i had a great weekend in prague. it is a beautiful city. immaculate and well-maintained. restored and preserved. we went all over in just a few days, mostly on foot and by metro, taking in the city and getting lost in its web of winding streets. we were out late last night and when we came back to the hotel we crashed. i woke up this morning and, wanting to listen to music, went to get my ipod. it wasn’t there. i remembered putting it in my laptop bag. the bag. gone. my laptop. gone. my camera. gone. my backup harddrive. gone. the keys to my flat in delhi. gone. my indian sim card with all my numbers stored in it. gone. rs. 1500 cash. gone.

i was and still am in shock. i called the front desk. they called the police. but it became quite clear that something wasn’t right. we stayed in a nice hotel a bit outside the main city. there were a few guests and even fewer staff. but it was obviously not a case of someone breaking into the room randomly. people at the hotel knew we were there. they went in and emptied out our electronics. they knew when we came and when we went. they had cleaned the room the day before. they knew what we had and went straight for it. i’m fairly certain. no one on staff acted surprised or even sorry really. there was nothing that could be done. there was no proof that i didn’t leave a door or window open. there was no proof of what was in the room. they have security footage they say they’ll review, but i know nothing will show up. the police filed the routine paper work, but i wouldn’t be surprised if they get a cut out of it all themselves. i’m screwed. that’s it. there’s nothing. nothing i can do.

what now? i really don’t know. i am trying to stay calm. i’ve lost all my music. all my photos of india and before. all my files, resumes, scholarship applications, grad school papers, etc. i have nothing. i honestly don’t even know at this point what i don’t have. i’m sick to my stomach.

my laptop has long been my idol. i carry it everywhere. i have no tv. i go online for all interactions with the outside world. i haven’t called home using a phone once since i’ve been here. i use it for everything. and now it’s gone. nearly 3000 dollars worth all together. gone. i think it was time i realized that i valued it too much. i invested too much into it. spent too much time on it. i have to keep telling myself that i’m living in india, a place where many people have very little. and i don’t mean electronics and gadgets. i mean shelter, food, running water. basic sanitation. basic services. i was due for a wake-up call. a reality czech. but i didn’t want it this way. i didn’t want it now. and i didn’t want it in prague or the czech republic.

so i’ll keep going for now. sick to my stomach. paying ridiculous rates at internet cafes until i figure out what i should do. and i’ll keep you posted as i sort through this mess and endure this unwelcome reality czech. i’m sitting in prague’s airport now on my way to east midlands to meet ed. hopefully, my time with him will be less eventful. perhaps i’ll finish the books i’ve been dragging around with me for the past 2 months. sigh.