In summer 1993, my mother with limited Education/English background planned to take an Amtrak from NYC to Philadelphia with my brother and me. We were in NYC for our Grand’s special days. Surprisingly, I was younger than her age, by the way, did not know she was wearing a valuable necklace being stolen. I knew all of the travel concepts and knew what to do in case of emergency when I was started in high school.
We were in NYC Penn Station, waiting for the Amtrak (Northeast Corridor I think) when my mother did not know how to find an alternative (NJ Transit Corridor). Back then, we don’t have available online resources. Instead of finding a cheap way to travel back to Philadelphia, she ended up paying in cash for these tickets: One-way ticket from NYC Penn Station to Trenton Trans Center and another one-way ticket from Trenton Trans Center to Center City (Market East Station) via ticket counters.
Look how stressful she had without her phone to keep in close contact with my Grands in NYC.
She didn’t have a debit card with her. Cash was a popular way to purchase a ticket from NYC to Philadelphia via Amtrak. At the ticket counter, she said in plain English, “Philadelphia?” The ticket counter asked her for cash payment and her Identification Card, which she was a bit nervous.
She also had limited travel preparation to travel with her children because it can be tough to adjust her hostile environment since she did not have sufficient educational background. Hence, she only went to school through 6th grade in China. Not enough for the sufficient educational background for solo travelers.
“We must complete our high school and/or college before taking off to travel.”
Importantly, education helps us to build our future and our foundation to success not only we need it but also makes us a better candidate for our future to seek valuables in life and work balance. Education and learning are mandatory for everybody.
Solo Travel? Then say yes to education, learning experiences, and lessons. It is a lifelong learning process to build a solid foundation to success in cultural differences and to help us to apply to real world problem solutions. Education will become rewarding if you take this seriously.
1993 ticket fares:*
- Amtrak Sales (Trenton – NYC Penn Station): ~ $12.00 to $15.00?
- SEPTA Sales (Market East – Trenton): ~ $4.50 to $5.50?
- SEPTA basic Fares: $.90 to $1.15?
Today’s ticket fares:
- Amtrak Sales (Trenton – NYC Penn Station): $35.00 to $45.00**
- SEPTA Sales (Market East – Trenton): $9.00 to $10.00***
- SEPTA basic Fares: $2.25-2.50***
- *Based on our historical estimate
- **Source: www.amtrak.com
- ***Source: www.septa.org
Few minutes later, An innocent man followed her and said, “Hey Missy, you are looking beautiful.”
“No? Sorry!” She then shook her head. “Please, I don’t… um…” Speaking in limited English, she did not know what to do while she was waiting for the train with her ticket in her hand.
Pushing a stroller and carrying a suitcase, I was walking, holding my mother’s hand.
Walking toward the end of the platform, she shook her head and said she was not interested in the unwanted attention.
Heading toward the end of the platform, he followed her and suddenly, he yelled, “Wait, come back here!”
As he began to follow her, he began to attack her for her beautiful necklace. Toward the end of the platform, the man grabs her necklace, and suddenly, she started to scream.
“Ahh! Stop!” She tried to yell back him but to no avail.
“OUCH!” She powerlessly screamed as he broke her beautiful necklace.
My brother sat in the stroller as my mother carried me in her arms, did not realize that it has been stolen without safely called 911 nor any security. She did not have her phone with her.
She did not know how to seek help until my father discussed her about safety awareness after we got home safely.
I started to cry in pain (I was not yet to help with my mother), thus suddenly after he ran up to the Mezzanine level, her neck was swollen.
As the train approaches, my mother got very upset because her most favorite necklace was stolen and she was not aware of her surroundings, which cause an unforeseeable situation.
When we arrived Philadelphia, we also took Market-Frankford Line from 11th Street (Market East) to Market-Orthodox Station and took the 59 bus home since she doesn’t have a phone to call my father to come and pick us up at Arrott Transportation Center. The only way was to call my parents was to use the public pay phone, which she doesn’t have any money to use the phone. That was scary to hear.
These are takeaway points from my mother’s solo travel experience:
- Don’t wear most valuable jewelry or any fashion essentials. Be careful what you wear that is appropriate/inappropriate in various locations.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Stop listening to music on MP3 or portable player until you are safely on board the bus, train, etc. Don’t just play with your phone. Listen and Learn!!!
- Don’t travel alone at night, depending on locations, conditions, and circumstances.
- Don’t go to an isolated area, where fewer people/passengers and loiters are lingering around and are vulnerable for thrives. Stick to the most populated area.
- Educate yourself and your family/friends to various locations and situations. Make safety tips as priority concerns and awareness.
- Always, have a phone including emergency contracts with you.
- Don’t leave any electronic devices and personal belongings unattended or on the pockets where other people/thieves can see them. Secure them properly or stow them away.
- Make safety/security as top priority.
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