Of all the pieces of travel advice that I’ve learnt over the years this is perhaps the most important one. Don’t lip off to security, most of them are just doing their job.
This spring I found myself in the departure queue at the San Jose airport in Costa Rica waiting to board a flight back to Canada via the states. Glancing around I noticed that I was to share the flight with a group of American college students. You’d think that being enrolled in a school of higher learning that some of them would have caught on by now. I’m writing about “Common Sense”. It’s cannot be taught at school and for some it must learnt the hard way. Now I’ve noticed over the years that students and the “establishment” quite often don’t mix. This is one such story. These kids, old enough to know better, were fed up having to wait in line – What is taking so long? Dump my water before boarding? Not, I’m not going to empty my backpack again. And so on and so on.
A wizened traveler, I listened and grinned. This was going to be good. Latin countries I’ve discovered usually run on a more relaxed pace and showing respect is only courteous. Well two classmates, a guy and a girl, decided that enough was enough and that they’d show those security guys a thing or two. We’re Americans and we don’t tolerate this kind crap was their attitude. Well it didn’t take long. To give the Costa Rican security team credit, they listened to the gibberish spewing forth for about a minute, smiled and ignored them. The kids seeing no results raised their voices (big mistake). Out came the portable radios. Before anyone could blink these two kids were surrounded and stiff armed to the side of the queue and promptly strip searched right there against the wall in front of us all and none too gently at that. Off came the shirts, belts, jeans, socks, backpacks were emptied and water bottles dumped. Faces beet red, the two were left there to stand in their boxers, panties and bra while their passports were slowly scrutinized. The girl by the way was wearing a cute pink bra. In shock the rest of their classmates reformed ranks straight as an arrow and there was dead silence from them until final boarding. It was a pleasant boarding experience for me, no noisome kids mouthing off, just respect now oozing profusely from all of them.
Lesson learned, the hard way!
Signed, Canadian Traveler
{ 120 comments… read them below or add one }
Leaving them in their underwear was completely out of line, and served no purpose.
Their mouth’s were out of line. They know the rules and were blantenly disobeying them.
Delicious!
So because they described their complaints to those in authority, that makes it acceptable to treat them like animals? Granted, they may have gone about it the wrong way, but that does not give them the right to be publicly degrated and brutalized. Nor does it ethically warrant your bragging about the situation or the poor girl’s cute pink bra, Canadian Traveler. They may have been annoying, but that hardly warrants such a terrible experience that they may well be traumatized for quite some time for. How shameful.
They are young. They will get over it
Their being Americans has nothing to do with their attitude. People from any country can behave badly. Get over your self-righteous beliefs!
While the story is interesting and entertaining, your bigotry ruins it. You assume these kids have high and mighty “American” attitudes and thats why they objected to the arduous process. Maybe it’s just, oh I don’t know… BECAUSE THEY’RE KIDS! Not all Americans are like that, in fact, very few are! It’s not right to stereotype and entire nation of people just because a few arrogant asses happen to live here.
I think that they weren’t being just kids. To be honest they were probably the spoiled upper middle class 18 – 24 ish young men and women who have no concept of respect or humility. They deserved to be searched that way and left to feel shame. They had no right to act so arrogantly. People have been strip searched to their birthday suits for less.
Yeah, they should have acted like adults, but I have to agree with Andrew and ESP; the story was ruined by your bigotry. The US is a big country; don’t judge by the .01% that you see on TV, and the ones that you see acting out. Every country has idiots, including Canada.
And while they were out of line by acting up, being strip-searched in public is pretty rough.
While I don’t have a problem with them being strip searched and scrutinized, there should have been an attempt to do it in a private area. Doing that in front of everyone is unnecessary. Also I agree with Andrew’s comments about the “holier than thou” attitude towards Americans.
So, if you were wizened (dried up and shriveled), maybe you should have asked for one of the bottles of water they were emptying out…
I travel between Richmond, VA and Toronto, Edmonton, and Calgary very frequently and I have to say I’ve never seen travelers more indignant than some of the Canadian citizens I’ve encountered. It works both ways…people are rude…get over it.
Would have been a good story if you’d have left out the ridiculous bias. Of course, you’re only a Canadian. That’s to be expected.
If they really did leave them standing around in their underwear, that was extremely inappropriate.
learn how to spell beat, you wizened canadian you
I’m calling BS on this story and betting the strip search in public never took place.
Also a very interesting title to this, because living in South Florida I can’t tell you how many Canadian kids I see acting like spoiled fools during the season. Don’t ever trust someone with an obvious agenda.
I, too, am calling BS. This is not a true story – just something made up by someone who has an unexplainable bias against an entire country. If such a story had happened, then your gleeful comment about the girl’s “cute pink bra” would have instantly branded you a supremely ugly Canadian. None of the American men I know would take joy in the sexual abuse of a girl.
I completely agree with the above comments-the rudeness of those travelers had nothing to do with their nation of origin. I have run into both wonderful and horribly unpleasant people on every continent I’ve visited. Your story only demonstrates your sad narrow-mindedness and bigotry.
But there is such things as too far. IF, these kids where left shaking in their knickers then it was not only wrong but abusive. I work in airport security and I can tell you there have been a couple of kids from Canada that needed a good kick in the pants, in facts kids from Greece, Angola, Nambia, Italy and France have all needed a good kick! It is not an American thing, all kids can be snotty… period!
I am a nineteen year old American and I would never behave like that. I am grateful the security in airports. Not all Americans are “ugly.”
Get off your high horse. Just because you’re Canadian doesn’t make you any better than anyone else. There are idiots from every corner of the earth – not just America.
foolish bigoted bias.
you are a creep
Perfect!!!
Its idoits like them that give us Americans a bad name. Should have made them get completely naked and do jumping jacks lololol
I think the submitter is full of BS. And the “Ugly Americans” comment show that this is simply a BS story meant to show her dislike for the USA. And they WILL NOT strip search you where you stand, that’s where your BS story fails utterly and completely. Jackass.
I love it when big black men ravage my body!
You are so pathetic. You’re “typical american” attitude is sickening and you were probably molested by your uncle.
and yes i used the incorrect spelling of “your.” Based on your writing style, it only seemed appropriate to mock.
Those kids will never ever forget that event. What a perfect consequence to such ridiculous behavior. Nobody was hurt or robbed which – actions that would not have been surprising in other countries. All that happened was humiliation. Bravo!
THIS IS SUCH A CROCK! THE ONLY TRUE PART OF THIS STORY IS THAT RESPECT IS DEEPLY INGRAINED IN LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE. HOW THEN WOULD STRIP SEARCHING THE STUDENTS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE BE A RESPECTFUL RESPONSE?
I’VE TRAVELED TO A GOOD DEAL OF LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES, I AM MEXICAN, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.
COMPLETE BS!
I’m shocked that people think thats appropriate, being strip searched in public for being an obnoxious brat. Thats what students do!
I think that if this story is true, then you come off as a pervert, oogling a young girl wearing a cute pink bra. Imagine her complete humiliation, and fear at being that vulnerable in front of a zillion people. If it had happened in a prison (being publicly strip searched in front of men), then there would be an outcry. Yet some people seem to think this OK, the humiliation of innocent (lippy and obnoxious and rude and arrogant, but not malicious) is acceptable.
Shame on you all
Yes there behavior wasn’t good, but they weren’t being violent or threatening, just creating a fuss. I’ve seen adults behave like that, they were kids and taken advantage of.
Was the girl wearing a thong? What type of bra? Push up? Was she an A,B,C,D cup?
AWESOME!
If true, the kids should be glad they weren’t truly strip and cavity searched. They needed a lesson to stop behaving like brats, and they got it.
I hate the security too, but my way to handle it is to AVOID FLYING in the first place.
I’m Costa Rican and I don’t think this ever happened, it’s BS I think.
again, you were probably molested by your uncle and have repressed the memory…..
FAKE!
I’ve traveled to a lot of countries and I’ve never gotten the impression that Americans have a monopoly on smart-mouthed idiots. Those sort seem to be pretty evenly distributed throughout the world, as far as I can tell–shockingly, even in Canada!
Wow, Canadians must be so much more respectful, travel-savvy, “wizened,” and just overall saints compared to all the brutish Americans who need to be taught a lesson /sarc. What rubbish. I’m not even convinced that this story is true. Maybe the first part of it, but the strip-search was probably part of the writer’s fantasy.
It always seemed to me that older fogey Germans went on vacation solely to bemoan how dirty the outside world was, and expensive, and inferior the food/beer/service at home. Oh, and how prude the “culture-free Amis” were about going topless in public.
Ha – I’m an American, and I disagree with the people that say most Americans are nice. Bigotry is very prevalent here in America, and those kids probably indeed were of the upper-middle class variety that grew up feeling entitled. They got exactly what they deserved.
I have met rude outspoken french than a have americans. i don’t think this was due to the culture more than it was the age difference.
I am an American who lived in Canada for six months. I love your fine country, but get over yourself. There’s plenty of a-holes in your country too. I would have loved to watch those kids get what was coming to them, but their being Americans had nothing to do with it.
The OP is full of shit. Lying scumbag gets a kick out of posting phony stories to somehow make his stupid ass look better. Sorry, you are still a lying piece of shit Canadian. Nothing you can say will ever change that fact.
How do you know they weren’t Canadian? I’ve met many Canadians with American accents. Your snide comments about Americans are offensive and unnecessary.
I am a college student and even I know better, but how rude for the ‘Canadian Traveler’ to assume that all american college students are like that. I am sure that some where along the line a Canadian has got stripped searched. Also, if your such a frequent flier, why not be friendly and give them the some advice before they started shouting at the guards? Maybe my parents raised me wrong, but i was taught to masochistic and enjoy other peoples humiliation.
cute pink bra?
gross. the OP is not only a bigot, he’s a creep too.
American colleges may not teach common sense. They do, however, teach proper grammer. You’re an idiot. The period goes inside of the quotes. To simplify for you, you should have written “common sense.” Which, by the way, should not be capitalized. Maybe instead of posting fake, offensive stories on the internet you should read a book.
I am an American and a traveler. I completely believe those kids acted in that manner. It is so easy to point out Americans in other countries…most of them are loud, rude, impatient and completely oblivious to culture or tradition. The kids learned a hard lesson and that’s too bad for them…maybe they’ll be more respectful next time.
Great story. The over-indulged kids deserved it. The holier-than-thou attitude of the Canadian writer ruins this story, though. I’m sure plenty of non-American kids act like complete asses on a daily basis. Even Canadian kids. The fact that they are American in this story has nothing to do with anything. Seems that there are some Canadians just as smug and boorish as some Americans.
Canadian Traveler huh? Canadian Twat is really more like it. Not only are you unable to construct sentences with proper grammar and punctuation, but you are a very bad liar. There are obnoxious assholes all across the globe. Canada is no different and you have proven that point by posting this fabrication. Infact, I find Canadians to be boorish, elitest pricks (huge sense of self righteousness) most of the time, even though your country has a ‘reputation’ for supposedly being friendly. Also, I have never heard of Costa Rican airport agents conducting themselves in the manner you described.
Guys, this never happened. It is fantasy fiction by a ignorant Canadian. Move on.
Rude? Ever meet a French Canadian? Wow that’s rude. Ever drive on the QEW, That is rude doing 100 KPH. Thank god for Crappy Tire and that Canadian Coffee/ doughnut shop.
I find it amusing how completely uninformed Americans are about how they are perceived by the rest of the world. It is no doubt an unfair perception to the vast majority of Americans but unfortunately, on the rudeness scale, no one can top a loud mouth American. The problem is the “I don’t give a ####” attitude about what others think. Obviously the writer just wanted to flush out some sensitive Americans. It worked!
Yea, I agree. This type of response is exactly what this jealous canadian dick-squeeze wanted. Well, since I am American and am fully aware of the usually correct perception of Americans the rest of the world has, I’ll just live up to the reputation. This “Canadian Traveler” desperately wants to get a rise out of some American “Cochons” so that he can feel better about himself quietly whispering to himself “See? Canadians are better! Look how offended these Americans are! I am enjoying re-reading these posts 4 times a day so much I might just go rub one out!”.
I will say one thing to you Dick-Wad, maybe if you attain a military force comparable to ours, a health-care system comparable to ours, and an overall general attitude that doesn’t make you come off as a butt-pirate, then you can talk shit.
Hatin from Georgia 24/7.
My great grandparents immigrated to Canada…
My grandmother was born there and still owns land in Canada…
My mother spent her summers on a farm in Canada…
When asked what where my family comes from, we say Scottish
…You spent time in Costa Rica and I bet the darkest thing anyone saw when you came home was still your hockey puck you pasty hoser…
I do love Quebec though!
Now thats a funny one. Was the girl cute? I hope so.
Beet red… to become very red in the face, usually because you are embarrassed
A beet is a small, round vegetable that is a very dark red/purple colour.
The story is clearly false as Latin countries, with strong Catholic influence, would never allow a public strip search. Further, having seen some of the total B.S. tried by utterly incompetant employees and airport officials in Latin American countries, I’d have to take the kids’ side as a matter of common sense. When people can’t maintain even a hint of order, they deserve to be called on it.
wizened traveler!! you already know the guys an asso from that one statement. why even berate him as a canadian, it doesn’t matter where he’s from.I can still smell his C##T from here
To subject a young man to such indignities as a public strip search is highly offensive, not to mention demeaning and degrading. To leave him vulnerable in such a public place is unforgivable.
Wow your a tool for ruining that story
i bet those Americans couldve kicked your ass
You are pretty much American being from canada anyway. You’re welcome
It’s a little prejudiced to suggest that these students were uncooperative and disrespectful because they were American. I’m an American who often has to fly, and never have I caused any sort of trouble. Neither have the friends with whom I have traveled. Nor would we tolerate it if we saw it.
Let’s not generalize an entire country of people, hmm? It’s a hallmark of the ignorant, mister Canadian Traveler.
Nothing is worse than a smug complacent Canadian, who feels superior to Americans because they are Canadian. The worst travellers I have seen were Canadians, expecting special treatment, because they were Canadians.
Believe me, it goes both ways. I was on a 7 day boat trip in the Galapagos with only 16 pax. One of the Canadians aboard ruined many MANY a moment for everyone.
I just don’t judge all other Canadians by his actions.
Idiots are idiots…including the author of this Costa Rica account.
Yes Americans are rude, but really we are no more rude than anyone else, maybe less so ,I don’t know. I do know that I have seen Americans treated with open contempt in other countries, but never see foreign travelers treated with anything but open friendliness. Even in NYC! Yes there a few grumpy asses here, but for the most part, we are open and friendly towards our guests. Americans are greeted with open contempt in a lot of countries and I attribute that to jealously and ignorance.
As for the kids in the story, if it’s true, it was a shame. But I can see any spoiled shit of a kid acting that way. Throwing in the fact they were American only proves one thing, bashing Americans online is fashionable and there for shallow and unsophisticated
We even treat the French Candadian pretty good.
Oh I also heard ….
Canada is like a loft above a really cool party.. A little freindly piss taking for me neighbours in da great white nort. ay?
I agree that leaving them in the underwear was out of line. Next time, off with it! Have the Costa Ricans forgot the meaning of “strip search”?
I live in the US, but I’m not American. And I have to agree with many of the posters above – Americans on average are more rude than elsewhere. Has nothing to do with being a certain age, in college, or belonging to a certain class.
Ever wonder why a lot of people don’t like Americans? Don’t believe the TV propaganda, it all comes down to simple human behavior. If you behave like a civilized person, you’ll be treated accordingly.
As I said before, I’m an American who has often had to fly. I’ve lived overseas more than once.
I have found some non-Americans to be just as rude as you’re claiming Americans to be. It’s beyond hypocritical to criticize America for its collective rudeness and be unconcerned with how the rest of the world acts.
That being said, I also have friends overseas whose only negative opinion of America has been our GOVERNMENT, not our people. Something we’ve shown obvious interest in changing.
Sure, there are jerks in America. But they’re not jerks because they’re American. They’re jerks because they’re JERKS. It has nothing to do with nationality. There are plenty of jerks of all different races and nationalities to go around, people. If you meet an unpleasant American, I promise you, most of his countrymen don’t like him either.
I’m the last person to get patriotic, to be honest. I’m really not that way. I’m rather liberal and quite critical of the policies here. But one must wonder, if America and its people are so terrible, why are the people who complain still living here?
I mean that in a way to instigate discussion, not start a fight. Just so I’m not taken as being abrasive.
Again, people bash Americans because it’s fashionable, and for no other reason. I actually met one of the rudest gobshites in Dublin, a real bollix, and I met a native eejit in every city I have been in as well, the biggest ever in Toronto. Every one of them, not unlike the kids in the story, arrogant asses thinking their shite didn’t stink.
Simply put bashing anyone is just the widdlings of a simple knob head or just a citizen of this sad sad world.
how wonderful that she was wearing a cute pink bra, I am so glad you shared that detail with us! Did you whack off to it?
creep.
Seriously, dude, get over yourself. Kids are kids. Rude kids suck, but they come from every country, not just America. And leaving those kids practically naked in public is ridiculous and wrong.
Strip searching these spoiled brats in front of everyone made the necessary statement. It made all the other spoiled snots STFU and follow directions as they should have been from the very beginning. Good for the Costa Rican officials for not putting up with any BS. Had I been there, I would’ve applauded and seen which brats would’ve dared say anything more about it. As for the slight “bigotry”, it is what it is..
Dang flappy headed Canooks with their oh so special bacon. We should seal off the border with Canada and throw Celine Dion over the fence!
Really didn’t matter where they were from cause they won’t try that shyt again *rotflmao*. If they were so high and mighty and special, they should have flown first class or chartered a private plan…case close. Could have been worse.
I think this post is full of crap from some America hating Canadian. I have seen MANY rude Canadians who think that the world is their trashpost (Including some drunk expats in South Korea who thought climbing a fake palm tree outside a bar was funny, broke it in half, then ran off laughing). Get a life! *BLAME CANADA, BLAME CANADA
“We’re Americans and we don’t tolerate this kind crap was their attitude.” — You see this attitude a lot, unfortunately, in the US. From the armed forces to college kids.
Yeah not all Americans are like this but enough are. I see the attitude even in the discussions in this online course I’m taking (I live in the US).
Those kids deserved what they got, but i’ve found in general, that canadians suck. They just love going around the world telling people their not americans. Anyone that will listen…hey, did you know i’m not an american? he your quite cute, but don’t let my white skin and Nike’s fool you, i’m not an american. If I had a dime for every canadian flag i’ve seen sown on a backpack, so no one thinks they’re americans, i’d have a bout 10 worthless canadian dollars. Meanwhile, i’ve seen drunk, idiot canadians make just as big of fools of themselves in bars in europe as any group of ugly college americans.
Whoa.
The comments here are really ugly.
I am Canadian, but I lived in Florida for a year — and the majority of Americans I met were absolutely LOVELY. Yes, some were a bit ignorant about the rest of the world, but still — extremely friendly.
Now I am living in the UK (with a Brit) and actually, am finding that most of the Brits I meet are more obnoxious — and they are the ones who have the rep around the world for being too polite for words. It’s funny — stereotypes aren’t often true!
But the comments here … it’s nice to know what you all think about Canada and Canadians. But aren’t you just doing exactly what you are accusing this poster of doing? Judging an entire nation of people just by ONE post on a website?
Very uncool. Every country has its share of jerks, and every country has its share of nice people. It never changes. Canadians aren’t any nicer than Americans, and vice versa. Everyone has seen someone make a fool out of themselves when they travel.
It doesn’t make it ok to criticize an entire country and its people. I know for a fact that Canadians are just like everyone else – and we don’t deserve the vilification just because ONE jerk posted this on this website. Not to get heavy, but my brother is going out to Afghanistan this year to fight in the US’ war … don’t we deserve a little more respect from our next door neighbors?
This was really funny!
Not just the original story, which I did take with a huge grain of salt, but the comments…all 76 of of them when I was reading. What a hoot!
There were people correcting other people’s spelling and grammar using incorrect spelling and grammar of their own. There were people calling other people names for calling other people names. There was even someone talking about Canada attaining a military force comparable to the the US…as if that had anything whatsoever to do with anything.
Oddly enough, that person even suggested Canada needs to attain a health-care system comparable to that in the US. Since Canadian and American health care itself is of equally high quality, and since the person was talking about the health care SYSTEM, perhaps the person ought to reconsider? Certainly the systems are different. And, yes, both have strong and weak points.
But, since innumerable studies have shown that the #1 reason Americans don’t get the medical treatment they need is because they can’t afford it, which is not an issue Canadians face, perhaps that person shouldn’t be thinking our SYSTEM is something Canadians should aspire to?
Regardless, there were a ton of “ugly American” responses from people complaining about Canadian Traveler’s story about “ugly Americans,” actually kinda proving his point. Yes, there are jerks of all nationalities. And, no, we shouldn’t all be tarred with the same brush. But acting like an ugly American sure isn’t a way to prove Americans aren’t ugly.
but making fun of Canadians is so much fun .. soil sport
I live in North Dakota, near the US/Canada border, and Canadians are probably the worst invention ever. They come down to the US and annoy the piss out of anyone living here. That little lever that sticks out of the left side of your steering wheel? It’s a blinker. Use it. Those lines in parking lots? Park in between them, not straddling them. And those arrows at the entrances to angled parking lot rows? That’s the direction you’re supposed to drive, not the opposite. Canadians are a nuisance to mankind. I’d rather be a jerk than a retard.
Thanks for another good laugh, Keeno! Much appreciated.
And you, too, Carl. You’ve done a great job achieving your stated goal
Not only that, but you’ve explained something that I’ve long wondered about. Apparently everyone here in my part of Kansas is also Canadian…no use of turn signals, taking up more than one parking space, driving the wrong way in an angled parking lot.
Yup…they’re all Canadians, no matter what they claim to be. Thanks for the clarification!
Stupid Canadians
What I gathered from this story is that this is typical American behavior. I’m American and have never behaved that way. It seems I have been denying my heritage and should be as arrogant and rude as possible the next time I fly! I hope you are seated next to me, story teller.
(I do work at a University with plenty of foreign students. Rude and self-centered can come from any one regardless of their origin, as can bigotry.)
OK, to say these kids were obnoxious BECAUSE they were American was wrong. They were obnoxious because they had never been taught to respect others at all times. THAT is their parents fault. It happens here in Canada too… just not as often as it happens among Americans. We travel several times a year and, overall, the majority of times we observe bad manners, disrespect or pretentious behaviour it is usually accompanied by a ’south of the 49th’ twang.
As far as strip searching the two of them in public, it was inappropriate… just as inappropriate as loud-mouthing the security personnel who were simply doing their job. One thing for sure though… I GUARANTEE they will keep their mouths shut next time!!
Yes sir, I highly doubt this story. But it did give me a half-hour of mirthful reading! My, but aren’t we all so patriotic! All this NOB/SOB stuff makes me laugh. That said, I’ve found that bigotry is probably the purest form of self-loathing…
I’d like to see some canadians stripped to their birthday suits.
Yeah sure, respect is only “courteous” in Latin countries. So apparently is rampant corruption.
True or not, the gratuitous America-bashing is all too common among our northern neighbors, but in the end says more about the basher than about Americans. I’ve lived in “old Europe” for 20 years, but the most virulent, sustained and utterly unprovoked personal attacks – they are unfortunately many – I’ve experienced come from English-speaking Canadians. Substitute Americans in his comments with blacks, Latinos, Jews, women, Asians or anything else and the anti-discrimination gurus north of the supposed border of enlightenment would be having fits. How ugly.
“To be honest they were probably the spoiled upper middle class 18 – 24 ish young men and women who have no concept of respect or humility.” -Anonym
I’m so glad I’m about to turn 25 so I can finally grow up and be respectful.
Oh wait.
I had good parents who taught me to be a good person, regardless of social class.
Honestly, there are rude people everywhere. I’ve spent time in Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Spain. Most people in every country were perfectly agreeable, though I did come closest to getting sexually assaulted in public in Germany…hmmm…
We need more people to be shamed publicly. It sure would make them think about their actions in the future.
I’m not buying this. Just another story from some idiot bigot. No airport in America would put themselves at risk of being sued through such inappropriate responses to problems with passengers.
Attempt at being funny? FAIL
Looking like a stupid bigot? PASS
Canada is just America’s hat.
What a great story. And what a way to get their point across to the other students. I don”t feel sorry for them being striped searched. But to do so it public thats a bit much .
80ish comments on how not all americians act in this way and how this writer is displaying such bigotry, yet all I see after each valid point is an americian displaying such behavior and bigtry themselves. I agree, every country has it’s losers, but saying that and then saying the writer is displaying bigtry “typical Canadian” seriously?
Some of the things I’m hearing people say are appalling to me. I really don’t believe that this story is true and that they were strip searched in public, but the fact that numerous people feel that they deserved that is incredible. They deserved to be detained, but privately. Forcing them to stand in front of everyone almost naked is a violation of basic human rights and human dignity. If someone pulled an unconsenting person’s clothes off on a city street, everyone would agree that they should be arrested. The fact that a decent percentage of people are pleased at essentially the same thing happening in the name of “security” is a sad commentary on our society.
I’m in agreement the other 90% of comments here that your bigot attitude ruins the point of your story. You should learn better grammar before you start laying in on students from America.
you fuckin canadians think your shit don’t stink! well lemme tell you something i can smell ya from here! I think you could have come up with a different title to your story than that! you should think a little bit more about what you write instead of writing something as tasteless as that! yea i know i’m writing tasteless material now and not bein the nicest but i don’t care i didn’t right a story for everyone to see..i am now though! so in closing fuck canada fuck flyin and fuck you..Ey?
Lived in Washington, skied in Idaho a few times. Once got stuck on a long tram ride with a Canadian who felt it was his duty to “shame” me for all of the Americans he had ever met who didn’t know what was going on in Canadian politics, sports, life, etc. Asked him why he bothered to come south to ski if he hated us so much … he shrugged and said that Americans were more fun to be around. If I could have opened the door and shoved him out I would have been happy to make Idaho a better place for that moment.
LMFAO! I don’t know which is funnier, this story or the stream of angry, self-righteous Americans responding to it. Americans are renowned for their bad behavior and they’re the only ones who don’t seem to know it.
canada would have gotten taken over by estonia if it was’nt for “ugly americans” canada is a loft over a good party telling you to keep the noise down. quit whining osama
jimbob almost got struck by lightning the other night, trying to straighten out his TV antenna.
Please excuse his behaviour.
It amazes me how many Americans think they bring American law with them to other countries.
That little bureaucrat might be irritating, but a phone call can quickly have you disappeared for a few days, while ‘paperwork’ is processed.
Americans ARE loud and rude and obnoxious. It’s their culture to be “independent” and “strong-willed”. Now, some Americans are very polite and courteous. But, I’m just saying, American culture raise their people to be so-called strong, independent people which equals (sometimes) bratty, disrespectful, and ignorant people.
As another person commented, these were kids, no matter what school they attend or where they are from..kids as well as adults can be and will be rude at times (in the least appropriate places)..could be their upbringing, situation they are in etc. ( I could go on forever)..However the country they come from has nothing to do with it. I am a Canadian and as such am proud to be…..Rudeness has nothing to do with the country you live in…
Ah, I love my countrymen!
What I DON’T like are people who as soon as they find out I’m American say something like “well you don’t ACT American.” Bitch please, I love drinking cheap beer at Fourth of July parties just as much as anyone else! I also can’t stand Americans who go abroad and pretend to be Canadian. Man up and represent your own fucking country yo.
-An American living in Japan
While I am glad that these two kids got their comeuppance, I don’t like the idea that security could strip-search them to their bare socks.
That’s just. . . I mean, this kind of stuff is a violation of SOMEONE’S rights!
No one should be allowed to do that.
Gives me a pit in my stomach.
No. The behavior exhibited by those twits was typically American. Me!! Me!! Me!! I am the Paris Hilton of my little world. Ugh! The sense of entitlement amongst the young of this country – it makes me sad.
As for the oft mentioned “rights” of these two, NEVER assume the rights of the country you are in are the same as the “rights” of the country you are from. Can you imagine that would have happened if these two would have pulled something akin in the West Bank? Please!!
You should get over yourself. What nation they were from has nothing to do with their behavior. I’ve seen more Canadians with this attitude than I have seen individuals from Europe or the United States.
You need an attitude adjustment. These kids were out of line. But that had nothing to do with their being American. I lived in your so-called peaceful and tolerant Canada for several years. I found many Canadians are mouthy, self-righteous people who looked down their noses at Americans.
Hilarious. The best part is all the whining Americans crying about the Canadian’s attitude.
It’s almost as if they have no clue that this is how Americans are generally seen.
Would you all have got angry if the poster didn’t say what her own nationality was? I doubt it. This is completely typical. Have a look on other websites and you’ll see thousands of examples where American people make cultural faux pas with a great deal of NOISE and INDIGNANCE due to their country of birth.
Of course the American people will say “Oh! We’re not rude!!!” because to behave like that in America isn’t rude. But overseas, the rules change, and you’re well known for being much too forceful in your “assertiveness”.
It’s a cultural ignorance. There’s no point arguing if you don’t understand overseas culture and all you have to draw on is your understanding of the USA.
And don’t bother shooting the messenger. Anything you say will merely back up my statement.
I like how this person makes up things. I’ve been to Costa Rica many times. The security staff would never make someone undress in public. They are very professional and hard working.
Having been to Costa Rica I find this story a bit unbelievable to be honest. Actually having been to 40 countries I find this unbelievable. These kind of stories (told by bigots) really only appeal to other bigots.
Reading these posts from my supposed countrymen/women, makes me embarrassed to be an American regardless of whether the actual situation happened or not.
Really this country has turned into a belligerant boiling pot of indignant, self absorbed babies.
Canada: America’s hat
Do you know who else wouldn’t empty their water bottle?
Hitler.
This story smacks of an old man (not American), who is gently caressing himself while typing with his other hand…
Bull, totaly made up story. I agree with the basic story line but you can insert any Country, where America is, in this story and it would work.
I am a US Citizen living in Canada. The vast majority of Canadians I know are very nice people, much like most Americans back home. I love to see the Blue Jays play at the Rogers Center and on many occasions have seen unruly young Canadian (perhaps college kids as well) acting poorly. Is this a reflection on the country? No, just kids being kids.
The one thing that I do find funny about living in Canada though, is how much the USA is in the news (paper and tv). I never heard too much about Canada while living in LA, but the neighbors to their south are always in their papers or on tv, especailly during our last presedential election. That really was suprising to see all the Obama bumper stickers!
This is a wonderful and heartwarming tale! Thank you for sharing it! I am sure that those two kids, and all their classmates, learned an interesting lesson that day!
I on the other hand, see the point of canadian traveller “were from america and we bring money to your stupid 3rd world country, so we dont wait in lines” this is a common strategy from “the most powerful country in the world”
I admire FFH for allowing this to go on so long, given the title.
There are just as many fat, ugly, narcissistic Canadians as there are travelling Americans.
I rather enjoy the fact that the cute pink bra was noted. An truly ugly woman could be wearing the entire VS catalogue, and it would not be cute.
It seems like the OP enjoyed the feeling of cultural superiority – THIS IS HOW YOU STAND IN LINE (lol?) – and forgot he was going home to a dusty, grey village somewhere, to a dull life.
I’m a Canuck, and have the experience of many poor travellers, customers, and social interactions with people from around the world.
The snide ‘ugly americans’ title is low, and truly shows the caliber of the OP. And that is low.
As someone who had travelled a lot through the third world… One thing you never do is mess with customs, immigration, or security… What morons