Friday during the day was uneventful, and the evening was all too eventful.
Went from work to dinner, from dinner to yoga. It was the same instructor as Wednesday, the one I had for my first hot yoga class and who likes me, so (this isn't going to make sense to some of you and it will make perfect sense to others) I was a little bit dreading her realizing I was in her class yet again. And then she was in the hallway when I came in. And THEN we ended up waiting outside the classroom at the same time, so we chatted. (She's really nice...from Thailand, used to live in New York, just moved into a new apartment and can't wait for her boyfriend to visit so they can go to IKEA.) And then I find out I'm the only person signed up for the class. Sweet. I mean, I know it actually was, and it was good to get some personal attention (good for my concentration too) but not normally the kind of thing I would seek out. Good overall, though.
Took myself out for dessert, then started walking towards the bus stop when my ipod was stolen. I almost hate to tell you guys about it, because just like I feel like everything good that happens here gets magnified when I share it with all of you, I think the bad things do too. I just feel so stupid; I don't try to be the naive tourist who is an obvious target for theft. Really, I don't. But I guess I let down my guard...was listening and crossing the street, with the ipod in the outer, velcro pouch of my computer case. By the time I got across I realized the music had stopped and found the ipod missing, but it took me crossing back over and hearing from the people who were sitting around that two girls had run off with it to actually convince me I'd been robbed. They were pointing enthusiastically so I ran in that direction for a bit, but it was obviously fruitless. Although I knew it would be just as pointless, I called the police at the suggestion of these bystanders, and a couple of officers came on their motorcycles. They did a quick sweep of the area, but there was pretty clearly nothing to be done.
One officer took me to the police station on his motorcycle, and I spent longer than I would have liked there waiting in line and answering questions in Chinglish. The whole thing would have been a lot harder if I hadn't convinced them I could understand mandarin, I think...they walked me through the report they'd written up, and I was able to understand it enough to state that I could read it and it was the truth. My intuition in times like these is to look distressed and assume people will be more helpful, but that wasn't kicking in. I just went through the motions. Took a taxi home.
It really is just the principle of the thing. Yes, it's a valuable item that I really love, and I would feel less stupid if they'd only stolen, like, my sunglasses, but it could have been something a lot harder to replace...like my wallet, or passport, or even my phone would have been worse I think. It won't kill me to hear a little bit more of the sounds of the city for my last few weeks here...I could easily buy a new ipod or mp3 player, but I'm really hesitant to jump into that.
I just wonder why it is that it is impossible for us to learn some things simply by being told...I mean, this isn't some deep lesson about the ways of the world, it's just BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR VALUABLES. I'm a smart girl. Why couldn't I have listened a little better? I hope for every time I do something stupid like this I do 10 generally intelligent things. At least.
Ay ay ay. Life lessons in China. That's what it's all about.
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6 comments:
Don't feel too bad, Ali. Remember, the thieves are really at fault. In fact, due to this event I think I'll stay home instead of going to the Olympics next summer.
Plus, now you can get a new iPod!
I love that those people just like, watched it happen. The same thing happens in India.
But, come on, who doesn't want an excuse to get a new ipod? And you are right- at least it wasn't something really important or irreplaceable. (Is it just me, or did that song just pop into your head?)
I'll take your lesson and learn it myself. I mean, I'm planning on bring my iPod to Russia -- now I'll think of you when I use in in public. Hooray?
Yeah, the thing is, you can't be paying attention to everything at once. That's part of that "human" thing you are. Smart people get robbed every day, may of them, as you said, of things that are harder to replace. Matt lost his ATM card and there were thousands of dollars charged on it by the time he canceled and it took a month to get it sorted out. So really, you're a) not dumb, and b) not alone.
Sorry that you lost your iPod, Ali, but it was a lesson learned at compatively little cost. That's assuming it didn't contain any personal info, esp. your SSN.
oh sweetie i'm so sorry your ipod got stolen! so much good music on there, but don't you worry, i'll be sure to make you PLENTY of new On-The-Go mixes when you get a new one... and you know what? my ipod is "corrupted" and totally broke down, so we both have to get new ipods! we are like cosmic sisters. <3
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