Self-growth Through Theft

Prague is a magical fairyland full of tourists and wonder.

I had a fabulous time in the city, until the meltdown started to happen about five minutes after my train to Vienna left the Prague station. I realized I didn't have my wallet. I have no idea how I lost it. I assume a very good pickpocket got it, but I've wracked my brain and can't come up with a moment in my memory when it could have been taken. I felt absolutely sick about it and was so frustrated, but the Australian guy next to me was very sweet. His girlfriend was still at the station, so he texted her and she checked lost and found, but, shockingly, it wasn't there. I really didn't expect it to be. So, I had about five hours on a train through the Czech countryside to wallow in self-pity and try to figure out what to do next.

I remembered I had $19 USD in my suitcase and thought I would be able to change that at the train station and take public transportation to my hotel. Wrong. Thus began my three mile trek to my hotel with all my luggage and despair weighing me down. By the time I got into my hotel room the back of my shirt and underwear were completely soaked with sweat.

I video chatted with my parents - Dad wanted to make sure I wasn't being held hostage or something - and that's when I really lost it. As soon as Mom came onto the screen I started to weep. At that point my dad hadn't gotten the microphone to work on their end (ah, engineers), so my mom just put her hands on her heart to express comfort for me. I calmed down and getting to watch the bickering between them while they tried to figure out how to wire me money helped bring me back to reality. Luckily there was one Western Union open on the weekends in Vienna and I was able to gather my cash the next morning. That afternoon/night was one of my most stressful recently.

I came away from the experience with frustration, but also a lot of gratitude. Gratitude for having parents and friends who are willing and able to help me in such a situation; gratitude for having my passport/phone/laptop/luggage with me; gratitude that the only crime I experienced was on my property and not on my person. And now I've learned my lesson: always have a hidden backup credit card!