I went over to Canada to go visit some friends and goto the casino.  The Border ninjas were amazing pricks.  No hello, no common courtesy, nothing.  Basically, the JBTs yells at me to give him my passport then wants my ID to double check.  Then he throws the stuff back and sneers at me to get going.  This has happened multiple time to other people I know as well. This nurse that I work with had her lunch confiscated! The American guys were strict but greeted you with hello. And added sir or madam after every question. Much more professional.  The Canucks obviously dont appreciate how many American dollars flow toward their country. Probably pissed they are not going to get any contracts.

Dude, you have no idea what I have gone thru on my many trips INTO THIS COUNTRY before I became a permanent resident.
My immigration experience was no more pleasant.
Your's is one of the very few stories I have heard about the reverse being true.
US Customs,and INS are staffed by humorless assholes for the most part. JMHO.

I think things have changed in the last few years.  I used to goto Canada once a week and they were the truly the nices border guards. Very helpful with directions etc.  But the last few visits have really demonstrated a different attitude.  I guess they are mad we wont take the trash from Toronto anymore.

I have only been to Canada once and it was ten years ago.  They were dicks.  Coming back the Amercians were nice.  This was only once however.

Just put on a turban.  Then they won't even see you.

They have no sense of humor either.  Trust me on this.

Hoppy

I have friends in New Brunswick and have been through the boardertwice now.  Both times were fine.  The guys were wonderful.
I did have a small problem the first time though.
When I pulled up the customs guy just said that the boarder was closed and that I'd have to go back.  I was dumbfounded and asked "WHAT?" and he said that they were on strike and that I had to go back.
He then laughed and said that he was kidding.
I thought at first that had hit one of the boarder crossings that wasn't 24/7, we havea few here.


BISHOP

Many years ago, when I lived in Detroit, we used to drive to Windsor for the weekend.  We always had more hassle getting back into the country than leaving.  Things must have changed in the last 10 years.

The first time I drove to Canada was over 5 years ago.  I was pulled over, asked to get out of the car and practically strip searched by two of the largest women I've ever met.  The woman were kind of fun, but the guy that placed me over there was extremely rude.  I think it's the exchange rate that really gets them.

 

I agree with the no sense of humor with these guys.  I know they are doing a serious job, but wow.  One time when I was young I was in my corvette going across the border. The guy asked whose car it was. I told him it was mine. He asked 8-9 times more. So I asked him if he was deaf and that he was a jackass.  Mind you this was in my younger years.  His head looked like it was going to explode.  He made me pull over and the 2 other guys searched the car but were really nice guys.  They were even laughing at this guy.  With the polarization with drug laws, Iraq and other social issues, its going to get bery interesting with our northern neighbors.  Not to mention their border is a seive and alot of those chinese illegals come through Canada.

I drive into Canada fairly frequently.  The Canadian border guards have always been somewhere between very nice to very laid back and I've never had a problem with them.

The American border guards have fallen somewhere between complete assholes and annoying bastards, but never one I would consider "pleasant" or courteous.

So my experience is the opposite of yours.

The last time I went was about 4 years ago. I crossed into New Brunswick from Maine. No problems at all. The people were very nice coming and going.