The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly on the Road

Katie D.

June 27, 2011 - 2:13 PM

I have always had such amazing luck while traveling. These past few days, staying with friends of friends, has been another testament to how beautifully open and welcoming people can be. I have experienced some incredible human kindness, and some of the best in meeting people, and the beauty that can arise in even short moments of friendship.

I also received a lesson in caution while on the road. On Saturday most of my stuff was stolen while I was in Managua, Nicaragua. The good news is that I am safe, still have my passport and other documents, and that the experience hasn't freaked me out too badly. But it was a really horrible experience, and one that will stick with me for a long time.

I don't really know how to write about it, to be honest. The four people who robbed me were shockingly courteous, but did a good job of cleaning out my valuables, the cash I had on me, and $300 from an ATM. I lost all my electronics, including my computer, and some practical items, like clothes and shoes. But they returned my credit card, made sure I had my passport, gave me taxi money, and even handed me my toothbrush before jumping into their car to leave. They were polite, and even apologized to me. I felt a sort of surreal calm the whole time, and even now feel a strong portion of confusion mixed in with my anger when I think about what happened.

I took a taxi to a hostel and spent a good part of the evening taking care of details, from banking to writing a long email to my parents about what happened. I left really early yesterday morning for a bus to Tegucigalpa, where I am now settled in nicely with my host family and internship position. Although I didn't sleep much Saturday night, and still feel distracted by what happened, mostly I feel like what happened is behind me already. Like I'm settled into a new place, and just have a few extra errands to run.

I don't know if I am able to explain myself well. I certainly feel freaked out, and was scared and angry at the time. For a few minutes during the robbery, I lost track of my Spanish and couldn't understand well what they were saying to me. But life on the road means living in the now. It means that I am here, in Tegucigalpa, and am already beginning to love this new place and these people. In the now, I am limited by the things they took, but don't have to be sidetracked by what happened.

I am particularly grateful for the help I was given by my family, the staff at the hostel, and my new acquaintances here. I feel very loved and cared for. I have received and overwhelming amount of support and advice (although believe me, the common response ‘you need to be careful, you can't trust everyone' are about as helpful as a kick in the teeth). I am enormously grateful that I speak the language well, and am able to explain myself and my story, and ask for help when I need it.

Even while I was pissed off yesterday on the bus, I was also looking around me. We drove through the most spectacular mountains in southern Honduras. We passed beautiful little villages, complete both with murals to the goodness of humanity, and with the signs of crushing poverty. From the road, I see a snapshot of life: the good, the bad, and the ugly of this place and the people in it.

I'm not sure what effect this robbery will have on me in the long run, but I know what I hope. I hope I will be smarter in the future, more aware of my surroundings and more cautious of the people I trust. I also hope that I will continue to trust and be rewarded for it. I hope my budding friendships here in Tegucigalpa will grow quickly, and that as I settle into life here I'll be able to turn the robbery into a funny story and a simple point of reference along my long journey.

I also desperately hope I'll be able to find shoes that fit me. I can't keep wearing my one remaining pair (hiking boots are not the height of fashion here), and I can't count on many Honduran women wearing size 10.

I considered not writing this blog. I thought that maybe I would just write about my new home, my new work, and the hopes I have for these next two months. But it didn't feel honest. As I thought about it, this incident is a part of my education and my life. Even a part of my studies, maybe. Could I have handled this as well without my Spanish studies? Without the conflict resolution skills? Without my previous study abroad opportunities? If not for the people I know through Inside-Out and my work with Sister Helen, would I be so consumed by anger that it would be impossible for me to move on?

Starting with my next blog, I'll have good news about the family and friends' "Conspiracy to Get Katie the Stuff She Needs," as well as information of the availability of large women's shoes and jeans that will fit my 5'10" frame.

So keep sending the good vibes, and keep up your faith in humanity. I have a good feeling that things will turn out all right.