Land Exchange
A transcontinental journey of two pots of soil.
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Valencia, California, United States of America
Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, France
Route Map
Timeline
2022-6-5
(yyyy-mm-dd, ISO 8601 date format)
Coordinate：34°23’27’’N - 118°33’51’’W
I collected a pot of soil under a tree at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, California, USA.
Soil and shovel
Collecting Soil
The tree in CalArts
CalArts in Valencia
2022-6-8
Coordinate：34°10’53’’N - 118°27’04’’W
I started my transcontinental road trip from where I live, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA.
My car for the road trip
2022-7-23
Coordinate：42°18’42’’N - 83°04’26’’W
I entered Ontario, Canada via Ambassador Bridge at Detroit-Windsor Land Border.
Ambassador Bridge
Border Crossing
After interrogating me, the Canadian border officials told me to drive to the border office for further inspection. They searched my car and found pepper spray that I had purchased in the United States. One officer said I had not declared the weapon entering Canada and they had the authority to arrest me, but they chose to give me a pass this time. I then went to the immigration office where another officer gave me a receipt for the confiscated pepper spray, and after further interrogation, I was admitted to Canada. They did not find the pot of soil from California that I had hidden in my car.
Receipt of confiscation
2022-8-16
Coordinate：46°12’36’’N - 60°14’45’’W
I entered Newfoundland via a ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia.
North Sydney, Nova Scotia
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador
2022-8-22
Coordinate：47°04’26’’N - 55°49’46’’W
I entered French territory St.Pierre via a ferry from Fortune, Newfoundland
Canada France Border
2022 St.Pierre Documentary
Ferry tickets
2022-8-24
Coordinate：46°47’49’’N - 56°09’39’’W
I placed the soil I brought from the United States in St. Pierre, France and installed a United States flag that I bought in the United States. I put the French soil that I dug up back into the pot.
I then returned to Canada by ferry.
Canada Border only asked some questions and did not search my car.
Canada Declaration Card
Canada France Border
2022-8-25
Coordinate：47°17’24’’N - 53°59’’33W
I returned to Nova Scotia by ferry from Argentia, Newfoundland.
There was a Plant Quarantine Inspection Station at the port, and the staff asked me some questions and let me go. They did not search my car
Newfoundland Border Crossing
Ferry ticket
2022-8-27
Coordinate:45°09’39’’N - 67°18’09’’W
I entered Maine, United States via the St.Stephen-Calais border in New Brunswick.
Unlike Canadian Border, the United States Customs and Border Protection does not allow video recording.
After checking my documents, the border officer just asked me a few questions. They did not search my car.
2022-9-7
I was pulled over by a Highway Patrol officer for speeding on I-10 in Sutton County, Texas.
The officer asked me a few questions after I gave him my documents, and the officer gave me a citation for speeding.
The officer did not search my car.
I hired an attorney for $185 using the app Off The Record. The attorney sent a letter to the court and the court sent me a deferral offer. I have to pay the $334 Deferral fee and complete the Texas Driver’s Safety Course, and if I don’t have any other ticket within the deferral ticket, my speeding ticket will be dismissed. I took the Texas Driver’s Safety Course for $25 online. My first ever speeding ticket cost me $544, but there is no record, so my auto insurance will not go up.
2022-9-8
Coordinate：32°15’00’’N - 107’’07’'15’’W
I was stopped at the Border Patrol Checkpoint on I-10 in New Mexico, USA.
After asking if I am a US citizen or a permanent resident, the border patrol officer pulled me over and ask me to show my documents to prove my legal status in the US.
After checking my documents, they let me go.
They did not search my car.
I asked the border officer why there is a checkpoint here. He said it is because it is close to the Mexico border and they want to ensure that people don’t smuggle into the US.
New Mexico US Border Patrol Checkpoint
2022-9-9
Coordinate：33°36‘17’‘N - 114°31‘50’‘W
I entered California from Arizona via I-10.
As I drove into the California Agricultural Inspection Station, the officer signalled me to keep drive.
They did not search my car.
I think the reason why they did not check my car or ask me any questions is that my car has California plates.
California Border Crossing
2022-9-9
Coordinate：34°10’53’’N - 118°27’04’’W
I returned to my home in Van Nuys, California, and my transcontinental road trip ended.
Van Nuys
2022-11-24
Coordinate：34°23’27’’N - 118°33’51’’W
I placed the soil from St. Pierre, France, in the same location in Valencia, United States, as the soil I dug up on June 5, and installed the French flag that I purchased in St. Pierre.
Thus I completed the Land Exchange between the United States and France.
