The last day I was in Dakar we took public transit to the Peace Corps office and I got my purse stolen with all my electronics, money and Peace Corps ID. I only noticed it after I had already switched buses, so it would have been impossible to find the culprit even though I know which guy it was....
When I got on the bus I put my purse in my backpack and my backpack on the floor of the bus next to me. Then I switched seats, but I could still see my bag. He must have taken it when I wasn't paying attention. Regardless, he went into my backpack, snagged my purse and got off. Luckily, my passport and computer were still in my backpack!! But everything else was in there: cellphone, camera, ipod, $40, bank cards, ID...it was a pain to have to stay in Dakar an extra day and run around trying to get things sorted out.
Inch'Allah, everything will fall back into place and that won't happen again. I let my guard down and thought that everyone who greeted me is a decent person. I had the Fuuta mentality in a city that is akin to NYC, Paris etc. Some people in Dakar are hungry, desperate etc and I just forgot about that I guess. Good life lesson learned.
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2 comments:
Ouch. Sorry to hear that! I'm impressed by the calm attitude with which you're handling it, though.
sorry, marisa! i had my wallet taken on the ferry in the gambia, and it seems like every other volunteer i know has had something stolen. welcome to the club. hope you got everything straightened out -- that's no fun. but i'm enjoying your stories :) keep it up!
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