Love and Theft

On the topic of pickpocketers, it deserves to be said that Ghana, while it may be considered an oasis of stability in the region and known as the "safest country in West Africa" (*By whom, I have no idea), we have experienced over the last six months a considerable amount of crime. Usually, it's because someone was walking somewhere downtown and went down a dark street and got themselves accosted. For most victims of crime, it's been a pickpocketer in a crowd (I keep my wallet on a leash, and it's saved me TWICE) or worse, somebody with a knife who wants your cash. On campus, this has been especially true. Many people have been robbed walking down the main road in the dark and have suddenly found themselves at the wrong end of a machete. It's common sense, but so many people choose to ignore it... to add to the problem, THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA PRETENDS THAT ROBBERIES DON'T HAPPEN ON CAMPUS. Thanks a lot, international programs office.

In addition, things tend to get stolen in the Hostel, on occassion. 99% of the time it's either because someone went out and left their door open or unlocked or someone's roommate's friends are jerks. That being said, here's a good story:

Festus, my eccentric metal-loving, British economist friend, told me that last year someone broke open a girl's window at the Hostel. The enterprising thief reached in and stole an old personal cd player on her desk... while leaving the brand new ipod right next to it. Talk about losing the lesser of two evils! (Joe and I have said that if we were to be robbed, we'd rather lose our passports than our ipods. Passports can at least be replaced.)

Talking to Maleaha, we reasoned that what is most likely to be stolen is that which people know what it is and how it works. Thus, perhaps I should have brought with me a Segway to Ghana?