Can this be real??

[GOTTA CRUISE NOW]

don't open doors and play with equipment that isn't yours.

;)

 

 

Hee hee hee.....

 

(Sorry! Couldn't resist!):eek:

[LHP]

Yet another reminder of why I raised my kids with the following LAW:

 

If it ain't yours...don't touch it!!!!! :D

[dan40]

In October 2007 we docked at Progresso Mexico and I had met a woman online that had retired from Canada in that area. She started a food bank, started a sewing class for moms, worked in the nursing home and volunteered at a local school that was 90% poverty level. I was to meet the woman and deliver school supplies. The school had agreed to let us come to the school and meet the students. The students were expecting us and had prepared a reception. Before we left home I had made arrangements to take school supplies on the ship and to deliver them to the school myself. I met with the Pursur's office when onboard, filled out all the paperwork and was so excited to meet this amazing woman. The security desk as we were getting off would not let me off with my piece of luggage that I was rolling off. I spent the next 2 hours working with customs to prove that everything was on the up and up. They said that I could leave the ship but that I could not take the supplies with me until they had a notarized letter from the school. I rushed to meet the woman (the rest of my party had gone ahead to meet her so she would not be "stood up" and leave). We had the best morning with the students. We got to go to every grade. They had prepared drawings and essays about their culture. They served homemade pastries and coca cola. It was the best day ever! I got the necessary documents from the school. I rush back to the ship so I can get the supplies. And when I arrive there are a new set of security/customs people present. I went through the whole process again. They didn't care about the notarized letter from the school. They said that the school supplies could sit in the customs warehouse for 3 months and then the school could pick them up. I opted to bring the supplies back and donate them to the local Crisis Nursery. I was afraid that if they sat in the warehouse they would never reach the school. We were able to leave money with the school from other donors and have since shipped supplies to them. The pursur was amazing - he rallied with me.

 

The main issue was that customs could not and would not understand why we would want to donate school supplies to people we did not. I was cool. The remainder of my party who were several feet away were making bold comments. It definately was not helping the situation. I will always wonder if everyone had stayed calm if we could have won the battle that day. When in a foreign port or at sea - you must follow the rules - those written and those implied. The consequences are too risky. Why even risk spoiling a perfectly good vacation, relaxation, sun, sea, food, entertainment and memories for something so mundaine. Good can not come from it. Rules were not made to be broken. Leaders may change the rules at a moment's notice but it is not our place on vacation to challenge the at present leadership.

 

Just my humble experience and two cents!

 

In many countries, there is a "Duty" that must be paid in unusual situations. You see the person in charge, you go into a private area with that person alone and you pay the "duty" in cash. You DO NOT get a receipt.

Not a bribe, just a little something for his trouble and to grease the skids.

 

Dan

[cheshyrkat]

My impression being that it was on that "glock" site is that maybe he brought it out of the cart and swung it around as if he was holding a gun, that would get a lot of unwanted attention!

 

Who knows for sure, but a phrase keeps going through my mind as I read all of this...Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

 

I think he won the stupid prize...

[pungo3]

I do believe this story is real but there are probably two sides to the story. He almost had to do a little more than he is admitting to even if it was something he did or said during his 'interrogation'.

[Krazy Kruizers]

In October 2007 we docked at Progresso Mexico and I had met a woman online that had retired from Canada in that area. She started a food bank, started a sewing class for moms, worked in the nursing home and volunteered at a local school that was 90% poverty level. I was to meet the woman and deliver school supplies. The school had agreed to let us come to the school and meet the students. The students were expecting us and had prepared a reception. Before we left home I had made arrangements to take school supplies on the ship and to deliver them to the school myself. I met with the Pursur's office when onboard, filled out all the paperwork and was so excited to meet this amazing woman. The security desk as we were getting off would not let me off with my piece of luggage that I was rolling off. I spent the next 2 hours working with customs to prove that everything was on the up and up. They said that I could leave the ship but that I could not take the supplies with me until they had a notarized letter from the school. I rushed to meet the woman (the rest of my party had gone ahead to meet her so she would not be "stood up" and leave). We had the best morning with the students. We got to go to every grade. They had prepared drawings and essays about their culture. They served homemade pastries and coca cola. It was the best day ever! I got the necessary documents from the school. I rush back to the ship so I can get the supplies. And when I arrive there are a new set of security/customs people present. I went through the whole process again. They didn't care about the notarized letter from the school. They said that the school supplies could sit in the customs warehouse for 3 months and then the school could pick them up. I opted to bring the supplies back and donate them to the local Crisis Nursery. I was afraid that if they sat in the warehouse they would never reach the school. We were able to leave money with the school from other donors and have since shipped supplies to them. The pursur was amazing - he rallied with me.

 

The main issue was that customs could not and would not understand why we would want to donate school supplies to people we did not. I was cool. The remainder of my party who were several feet away were making bold comments. It definately was not helping the situation. I will always wonder if everyone had stayed calm if we could have won the battle that day. When in a foreign port or at sea - you must follow the rules - those written and those implied. The consequences are too risky. Why even risk spoiling a perfectly good vacation, relaxation, sun, sea, food, entertainment and memories for something so mundaine. Good can not come from it. Rules were not made to be broken. Leaders may change the rules at a moment's notice but it is not our place on vacation to challenge the at present leadership.

 

Just my humble experience and two cents!

 

I was just directed to this thread.

So sorry that things didn't work out for you.

Thankfully you got to meet the woman and see all the children.

I don't blame you for taking everything back -- you are right -- those supplies would never have made it to the children.

Glad you were able to give them a donationa and then later send them supplies.

Good for you!!!