Experienced Security Guard

By Jian Shuo Wang on 2010-03-26 23:50 · Pudong Airport

Let me record the experienced I had in Pudong airport before I forgot.

At the X-ray security check machine, a female security guard is supervising people to put their stuff into the machine. This is the conversation.

Before I put the bag there, she asked: “Do you have a laptop?” I pulled my laptop out of the bag.

She asked: Anything in your pocket? I used my left hand to pull the wallet from my pocket.

“Phone?” She asked prompted. I got my phone from the other pocket.

“Coins left in your pocket?” She is right again. I got two 1 RMB coins. I laughed.

Then she said without any emotion: “You can go now.” She is right again. I have nothing in my pocket or hand at that time.

Hmmm… This lady is very experienced.

4 Comments

But you're not a very experienced flyer. While waiting in line, I already start taking things out of my pockets and putting them into my pack. Separately, I think putting your wallet, coins an phone inside your pack is safer than putting it in an open tray.

— asdfsdafdsf · 2010-03-27 02:28

Must be X-ray vision. Airport security technology these days...

I put everything into my pack at the security line also.

— DKwan · 2010-03-27 10:21

So you were holding up the line the whole time? You fly regularly right? So you should know to take those things out before it's your turn.

— Anna · 2010-03-27 19:53

The interesting part about the security check at Chinese airport is, they have extra staff everywhere to provide help that you never need. What I wrote is a perfect example.

The reason I felt it is so funny is, the girl is just like narration when I did that. We are still far away from the X-ray machine. Even without that girl's "prompt help", everyone can do it. She just stood there, and repeated the same thing to every passenger. I guess what she said is exactly what she *see* others doing, not passengers do it because what the girl said.

It is like the scenario that when you got an ice cream, the vendor told you: "Use the scoop with your right hand". You did. "Get a scoop of ice cream". You did, and before you put it into your mouth, he says: "open your mouth, and put it in". So you did! If he predict: "Don't look at me. Look at the ice cream already dropped on your shirt!" and it did happened, you will write a blog with title: "Experienced Ice Cream Vendor". Or with the title: "The Help that I Never Needed"

— Jian Shuo Wang · 2010-03-28 00:03