How I (barely) Got Through A Pickpocketing Whilst Drunk

While studying abroad in the Netherlands my wallet and phone were stolen in a night of drunken antics.

While on a semester abroad in the Netherlands I was having a chat with my friend Haley. We were discussing how everything is just. always. a. struggle. Mostly in a "Jesus Christ why can't things just go smoothly for once" kind of way. It's sad but true that I find Bridget Jones and Miranda Hart incredibly relatable.

Via pinterest.com

This conversation came about when my satchel broke and I was trying to cycle home with things falling all over the place. My bag was hitting my legs with every turn of the pedal and my ipod speakers were tangled in my coat so that one hand was trying to readjust them. Stability on my bike clearly wasn’t a thing that was happening. Oh the beauty of life.

That night a group of us decided to go out for our weekly Wednesday night drinking antics. We were having a great time dancing and doing shots at Kokomo (we’ll get there fast and then we’ll take it slow). However, after dancing for a while the next thing I know is that my wallet and phone have been stolen. And as of midnight it was now my birthday. After a desperate search for an hour or so I decided to go home so I could wallow in self-pity, but the front desk people refused to give me my jacket back.

Because I didn’t have my coat ticket.

Because it was in my wallet.

That was stolen.

They told me I had to wait until 5.30am until everyone had left to make sure I wasn’t pulling an elaborate ruse to pursue some sort of coat theft tendency. Hence a mental breakdown in the middle of club ensued where my ability to form coherent sentences disappeared and a bout of hyperventilation came one.

“but (breath) it’s (breath) my (breath) birthday (breath).”

“(cry)”

“(a lot)”

“(Coat check people and bouncers feel uncomfortable. Decide after 10 minutes of gibberish from the wailing girl in the foetal position to let her take the coat and ‘just leave’)”

Miranda Hitchings

Luckily this worked a treat and off I went.

Miranda Hitchings

The following day I woke up veeerrrryyy early on the morning of my birthday, hungover, to Skype my parents. Not to discuss how my trip was going or for birthday wishes but so my Dad could call up banks while I painstakingly shouted through Skype to the people he was on the phone with what happened.

Essentially it was a conversation from the Netherlands (Me) through New Zealand (Dad) to America (Visa).

Miranda Hitchings

It can be safely said that the clarity wasn’t great. This went on for four hours. He missed a dinner party that him and mum were throwing. At our house.

But all in all it was still a great birthday. Later that afternoon my friends threw me a surprise party with champagne, tulips, a Belgium chocolate cake made by a real Belgian, Dutch cheese, stroopwaffels and enough biscuits and pastries to fulfil the prophesy that exchange students will gain a million kilograms. A goal that I happily achieved (Thanks Italy & Pasta). I genuinely loved the people there and the adventures I had would not have equated to anything I would have experienced at home.

Yes my stuff got stolen and yes I will always be inept and often lacking common sense but whilst being overseas I had the best time of my life. It can be easy to take for granted how lucky I am. Without the support of my family and friends I wouldn’t be able to get through all the random crap I get myself into.

So yeah, losing your wallet and phone isn’t the best, but it isn’t the end of the world. Life is still pretty darn fabulous.

Via giphy.com

*The next time I went back to Kokomo the bouncer remembered me and gave me a hug. Great.