cash is the new plastic

Funny story:

So Casey and I stopped by the Namesti Miru Christmas market Sunday (i.e. last) night after coming back from a day trip to Kutna Hora. They are selling hot honey wine and Czech candied almonds. We indulge in both, congratulating ourselves on making good life decisions.

On our walk back to the dorm, I stop by the Bankomat (the European version of the ATM) to withdraw some cash. Buzzed, I insert in my card. I punch in my PIN number. An error message pops up telling me it's the wrong code. I concentrate harder and punch the PIN number in again. The same message pops up. The same message pops up three more times.

Then a new message pops up telling me that my card has been "detained" and to contact my bank for more information.

Confused and still buzzed, I go through the pouch I carry my cards in to see if there is a number I can call and realize that I've stupidly inserted in my credit card instead of my debit card. No wonder the PIN number wasn't working. I turn to the lady standing behind me waiting to get to the Bankomat to seek help. She speaks no English.

Finally, I figure out that I'm supposed to call the Euronet number listed on the Bankomat. The Czech guy on the phone tells me in a heavy accent that a technician service man (?) is going to come pick up my card, which will then be sent to my home bank. "IN AMERICA?!?!" I ask. In America, he says.

He assures me that my card is safe inside the machine, but that it will stay very much inside the machine, thanks to my bank tagging it for "security reasons." Couldn't they just ask me a couple questions to make sure that I'm me? I have awful images of hundreds of tagged and detained credit cards lumped together inside the metal stomach of this greedy Bankomat I now despise. I call my parents to have them cancel my credit card, just in case, and in the meantime realize that that was the first time I've heard my mother's voice since leaving the States in August.

And so here I am, once again abroad without a credit card.
I'm never drinking on a Sunday night ever again.