Here's a scenario that happened to me a few years back in a major foreign city. I was in a study-abroad program. Knowing what I know now, I've been trying to figure out what I would've done differently. What would you have done?
I had been hanging out with some friends, and didn't leave until around 0100. My host parents' apartment was in a side-street directly off the city's main avenue. Even at this hour there was traffic on the main street, but my street was poorly lit and basically deserted.
When I was about half-way between the main street and my apartment, I saw two men approaching me from about 30 yards. It seemed strange to me, but I continued on. At this point, what would have been the best course of action? I felt that turning around would have encouraged them to move more quickly, as would have going to the other side of the street. Continuing on didn't seem like a great idea, but it's what I did.
When we got near, the one on my left asked me what time it was. I got out my watch (I know! :gah
, at which point he grabbed my arm and told me he wanted my watch. I tried to pull back, but his buddy was blocking me on my right, and then the first guy got out what looked like a knife. Then the second guy sprayed me with pepper spray. Fortunately, his movement to spray me left enough of an opening I was able to break contact and run. A man got out of a taxi near us and stopped them, allowing me to reach my apartment.
I should mention that I was entirely unarmed except for a long-shafted key, and untrained in SD at that time. I wasn't confident that, if I tried to counter-attack, I would have been successful.
Thoughts? Comments? Similar experiences?
I had been hanging out with some friends, and didn't leave until around 0100. My host parents' apartment was in a side-street directly off the city's main avenue. Even at this hour there was traffic on the main street, but my street was poorly lit and basically deserted.
When I was about half-way between the main street and my apartment, I saw two men approaching me from about 30 yards. It seemed strange to me, but I continued on. At this point, what would have been the best course of action? I felt that turning around would have encouraged them to move more quickly, as would have going to the other side of the street. Continuing on didn't seem like a great idea, but it's what I did.
When we got near, the one on my left asked me what time it was. I got out my watch (I know! :gah
I should mention that I was entirely unarmed except for a long-shafted key, and untrained in SD at that time. I wasn't confident that, if I tried to counter-attack, I would have been successful.
Thoughts? Comments? Similar experiences?