[nabs-l] Independent Travel At Crowded MajorCollegeSporting Events

Fri Nov 12 07:40:12 UTC 2010

Hi All one more time...last message I promise!

I just wanted to appologize for the last message I sent about the
fears and being safe/not being stalked, raped or anything like
that...I just remembered I will be arriving at the stadium at 10:30
AM...most of the drunks will still be in the parking lot...things will
be fine I know they will...I just need to try to not think so
much...and I also forgot that tomorrow (Friday) is the basketball
game...that will give me some experience of what the football game
should be like saturday and it will show me how well I do with dealing
with the overhelpful public...I just need to keep things in
perspective and try to not jump to the worst...

This over-thinking/jumping to the worst before the big event is what I
did before convention too...and look how well/smoothly convention
went!

Kerri

On 11/12/10, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi All again:
>
> A couple of things I forgot to mention.
>
> Kimberly...I'm not doing this to learn a route...I don't do route
> travel...I do structured discovery travel...and the reason I am doing
> this is not to learn a route at all but to gain confidence interacting
> with public, drunks, get practice using my cane, and to show myself I
> can do something I want to and to give myself a challenge.
>
> Oh, and as for the drunk guy who called me a "kid"...I may have
> misunderstood his intent or maybe he wasn't as harsh as I may have
> thought...but I guess what scares me so much is that I haven't been
> exposed to public/interacting with strangers much...when I traveled in
> the past (like up until around a year ago) I was always guided
> everywhere, and was always of course with someone so never really had
> to interact.
>
> I know it would be easy to read these messages and tell me to just
> have someone who works at the stadium help me and that would make
> things easy but at the same time I need to give myself the confidence
> and need to get used to interacting with the public...
>
> I really want to do this...just what should I do if I get around the
> wrong/mean/harsh drunk?
>
> I know I'll have my whistle which should scare them away but what
> else? I'll have my iphone but it may be too loud to hear it...
>
> I don't want to over-analyze this so much that I completely scare
> myself out of it but I also want to be as safe as possible...I don't
> want to get hurt, raped, kidnapped, or followed home/stalked...
>
> Am I over-thinking this and scaring myself out of it?
>
> Should I be fine since I'm inside the stadium?
>
> Oh I really want to do this so much...I think it will help me gain
> tons of confidence and show me that I can do things like this...but
> the fear sucks lol!
>
> Kerri
>
> On 11/12/10, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi All!
>>
>> Okay, there may be a problem with my little plan lol...I don't know...
>>
>> I go to a bar every week for karaoke. The bar gets very loud, crowded,
>> and obviously people drink...I do not but others do.
>>
>> I am ashamed to admit this but until recently I had the bartenders or
>> a waitress help me to the restroom door because I was afraid of the
>> drunks.
>>
>> I know a bar is not a stadium but tonight I really tried to simulate
>> the experience I may have at the stadium...instead of having anyone
>> follow me to make sure I made it or having someone who works there
>> help me when I went the wrong way I jumped up, grabbed my cane and
>> tried to just head for the bathroom myself...trying to blend into the
>> crowd and interacting with the people to see what kind of reaction I
>> would get and to try to sort of see how the drunks would be like.
>>
>> The experience wasn't the best. I couldn't take two or three steps
>> without someone coming over, and grabbing my hand to try to help me.
>>
>> I tried to be cheerful and say "I'm good" but it's sort of tricky to
>> get to the bathroom in this bar and so often I was gong the wrong way.
>> If the people would've just left me alone and let me explore I
>> could've found my way...but I could barely take three steps without
>> someone trying to help.
>>
>> Also, once I got really turned around and was at the front door. I
>> didn't realize I was at the door however until someone opened it for
>> me thinking I was trying to go outside. I quickly backed away and said
>> "no I don't want to go outside."
>>
>> Another time I had gotten up and was trying to weave my way through
>> the people and a guy asked in a sort of harsh voice "where you going
>> kid?" Quickly I said "the bathroom" he sort of directed me and luckily
>> I was in the right hallway and knew where to go and so very quickly
>> walked away...
>>
>> But, I don't know how this whole finding my seat on my own thing will
>> go...I am thinking every time I take a step someone will be wanting to
>> help. Drunks like that one that said "where you going kid" kind of
>> scare me...I do look like a "kid" as I'm so tiny I look like I'm about
>> 15...
>>
>> First, how do you tell sighted people to leave you alone and let you
>> explore? I tried to say in a very cheerful voice "I'm good" but that
>> must've sounded very strange to the person when I was usually going
>> the wrong way. How do you tell them without being mean to leave you
>> alone? I don't want to push everyone away...but at the same time I
>> need room to explore if I am going to find my section on my own...
>>
>> Also I did notice that the loud noise got me turned around a couple of
>> times like when I was at the front door and about to go outside which
>> was nowhere near the bathroom.
>>
>> What do I do about any harsh/mean drunks who see me as a "kid" who
>> want to take advantage of me? The bar I was at is very small in
>> comparison to the stadium and there will be many many many more
>> people...many drunk, some not...
>>
>> How is the best way to handle the not so friendly drunks and the fact
>> that I can't take two or three steps without people rushing to help.
>>
>> Like I said...I don't want to push people away and end up getting
>> myself so lost/turned around that when I need help there is noone
>> around...but if I am going to do this I will need to explore...
>>
>> I am just saying...I don't know if this will go as smoothly as I
>> thought...it doesn't seem as if I'll really have the room to just
>> wander around and explore...
>>
>> And the types of people like that guy who said "where ya going kid"
>> kind of scare me...what do I do if I get into a sticky situation?
>>
>> I know this bar is no real simulation to a stadium but it gave me the
>> experience of navigating with my cane in a crowd of people that were
>> drinking and having to interact with people I didn't know...
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Kerri
>>
>> On 11/11/10, Kimberly thurman <kimthurman at insightbb.com> wrote:
>>> Sounds like you have it pretty well planned out.  You're obviously going
>>> to
>>> have to ask for assistance of one sort or another, as you won't know
>>> which
>>> way to go to get to your section without asking anybody.  Stadiums have
>>> such
>>> wide concourses and hallways with ramps, stairs, concessions stands, big
>>> open areas, etc. that I would take any assistance offered me  Taking
>>> someone's arm would probably be a wise idea.  If you were going to have
>>> the
>>> same seat for several games each season like folks with season tickets,
>>> it
>>> might be worth it to learn the exact route to your seat, but if you are
>>> not
>>> going to sit there next time you go to a football game, there's not much
>>> use
>>> in memorizing the route.
>>> On Nov 11, 2010, at 8:34 PM, Kerri Kosten wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Kimberly and all:
>>>>
>>>> Oh my goodness...I have tons of them...I am a huge huge WVU fan and
>>>> write about the team for a local radio station's website...believe me
>>>> I wouldn't wear anything but WVU stuff...
>>>>
>>>> Kimberly since you've been to the stadium before...as long as I'm not
>>>> wandering the parking lots and am inside the stadium...do you think
>>>> it'd be safe/okay for me to try to use my cane and find my own seat?
>>>>
>>>> Can you forsee any huge problems I may not be thinking of?
>>>>
>>>> I'll go early around 10:30...I'll have my Iphone and a whistle...I'll
>>>> get dropped off by the entrance...I'll make sure it's the right
>>>> entrance for the tickets I have which are on the 50 yard line...I'll
>>>> make sure to have two ways to get home...anything I'm not thinking of
>>>> or need to be cautious/make sure of?
>>>>
>>>> If I go in at 10:30 most of the drunks will still be tailgating and if
>>>> it's close to game time like around say 11:30/40ish and I haven't
>>>> found my seat yet I'll just take an arm...
>>>>
>>>> Sound good to everyone? Anything else I may be forgetting/need to be
>>>> cautious of/not thinking of?
>>>>
>>>> Kerri
>>>>
>>>> On 11/11/10, Kimberly thurman <kimthurman at insightbb.com> wrote:
>>>>> Kerry, on a lighter note, just don't wear red and black on Saturday.
>>>>> They're Cincinnati's colors, as well as the University of
>>>>> Louisville's.
>>>>> If
>>>>> you have a University of West Virginia shirt, that would be a good
>>>>> choice.
>>>>> Fans like to help fellow fans.  *smile*
>>>>> On Nov 11, 2010, at 8:07 PM, Albert Yoo wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> get some one to help you to your seat. Are you going to ask some one
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> get
>>>>>> your food and go through the line with you? What is your email
>>>>>> address?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 5:54 PM, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Al:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> They are playing the Cincinnati Bearcats...a team that isn't that
>>>>>>> good
>>>>>>> since they lost Brian Kelly to Notre Dame but Butch Jones is making
>>>>>>> his return...should be interesting.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Albert...just curious...what's your opinion...do you go to many
>>>>>>> sporting events...should I get someone from the stadium to help me
>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>> use my cane to find my seat?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Just for curiosity's sake...trying to get as many different opinions
>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> can!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Kerri
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 11/11/10, Albert Yoo <albert.k.yoo at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Enjoy the game Carrie! Who are they playing this weekend?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 4:52 PM, Kimberly thurman
>>>>>>>> <kimthurman at insightbb.com>wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Kerry, okay!  That's great.  I'm breathing a sigh of relief.  I
>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>>>> concerned about you girl.  I guess I had a picture of little old
>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>> wandering that crazy parking lot all aone and it made me
>>>>>>>>> frightened
>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>> you.
>>>>>>>>> Odds are you would probably have even survived that, but why?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I think you have it figured out, and which ever method you choose,
>>>>>>>>> enjoy
>>>>>>>>> yourself.  You're definitely a brave girl.
>>>>>>>>> On Nov 11, 2010, at 3:00 PM, Kerri Kosten wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Hi Kimberly and All:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Okay let me clear a few things up.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Kimberly I appreciate your concern so very much.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I am not going to go wandering through the parking lots; I want
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> go
>>>>>>>>>> to this game for the game and do not plan to tailgate either
>>>>>>>>>> before
>>>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>>> after the game. So, I will be nowhere near the parking
>>>>>>>>>> lots...they
>>>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>>>> a perfect recipe to be raped...you have a bunch of rowdy crazy
>>>>>>>>>> drunks
>>>>>>>>>> all in one area...I'm not gonna get lost in that mess.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I dont want to go to this game alone to prove I am independent or
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> practice my self-defense/screaming techniques with a drunk...I
>>>>>>>>>> want
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> do this alone to prove that I can in fact go to crowded events
>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>> do
>>>>>>>>>> not need to wait around for feel-sorry-for-the-blind-girl sighted
>>>>>>>>>> people.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I have to disagree Kimberly about the couch burning...we only do
>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>> for big major wins and I do not agree with that at all...it makes
>>>>>>>>>> our
>>>>>>>>>> school and the state of West Virginia look very bad.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I will have my cell phone and a whistle; I have also made
>>>>>>>>>> arrangements
>>>>>>>>>> to be dropped off and picked up at the stadium entrance and have
>>>>>>>>>> two
>>>>>>>>>> arrangements to get home. Like I said I do not plan to wander
>>>>>>>>>> around
>>>>>>>>>> the parking lot at all; I want to go to the game to enjoy the
>>>>>>>>>> game.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I know I will need assistance to my seat...I don't plan to just
>>>>>>>>>> do
>>>>>>>>>> this entire thing without asking a single person for help...what
>>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>>> haven't decided is whether I will call the stadium ahead and have
>>>>>>>>>> someone who works at the stadium escort me to my seat (similarly
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> asking for assistance at airports) or whether I will use my cane
>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>> ask random people along the way "excuse me what section is this?"
>>>>>>>>>> "Section 102" Okay...I need to keep going; I need section 145...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Since this is my first game I am leaning toward just having
>>>>>>>>>> someone
>>>>>>>>>> who works at the stadium help me...but the adventurous side of me
>>>>>>>>>> who
>>>>>>>>>> loves loves loves structured discovery cane travel wants to do
>>>>>>>>>> otherwise...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks everyone again!
>>>>>>>>>> Kerri
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On 11/11/10, Ashley  Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> Joe,
>>>>>>>>>>> That's right.  That's why I haven't gone to huge events like the
>>>>>>>>>>> one
>>>>>>>>> Kerry
>>>>>>>>>>> spoke of alone.  Instead I started small by going to school
>>>>>>>>>>> plays
>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>> concerts and out to eat.  Later I may attempt large things with
>>>>>>>>> thousands of
>>>>>>>>>>> people.  I think you need to build up confidence.  Otherwise as
>>>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> say
>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>>>> might have a rotten time and get so frustrated in the process.
>>>>>>>>>>> So
>>>>>>> its
>>>>>>>>> fine
>>>>>>>>>>> to build up to independence with no guides.  Maybe a few times
>>>>>>>>>>> use
>>>>>>>>>>> assistance.  Then you'll be familiar with the layout and next
>>>>>>>>>>> time
>>>>>>>>>>> do
>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>> alone.
>>>>>>>>>>> Someday I'd like to attend a concert or play with thousands such
>>>>>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>> at
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>> Verizon center but I'm going to work up to that goal.  Even when
>>>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>>>> do
>>>>>>>>> go, I
>>>>>>>>>>> might go with a blind friend and we can figure out things
>>>>>>>>>>> together.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Ashley
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
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>