E-VITA

A is half Greek. Her mother is Austrian and the family has lived in Vienna when she was a child. Of course, they often travelled back and forth to Greece on holidays or to meet with relatives. When travelling by car, they would usually choose to go through Italy and as a result they would have to cross national borders twice (Greece- Italy, Italy-Austria) and undergo strict border controls (of travel documents, luggage etc)

At the time before the EU specific rules were in effect defining exactly what could be transported in or out of each country and what could not. Border police would therefore ask travelers questions, search cars and even open up luggage in order to examine its contents.

The family, having strong ties with both countries, would often buy things to bring as presents to their friends and relatives in Greece or receive gifts to take back home to Vienna. Every time they would have to explain to border policemen what was in the packages and what it was for. A simple explanation was not always sufficient. On one occasion, the border policeman was not satisfied with the response that the package contained just a pottery vase. Instead, he lifted the package up and started shaking it, in an effort to understand what was really in it.

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