Come back to me!
February 25, 2016 1:13 PM Subscribe
I left my cabin bag / trolley on the train. There is something I could not stand losing in it. What can I do to maximize my chances of getting it back?
I stayed in Berne this week and went home to Geneva on the afternoon train. Due to not usually travelling with one, I left my cabin bag between two rows of seats. When I realised my mistake, the train had already left. I jumped on the next train about 15 minutes later and asked the cleaning crew at Geneva airport if they had found my bag. They said no and sent me to the Lost & Found, where they looked, but said it might not have been delivered yet. I registered both my bag and my turtle in their online system and the nice people at the station said if I was lucky, I might get a message tomorrow. However, my bag might also have been stolen, and I worry that a thief would throw it out anywhere if they found nothing of value.
I called my boyfriend in tears and he came to pick me up and search the area around the station in case someone had thrown my bag or my poor turtle away, but we didn't find anything and none of the cleaning people at the station had seen it either. We went to the Migros supermarket inside Geneva station thinking maybe someone went inside with the bag and left it there because it would be an easier disposal method than trying to leave it at the station itself where people are still on bomb alert. (Last year, a Japanese tourist got his bag blasted at the airport.) A lady there took my number and said she'd call me if she found anything, but I guess chances are slim.
What can I do now other than wait to increase my chances of getting my turtle back? I'm cursing myself for my own stupidity right now, but I guess I was exhausted and not used to travelling with a second bag... I just want my sleeping aid and, frankly, third family member back.
I stayed in Berne this week and went home to Geneva on the afternoon train. Due to not usually travelling with one, I left my cabin bag between two rows of seats. When I realised my mistake, the train had already left. I jumped on the next train about 15 minutes later and asked the cleaning crew at Geneva airport if they had found my bag. They said no and sent me to the Lost & Found, where they looked, but said it might not have been delivered yet. I registered both my bag and my turtle in their online system and the nice people at the station said if I was lucky, I might get a message tomorrow. However, my bag might also have been stolen, and I worry that a thief would throw it out anywhere if they found nothing of value.
I called my boyfriend in tears and he came to pick me up and search the area around the station in case someone had thrown my bag or my poor turtle away, but we didn't find anything and none of the cleaning people at the station had seen it either. We went to the Migros supermarket inside Geneva station thinking maybe someone went inside with the bag and left it there because it would be an easier disposal method than trying to leave it at the station itself where people are still on bomb alert. (Last year, a Japanese tourist got his bag blasted at the airport.) A lady there took my number and said she'd call me if she found anything, but I guess chances are slim.
What can I do now other than wait to increase my chances of getting my turtle back? I'm cursing myself for my own stupidity right now, but I guess I was exhausted and not used to travelling with a second bag... I just want my sleeping aid and, frankly, third family member back.
in all honesty i am not sure going to reddit with a breathless post about losing your pet turtle is going to be a positive experience. you're in switzerland. you've contacted the authorities. i think the odds are with you and i don't see much else to do.
posted by andrewcooke at 1:44 PM on February 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by andrewcooke at 1:44 PM on February 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I did it anyway, just in case. Btw, turtle is not a pet (I'm not that dumb), but a stuffed animal from a previous question.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 1:46 PM on February 25, 2016
posted by LoonyLovegood at 1:46 PM on February 25, 2016
I'm not sure this is applicable, given the ways trains are different in the US vs Europe, but if this happened to me in the US I would be sure to contact any and all stations along the route after my stop as well as the train company itself.
posted by Rock Steady at 1:49 PM on February 25, 2016
posted by Rock Steady at 1:49 PM on February 25, 2016
Rock Steady: sounds like she got off in Geneva and the train terminated at the next stop, Geneva Airport, so she's done that already.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 3:43 PM on February 25, 2016
posted by the agents of KAOS at 3:43 PM on February 25, 2016
Best answer: I'm so sorry, I hope you find your turtle.
Are you on social media? Do you have a photo of the turtle or bag?
Tweet. Facebook. Tweet some more. Find community groups that are in the area, the local newspaper, share the post there. Ask your friends to share it. @everyone you can think of, the airport, the train company, the supermarket, groups for the train passengers, airport users, residents groups near the stations. Ask for retweets. Share, share, share basically.
posted by Helga-woo at 4:14 PM on February 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
Are you on social media? Do you have a photo of the turtle or bag?
Tweet. Facebook. Tweet some more. Find community groups that are in the area, the local newspaper, share the post there. Ask your friends to share it. @everyone you can think of, the airport, the train company, the supermarket, groups for the train passengers, airport users, residents groups near the stations. Ask for retweets. Share, share, share basically.
posted by Helga-woo at 4:14 PM on February 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Yes, social media is the way to go! Also, I looked at your previous question, and it seems like you have at least one picture of your (adorable) stuffed turtle friend, so maybe include that in your social media posts? I feel like the internet can totally get behind a desperate search in Geneva for a much loved stuffed turtle.
Also, I don't know, maybe this is a stupid idea, but you could post flyers in the area with some kind of reward for the return of your bag (or at least the turtle) no questions asked. Maybe if someone did steal the bag and they see the signs, or if someone ditched the bag and another person sees the bag, this might incentivize someone to get in touch with you.
I really hope you get your turtle friend back! As a fellow adult with a beloved stuffed animal sleeping buddy, I'm really rooting for you to be reunited with your turtle.
posted by litera scripta manet at 3:58 PM on February 26, 2016
Also, I don't know, maybe this is a stupid idea, but you could post flyers in the area with some kind of reward for the return of your bag (or at least the turtle) no questions asked. Maybe if someone did steal the bag and they see the signs, or if someone ditched the bag and another person sees the bag, this might incentivize someone to get in touch with you.
I really hope you get your turtle friend back! As a fellow adult with a beloved stuffed animal sleeping buddy, I'm really rooting for you to be reunited with your turtle.
posted by litera scripta manet at 3:58 PM on February 26, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by brbmaroon at 1:41 PM on February 25, 2016