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But it does in Scotland.
I chose my current hotel because it is reasonable walking distance to work. No rental car to drive on the left or worry about parking on both ends. There is even a bus to and from the airport. The hotel is in city centre, close walking distance to book stores, groceries, and a movie theatre. Even the 30 minute walk to and from work means I can sleep late (6am DECADENCE!!) and count walking as my daily exercise. This week the weather is almost pleasant (only cold) and the sun has been out as I walk.
Overall, I would count this as a really great experience.
Until my walk from work this evening. It was daylight. I was on public residential streets. I was not on the bad side of town. The housing seemed middle-income. Clean. I felt safe. Then I felt something slam into my back and shoulder. Not hard enough to bruise, but certainly hard enough to startle me badly. I turned around and saw garbage fall off of me and my briefcase. I looked up and saw a band of pre-teens duck around a corner. I had noticed these children earlier skipping down the street, holding (I thought it odd) the garbage that had just bounced off of me. There is no chance it was a mistake, no chance that it fell from a building, no chance than an adult threw it.
Yes, I had garbage thrown at me by small children in a first world country. I have no idea if this was the first shot or simply the lucky hit of many attempts.
Tomorrow I will not be wearing my headphones to and from work. I had no idea that I needed to look out for anything more serious than vehicular traffic. I've managed to talk myself out of the expense of a taxi. I am glad I am only here for another day.
I chose my current hotel because it is reasonable walking distance to work. No rental car to drive on the left or worry about parking on both ends. There is even a bus to and from the airport. The hotel is in city centre, close walking distance to book stores, groceries, and a movie theatre. Even the 30 minute walk to and from work means I can sleep late (6am DECADENCE!!) and count walking as my daily exercise. This week the weather is almost pleasant (only cold) and the sun has been out as I walk.
Overall, I would count this as a really great experience.
Until my walk from work this evening. It was daylight. I was on public residential streets. I was not on the bad side of town. The housing seemed middle-income. Clean. I felt safe. Then I felt something slam into my back and shoulder. Not hard enough to bruise, but certainly hard enough to startle me badly. I turned around and saw garbage fall off of me and my briefcase. I looked up and saw a band of pre-teens duck around a corner. I had noticed these children earlier skipping down the street, holding (I thought it odd) the garbage that had just bounced off of me. There is no chance it was a mistake, no chance that it fell from a building, no chance than an adult threw it.
Yes, I had garbage thrown at me by small children in a first world country. I have no idea if this was the first shot or simply the lucky hit of many attempts.
Tomorrow I will not be wearing my headphones to and from work. I had no idea that I needed to look out for anything more serious than vehicular traffic. I've managed to talk myself out of the expense of a taxi. I am glad I am only here for another day.
