4 ms·

I have to admit, as difficult as it is, he makes a good point here. I'm nowhere near as well travelled, but we do a lot of work in the middle east (some of the

by ErrantX 16y ago

I have to admit, as difficult as it is, he makes a good point here. I'm nowhere near as well travelled, but we do a lot of work in the middle east (some of the nastier parts too), which is a place you would imagine a white westerner would count seriously against you. But, frankly, I've never felt safer or more welcomed in my life (apart from the odd dicey moment). OK, the US is not terrible, unsafe or specifically unfriendly. But there are little things; some cities I just didn't feel overly welcome because I wasn't American. I'm in my mid twenties and ordering a beer with a meal got me some highly suspicious looks! Numerous times I have been questioned by police; for being sat at a bus depot with a rucksack (they made me miss a bus and were utterly unapologetic, grr), for being stood on a street waiting for my pickup (for about 20 minutes.. I think someone had actually called them) etc. Don't get me wrong; I've met loads of really awesome, friendly and welcoming Americans. And mostly it is fine. But more than any other place I have been to you get treated with suspicion.

rdouble 16y ago
Americans can be pretty suspicious of outsiders even if the outsiders are fellow Americans. Where I grew up, walking around town (instead of driving) or standing at the bus station meant you were at best are some sort of vaguely criminal transient.
- toadi 16y ago
  Sounds like the start of Rambo I movie ;)
arethuza 16y ago
One of the more surreal conversations I've had while entering the US was one guy who wanted to know why I've been to Turkey/Egypt/Morocco so many times - he just seemed to refuse to believe me when I said that they are really nice places to go on holiday and that they are very common holiday destinations for Europeans. I actually had to explain what it is that I like about them! Note - I'm from the UK. [Edit: Note that I really enjoy visiting the US - the country is great, its just that the experience of getting in can be a bit odd, although I have to admit that the last few times were all perfectly pleasant].
- ErrantX 16y ago
  The intriguing thing is that out of about 15 US trips only one had a bad border experience (and that was a work trip where we took our own equipment, which was understandable).
  - dalore 16y ago
    A group of us colleagues were heading into SFO for a work conference. This one guy who was a Sihk but no turban got asked what did he do for a living, so he said a C++ software engineer. The border guard then asked a few C++ questions like what is a virtual function.
    - loxs 16y ago
      OMG, what if he were a pianist, or a doctor?
      - daliusd 16y ago
        Most probably he will be asked some basic stuff that pianist and doctor must know. Like, how many black buttons there are on piano? Doctor is quite wide category so that might depend on what type of doctor he is. Question might be about number of bones in human body, average weight of 12 years old boys and etc. Actually it doesn't matter too much what question is and it does not even matter if you know answer. It is completely possible that you don't understand officer's questions because of how he/she speaks - the most important thing is your reaction and that's all. Those people are trained to identify suspicious behavior and unnatural nervousness in your side.
    - HeyLaughingBoy 16y ago
      I wonder how widespread programming hobbies are. Last weekend I was signing a credit card slip for the pizza delivery guy and he asked "Web developer?" "No. But I do write software for a living, how did you know?" And he pointed to the "PHP Cookbook" I was using to write on.
- tallanvor 16y ago
schwabacher 16y ago
Just out of curiosity where are you from / what race are you?
- ErrantX 16y ago
  British, White. I'm not sure it is really related to that, my colleagues (a mix of Asian, Arab & British looking people) all have the same sort of experience. I think it is a product of being a) foreign (in general) and b) young.
  - schwabacher 16y ago
    Well I am not surprised that you are not treated well but I am surprised it's not racial. I am American and I apologize for what it is worth.. I think there is still quite a bit of lingering overreaction to 9/11.
    - ErrantX 16y ago
      No need to apologise, at all. It's not you that is making the situation and I honestly wouldn't bother apologising for those that are. Problem is; it is only a minority (IMO anyway) and a fairly small one. But they tend to be vocal/obvious, and it is one of those things that doesn't take much to make you feel uncomfortable. I don't think there is anywhere much that I like better than Manhattan! :)
nhangen 16y ago
Have you ever been to Qatar? I'd have to disagree with you there.
- artmageddon 16y ago
  Purely curious, what was Qatar like?
  - nhangen 16y ago
    Strange immigration procedures. Long list of banned items (don't even think about bringing a magazine with women in it), and the feeling that they could kick you out in a moment if you looked at them funny. Nice place, and I loved being there, but I was always nervous going in and out.
- ErrantX 16y ago
  Yep, I quite enjoyed it there. However, you do have to act appropriately to their (very different) customs or it gets awkward. Helps if you are working there.

by ErrantX 16y ago

rdouble 16y ago

Americans can be pretty suspicious of outsiders even if the outsiders are fellow Americans. Where I grew up, walking around town (instead of driving) or standing at the bus station meant you were at best are some sort of vaguely criminal transient.

toadi 16y ago
Sounds like the start of Rambo I movie ;)

arethuza 16y ago

One of the more surreal conversations I've had while entering the US was one guy who wanted to know why I've been to Turkey/Egypt/Morocco so many times - he just seemed to refuse to believe me when I said that they are really nice places to go on holiday and that they are very common holiday destinations for Europeans. I actually had to explain what it is that I like about them! Note - I'm from the UK. [Edit: Note that I really enjoy visiting the US - the country is great, its just that the experience of getting in can be a bit odd, although I have to admit that the last few times were all perfectly pleasant].

ErrantX 16y ago
The intriguing thing is that out of about 15 US trips only one had a bad border experience (and that was a work trip where we took our own equipment, which was understandable).
- dalore 16y ago
  A group of us colleagues were heading into SFO for a work conference. This one guy who was a Sihk but no turban got asked what did he do for a living, so he said a C++ software engineer. The border guard then asked a few C++ questions like what is a virtual function.
  - loxs 16y ago
    OMG, what if he were a pianist, or a doctor?
    - daliusd 16y ago
      Most probably he will be asked some basic stuff that pianist and doctor must know. Like, how many black buttons there are on piano? Doctor is quite wide category so that might depend on what type of doctor he is. Question might be about number of bones in human body, average weight of 12 years old boys and etc. Actually it doesn't matter too much what question is and it does not even matter if you know answer. It is completely possible that you don't understand officer's questions because of how he/she speaks - the most important thing is your reaction and that's all. Those people are trained to identify suspicious behavior and unnatural nervousness in your side.
  - HeyLaughingBoy 16y ago
    I wonder how widespread programming hobbies are. Last weekend I was signing a credit card slip for the pizza delivery guy and he asked "Web developer?" "No. But I do write software for a living, how did you know?" And he pointed to the "PHP Cookbook" I was using to write on.
tallanvor 16y ago

schwabacher 16y ago

Just out of curiosity where are you from / what race are you?

ErrantX 16y ago
British, White. I'm not sure it is really related to that, my colleagues (a mix of Asian, Arab & British looking people) all have the same sort of experience. I think it is a product of being a) foreign (in general) and b) young.
- schwabacher 16y ago
  Well I am not surprised that you are not treated well but I am surprised it's not racial. I am American and I apologize for what it is worth.. I think there is still quite a bit of lingering overreaction to 9/11.
  - ErrantX 16y ago
    No need to apologise, at all. It's not you that is making the situation and I honestly wouldn't bother apologising for those that are. Problem is; it is only a minority (IMO anyway) and a fairly small one. But they tend to be vocal/obvious, and it is one of those things that doesn't take much to make you feel uncomfortable. I don't think there is anywhere much that I like better than Manhattan! :)

nhangen 16y ago

Have you ever been to Qatar? I'd have to disagree with you there.

artmageddon 16y ago
Purely curious, what was Qatar like?
- nhangen 16y ago
  Strange immigration procedures. Long list of banned items (don't even think about bringing a magazine with women in it), and the feeling that they could kick you out in a moment if you looked at them funny. Nice place, and I loved being there, but I was always nervous going in and out.
ErrantX 16y ago
Yep, I quite enjoyed it there. However, you do have to act appropriately to their (very different) customs or it gets awkward. Helps if you are working there.