Wallet Woes!

My Wallet was stolen! I was so proud that I had made it 2.5 months in Tanzania without any problems…I haven’t even gotten lost! Of course this happened in Dar though. I had to return to Dar for some planning meetings and to renew my visitor’s visa, a process which went quite smoothly thanks to the professor who seems to know someone everywhere. The funny thing about Prof. Mongula is that every time someone is struggling to get something done or contact someone he just says “oh, well let me just call this guy…” out comes the mobile and within minutes there is a solution. So of course he has a former student working in immigration and she had me in and out in half an hour while the rest of the world sat in the waiting room all day.
Anyway, following lunch I went to Mlimani City (a mall) to look around and hear some Christmas music. I left with a couple bags in my purse and hopped on the daladala. I was headed to my friend and fellow Canadian’s house to stay and share a bottle of wine. At Mwenge I had to transfer to another daladala, this area is somewhat notorious for theft but it was a short walk around a corner to catch the Tegeta dala. I’ve also done it a million times!
Long story short, when I went to take the fare from my wallet I discovered there was no wallet. I had a silent frantic moment searching through my bag just praying, please let it be here! Fortunately I had some change at the bottom of my bag and could pay the conductor. Unfortunately my wallet was now gone including all my Canadians banking cards, Mastercard, my Tanzanian Tembo card (ATM) not to mention the international calling card I had just bought, $100 I had just taken from the bank and the JYSK credit, spa giftcard and Indigo giftcard that were still sitting in my wallet. Oh and I really liked that wallet!
I think the reason it got taken was that when I put the wallet away after the first dala I sort of left it on top…usually not a problem but there is usually less in the bag and so it was an easier grab. It is odd though since I didn’t even feel someone brush against me and I generally notice stuff like that.
Today I wrote my Mum and asked her to cancel all the cards…thank God the Canadian system is so simple! When I went to my Tanzanian bank they said I had to make a police report BEFORE they would cancel the card…but that’s another story.