Stop - Thief

I had heard through CCS during my last stay in Bagamoyo that you shouldn’t walk alone at night on certain roads, especially by the beach, or anywhere near darkly lit streets.  And, if you did , even if you were a block away from the CCS compound, that you should call a taxi, more so if it was around 11:00 at night, which is the curfew and if the police see you wandering around you might get picked up and or arrested. It really is for safety and for keeping the riff raff off the streets.

 I didn’t pay too much head to it because I didn’t go out a lot at night when I was volunteering, mind you we had a silly curfew of 10:00, and if you read my last blog you know that I broke it numerous times. If I did go out I was with local friends and or other volunteers.  When I  was talking to Mama C(Clementina) and Charles they said the main road, which I lived off of, was quite safe at night except after 11:00 and later.  But any time after 11:00 you should have an escort, and preferably not a muzungu, unless it is a man or a group of people.

So I felt safe knowing that. I think it was the third night I was here and I was going to meet a friend of mine who wasn’t too far away at a local bar. It was about 7:30 and had just gotten dark as I walked out of my home.  I remembered the main route because I had been walking on it for a few days. I felt pretty safe because there were a few people out on the streets ahead of and behind me. Well, it is true, safety does come in numbers. I was walking down the main road and there was a switch off and, yes, of course with my sense of direction, which is far from accurate, I took the wrong road, but only for about 30 seconds until I realized it was the wrong direction

So I quickly, turned around and walked over to the other road. I kid you not, no more than 10 second I heard some walking behind me and I could see the shadow. Well it had been raining that day so I kept jumping over and around puddles of water and I noticed that every time I jumped and moved around so did the shadow behind me. I actually started to feel a tiny bit scared. Oh and I forgot to mention that I was now walking on the part of the street where the friggin lights were out.

So I moved around one more puddle and so did the “shadow,” and I thought to myself I hope the hell that it is someone walking close to me, and as soon as I thought that the steps behind me quickened and I thought  ‘F*$@’ I am going to just turn around and see right now. My heart was beating like mad and as soon as I got turned around a guy came running up to me, from about 5 feet away, and grabbed may purse. Dumb move on my part. HUGE note to self. Don’t ever walk alone at night  and don’t walk alone at night with a purse. I actually walked out the door without it, but went back for it because I was carrying too much stuff: mosquito spray, 15,ooo tsh, my phone and baby wipes, oh yah and the keys to my room. J. 
All which would not fit in my jeans.

He was about my height and I could tell a dirty, scumbag beach rat. I quickly turned into fight, not flight mode. I grabbed my bag and held on for life and as he pulled I yanked back with all my might yelling NO, NO and NOOO. As we were pulling back and forth my phone flew out, thank gawd, and there was a point within the 20 seconds of struggle, that I was going to haul back and kick him right in the stomach, but I decided, within seconds that it wasn’t a good idea because I didn’t know if he had a weapon or would get pissed off and hurt me. I started screaming at the top of my lungs, not so much out of fear, or pain, but because I wanted people to come running and catch this piece of dirt. I yanked so hard; screaming that he either cut my purse string or it snapped and he took off running while I was screaming, and shaking. I picked up my phone and thought to myself, OMG I have just been robbed, and could have been injured or killed and, for a brief moment I almost cried but for some reason I didn’t. I quickly collected my whit and called Charles and told him what had just happened. I told me to wait and he would come pick me up on his motorcycle and go to the police. I hung up and walked, no I walk-ran and burned rubber to the main road where there was light and a few people. A girl and guy behind me were yelling ‘dada, dada (sister), are you ok?’ and I yelled back ‘yes I am ok. ‘ ‘Are you hurt,’ they asked, and I said ‘no.’ When I got to the main road I was breathing so hard that I had to stop and catch my breath. Charles showed up about 5 minutes later, very concerned and feeling horrible that I actually got robbed right on the main road so close to home. He thought we should go to the police station, but then decided against it because there were no witnesses and would be a waste of time. He asked me to take him back to the spot where it happened and he said: ‘oh yes Heidi, the beach is right over there. I didn’t realize it because I hadn’t walked down that road or even been to the beach yet. Hellllooo. He said that the guy was probably waiting for someone to walk by, right in that dark spot on the road, and it just so happened to be ME.

He took me to meet my friend Nassa and told me that I should tell him to spread the word so that people will be on the look out because word travels fast in regard to almost anything, and especially lame ass thieves, and the guy could possibly get spotted and caught. I was lucky I didn’t have any real valuables on me and that I got my phone back.

I took a taxi home and ever since then I don’t walk alone at night ANYMORE. EVER. My friends either walk me home or I take a moto or taxi no mater where I am or how close to home I am. I was in the wrong place at the right time or maybe in the right place at the right time because it could have been far worse if it happened any other time.

After that ‘incident’ I was a little worried about living alone and wanted to make sure wherever I lived that it was a. either in a gated compound or b. had a night guard.  The house I was interested in renting was across the road from Charles, where I was living at the time. Block P is one of the safest areas in town because it is near the police station, government officials and other muzungus' homes. I asked Charles if he really thought the area was safe, and even more so, safe to live alone as a solo white female. He said yes, as long as it was protected in some way.

That next day Charles came with me to look over the house and yard, and he thought it would be a great place to live, ONLY if I had either a metal grilled door or a masai to watch over me. I decided to get the Masai because the landlord wouldn’t let me do anything to the door or entryway. Done I rented the house that day.

Sutton honey, my dear friends and family, I just couldn’t tell you because I KNEW you would all worry, like mad about me so I decided against it.  I almost told Sutton about 3 times but I didn’t want to worry him and or ruin his day, or night, week, … I really am safe and careful now. It happened for a reason: and good thing it happened sooner than later to help wise me. Well it wasn’t a good thing but ya’ll know what I mean.