曾於網路上聽說了很多關於入境美國的傳聞，像是海關抓著很多小細節盤查，甚至被帶到小房間問話等等。今天搭14個小時、配兩部電影《夏日的檸檬草》和《小雁與吳愛麗》的長榮航空後，在喬治．布希洲際機場（George Bush Intercontinental Airport）完成了第一次入境美國，覺得其實沒有大家想像中的那麼可怕，只要順順按著以下三個步驟便可以順利離開機場。
入境美國步驟一：過海關
下飛機之後，按指示就可以輕鬆走到海關（customs），通常會在海關前的隊伍排好一陣子。這時候，可以善用機場的Wi-Fi和親朋好友報平安，確認稍後的交通與住宿。等到移動至隊伍前方時，準備好護照與登機證，其他簽證相關文件也先放L夾備著。
由於我和另一位同計畫的錄取者同行，而他排在我前面一位過海關，所以被問了許多旅程的細節，例如來美國做什麼、有沒有同伴、有沒有買回程機票、住在哪裡，這一切都照實回答不會有太大的問題。大家如果英文比較沒那麼流利的話，可以事先擬答這幾題，心中順過稿後當下便能較為放鬆。
輪到我過海關時，由於同伴已經告知我們的旅程，所以他沒有詢問任何相關問題。打招呼後劈頭第一句問我平常做什麼工作的，當知道我教過高中英文後，很好奇台灣學校是否會教英文的寫作和文法，他舉例說like, how to use comma, period … ，其實如同我們很難想像國外華語教學的進行方式。閒聊的同時，他盯著電腦核對我的資料，然後請我對著鏡頭笑一個拍張照，拍完後說You need to work on this.快笑死。接著來到按壓指紋的環節，先按右手四根手指，換右手大拇指、左手大拇指，最後是左手四根手指。一開始我還想了一下right fingers是哪隻手，海關就開玩笑說這應該放進我回去應該要教學生的課程裡頭。在歡欣愉悅的氛圍中，我就這樣過了美國海關，比想像中輕鬆許多。
入境美國步驟二：領行李
這步驟應該跟在任何機場領取行李的方式都一模模一樣樣，走到行李轉盤附近後，先看螢幕確認班機對應到哪組行李轉盤，在去標示的那組轉盤找到自己的行李。推薦大家託運行李都要綁一個顯眼的束帶提高辨識度，並且記得在託運前用手機拍個照以防萬一。拿取行李的時候確認航班和姓名是否正確，否則拿錯就糗大了。
入境美國步驟三：找到離開機場的方式
最後的步驟三其實很廢話，卻是我們今天費最多神的地方。考量到抵達時間和住宿地點後，我們在台灣候機時便先預約了Uber，希望可以盡早check in訂購的Airbnb。領完行李找尋上車地點時，我們看著Uber app顯示的位置，但怎麼走都找不到。我們甚至被標示引導到了五樓的停車場，花了十幾分鐘才意識到應該是要去二樓的ride app pickup。
《夏日的檸檬草》裡頭，程奕和曉夏在一起不久後便遭遇離別，程奕被媽媽帶回美國。曉夏當時的心聲是這樣的：「不知道，是不是我追程奕追過頭了，不小心超越了他13小時，我變成程奕的未來，程奕則成為了我的過去。」
如此湊巧，我現在身處的休士頓和台灣時差正好是13個小時。我不曉得程奕是否和我落腳同個城市（或是電影有講但我忽略了），但看著劇中那些因為沒有說出口而產生的遺憾，我希望可以把於休士頓的所見所聞在這個網站記錄下來，不論是給其他人或是未來的自己參考都相當值得。
Day 1 June 9 First Entry into the US
I’ve heard a lot of rumors on the internet about entering the US, such as being interrogated by the Customs and Border Protection, or even being taken to a small room for questioning. Today, after a 14-hour flight on EVA Air with two movies, “I Am The Secret In Your Heart” and “Yen and Ai-Lee”, I arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and completed my first entry into the United States. In fact, I don’t think that this entry is as scary as everyone imagined. If you follow the three steps below, you will be able to smoothly leave the airport.
Step 1: Going Through Customs
After getting off the plane, follow the instructions and you can easily walk to the Customs, where there is usually a long line in front of the customs. At this point, you can make use of the Wi-Fi at the airport to chat with your friends and family and confirm your transportation and accommodation. When you get to the front of the line, get your passport and boarding pass ready, and put your other visa-related documents in a file folder as well.
Since I was traveling with another applicant from the same program, who was one step ahead of me at the customs, she was asked a lot of questions about the details of our trip, such as what we would be doing in the US, whether she had a companion, whether we bought a return ticket, and where we would be staying, all of which should be answered truthfully. Then it can’t be too problematic. If you are not fluent in English, you can prepare your answers to these questions in advance, so that you can be more relaxed after you have gone through the draft.
When it was my turn to go through the customs, the official didn’t ask me any questions about our journey. The first thing he asked me after greeting me was what I usually do, and when he found out that I had taught English in high school, he wondered if English writing and grammar were taught in Taiwanese schools, and he cited examples like, how to use comma, period …. As we chatted, he stared at the computer to check my information, then asked me to smile for the camera and take a picture, then said, “You need to work on this.” Then it was time for the fingerprinting session, first four fingers on the right hand, then the right thumb, left thumb, and finally four fingers on the left hand. At first, I thought for a while about which hand is the right fingers, and the customs office joked that this should be included in the curriculum I need to teach my students. In a joyful atmosphere, I went through the U.S. Customs, and it was much easier than I thought to be.
Step 2: Claiming Baggage
This step should be exactly the same as claiming your luggage at any airport. When you get to the baggage carousel, look at the screen to see which set of baggage carousels your flight goes to, and then go to the marked set of carousels to find your luggage. It is recommended that you tie a conspicuous belt to your checked baggage to enhance identification, and remember to take a picture with your cell phone before checking in, just in case. Make sure your flight and name are correct when you pick up your baggage, otherwise you will be embarrassed if you get the wrong one.
Step 3: Finding a Way Out of the Airport
Mentioning Step 3 is actually quite a waste of time, but it’s where we spent most of our time today. Having Taken into account our arrival time and accommodation, we booked an Uber while we were waiting for our flight in Taiwan, hoping to check in to our Airbnb as early as possible, and after collecting our luggage and looking for our pick up point, we looked at the Uber app for the location but couldn’t find it no matter how far we went. We were even directed to the parking lot on the 5th floor, and it took us almost 20 minutes to realize that we were supposed to go to the ride app pickup on the 2nd floor.
In the movie “I Am The Secret In Your Heart,” Cheng Yi and Xiaoxia were separated soon after they got together, and Cheng Yi was taken back to the States by his mother. Xiaoxia’s heartfelt words at the time were: “I don’t know if I went too far in chasing Cheng Yi and accidentally overtook him for 13 hours. I became Cheng Yi’s future, and Cheng Yi became my past.”
Coincidentally, the time difference between Houston, where I am now, and Taiwan is exactly 13 hours. I don’t know if Ching Yih and I landed in the same city (or if the movie did point it out but I happened to overlook it), but looking at the regrets those characters have because they didn’t say it out loud, I hope that I can record in details what I saw and heard in Houston on this website, which is worthwhile for other people or for my future self to refer to.
