(2003-12-03) Cu1ture Shock and V1olence

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Quite possibly some of my first cu1ture shock experienced last night.

About two years ago, this country got cell phones. A HUGE amount of people have them, and communication is quite good. Land lines are still quite difficult to get, usually taking about a year after initially ordering the line.

Text messaging is also common here. You pay about $10, and you get unlimited text messaging abilities to people who are on your phone company. I text so much the numbers are being rubbed off my phone.

I was asked to text someone for a Gambian friend of mine. He doesn't have the money to set up his phone to text, so I told him that I'd help him out.

Little did I know what I was getting into.

He showed me a text message that she had written him about how she didn't like the smell of his toothpaste and he needed to change brands. I figured the reply would be "What kind do you recommend?"

Instead, it went something like this:

This message is from Babocarr. I love you too much. You are too beautiful. I think you could be my future wife if you don't change your attitude [he looked at me and said something like, "you know, because some women change, and I don't like that."] you could be my wife [repetition purposeful there]. Also- tell me the kind of toothpaste you want me to use because I love you too much. Reply me now. Baboucarr.

He then informed me that what I had just done was actually PROPOSE to this w0man.

Over. A. Text. Message.

(Not to mention the bad grammar, but who am I to argue?)

Weeeeeeird stuff.

**

There have been two attacks on VSO volunteers in the past week, one of them in broad daylight. Both of them violent, one of them s3xual in nature. One happened last night to my best friend here. I don't know all the details yet, but was awoken at about 11pm from her frantically crying about being dragged through the woods for ten minutes after being mugged. Then the phone cut off.

I don't panic very easily, but I did last night. She didn't tell me if she was hurt, she didn't tell me where she was, or what I could do to help. I was the first person she called after calling the police (who, by the way, don't care and never do anything when this sort of thing happens)... she was in hysterics. I haven't spoken to her since, but have heard that she's alright.

The other woman who got attacked last weekend is in hiding. All of the volunteers here know that it happened, but only a select few know who the woman is. I heard from a reliable source today that she's very battered and is keeping a low profile because she doesn't want anyone to know that it was her.

Attacks and muggings and r@pe and v1olence happens all over the world. But when stuff like this happens to people that I know, and especially in such a peaceful country, it sends my emotions skyrocketing. I am nervous about being here- especially because of the lack of police help. I know that if I was to get attack3d here, no one would get punished, no one would get caught. It's a scary, scary thought.

I was followed this morning by a man who I've never met before, who I initially thought was just a bumster after some money and a white wife, but he was a bit too aggressive (especially after what happened last night), and was keen on getting a piece of my hair.

I had to tell him over and over to go away and leave me alone. If he didn't leave me when he did, I would have had to run away from him. Although he assured me that it wasn't for v00d00purposes, I didn't trust him, and I wouldn't cut my hair for anyone, anyway.