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Is this too honest?

March 16th 2008 20:34


Today I wanted to attend a fun-sounding exhibition in Bonn, which was supposed to feature over 300 live reptiles (including freaky things like anacondas) and other scary creatures, such as scorpions and two-headed turtles.

Just before leaving I realised that I had no cash on me, so I walked all the way to town (exercise is always healthy after all) to withdraw some money. It was a grey and wet day, and as I was walking the rain intensified.


When I finally got to town, the ATM decided to make my life difficult. I technically had enough cash on my account to withdraw, but after allowing me to enter my pin and asking how much I wanted, it kept giving me the message that "due to a technical problem, this request cannot be processed. Please see one of our staff". Of course there is no staff present on Sundays, so I tried all the other ATMs in that branch, only to get the same weird message from all of them.

Anyway, with no money for the bus or for the entry fee, I quickly realised that there was nothing for me to do but go back home. It was raining cats and dogs -- not what you'd call a typical "spring shower", but rather a torrential downpour. I waited around for a bit, but it didn't ease, so I decided to just walk back home anyway. The tiny umbrella that I had with me was not really sufficient for such crazy precipitation.

Now, here is where the honesty part comes in. I COULD have just taken the bus home without a ticket to avoid getting wet. The risk of getting caught on a bus without a ticket in Germany is very low. BUT my nagging honest self somehow preferred to walk for 25 minutes in heavy rain instead of "robbing" the bus company of €1.50. I always get an incredible pang of guilt when I don't buy a ticket. This guilt is clearly more unpleasant to me than squelching, wet shoes.


As a result of my honesty, I got home feeling like a little rain cloud myself. Due to the small diameter of my umbrella, I'd had to make compromises such as "either my handbag gets soaked, or my left arm gets soaked". Naturally, it was my left arm that was dripping wet.

Anyway, there was a lot to hang out to dry. And I asked myself if all this was really worth not taking one unpaid bus ride. Am I crazy or am I just good? Or have I spent too long in rule-abiding German society to be capable of doing anything even slightly rebellious?
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5 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Michaelie

March 17th 2008 13:56
I'm not so good as you, Eva - I would have taken the bus, even if it meant buying two tickets next time to ease my conscience.

But you were very sensible in one aspect:

Due to the small diameter of my umbrella, I'd had to make compromises such as "either my handbag gets soaked, or my left arm gets soaked". Naturally, it was my left arm that was dripping wet.

Hahaha.

Michaelie

Comment by Eva W.

March 17th 2008 15:26
Yeah, I am truly pathetic sometimes.

Oh well...

Comment by Aimzster

March 26th 2008 01:38
Eva, I'm with Michaelie. With the trouble I would have had to go through, I definitely would have just robbed the bus company of 1.50 pounds and put it down to 'well, I would have got sick or I could have encountered something dangerous on the way home' so there is no way I would risk something like that But you're not pathetic, by any means. Good for you!

Comment by KylieW

April 3rd 2008 06:22
Eva,

There's nothing wrong with being honest! Though I must say if it was pouring rain, it is likely that I would have jumped on the bus without a ticket. Mind you, having said that I never travel on public transport without a ticket!

And you're a woman after my own heart.......saving your handbag from the rain at the expense of your arm!

Kylie

Comment by Wynona Lavota

April 24th 2008 00:27
If I was in your position, I'd have done the same thing- and I've never lived in Germany.

I hope you don't get sick though.

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