Stav teacher causes international airport security alert!
Published: Fri, 05/17/13
Okay, I am exaggerating a little but I did trigger the security
system when I tried to smuggle about half a pint of water through
the carry on baggage check. I really didn't mean to. I like
to drink some water on a long flight so that I don't get
dehydrated (and United Airlines don't dish out free alcholic
drinks like British Airways do, Miki, please note next time you are
booking me on a flight). So I take a bottle of water and drink it
before going through the security check and then fill it up again
on the other side. At Heathrow there are lots of signs reminding
you not to take liquids through the security check but not at
Washington Dulles Airport so I forgot to drink my potentially
lethal water before my bag went through the scanner. The water was
in an aluminum bottle and still the machine picked it up. The lady
who then searched my bag simply suggested I step to one side, drink
the water and go through again, which I did, so no big deal really.
So I am not writing this from a high security cell where I am
being held as a terrorist.
But, in case you thought all that scanning was just an act to
impress the traveling public it does actually work. I can sort of
understand how they might spot a solid metal object like a knife or
a gun (I once forgot I had my multi tool in my bag and that got
spotted) but water in a metal bottle? Thats beyond me to explain
(although I expect one of my readers can).
Anyway, everything went more or less to plan and near enough to
timetable and I had a great time in the USA. It was wonderful to
see everyone again and thanks to Miki for organising everything,
Therissa for hosting at her beautiful house, Josh and Stewart for
driving up from North Carolina and Val for making it too. We did
some really good training and spent pleasant evenings socialising
and watching episodes of Firefly, thanks to Therissa for filling
such a serious gap in Stewart's cultural education.
But, apart from meeting up with some great people, what is the
point of my going all the way to the USA to teach Stav? One of the
main benefits of training with an experienced instructor is that
they can spot the details which make all the difference between
just going through the motions and something that is actually
effective. Stav is about being aware of the lines of the web and
working with the principles. But just like it needs a very special
machine to "see" water in metal canister inside a bag it
needs someone well trained and experienced to see whether or not a
student is working with the lines or not. Ivar guided me towards
seeing the lines for myself many years ago and I am now doing the
same for others. I am glad to say I saw good progress towards this
goal during the weekend just past.
For an opportunity in the UK to learn or practise some Stav we are
training this Sunday afternoon in Crewkerne and on the 15th of June
in Salisbury http://www.iceandfire.org.uk/forthcoming.html