So after falling and cutting up my head and all that, today I decided to do something I knew deep in my heart I should not do. I just knew it and I did it anyway.
I went to Ikea. On a Saturday. Just before Spring Festival. To buy cheap wine glasses.
Even before I realized what had happened, I looked around and realized that Ikea in Beijing on a Saturday is one of Dante's circles of hell. Crowds, pushing, chaos.
But it wasn't until we were in the cab on the way home that I realized just which circle of hell I had experienced. Fraud. The eighth circle. Because as I reached into my purse to put my hat and gloves inside I realized it was unusually light. My wallet was missing.
Not only was I out about 600 RMB, but I lost all my credit cards, my driver's license, and all those other little things that make life easier. As we got home and started calling banks, we realized that the thieves had already tried to use the cards. We stopped that. And the good news is I still have my passport and my dear iPhone.
Now those cheap wineglasses were going to cost us a little more than I expected. But then I put it in context. This week my brother lost a dear friend to a sudden heart attack at 54, and Bob lost a childhood friend, also to a heart attack, at 62.
So, yes, it was a shitty week all around. And just earlier today I had been talking about how China requires you to keep your guard up, all the time. I guess I should start taking my own advice.
But in the grand scheme of things, a stolen wallet is just a stolen wallet.
I went to Ikea. On a Saturday. Just before Spring Festival. To buy cheap wine glasses.
Even before I realized what had happened, I looked around and realized that Ikea in Beijing on a Saturday is one of Dante's circles of hell. Crowds, pushing, chaos.
But it wasn't until we were in the cab on the way home that I realized just which circle of hell I had experienced. Fraud. The eighth circle. Because as I reached into my purse to put my hat and gloves inside I realized it was unusually light. My wallet was missing.
Not only was I out about 600 RMB, but I lost all my credit cards, my driver's license, and all those other little things that make life easier. As we got home and started calling banks, we realized that the thieves had already tried to use the cards. We stopped that. And the good news is I still have my passport and my dear iPhone.
Now those cheap wineglasses were going to cost us a little more than I expected. But then I put it in context. This week my brother lost a dear friend to a sudden heart attack at 54, and Bob lost a childhood friend, also to a heart attack, at 62.
So, yes, it was a shitty week all around. And just earlier today I had been talking about how China requires you to keep your guard up, all the time. I guess I should start taking my own advice.
But in the grand scheme of things, a stolen wallet is just a stolen wallet.
Well, what can I say?! Just...
ReplyDeleteCount on me!
Thanks so much Marcio. It's all uphill from here...so to speak.
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