I'm going to confess something here that will make me look pretty stupid to the experienced ex-pat community (which by now should be me!!) but in hope it will help a newcomer. I like Buenos Aires. I am not afraid to live here, but it does take some getting used to for some of us.
Two years ago, in a packed subway, my wallet was stolen out of my purse. I m sure it was at least a woman and man working together. Perhaps three of them. I was holding the horizontal bar overhead and a sweet (so I thought) woman made room for me and indicated I should hold the verticle bar she was holding. Next morning I discovered my wallet gone. My companion had noticed a man next to me with a winter coat over his arm (in summer) and later decided he had used the coat to shield from view that he was getting access into my purse.
There was no serious money in the wallet, I know better, but sadly my passport was in the wallet, so it was an expensive loss.Then a couple months ago I reaized the coat thing was being tried without the distracting accomplice. I jerked away from the man and he apologized. So I give myself an A for that test.
I just hate to be mean to people if I am not sure they are doing wrong. Yesterday I was standing again, holding the verticle bar on the subway when a man got on and insisted on standing between me and the bar. Unusual because the men are usually very polite. I INSISTED that holding the bar was necessary for me. At that point a woman behind me put her arm tightly around me and pushed me toward the bar (in a sweet way) as if insisting I have access to the bar. At that moment the man sitting noticed me and got up to give me his seat. I had to pull away from the woman to sit down.
That was the tip-off. Something about THAT sure wasn't right. I checked my purse and sure enough it was unzipped. I purposely have a purse not easy to get into. There is a zipper, then a flap closes over the top and snaps. So she had to unsnap the flap (not hard) unzip the purse (harder with the flap in the way). I checked my purse as soon as I sat down. She looked as if she was holding something in her hand. Sure enough the purse was completely unzipped--but nothing was missing. I had a coin purse in it which I do keep folded bills as well, but it was still there. Incidently my serious money was not in my purse. I have learned a few things in Argentina. I think the reason she didn't want to let go of me was she was just too close to success, or so she thought.
So for newcomers, you just have to insist they not touch you, no matter how sweet you think they are being or what the situation. Yes I know that's basic. But they are so slick.
Two years ago, in a packed subway, my wallet was stolen out of my purse. I m sure it was at least a woman and man working together. Perhaps three of them. I was holding the horizontal bar overhead and a sweet (so I thought) woman made room for me and indicated I should hold the verticle bar she was holding. Next morning I discovered my wallet gone. My companion had noticed a man next to me with a winter coat over his arm (in summer) and later decided he had used the coat to shield from view that he was getting access into my purse.
There was no serious money in the wallet, I know better, but sadly my passport was in the wallet, so it was an expensive loss.Then a couple months ago I reaized the coat thing was being tried without the distracting accomplice. I jerked away from the man and he apologized. So I give myself an A for that test.
I just hate to be mean to people if I am not sure they are doing wrong. Yesterday I was standing again, holding the verticle bar on the subway when a man got on and insisted on standing between me and the bar. Unusual because the men are usually very polite. I INSISTED that holding the bar was necessary for me. At that point a woman behind me put her arm tightly around me and pushed me toward the bar (in a sweet way) as if insisting I have access to the bar. At that moment the man sitting noticed me and got up to give me his seat. I had to pull away from the woman to sit down.
That was the tip-off. Something about THAT sure wasn't right. I checked my purse and sure enough it was unzipped. I purposely have a purse not easy to get into. There is a zipper, then a flap closes over the top and snaps. So she had to unsnap the flap (not hard) unzip the purse (harder with the flap in the way). I checked my purse as soon as I sat down. She looked as if she was holding something in her hand. Sure enough the purse was completely unzipped--but nothing was missing. I had a coin purse in it which I do keep folded bills as well, but it was still there. Incidently my serious money was not in my purse. I have learned a few things in Argentina. I think the reason she didn't want to let go of me was she was just too close to success, or so she thought.
So for newcomers, you just have to insist they not touch you, no matter how sweet you think they are being or what the situation. Yes I know that's basic. But they are so slick.
