Shanghai,
China
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Yesterday i was cruising around the city and decided to go into the second biggest mall in the world for lunch. I went to the top floor and sat down for a set lunch at a Japanese restaurant. When i went to get my wallet out of my purse I realized, much to my horror, that is was no longer there. Of course, I began to panic and take everything out on the table. The waitress was standing there with the bill and had no idea what I was doing. She spoke no English. Pretty soon about eight staff members (none of whom spoke English) were standing around me. i was shaking and crying and trying to mime that my wallet was gone. I showed them my address and told them i would be back to pay. Thankfully, they let me go. I raced back to this other mall I had just been to before lunch called Times Square and went to their service desk. Of course, once again no one spoke English. They managed to find a sweet young girl who knew a little English and I explained what happened to her. She was very kind and communicated to them that I had no money and needed a taxi home. Also, they asked me if I wanted them to call the police to file a report. I said yes. I turned to the young girl and said maybe someone would find it and turn it in to the police. At this, she quietly laughed and patted me on the arm. I took that as her way of saying, "Fat chance honey." Then, we went to this room to wait for the police. Finally, after about fifteen minutes, she looked at me and said that the police might take a very long time to get there and she asked me if I just wanted to get home? i said yes. I was very concerned about calling to cancel my credit cards etc. So, they were very kind and paid my way home in the taxi. Once home, I made all the calls then decided I should call the police to file that report because everything I read on-line said to make a police report if your wallet is stolen. Hmmm, maybe they were not talking about if it happened in China. About an hour after calling the police three Chinese police men rang our doorbell(Ryan was not home from work yet.) I answered and expected at least one of them to speak a little English. I also expected we would sit down, write a brief report and they would be on their way. Well, neither of those things happened. First they were all talking to me gruffly in Chinese. I stood there wide-eyed and confused. Then they tried to get me to leave with them. I said, no. Next, one reached out and touched my arm trying to get me to leave with them. I backed up and said, "no" again. Then, looking very annoyed, they called someone on the phone and handed me the phone. The guy on the phone said, "Do you want police report or not? You want report so bad. You follow police man. They take you here. We give this report to you. " I said never mind. That I was sorry but I would not leave with them. He got pretty miffed and said some other stuff to me then i handed the phone back and they left. It was awful.
So, today Ryan calls me from work around 2pm. You will never believe this...someone called him. they found the wallet and turned it in to the service desk at the mall!!! Of course, the caller spoke only Chinese but had found the list of numbers I had in the wallet and called Ryan's cell. He handed the phone to his gal pal, Florence and she interpreted everything for us. Unbelievable! I am sitting here still in shock. i just got home from picking it up. Everything was still inside except for the cash and the subway card which had about 20 bucks on it. They left my license, credit card, ATM card, insurance card, everything. I just can't believe it. I was feeling really down about it and really negative about being here and now I think my faith is restored. For someone who speaks no English to try to contact me by calling those numbers...Ahhhh, I love people again! To top it all off, I had the sweetest taxi driver on the way home who tried desperately to talk to me the whole way. He was so kind and I used my translation book to explain what had happened to me. He was so sympathetic and so nice to me. I love China again!
Yippee! now I just need to find out if they will reactivate my ATM card so i can get some damn money.
I love Happy Endings!;)
XOXO
Michele
Comments
Hi from I.I.
Michele - I am enjoying reading about your adventures-glad to hear your wallet was returned. Great pictures-looks and sounds like it is a great adventure! See you soon - Ann