damn those "holes in the wall"

A quick note to those traveling from the states to another country....be very attentive to the atm machine while getting money out. Not only has one person in our group gotten their PIN number stolen because he didn't stand close enough to the machine while putting in his number, but I myself made an annoying mistake 2 nights ago when getting money out. In the states, the money comes out first....then your card, and you are on your way. Not only that, but the there is a loud beeping noise when your card is pushed out so that you don't walk away without it. Well, here in London, the "holes in the walls" here not only make no sounds when your card is pushed out, but it is pushed out first, and only a tiiiiiny bit out of the machine, barely visible unless you are looking for your damn card. So alas, last night I was talking with my friends Pat and Tyler as I was getting money out of the machine, and I was just standing there, waiting for money to be sent out. Little did I know that my card was waiting for me in the tiny slot, and before I could catch it, the card was retained and a message read "Your card is currently being shredded, please contact your personal bank". So there you have it, Cory is in a foreign country, with no phone, and no atm card to get money out. I was a little overwhelmed for a few hours, but then Tyler and Pat took me out and bought be a few pints at a pub nearby. So with that coupled with a good skype talk with my sister (aka my skype guardian angel), I was feeling okay about it all. No worries anymore, and I have learned a lesson....I suppose.