I’m in denial big time. It’s not even the end of October and the temperatures have plummeted in Chicago so much that I’ve noticed neighbors wearing their heavy winter jackets already.
And while I’m no friend of the cold, I just can’t imagine going for my down jacket quite yet. It’s not even Halloween.
Luckily, last year at this time I vacationed in Montreal with two sisters-in-law and stocked up on warm-weather clothing, including a sleeping bag of winter jacket with a hood that puts that kid’s on South Park to shame.
In fact, I bought so much in Montreal last year that I was stopped at customs and taken into a small room with other violators of the customs regulations.
When it was my turn to go to the counter, I stood in front of my suitcase as the customs officer opened it and rummaged through my new purchases. Five dresses, a pair of boots, a pair of sheepskin slippers, a few t-shirts, yoga pants, a pair of moose stuffed animals, and the above-mentioned winter coat.
“Is this Canada Goose?” he said, pulling out the coat.
I’d seen this brand advertised on billboards in Montreal, but had no idea it was so expensive. Or so heavily trafficked.
“No,” I replied and pointed to the brand name on the shoulder.
“You know you can’t buy this much without paying customs tax?”
I’m hopeless in unplanned situations like this, so I smiled meekly and replied, “I’m from Chicago and need to be prepared for the worst winter ever. It could happen this year.”
The officer must have felt sorry for me, or thought I wasn’t going to re-sell my clothes (no way!). So he let me off without a fine.
It turned out that we had a mild winter in Chicago last year.
But I know I’ll be prepared this year.
I was once stopped at customs in Frankfurt. They had me open my backpack and discovered it was full of Chinese-language study books. The officer asked me if I was studying Chinese and when I said yes he seemed to be impressed and let me walk on (not that it’s illegal to carry books bought in China).
I don’t really like cold weather that much, but I do miss the change of seasons here in Shenzhen (I have even started missing winter).
We’re expecting a sunny day in Seattle after the morning fog lifts. I’m hoping winter will wait a few more weeks so we can enjoy the fall color.
Sounds like ideal weather! I have a friend here in Chicago from Seattle and she says the weather there is 1000 times better than in Chicago, rain reputation or not!
Which side of the border were you stopped on? I can’t quite put my head around the idea of having to pay tax on an item I’d already paid tax on previously…
Then again, I live in a place where tax is in the same bracket as The Tooth Fairy and Yetis….
It’s gotten bloody cold fast here, too!
I’ll be glad when they turn the radiators on.
Rug up warm in your coat!
Interesting you should ask! It was in Montreal, but at US Customs. Yes, the US has their customs officers in Montreal, Vancouver, and even Shannon, Ireland. So the officers at the initial check were both Canadian and from the US. Once I was sent to the little room, they were all from the US. But they hadn’t eaten poutine, so I was a little disappointed by that. How can you live in Montreal, no matter where you come from, and not try poutine?