I guess I don't know what I was expecting, but certainly nothing as challenging and emotional and hard as this. Please don't get me wrong...every day I wake up and think "I am in EUROPE" and those words taste so sweet. When I walk down these ancient cobble-stone streets, I get those butterfly's in my stomach and repeat to myself, hey this is real.
And then I trip because said cobblestones are by no means even ;)
I am not even joking. There are SO many directions I can go with that story, but I'll bite my tongue and save it for another time. I was busking, actually I hadn't even started busking on a completely legal street to busk on (for everyone who doesn't know, busking is standing on the sidewalk with your guitar, solo or with a band, playing for the good of the passerby's;) when a burly 250 lb man clad with his side arms and very mean face barges towards me. I say barges because it was nothing short of a charge, while shouting "NO busking, Fine! Penalty! Give me your Passport! 1000 czk!"
Mind you, I hadn't even opened my mouth to let out a note yet, I was simply standing there with my guitar talking to a friend, lightly strumming some chords.
I told him I didn't have my passport, another cop had told me I could busk here, I wasn't going to pay a fine. But he was relentless and mean. I don't think I have ever met someone as mean as him, and that's not me being dramatic.
He kept repeating himself over and over impatiently, "passport NOW, Fine! 1000 czk!"
I was shouting right back that I didn't have 1000 and certainly wasn't carrying my passport with me. In a panic, I dug through my backpack and found my ID, and handed it to him. Maybe he just needed to verify I was legal? Or something?
Heres' the kicker--literally within eye sight of us was another group of buskers. And down the street from them was another one. All men. All non-American. Ack, this was completely unfair. And every time I pointed at the other musicians he would talk over me and ignore the fact he had NO RIGHT for any of this.
With my ID in hand, he stalks back to his white police van and sits in it, waiting for me to pay up. My only saving grace in this situation were the two friends who had come to support and listen to me. Heather, a confrontational Scott who was having none of it and basically wanted to tackle the guy. And Thomas, the peace-keeping Brit who basically held her back with some meaningful glances. All of us had considered the faint possibility of sitting in a cell that night. I envisioned cold stone walls with iron bars and an old musty smell, probably from the water leaking through the ceiling.
Alright, too many war movies lately. ;)
They said I should just politely go up to him and ask for my ID back. He had no grounds with which to keep it, and I owed him nothing.
I was convinced that being nice in this situation would offer up a little understanding and leniency on his end. After all, what quarrel did he really have with me, especially if I was sorry and kind?
Frick, it didn't change a damn thing.
I asked for my ID back and at this point, he started a relentless chant in a condescending voice, it's glued in my mind. He said the word penalty over and over, all drawn out like I was dumb--"PEN-AL-TY, PEN-AL-TY PENALTY"
At which point, I said a few choice words, turned on heel and walked away.
Then went and sat on a bench and cried. He watched from his van for a few minutes before turning around and drove away with my ID.
This is a negative story and since I wanted to share the good's and bad's in this post, I will continue with how the rest of the day went.
Heather and Thomas were furious at the situation, but since there was nothing we could really do aside from running the van down and taking the cop out (I think Heather would be down for that) we were left to make the best of the day we had left. They waited out my tears and moaning of how someone could be so mean, and bought me lunch. It was a gorgeous day, so we decided to take my mini guitar and rent a paddle boat :)
Nothing about this trip is easy.
But every time I feel I've hit a braking point--and thankfully I'm not alone out of my group to feel that--something happens that turns the mood and situation around. I have a job starting this Monday, I really REALLY love the apartment I live in, and pretty much you can find a million things a day to smile for. Haha like this MEME.
Sorry this post has been a bit sloppy, it's almost 11 pm and I'm ready to sleep :)
Next post will be a happier-toned one for sure, probably talking about how amazing it is to have a job and that I will never take employment for granted again.
Cheers,
K