|
This is an incident that occured to me while I was in Odessa, Ukraine, a few years back. I spent a copule of weeks there touring bridges and old structures for repair.
I knew about sp's and bar girls but that's about it. I had an interperter with me most of the time and she, also, worked for some travel agency.
We're walking down the street, after being caught in a rain storm, after exiting a store where I purchased a dry shirt and umbrella. The interperter was asking about where I kept my money because it all looked in terrible shape and was wet. my pocket.
We hadn't noticed a couple of teens approach us and start asking us for money. I didn't understand and she's trying to get rid of them and tell me every thing and it's going quite crazy, thank you. And now I saying, excuess us get out of the way. no. They backed up and we started walking down the side walk.
I got about 3 paces when I feel a sharp pain in my back and turn to see this kid run. He stabbed me with a pen. The interperter went on to tell me how a whole generation of kids are growing up addicted to air plane glue, benzine (gas) and all types of other inhalants. These kids are aggressive and violent and impulsive in their behavior and temprment, these kids are crazy. PCP type stuff.
I started after the kid who stabbed me but the interperter stopped me after pointing out I might get my ass killed.
I was lucky. I was tested for STD, HIV, every thing and any thing. I still get tested and still safe. I ended up with a teatnus shot.
But be carful of a lot of areas around Odessa, the water park area, the old palace area and even some of the main shopping streets during the days. Especially, be wary of poorly or unlighted streets. The side streets and streets around the area of the "Opera Palace"? The Theatre? are not safe after dark. It was like the group I was in was watching the other group to see who was going to move 1st. I guess it could be safe just the element of uneasieness.
I guess it's just like any big city. For me it was easier to go by cab or hire a driver. Give me a map and compass and I'll walk around the world. Put me in a city, with a map, and I probably get lost. With out one I'm lost.
In Marioupol, after I had a solitary diner I was leaving the resturant and a few boys called out to me. I start checking how far it is to the hotel and back to the resturant, the way past them. Polietly, they ask if I'm American and will I talk politics and ecconomics with them. Oh, yeah. We did. Later, I tell them if they see me on the street to come up and start talking. It was great.
These high school kids are sharp and know where any thing and every thing is. When no one could tell me where I could hook up my computer these kids knew where the Inter Net Cafe's were. The INC's are better known as Video Arcades or Net Game rooms some weird names but that's where you can find any thing and people who will be happy to speak with you.
|
