The Life of Olivia: NEVER boring...

So it's been an exciting couple of days. I think it's safe to say that of all my travel horror stories, this weekend has given me the best one yet. I can almost laugh about it now, because it looks like things are going to work out, but suffice it to say I'm in a rather emotionally vulnerable state....

So here begins the cautionary tale of the Saga of the Disappearing Apartment. If you are faint of heart, do not read on.

As many of you know, I was going to London to live with my friends Kelley and Paris in a sublet apartment for a few weeks to do research for our theses. We found it through gumtree.com, a sort of craigslist for London. The landlord asked that we send a Security Deposit of £200 before she sent the contract. Then, after we had signed the contract, we needed to pay the rent upfront. All of this was done through Western Union. Everyone I talked to said this seemed like pretty standard procedure.

Fast forward to my arrival in Britain on Saturday. I left Friday afternoon, flew to Frankfurt and then to London (it was cheaper that way). I took the Heathrow Express train to Paddington, and hailed a cab. I had it take me to the apartment, 40 Wilton Road. When I got there, number 40 was a boarded-up shop front, without a door or a doorbell. There was nothing around it. I called the number on the contract, and got a voicemail box, where I left frantic messages. I wandered around a bit, and realized that there was definitely no apartment. None. Zilch.

Cue panic and tears. Thankfully I happen to have a guardian angel as a friend. His name is Jack. He is amazing. I owe my soul to this man, no joke. I called him after the initial freakout period had passed. The conversation went something like this:

Jack: Hello darling.

Me: Hi. Um. I don't have an apartment.

Jack: What?

Me: So I just arrived at the address of my apartment and it's not here. I mean, there's a building and it's number 40, but it's not here. It's a scam. No one's answering the phone, no one is here. I can't believe this....

Jack: Hold on.

(Suddenly Jack arrives on a white steed. Battles evil-doers and saves children on the way back to Sloane Square.)

Almost all of that is true.

In all seriousness, this has been one shocker after another. When we went back on the website we found the listing through, two other people had posted that the same thing had happened. We paid these people nearly $2000. I've spent the past few days on the phone with Western Union and the police. Chances look pretty slim that we'll recover any of the money.

In hindsight, of course, I feel like I should have known better. I should have listened to my gut instincts that told me something was not right and asserted that fact. But that's all in the past now. Jack has been awesome and Kelley and I are staying here until we get a new place to stay, which will hopefully be soon. If you see him, give him a hug and tell him he's a hero. Because he is. His parents and family have been so kind and hospitable, I can't even deal.

These past few days have been some of the most stressful and worrying in my recent experience. But there have been silver linings. What I think I've learned, more than anything, is how important friendships are and how good people are under pressure. Zack was staying with Jack as well until this morning, and between the two of them I felt so supported and safe. It's been a surreal experience: I've come in contact with the worst of human nature and the best. I don't understand how a person could do this to another unsuspecting human being. It's hard to describe how violated I feel. At the same time, seeing how quickly my friends came to my aid and supported me helped restore my confidence and sense of security. I'm so used to being very self-sufficient and independent; it's very strange to rely on the kindness of others. That I have friends who would offer me a place to stay and a shoulder to cry on bodes well, I think.

I miss everyone back home, especially right now. Please please please email me if you have the chance. Even boring things like, "I am sitting at home/work/Starbucks doing nothing right now and I have nothing better to do than write you." Any positive contact is much appreciated.

Love,

Olivia