Precaution & Friendship

So, here I am, exposed to all the wonderful sights of Dubai and I'm thinking, "Oh! It's so safe here!"

A friend lost her mobile at the supermarket and she got it back through the honest security guard. I lost my laptop at the beach and got it back with everything intact within two hours. Woah... it's amazing. Had it occurred anywhere else in the world, I would have lost all hope of ever finding my lost items and prepared to dig deep into my pocket to replace the lost items. 

It is for this very reason that led me to the belief that 'Dubai - is a safe place. Crime rate is low, robberies rarely occur. Some people even leave their doors unlocked at night, or do not even install alarms in their houses, even though they stay in double-storey houses. There's no need for hourly patrolling guards, or escort service in parking lots. 

Because it's seemingly safe, I tend to let my guard down unwittingly. Once, I was followed in a shopping mall. He walked up to me, a random stranger, as I was strolling along the shops, and asks me out for a meal together. I shrugged, refused, and delibrately browsed in other stores. He persisted and continued shadowing me.

Another time, I stepped into the lift and a guy tried to touch my cheek before he stepped out of the elevator. Few weeks later, a delivery boy delivered some stuff to my place, and invited himself into the vicinity of my living room. On another occasion, one of the delivery guys even stayed at the door of my apartment and tried to harass me! Mind you, on all these 'events', I wasn't even wearing provocative clothings. I was covered up from head to toe. 

Yet, I was too startled to tell it to anyone. It is a taboo subject. One day, I was hanging out at a friend's place and suddenly it all came out. Turns out, friends who have stayed in the UAE for more than four years, had even worse experiences! Some were flashed, some had crazy maniacs rushing up to them for a hug!

I shudder as I imagine it. 

So, I learnt a few more lessons.

1. Never let your guard down. If you really need the delivery guy to send it up to your doorstep, make sure he puts it on the floor outside your apartment. 

2. Never open the door far wide and let any guys (known/acquaintances/friends/strangers) into your apartment. You never know what might happen. If you need to pay the delivery guys, peer through the keyhole, open slightly and slip the money through. Don't give them any chance to take a step into your house. 

3. If, on any given day, a person attacks you, or steps into your comfort radius/niche, say the following, "Stop! If you take one more step closer, I'll call the police!" Then, dig into your handbag, grab that perfume/pepper spray and prepare to defend yourself. 

4. If you do get attacked, tell the police. Don't be afraid. You shouldn't let others experience the same tormenting treatment. 

A friend launched into a pep-talk one day as I recounted these awful encounters. "Jean!"she told me, "Hey, if ever you need  use phrase #3, don't be afraid. do u know why? çoz I have friends in high places in this country. Therefore, if I know people, you know people."

That was one of my best days ever. To know and be reassured that I had a strong network of support even though I'm all alone in this foreign land. I am the luckiest person in the whole wide world!