Okay, so when I first planned on writing this entry.. I was going to talk about how I almost got mugged walking through Barri Gotic with Molly one Saturday night. What happened was I broke my own rule. Normally when walking at night, you only talk look or face people that you know. That’s my rule. It keeps me safe. I then broke it.
We walked past two guys who I thought were drunk, in an effort to leave us alone I turned to say something to them and one guy grabbed my hand and started to dance with me while another one got between Molly and I and got on the other side. When someone is holding your thumb… there’s really not too much that you can do. Luckily I can still function with my left hand, and I must say, the carnies at the Ulster County Fair had better watch out because I got some good Whack-a-Mole practice. They went for one pocket I whacked their hand away, they went for another, the same thing until finally they realized that I was onto their game and they gave up.
The next time that something of the sort happened it wasn’t nearly as funny.
A few nights later Becky had her purse stolen while we were in a club, it was awful. She lost her T-Jove (104 euro metro card), digital camera, house keys, ISIC card and a couple other things.. Luckily she didn’t have credit cards or anything, but still, to realize the shock of the matter that someone just stole something from you is ridiculous. The skill here is crazy but definitely applied all wrong.
Two nights later we all went out for her 21st birthday. On the way there our friend Louise told us a story from a few days earlier that went something like this..
I was walking to class in the pouring rain when a man with a map said “perdon.” I tried to be the Good Samaritan by going over, thinking that he needed directions, but when I got there I realized that he had a gun behind the map. I told him that I didn’t have any money on me, which was true. So he said to me (in Spanish) “Just the umbrella.” So I went back home to get a new umbrella and told my host mom what happened, and her only response was, “You’ll get used to it, ‘No pasa nada’ (Don’t worry about it)”
THAT is why I could never live here. Not because it isn’t a beautiful city, or because I don’t like the language. I just couldn’t live somewhere so dangerous
A whenever-I-get-around-to-it account of my travels in Barcelona and the rest of Spain and Europe. Including pictures, experiences and random happenings during my time abroad.
2 comments:
it made me nervous reading that entry.
please stay safe and come home in one peace.
-L
Hi Ryan,
Very interesting entries! As someone who's about to lead students in Spain again, it's always helpful to be reminded of the darker possibilities. I will share your stories with the group to make sure they understand that my rules aren't silly.
Almost all of my Spanish friends have been robbed. Mama Manoli had her purse snatched some years ago by two guys on a motorcycle - one with an exacto type knife, the other driving - they just swoop by, cut the strap, and take off. My friend Javier had his car stolen from a mall parking lot.
At least for now, living around here has some very profound advantages.
But don't let these experiences ruin your time there - just be smart, be alert and try not to be alone. Groups are good.
Sr.
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