine in July.

[the-olive.livejournal.com]

OK, right, the photos too.

They took mine at the post office where I submitted the forms. : )

There is a real shitload of glittery nonsense on these things.

[moumusu.livejournal.com]

._.

Well, um, the shiny stuff is...a perk...Jesus Christ.

[moumusu.livejournal.com]

I know! When I grow up (what), I'm going to be a superdangerous spy so that they actually have a REASON to get all this stuff from me.

[kithal.livejournal.com]

In my recent jetsetting trip everysingle airport that I went through alone had me searched, just short of strip searched. Being a young, male, lone traveller, I wasn't too surprised. The return trip, with MP next to me the whole way, they never even blinked at me...

I think the best one was when one of the checkers looked at my passport, and obviously had a quandry of "if he's travelled this much, he'd be safe right? But then again, if he's travelled this much, maybe it's just to make him LOOK safe, and really he's been practicing or something".

[themp.livejournal.com]

It's the beard... it scares everyone ESPECIALLY when you let it get long! >:P I must look like the anti-terrorist of anti-terrorists. I travelled alone quite a bit and they never look twice at me. Though they keep asking for my sneakers, which pisses me off because I hate untying and retying them.

[moumusu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just wear shoes with a zipper on them. They're nice! I don't even have to sit down to take them off.

Heh, poor Kithal. =_=