Just Say NO to Giant African Snails

On Thursday evening, after a wonderful week in France, I caught a plane home for break! The flight was delayed however, for two hours on the runway because the pilot was doing a routine inspection around the plane and accidently hit his head! A standby pilot then had to come in, which is the reason for the delay. But after that, the flight was fine. The plane wasn't full and the seat next to me was empty, which is a real gift! I was able to stretch out over the two seats and sleep for most of the flight.

When I landed in Philadelphia and went through customs they asked me where my home was. I really couldn't answer, and had to think for a minute about how to reply. "How do you define 'live'?" I asked him. "I have legal residency in the UK, a passport from the US, an old permanent address in Princeton Jct., a new one in Cranbury.... I don't know where I live!"

In response to my uncertainty, I was then sent through a gauntlet of additional security checks. (I guess they figure that someone who doesn't know where she lives must be a security threat to someone!) My particular favorite was the "agricultural" security wing, where the posters instruct you to NOT bring in any giant African snails- I made a mental note of that. I was asked if I had had any recent contact with cows or other livestock- (nope!)- and/or was carrying any raw or cooked meat- (yikes! I surely hope not!)

Once customs was assured that I was not a hoof and mouth disease carrying agent, I was set free into the US! Yay!