I Fought the Law...

Seriously.

I apologize for the missing pieces of my life. Sooo much has happened over this past month that I haven't/can't explain right now. Instead, I thought I'd just dive right in with a funny story (or at least it was/is funny to me) from a few days ago...

On Friday I left the AC for the capital. Now, if you've read any of my previous travel stories from within the country, you know that the following three things don't mix: Me, Travel, This Country.

This time I had been waiting a week to get a flight out (thinking every day that I might go) and finally, it was going to happen.

Now I'm not going to lie. Airports in CA GREATLY test my patience. HOWEVER, this time I was determined not to get frustrated. I was even prepared for the multiple 'pat down violations' at the female check points.

Anyway, all was well and good in the world until the ladies at the second checkpoint wanted to take my (gasp) Mac power cord.

WHAT??

I don't know if perhaps the ladies from the first checkpoint had radioed ahead and told the ladies at the second point that I didn't seemed bothered by anything that day so they should try some new tactics. I'm not sure. I imagine them now saying, "Maybe try something with her computer? See if that catches her off guard."

WHAT??

Well, as soon as the lady tells me they won't let me take my power cord on the plane and I'd have to 'check it' (translation: wrap it up, slap a baggage tag around it, and then throw it in a pile with the other $2 phone chargers to possibly be picked up at the end of the flight on a luggage carousel that may or may not be working), my face went red. The rest of the scenario played out like this...


SCENE 1--

Female Airport Employee #1 (FAE #1): Miss, you have to check your cord.
Me: No. I'm sorry I can't do that.
FAE #1: Look. We have all these other cords too.
Me: Yes, I know. But all of those cords are for phones and cost $2 and can be purchased anywhere in this country.
FAE #2: Miss, why won't you check your cord? Don't worry.
Me: My cord could get broken or not make it to the capital. I need to put the cord in my other bag (which was checked already at point #1) or it's going in my computer bag with me.
FAE #2: OK. Let me go ask the boss.

SCENE 2--
(Older police officer comes to the window)

Policeman: What's the problem?
Me: I can't check this cord.
Policeman: You have to check this cord.
Me: I can't. It might get broken or not show up in the capital.
Policeman: You have to check this cord.
Me: I'm sorry, but I can't. I'll check it in my big bag or it goes with me.
Policeman: You're big bag is gone. You have to check this cord.
Me: I can't.

Policeman then walks away, at which point, I decide that I'm just going to sit down and wait this out.

Enter the new 'Rosa Parks.'
I was about to stage a sit-in for the sake of my computer.

After a few minutes all the ladies had been checked in and all the men had gone inside. I was still sitting out in the container (checkpoint #2) and the FAE's were just moving on with their business. I waited and waited. It wasn't until they asked me if I wanted some tea that I knew this little 'sit in' was going nowhere. I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I got up and walked outside to find the police boss. It only took about 2 seconds for his 'posse' to join in on the following conversation...

SCENE 3--
Me: Sir, what am I supposed to do about this power cord?
Policeman: You're supposed to check it.
Me: I'm sorry sir. I can't do that. As I just told you, it could get broken or it might not make it to the capital. This kind of cord can not be found in this entire country and if something happens to it, my computer stops working. If my computer stops working, then I stop working. Do you see?
Policeman: Yes. You need to check the cord.
Me: I can't. Why didn't they tell me this at this first place, when I could have put it inside my big bag?
Policeman: This is a new policy. They didn't know. You have to check the cord.
Me: (Pausing. Frustrated. In disbelief that they aren't about to cave.) OK. I'll check this cord. But if it gets broken...or if it doesn't arrive...or if ANYTHING is wrong...I'm sending YOU the bill, GOT IT?!
Policeman: (smiling) Yes.

End Scene


Two points to be made here...
1. My Mac is definitely worth a 'sit-in'--even if it's unsuccessful.
2. You know we're losing ground in that place, when after 20 minutes with a frustrated foreigner, the authorities still didn't give in. Hmm.