Well some of you may already know, but I got robbed yesterday while in Kampala. Our car was broken into in Kampala's "most secure" commercial parking lot. Our car was one of 3 broken into in about 15 minutes, all very professional jobs. Our car had an incision about 1 in long in between the door and the lock. It was pretty impressive. So anyway, my laptop, camera, passport, checkbook, vintage aviator sunglasses (weeps), and headphones were all in a backpack that was taken.
Unfortunately, I don't have a computer anymore, and I don't have a checking accouunt that I can access in meaningful way. In short, I'm pretty much laid up. My incipient podcasting and picture posting is now out as well. I can't check my main email address either, so if you need to contact me, or just say your condolences, cadtmatt1 at prodigy.net or mrallison@gmail.com are both gonna work.
Ominously. it seems like theft is a recurring theme for me right now. This one, while practically nearly catastrophic, doesn't have me nearly as bothered as the theft by my workers a couple weeks ago. In my mind, the things that I have, while nice, and practically neccessary (like my computer and passport) have very little to do with what I'm actually doing here. In other words, I feel a regularly weak sense of ownership of my stuff in comparison to what I'm doing here. I feel affected by the unravelling of my friendship to Birungi due to his theft a lot more than having my stuff stolen.
Lastly, some of you may be wondering, "Why in the heck did he have that stuff in his car?" That's a fair question. The place we had it parked, Garden City Mall, feels like a western shopping center, there's only one entrance, highly secure. It's that kind of place, we come in as a team there, often with all our stuff loaded up, all the time, and have never had a problem, because theft hasn't been a problem there before. So don't take me for a complete fool.
I guess that in terms of prayer. you can pray that many logistical details will work out in the next three days, particularly the ordeal of getting a new passport issued. Second, mainly for the reason that I can continue to dialogue with you guys, I'd like to be able to use a computer for the next 6 weeks or so, before I come home to America for a bit.
Matt
Posted by matt at March 5, 2005 07:18 AM | TrackBackThat sucks, man. I'd file a claim with your dad's homeowner's insurance policy. Personal property is covered for theft anywhere in the world under most policies. It's a shot, anyway.
Posted by: ryan at March 7, 2005 04:18 PMI've looked into it. I'm not covered by their insurance anymore because I'm out of college. Right now, it looks like there is no insurance option for any of my lost stuff.
Posted by: matt at March 9, 2005 01:49 AM