CODE S: A Travel Ordeal
Unintentionally, traveling became a hobby for me. Since 2006, I get to travel abroad for recreation and for the most part - call of duty.
In the last 5 years, I've been lucky to be given the opportunity to attend the International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) annual conferences. My first attendance was in Brisbane, Australia in 2009. Next was in Bangkok, Thailand in 2010 followed by venues in Manila, Philipines in 2011, Astana, Kazakhstan in 2012 and this year, in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Going in and out of a country has never been difficult for me. The numerous stamps on my passport can attest to that, until my recent trip to Israel. Never have I imagined that these stamps could cause me anxieties.
First Part of the Ordeal
On October 17, 2013, I flew to Bangkok via Thai Airways together my 3 colleagues to board a connecting flight to Tel Aviv via El Al Airlines. Filipinos are not required to secure a visa to enter Israel so I felt confident that no mishaps shall come my way. Israeli (I assume cause they look like one) customs officers in Bangkok airport, as SOP, ask tourists a few questions before issuing the boarding passes. The following, I recount, are the queries of an officer when it was my turn to secure the boarding pass.
Then more questions about the conference...
After that, she encircled the letter S on a tag and put it on my bag and my laptop bag. I was then directed to the basement and subjected my belongings to inspection except for my wallet. The officers also rubbed something on my shoes and passport. After about 15 minutes, I was cleared and my boarding pass was handed to me. I was the second to the last to board on the plane to Israel.
Second Part of the Ordeal
Upon departure at Ben Gurion International Airport, there was another interview session before check in - now, as a group. But again, because of the Code S on my passport, I was again questioned regarding my Malaysia visits. And I think, it is already a standard operating procedure that I got "another" serial code on my belongings.
First, I was directed in line for inspection of luggages. An airport employee opened up my luggage and looked for I-don't-know-what in my belongings. When nothing was found on the sides of luggage, she began inspecting the clothes inside and put aside the scarf intended as pasalubong for Mama Ed - maybe because of the checkered print resembles the Muslim's ghotra? (Good thing the head security staff cleared it.) After that, she accompanied me to the check in counter, different from my companions, and never left me until my luggage was checked in and the boarding pass was issued.
I thought that was it, but again in the immigration area, I was directed to another queue wherein the same procedure conducted in Bangkok was done (but now infront of me) before I get to the immigration counter.
The "Code S" experience was really stressful but, I totally undertand that they are just following a standard procedure to ensure security. That is how the Israeli's protect their nation :)
In the last 5 years, I've been lucky to be given the opportunity to attend the International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) annual conferences. My first attendance was in Brisbane, Australia in 2009. Next was in Bangkok, Thailand in 2010 followed by venues in Manila, Philipines in 2011, Astana, Kazakhstan in 2012 and this year, in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Going in and out of a country has never been difficult for me. The numerous stamps on my passport can attest to that, until my recent trip to Israel. Never have I imagined that these stamps could cause me anxieties.
First Part of the Ordeal
On October 17, 2013, I flew to Bangkok via Thai Airways together my 3 colleagues to board a connecting flight to Tel Aviv via El Al Airlines. Filipinos are not required to secure a visa to enter Israel so I felt confident that no mishaps shall come my way. Israeli (I assume cause they look like one) customs officers in Bangkok airport, as SOP, ask tourists a few questions before issuing the boarding passes. The following, I recount, are the queries of an officer when it was my turn to secure the boarding pass.
- Have you been to Malaysia? - Yes
- How many times have you been there? - Three times
- On what purposes? - Pleasure/holiday and training
- What kind of training? - On educational assessment
- Do you have friends there? - (will I consider Hamzah, Shibah and Jamaiah - plus Dr. Fausi and Dr. Adams, friends? Acquiantance - pwede na ring friends yon) Yes
- Do they know you're going to Israel? - (of course, Dr. Fausi and Dr. Afams knew - hindi nga sila makakaaattend ng conference dahil sa venue) Yes
Then more questions about the conference...
- Who packed your bag? - I did
- Are you sure nobody packed it for you? - Yes
After that, she encircled the letter S on a tag and put it on my bag and my laptop bag. I was then directed to the basement and subjected my belongings to inspection except for my wallet. The officers also rubbed something on my shoes and passport. After about 15 minutes, I was cleared and my boarding pass was handed to me. I was the second to the last to board on the plane to Israel.
Second Part of the Ordeal
Upon departure at Ben Gurion International Airport, there was another interview session before check in - now, as a group. But again, because of the Code S on my passport, I was again questioned regarding my Malaysia visits. And I think, it is already a standard operating procedure that I got "another" serial code on my belongings.
First, I was directed in line for inspection of luggages. An airport employee opened up my luggage and looked for I-don't-know-what in my belongings. When nothing was found on the sides of luggage, she began inspecting the clothes inside and put aside the scarf intended as pasalubong for Mama Ed - maybe because of the checkered print resembles the Muslim's ghotra? (Good thing the head security staff cleared it.) After that, she accompanied me to the check in counter, different from my companions, and never left me until my luggage was checked in and the boarding pass was issued.
I thought that was it, but again in the immigration area, I was directed to another queue wherein the same procedure conducted in Bangkok was done (but now infront of me) before I get to the immigration counter.
The "Code S" experience was really stressful but, I totally undertand that they are just following a standard procedure to ensure security. That is how the Israeli's protect their nation :)
posted from Bloggeroid
Too cautious, eh?! :)
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