ESL Podcast 925 - Going Through Customs
passport - an official government document that allows one to travel internationally, with pages for stamps each time one enters or exits a country
Do Americans need to have a passport to travel to Canada?
final destination - the place where one is going, not the one or more stops on one's journey
Our final destination is Madison, Wisconsin, but first we have to change planes in Houston, Texas.
stay - the period of time when one is in a particular place, especially during a vacation or a business trip
How long was your stay in the resort?
on business - traveling for work, not for pleasure
Rick is traveling on business, but he will reply to your email once he's back in the office later this week.
to accompany (someone) - to go with someone; to provide companionship to someone; to do something with another person
In some countries, women are not allowed to be in public unless they are accompanied by a male relative.
on vacation - traveling for pleasure, relaxation, and enjoyment, not for work
We both gained a lot of weight while on vacation, because we ate in restaurants every day.
restricted items - things that are not allowed, or that have limitations or rules
Knives, scissors, aerosol cans, and fireworks are all restricted items on airplanes.
to declare - to make an official statement, especially to let a customs official know that one is carrying something of interest while traveling
Why do we have to declare how much money we're bringing into the country?
duty-free - without taxes being included in the price of things one buys
A lot of people on the flight purchased duty-free alcohol and cigarettes.
to step over - to move to the side; to go in a particular direction
Please step over here, sir, and let me show you some of our best luxury watches.
exam station - a large table or a small area where people can thoroughly examine something, especially a place where people review the items inside suitcases in an airport
Tomio works in an exam station at the airport, and he has some interesting stories about the crazy things some people pack when they travel internationally.
baggage inspection - the process of opening a suitcase and reviewing all the items inside it to determine whether people are carrying things that are not allowed
Dogs that can smell illegal drugs are an important part of baggage inspections at the airport.
to confiscate - to use one's authority to take something from a person against that person's wishes
If you take knitting needles on an airplane, the flight attendant might confiscate them so you can't use them as a weapon.
to get off scot-free - to not receive any punishment for one's bad behavior; to break the rules without any negative consequences
If that criminal gets off scot-free, it's a clear sign that our justice system isn't working.
to smuggle (something) in - to bring something that is not allowed under the laws or rules, especially when crossing international borders
Sometimes people smuggle in drugs by swallowing small plastic bags filled with cocaine.