Hi everyone.
Next week, my wife and I are going on a trip to Cancun, Mexico for a business meeting with my company. Similar to my concerns about a year ago when dealing with customs, I want to know how much of a risk I will be at for bringing my breast forms, probably the foam ones, thru customs? I'm not worried about the clothes the few clothing items since my wife will also be with me, there would be nothing to trigger any questions other then the forms my wife clearly does not need.
Seperately, what laws if any should I be aware of, keeping in mind that I will mostly be bringing night clothes for sleeping. But I also have not worn men's underwear in years.
Any specific risks? Would prefer to avoid any incidents at a company event... Though at least I know from experience that we have one FTM employee that from what I can tell has been treated well. I can't really ask him, because he is in a different location, and I am in a different situation. First I am in a role that puts me with customers regularly on site, and I'm also not planning to transition, being very content with my life with my wife and family.
Leaving next Friday, so I would appreciate any advice.
Hugs,
Kristy
Comments
Most likely, nothing will happen
if it is in the check-in baggage - the riskiest baggage through airporting. I had my dilators in when I went to Thailand; and Thai Customs didn't give it a second stare. Breast forms probably wouldn't either going through Mexico, unless they smelled like drugs.
If you are concerned with losing them, keep them with you in your carry on bag. The downside is you will have to open the bag up and everything laid out to be inspected in a tray on the roller track through the xray machine (depending on the airport and customs regulations). In that situation, you do run the risk of your wife seeing the forms. But on the good side, you know they are with you!
Sephrena
My wife is not a issue, she
My wife is not a issue, she sees my breast forms on me all the time. Co-workers on the way home would be more of a concern.
Hugs,
Kristy
I doubt that's a problem.
"In that situation, you do run the risk of your wife seeing the forms." Since "I also have not worn men's underwear in years," was included in the original I doubt his wife would be surprised he has them. I know my wife wouldn't be surprised to see mine. I too haven't worn men's underwear in decades and my wife does the wash, so what would she think I put on my C cup bra?
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann
Suggestion
A suggestion: Do what I do if I have to fly to a Pagan Gathering, many times to either teach or lead ritual. For those times I need my Atheme , a double edged knife, and that would be HARD to get onto a plane these days.
What I do is overnight UPS it to myself at the hotel I'm staying. A quick call to the hotel will have them accept and hold the package for you. If you are worried about losing them, the package can be insured!
Enjoy your trip!
Sapphire
I don't know about Mexico, but don't worry about the return
I worried several people in 2006 when I mentioned I was going to take some of my Holly stuff to Thailand and back, but nothing happened, even though my passport was in my male name and I traveled in male clothing. I had not been worried, and my friend's feelings were proven to be unfounded.
A year later I went there and back again, still using my male name passport, this time I had not male clothing, and again, nothing happened as far as my traveling in female clothing, and with my bags having nothing but female clothing.
Nothing happened, that is, except that as an unattached male traveling from Bangkok, I was randomly selected for a special inspection. I was told before I left the plane about the special inspection, and had to go to a special inspection area. The inspection was by the head of that shift, who explained that many people return from an Al Quaeda training camp in Indonesia, by sneaking there and back into Thailand by its miles of beaches.
He just lifted my clothes, a bit at a time, carefully not disturbing them, to see if I had anything hidden in them, then set them back down and closed my bag. But the next 70-90 minutes was taken looking at every image he could find on my digital camera, laptop, and beginning of each file on my camcorder, looking for images of the training camp.
Needless to say, he did not find any. But while he was searching,he asked me questions about being trans, and finally thanked me for what I'd told him and his assistant, saying he'd learned quite a bit, and was going to reinforce the application of their anti-discrimination rules about the LGBT community.
That was a couple of years before the new rules that let me now have a passport as Holly H Hart, with F as the gender, even though I am and always will be pre-op.
So I would not worry about US customs.
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
Holly
Kristy, do you have a
passport in your fem name? If so, go as Kristy. If not, pack them away in your fem attire. Or if you are afraid to take them, get others in Mexico.
May Your Light Forever Shine
Stan, As I said, this is a
Stan,
As I said, this is a company trip, and I don't want incidents with my co-workers, going dressed as Kristy would definitely be an incident.
I may not bother, and just do without for the 5 nights ...
Kristy
Nice, sunny place
I was in Cancun in May of 2004 (for SRS), as well as from July through August (for the rest of my surgeries). Didn't see much since I basically stayed in the clinic the whole time, partially to save money, but mostly because I didn't want to walk around bandaged et cetera, and because I physically couldn't move around even when the doctors gave me clearance. Plus I didn't want to stay there longer than I had to in order to save money.
But from what I saw, It was a nice place - I am sure you'll enjoy your time there. Customs-wise, I don't think you'll have problems, and since Cancun is fairly known for the plastic surgery clinics and hospitals, I'm sure breast forms et cetera in people's luggage is nothing new to them.
But what I know is circa 2004, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
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