Outraged

[mnfaure]

Last night, J and I took Sprout to have a vaccination. In USA doctor-style, the pediatrician visit ended at almost 9 p.m. even though our appointment was for 6:45 p.m. Thankfully we had fed Sprout earlier. J and I opted to eat upon returning home, and maybe that, plus the fatigue, made me feel not-so-hot. We had to wait for change after paying, and

Comments

[asakiyume]

Three years, seriously? I didn't realize you guys were going to have to be there so long :-(

I'm really really sorry. What a dreadful thing, that that's how those boys are getting their jollies :-(

[mnfaure]

Yes. Three more, Lord help us.

[asakiyume]

Ughh, I fear for your mental health :-(

Can you take martial arts? Not that that helps you if you are confronted by an entire gang, and it could just escalate situations. I don't know. These cultures where women are targets just for being out in public are ... not fun places to be.

[mnfaure]

Teehee. Mental health, me fears for it, too!!!! Seriously though, I do need to cultivate and dwell more on positive experiences. Something that helps is the baby coming along. I know--oh boy do I know--that the baby will not be "problem-fixer" and will add a lot more fatigue, etc. BUT! What will also happen is that time will fly! Making time fly is one of my main strategies right now. I'm finding or pinpointing or creating events or things to look forward to. When I break down the coming year like that, it feels totally manageable, and that, my friend, is very essential.

I'm going to get J to walk me through some stuff I can do. I already have before, but a) it's been a while, b) I must practice, c) I have to learn to be more paranoid in the sense that I need to move more quickly into the "fight or flight" mode.

[frigg]

Ugh, I can understand you feel violated, but luckily it was "just" kids. Stupid kids who could do with a lesson, but kids nonetheless. Still, yeah, be careful and look after yourself - and you are going to be furious about this for a long time to go, but that's also normal and healthy.

And if you look at it the other way, you did get help from a local, so there is good as well as bad.

And no need to second guess yourself, I think you acted admirably.

[mnfaure]

What I really want to come from this experience is that I finally start LISTENING to myself!

[asakiyume]

This is a good point: that a local guy found the behavior reprehensible too.

[mnfaure]

Yeah, I don't think he fully grasped what was going on, but he could tell they were bothering me and that I was upset.

[vanatoomas]

I am sorry to hear it.

And it makes me angry.

[mnfaure]

A very angry-making situation, unfortunately. *sigh*

[mindseas]

I am thankful that you weren't subjected to a dangerous physical attack. Of course you feel frightened and angry, but you are all right, and your loved ones are all right. I am not so sure that incidents like this one happen only in places like Egypt. I think it may just be the way some males are. I was walking along the streets on Manhattan one day when a guy came running from the opposite direction and grabbed my breast as he went by. That the local man chased the boys away shows that decent males can also be found anywhere. Still, I think that becoming more "paranoid" might be a good idea.

[mnfaure]

Sadly, it happened to me in Paris, too. On the Champs-Elysees while it was very crowded, but I got to punch that guy and kick him. It was someone from the Maghreb that time. Then another time, further down the Champs it happened yet again (French-looking guy, but I don't know), but he was a runner like your Manhattan jerk.

*snarl* Some people (men? I've never heard similar women-as-aggressor stories) can be such pigs.

[secritcrush]

Ugh, I'm sorry - I'm glad at least there was the man who only spoke arabic to drive the assholes away. (And also to prove that it isn't the country, it's only a subset of people - I'm sure most people would be appalled at boys acting like that.)

[mnfaure]

Yes, I agree that most people would be appalled, and that at least is comforting.