This past Friday morning I had my own version of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad morning.
It all started in the morning, when I attempted to pour milk on my cereal, only to have it come out in chunks, as it had apparently gone bad. Since I was already running a little late for a meeting with my tandem partner, I had no time for breakfast, and no milk with my coffee!
I ran for the tram and was going to be on time for my meeting, when, one stop before I needed to get off, my tram was controlled! When your tram is controlled, a number of controllers get on the tram and check to make sure that every person has a valid ticket. If you don't, they haul you off the tram and write you a ticket on the spot.
This was the first time in the year and a half that I've been taking this route that my tram was controlled at this stop, or on my way in to work at all. And, of course, thanks to Murphy's law, this was also the first time that I had forgotten my wallet at home. I had been doing some paperwork on the couch the night before, and, as I was sitting there, I noticed that my wallet was nestled amongst the pillows and thought to myself, "Gosh, I bet I forget my wallet tomorrow!" And I did.
Since I had no valid ticket, I was hauled unceremoniously off the tram, as everyone on the tram stared and all of the inspectors badgered me in Swiss German. Once they realized that I didn't understand them, they switched in to English and asked me for my Auslander permit, since, as a foreigner, I am legally (I think) not supposed to go anywhere without it. Of course, not having my wallet, I also had no paperwork with me, which was another transgression.
My ticket was written up, and they called someone to make sure that I had given correct information and that someone with my name did exist at the address that I provided. Thankfully, I wasn't lying and the controllers were much more affable once they knew I was legit. (And they could even tell that I had a GA.) I was told that my 100 CHF ticket allowed me to ride the trams for the next hour, so I should probably go home and get my wallet. Really, the inspectors were actually quite kind to me, but it still was upsetting.
To make matters worse, I was now really late for my meeting with my tandem partner! I had to run to our meeting spot, apologize for being late, explain my disaster, and then leave to head back to my house to retrieve my wallet, since I had meetings at work that started at 9 am, and I needed my wallet and papers before then. Thankfully, my tandem partner was really understanding, but I still felt really bad about being late and then cancelling.
So I schlepped back to my flat, grabbed my wallet, and traveled back to work. And proceeded to be controlled by the same people at the same stop! They even recognized me and said hi.
At least this time I did had my GA, so all was well.
And all of this happened before 9 am! By the time I got in to work I was a little bit of a wreck, although a coffee and some good news about an instrument I'd been working on cheered me up.
Thankfully, I didn't have to pay all of the 100 CHF ticket. I just had to go to a train station, show my ticket and my GA, and pay 5 CHF, which I did on Saturday. So, I guess all's well that ends well.
But now I double check every morning to make sure that I haven't forgotten my wallet!
It all started in the morning, when I attempted to pour milk on my cereal, only to have it come out in chunks, as it had apparently gone bad. Since I was already running a little late for a meeting with my tandem partner, I had no time for breakfast, and no milk with my coffee!
I ran for the tram and was going to be on time for my meeting, when, one stop before I needed to get off, my tram was controlled! When your tram is controlled, a number of controllers get on the tram and check to make sure that every person has a valid ticket. If you don't, they haul you off the tram and write you a ticket on the spot.
This was the first time in the year and a half that I've been taking this route that my tram was controlled at this stop, or on my way in to work at all. And, of course, thanks to Murphy's law, this was also the first time that I had forgotten my wallet at home. I had been doing some paperwork on the couch the night before, and, as I was sitting there, I noticed that my wallet was nestled amongst the pillows and thought to myself, "Gosh, I bet I forget my wallet tomorrow!" And I did.
Since I had no valid ticket, I was hauled unceremoniously off the tram, as everyone on the tram stared and all of the inspectors badgered me in Swiss German. Once they realized that I didn't understand them, they switched in to English and asked me for my Auslander permit, since, as a foreigner, I am legally (I think) not supposed to go anywhere without it. Of course, not having my wallet, I also had no paperwork with me, which was another transgression.
My ticket was written up, and they called someone to make sure that I had given correct information and that someone with my name did exist at the address that I provided. Thankfully, I wasn't lying and the controllers were much more affable once they knew I was legit. (And they could even tell that I had a GA.) I was told that my 100 CHF ticket allowed me to ride the trams for the next hour, so I should probably go home and get my wallet. Really, the inspectors were actually quite kind to me, but it still was upsetting.
To make matters worse, I was now really late for my meeting with my tandem partner! I had to run to our meeting spot, apologize for being late, explain my disaster, and then leave to head back to my house to retrieve my wallet, since I had meetings at work that started at 9 am, and I needed my wallet and papers before then. Thankfully, my tandem partner was really understanding, but I still felt really bad about being late and then cancelling.
So I schlepped back to my flat, grabbed my wallet, and traveled back to work. And proceeded to be controlled by the same people at the same stop! They even recognized me and said hi.
At least this time I did had my GA, so all was well.
And all of this happened before 9 am! By the time I got in to work I was a little bit of a wreck, although a coffee and some good news about an instrument I'd been working on cheered me up.
Thankfully, I didn't have to pay all of the 100 CHF ticket. I just had to go to a train station, show my ticket and my GA, and pay 5 CHF, which I did on Saturday. So, I guess all's well that ends well.
But now I double check every morning to make sure that I haven't forgotten my wallet!
