Saturday, April 3, 2010

I dont even know what to say

Yesterday the single worst thing that could of happened to me did. I had been wanting to finally go out by myself to get to know Nairobi better and start being able to do things I actually want instead of just following someone around. So I decided Friday would be the perfect day to go to the Nairobi National Museum since it was a holiday and I didn't have to work. I got directions on what bus to take from David and I was all set. It was easy to get there. I waited a long time for a bus, I could have taken a number 46 or 4w but I wanted to wait for a 4w and after waiting like 10 minutes and letting like 6 number 46 go past I jumped on the next one and left. I was able to transfer easily to the next bus, it was a smaller mutatu and I had never been in one before let alone by myself but it was fine. The guy who takes your money made sure I got off on the right stop. I then got really lost going to the museum. I went the wrong way like 3 times and had to ask for direction twice but I eventually found it alright. The museum was definitely not as interesting as I imagined, in fact it reminded me a lot of the Oakland museum. The most interesting thing they had was a section on evolution and they had all these skeletons that were donated and found by the Leakeys which was cool, but I dont believe in evolution so it wasnt that great. I left after an hour and a half and decided to go back. I was waiting at the wrong bus station for awhile until I asked someone if I could get a bus to town from there. He kindly gave me directions to where I should be and I was once again off. I found the bus station and made it on a bus back to town. But I ended up getting off on the wrong stop and had to walk down Tom Mboya street back to where I could catch a bus back to my house. I got turned around alittle and it took me some time to figure out exactly where I was and where I needed to be going. It was really hot and I was walking around so I just took my jacket off and kept on walking. Getting a little lost is what happens when you are in a new city so I wasnt particularly panicked or anything. I was finally on the right path when I noticed this crazy looking person looking at me weird. I thought he was going to ask me for some money so I just tried to move away from them a little and keep it moving when he turned around snatched my mom's rings from the chain on my neck and ran away. I was immedietly in shock. I started shaking and when these two nice people came up to me who saw the whole thing asked me if I was okay I started crying in the middle of the street. I always wear my necklace I havent taken it off in almost four years. The two guys tried to help me find it I guess the person who stole it stays somewhere literally around the corner from where he snatched it so they were trying to buy it back but it didnt work out. Those rings were the most important thing I owned and I specifically asked Natasha if she thought it would be okay if I wore it around. She said Nairobi isnt as dangerous as people say and I should be fine. I am just so angry and frustrated with myself that that could have happened. I mean my mother left them to me in her will when she died and they aren't even that nice to get someone a lot of money. I have been crying constantly and just going over what happened over and over in my head. Why didn't I just pay better attention and not get off at the wrong stop? Why didn't I just leave my jacket on? Why didn't I think of tucking it into my shirt? Any way I look at it it is really my fault and I just hate myself right now. It is not that I got robbed I could care less about that it is what they actually stole. I mean it was my mothers, it is not something that can be replaced. Right now I just feel sick to my stomach, I cant see straight and I barely have any energy to move. I was supposed to go spend the weekend with my boss Rebecca but I canceled and just want to be left alone.

1 comment:

  1. Oh Shannon, I'm so sorry to hear this. I know you will never be able to replace those rings, and I know how important they were to you. I hope you're feeling better (haven't caught up on all of your posts -- but judging from your safari experiences, I'm guessing you ARE feeling better).

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