A lot of things happen on the race, a lot of embarrassing things.
Let me tell you about one from my month in Ukraine.
It was a bright and sunny morning as everyone woke up and went about their usual morning business. On this particular morning everyone had to be in different places at different times. As everyone departed, I got in the shower, and I heard a knock on the door.
“Hannah!! The keys that are left only lock the dead bolt. So when you leave that’s the one that’s locked.” Elise shouted over the running water.
“OKAY SOUNDS GOOD” I shouted back, and continued to enjoy my very nice warm shower. I got out, dressed and ready to go. If I left early enough I could get a nice walk into the city center. It was a beautiful day. The apartment was quiet and I ate breakfast and sipped coffee. Finally it was time to leave. I grabbed my bag, phone, and the keys off the hook.
I went to unlock the deadbolt.
The key doesn’t even go all the way in. I try the other key on the hook, same result. Usually deadbolts can unlock from the inside, but this door is strange and requires a key on both sides, and I don’t have that key.
I was locked in and I had to be somewhere in thirty minutes.
I grabbed my phone and tried to call Elise, our host, anyone, but nothing went through. I tapped the phone against my hand trying to figure out how to get out of the apartment I was trapped in. I paced back and forth trying to come up with a solution. As I entered the kitchen, I remembered we were on the first floor.
“I wonder…” I approached the window and looked out. The window couldn’t be more than seven feet up. Okay, now how to open the window. I fiddled with the handle trying to figure out how to actually open it. I finally got it open and leaned out.
The thing about this apartment is that it’s in a high traffic area. If I decided to climb out of this window…it wouldn’t be discreet. But I had to get to ministry.
So I made a choice.
I climbed out the window.
I grabbed my bag and lowered it out the window, people paused and glared my direction and then kept walking, a bit puzzled.
Then came the hard part. I’d never climbed out a window before. It seemed simple enough.
Both feet out.
Scoot to the edge.
Turn over.
Hop down.
I was out, on the ground.
I turned around, people were stopped, and they were all looking at me. I awkwardly smiled and waved. I reached up, closed the window and picked up my bag. And then, with eyes forward, walked quickly for the bus down the street with a smile on my face at the ridiculousness of what had just ensued.
