Of course I greet them. I don't expect anything in return.

We just returned from Milan, coming into Miami. The immigration is all automated, but customs requires a quick pass through a real human. We said "Boungiorno", really just because we had been conditioned over the past three weeks. The man perked up and started chatting, asking us where we went in Milan, turns out its his hometown.

I think they are all just humans, sometimes bored, sometimes happy, sometimes dealing with stuff at home. A hello is the least we can offer...

Now the guys with sub-machineguns... just smile and move on.

Dave

I always greet airport officials, I think it would be odd not to. But recently the most miserable immigration person was at Montreal airport, what a curmudgeon he was...

US customs, security. I've found them unpleasant up until 9/11, at which point they became pleasant for a few years except when I was travelling with non-WASPs at which point they went back to being Marines. So not an Obama trigger at all.

ann: >>Conceivably there is no common experience, just anecdote.<<

Of course. But the flanners of the world remain convinced that "here's what happened to me (or, worse, "what I heard") so it must be universal."

I've encountered friendly customs officials, dour ones, and those in between. Same with bus drivers, store clerks, and just about anyone else in the human race.

I've encountered friendly customs officials, dour ones, and those in between. Same with bus drivers, store clerks, and just about anyone else in the human race.>>

V - quite.

Hi, I think this is a very funny string. If you think some of these countries are weird try Kinshasa, Zaire. There they all seem to have some little scam going on to make a few bucks. Also in Russia some unfortunate passport control areas have individuals who may have just "made it" out of the gulag". I suspect these are not uplifting jobs, but some have turned it into a money making career. Sue

No Sue they are criminals.