immigration

my parents arrived from switzerland yesterday night. after a very calm flight form zurich to boston they got traumatized by immigration!
there is to mention, they speak very little english, but have been visiting us a few times over the past ten years an managed well traveling all over the world.
immigration officers can give you a hard time if they are in the mood to.... and that's what they did to my parents. every tourist entering the us has to fingerprint all his/her fingers. this did also apply to my parents, of course. my dad is missing the left pointer and this totally threw the officer out of the ordinary routine. after trying to explain, but not being understood by the impatient officer who could not find a translator for them. the officer deciding to run after a swiss flight attendant to help out. at least this solved some issues. now they had to go to a special office where an other officer would file a report about the missing finger. of course this was not the end. being escorted an other area, were already other people had to unpack their suitcases, my parents had to open all their luggage and the officers searched for what however they were looking!
my mom was of course intimidated and a bit scared, that they would have to leave all their chocolate easter bunnies and cheese fondue at the airport. but even worse was the thought, that the wonderful white scooter for naomi would have to stay at the airport too! it didn't happen, the officer searching her suitcase smiled when she saw the mounds of deliciouses chocolates, even a sheep milk chocolate (for joel) was among the goodies.
this was definitely the most interesting immigration adventure for them. spending just about 50 minutes worrying what will happen to them...