What it feels like to be robbed.

A double bolt lock that police say was opened with a key

After an afternoon of sightseeing, we returned to our apartment. We unlocked the double bolt door at the entrance and again at the apartment that we had locked upon departure. All windows were shuttered and locked. No reason for concern. I decided to check on the train schedule and opened a secure pouch I had hidden in our luggage. Our money was in this pouch. It was gone. All of it. US dollars. Euros. The money I have saved for two years for this trip. A significant amount. Stolen.

We walked over to the University and asked a receptionist to call the apartment manager since our Sprint phone does not work in Europe and we do not speak Spanish. The manager reported to the receptionist that it was not her concern. She refused to give us her name. She told the receptionist that we could leave.

Riding in the back of a police car. They were so polite!

We filed a report with the Valencia police. In their investigation, they confirmed that there was no forced entry into the apartment and that someone with a key had to have entered by the door. They repeatedly tried to call the phone numbers listed on the envelope, but received voice messages saying the phones were not in service.

So, here we are in Europe with nothing but the credit card we were trying to avoid using (those of you who travel know ATM fees, international transactional fees, higher interest rates, all add up). Because we have only the Euro’s that were in my pocket, we decided to use the ATM. It ate our card. (We discovered that in Europe, all credit cards have a “chip”. U.S. issued Chase Bank cards, even though they are advertised as “international” cards, do not. Hence, not accepted and confiscated by the ATM.)

So, I guess I should amend the above. Here we are in Europe, wanting to share goodwill

professionally and voluntarily through interculturalist conference, and Marathon running for a cause… with nothing. Nada. Zip. to travel on. We called the kids and said send money. 10s and 20s in a brown paper bag.

This hurts. It’s a major financial setback. I am mad. At myself. At invisible others. I feel violated. Defeated. Depressed. Anxious. Angry. Did I mention I am mad?

But what about Pinky Malla. And Shikhar’s family. And Sumi Thakuri. 

Those folks were robbed of their home. Their livelihood. Some were robbed of the life of a loved one. A friend. A child. A mom. I can’t imagine their heartache. Their anger. Their despair. If you are reading this, please help. Not me. Them. Our friends in Nepal. They need our support. Now.