I gave a charla to the new trainees today about "coping with stress" so it was pretty ironic when I had to cope with a stressful event on the way back from the charla. The charla went really well and I even got to see one of my friends who was in the environment group (Frank's group actually) and now is going through training again to be a TEFL PCV, so that was fun. We talked about their frustrations and ways we cope with stress, etc. But, it was after all that that I had to deal with my own stress.
One of the environment girls from Frank's group who had also been in Managua this week called me to ask if I had a big green backpack. I said yes and she told me that the people at the hotel I was staying at were moving my things into her room. What?! This surprised me since I left my things in my hotel room because I had a reservation for 2 nights, which was known to the hotel as well. Then she told me that they were wanting her to move to the other Peace Corps approved hotel near our office and for my things to go too apparently. Hmmm. I asked her to tell them not to move my things anymore and wait for me to get back. This was very stressful because I was still about 40 minutes away from the hotel, riding in a car with the PC doctor. I called the PC office to talk to someone about the issue and they had the hotel manager call me to explain the issue. The hotel manager told me that there was a problem with the AC unit so they had to move my things out of the room. Ok, this was not a very good excuse so I told him that I felt very uncomfortable that they moved my things without asking/telling me and that someone had touched all of my stuff and what if something was missing, what would we do then?? Well, he assured me that everything was accounted for, but how can he possibly do that? I was clearly upset by then so the PC doctor took my phone and gave him an earful!
When we finally got to the hotel, the PC doctor went in with me and talked to the hotel manager again and told him that it was very disrespectful what he did and that it was a violation of my things and privacy because they touched all of my stuff and moved it without me being there. She told him to escort me to my room to make sure everything was there which he assured me it was. Well I started going through things and my stuff that was in the shower was not there so then they got the key and opened up my old room (which had been cleaned, beds made, etc.) and all my bathroom stuff was on the counter in the bathroom. Not sure why they left all of those things in the room... So of course I was upset and just gathered my things and left, since we were being kicked out of that hotel for some unknown reason. He kept blaming the AC but my friend was in the room when I got there with the AC on, running fine, so he was obviously lying about that.
By that time, our assistant PC director called me because the PC doctor called him so I explained everything and he was shocked. Then after we were moved to the other hotel, the PC Safety & Security Officer called me and asked me to explain the whole situation to him, which I did, and then he wants to meet with me in the morning to discuss it and he wants to talk to the hotel manager as well. Seriously?! What a big mess. I can't believe this all happened.
Before the initial phone call on the way back I was just thinking about getting back to the hotel and lying on the nice comfy bed since I was exhausted from the long day, but that's not how things played out.
The whole situation is just a little weird especially because I don't know exactly why they needed to move my things out of the room. It just really upset me because they didn't call to ask/tell me about the issue and they moved my things without asking for a PCV I knew who could maybe move my things for me or help pack things up. I'm really glad my things went to Katie's room and she recognized my backpack! It just bugged me that they touched everything and just threw all of my stuff together. They even opened my bathroom bag to put other things in it. I just felt like they really violated my trust. I'm sure PC will be discussing that very issue with them again tomorrow.
I'm alright, just upset about the situation. My safety is not threatened, but I'm just feeling confused. I hope to resolve the issue tomorrow.
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