The Moment you realised you're in the big bad world now

Demosthenes · 03-09-2013 02:34PM

I was just gone 18 and in amsterdam for a week with two friends. The parents were under the impression we were in Germany.
I had a run-in with a rather nasty drug dealer while waiting outside a shop for friends. He flashed a wrap of heroin in my face (it was a quiet street) and tried to get me to buy it. He became very insistent and threateneing (and I had all my holiday money in my pocket).

Long story short, I was way too stoned to deal with the situation. The lads came out of the shop, he saw I wasn't alone and his tone changed. He kept his heroin and one of the lads gave him 2 quid and said to go get himself a cup of tea and things somehow just sorted themselves out.

It was the whole 'Sh1t I nearly got violently robbed by some junkie in a total different country to where everyone thinks I am right now' that did it for me.

Tomohawk · 03-09-2013 02:54PM

The Moment you realised you're in the big bad world now.....mmmm now lets see...

On my 13th birthday I went to the local shopping center to buy a small red swiss army penknife with my birthday money. I was on my bicycle that winter evening and unknown to me at the time, was followed home in the dark by a guy in a van. As I finishing parking my bike in the side garage close to our house, the guy suddenly appeared at the garage door with his penis in his hand and tried to molest me.

That was the day my childhood ended, no physical damage but psychologically it affected my teenage years (guilt, shame, depression, wariness about people, sexual confusion, fear of recurrence). I kept this bad experience a secret for 6 years until I was about 19 and told my parents and got counselling...

MonstaMash · 03-09-2013 03:09PM

Malia Fancy Frost wrote: »

Arriving in Lebanon in 1988 and being issued a rifle, ammo, flak jacket and helmet.. Then seeing the first 'Landmines' signs, then the drive from the Israeli/Lebanese border to our area of operations and into a war ~ I was 19 years old.

Did you come across that rare breed of bird when you were out there Mak?...The Tebnine Woodpecker

Raminahobbin · 03-09-2013 03:24PM

Malia Fancy Frost wrote: »

Arriving in Lebanon in 1988 and being issued a rifle, ammo, flak jacket and helmet.. Then seeing the first 'Landmines' signs, then the drive from the Israeli/Lebanese border to our area of operations and into a war ~ I was 19 years old.

Me too

I was about 8, over in Israel (dad's in the army too) and back and forth to Lebanon constantly (especially for the deadly Sunday mass/dinners with the rest of the Irish) and it didn't hit me when I found a bomb shell on the beach, it didn't hit me when the sirens were going off and we had to go to the bomb shelters (that was fun and games at the time).

It did however hit me when I was hanging out with my new Lebanese friends in their shed house made of corrugated metal sheets. They had recently rescued a puppy who had been dumped and had had it's ears and tail cut off by someone. Then there was the eyeless cow's head in the street with it's tongue lolling out the side of it's head. Then the adorable baby rabbits I played with while their mother was taken away...then being made to eat said mother in a stew thing.

Not sure why, I just vividly remember the above incidents all occurring over the space of a day or so and it really affected me. No wonder I became a vegetarian

BeerWolf · 03-09-2013 03:29PM

When you start paying out a Mortgage.

General General · 03-09-2013 03:40PM

When that chap, Mr. Smyth from Coutts, told me that I'd less than 100k left from Grandmama's bequest with Jemima off to Cannes & sucking Sebastian's cock if I didn't provide for at least a nice suite... fortunately Uncle Cecil passed on a couple of days after.

It all worked out quite well in the end.

Agricola · 03-09-2013 03:43PM

First morning of college in 2000. Waking up in my flat and realizing it was completely up to myself whether I got up for my lecture or stayed in bed and no one would give a toss either way.

anto9 · 03-09-2013 03:51PM

When i started school in Dublin City center aged 5 ,and got the **** kicked out of me by teachers and fellow pupils .Not strictly on topic ,but it was the first day i realised that i was living in a bad Country .( not World as i found life was much better abroad ,where i still am )

Pumpkinseeds · 03-09-2013 04:05PM

I suppose it was while I was boarding a flight to England in the early 90's to stay with a friends family while I looked for a job. I was in my early 20's and the stark reality of moving somewhere I'd never been to live with people I didn't know was fairly sobering. It was scary only having myself to rely on, sink or swim.

Kevhog1988 · 03-09-2013 04:12PM

Was sitting in Dublin Airport receiving abusive texts from Pregnant Ex Girlfriend as i was on my way to begin my first proper job as a Quantity Surveyor. Actually cried myself to sleep that night but woke up the next morning and just got on with it.

03-09-2013 04:14PM

I moved out of home at 17 and into my first apartment. I couldn't afford to go on the post leaving cert holiday with my school friends and then when I was going to my debs there were no handouts from my parents like others had and I didn't know if I could afford to go on top of bills and rent. Got to it in the end but on a very tight budget! I realised quick enough that my life would be no picnic.

All worked out good in the end though

anto9 · 03-09-2013 04:15PM

theemigrant wrote: »

Was sitting in Dublin Airport receiving abusive texts from Pregnant Ex Girlfriend as i was on my way to begin my first proper job as a Quantity Surveyor. Actually cried myself to sleep that night but woke up the next morning and just got on with it.

..and your still paying for the Baby ? lol ,

heretochat · 03-09-2013 04:17PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I moved out of home at 17 and into my first apartment. I couldn't afford to go on the post leaving cert holiday with my school friends and then when I was going to my debs there were no handouts from my parents like others had and I didn't know if I could afford to go on top of bills and rent. Got to it in the end but on a very tight budget! I realised quick enough that my life would be no picnic.

All worked out good in the end though

Sounds like we had the same parents... :pac: Though obviously not of course :P Hit 17 and was told I was on my own (literally)

03-09-2013 04:18PM

anto9 wrote: »

..and your still paying for the Baby ? lol ,

Yeh, hilarious that he's supporting his own child. Lol indeed.

Kevhog1988 · 03-09-2013 04:19PM

anto9 wrote: »

..and your still paying for the Baby ? lol ,

Of course im supporting my son... Its the reason i left ireland... to earn enough to give him a good future!!!

eamonnq · 03-09-2013 04:22PM

'Nam for me !! Cheltenham 1993, Jodami wins the Gold Cup after me telling everyone all year that he was going to win, and I did not back it myself!!

03-09-2013 04:22PM

heretochat wrote: »

Sounds like we had the same parents... :pac: Though obviously not of course :P Hit 17 and was told I was on my own (literally)

Aw my parents were brilliant, I just had my own responsibilities and they were in no way rich. They would help me with anything they could afford to though and still do.

heretochat · 03-09-2013 04:24PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Aw my parents were brilliant, I just had my own responsibilities and they were in no way rich. They would help me with anything they could afford to though and still do.

Most parents would do the same I suppose,, now where did I go wrong with mine :rolleyes:

03-09-2013 04:25PM

When I arrived alone in a different country to start university, and went straight from the airport to a job interview. It wasn't until I was told I had the job that I was sure I would be able to support myself and see it through. I knew nobody, I knew nothing, and hadn't a clue where I was or what I was supposed to do most of the time. I was eighteen and I had never been more excited, the future was wide open.

hefferboi · 03-09-2013 04:38PM

anto9 wrote: »

When i started school in Dublin City center aged 5 ,and got the **** kicked out of me by teachers and fellow pupils .Not strictly on topic ,but it was the first day i realised that i was living in a bad Country .( not World as i found life was much better abroad ,where i still am )

.

fleet · 03-09-2013 05:19PM

Still hasn't.
Left school last millennium... three colleges/universities... qualified... worked for a bit... moved to Asia to teach... world tour... back in college doing another degree starting in two weeks... living the dream :-)

gg2 · 03-09-2013 05:34PM

The day I lost my job. Up until that stage I had traveled, gone to college (for a while!), had a credit card and a loan and was saving for a mortgage but that day it only really hit me.

Burky126 · 03-09-2013 05:47PM

When I started to realise that going out to pubs constantly was getting boring.The money I spent could be used towards bettering myself.

Also,living in my own apartment helped too.Truely felt like everything was on me,which was a good thing.Kept me motivated.

caustic 1 · 03-09-2013 06:54PM

When I was 7 my granny took me and sister to see our Mum in hospital..i cried my eyes out when going home and she took us to shop to buy us something, sister got a doll, I only wanted my Mum and was told I was selfish for crying and upsetting my Mum by crying and would get nothing. I knew when I got home my Dad would be there. He abused me from I could remember till the age of 16, except when my Mum was there.

Frosty McSnowballs · 03-09-2013 07:11PM

Malia Fancy Frost wrote: »

Arriving in Lebanon in 1988 and being issued a rifle, ammo, flak jacket and helmet.. Then seeing the first 'Landmines' signs, then the drive from the Israeli/Lebanese border to our area of operations and into a war ~ I was 19 years old.

I hated that drive!

Ditto the above but in 2000. Nothing weirder than patrolling the blue line while the Israelis weapon systems follow your every move.

Ted_YNWA · 03-09-2013 08:01PM

Grew up on a farm, so as soon as you start walking, you start working.

It gives you a sense of a working mentality from an early age. If you want a return from something, it takes hard graft.

was often left to man the fort when I was 15 for the day, when they had to go places.

My father never likes being idle for too long & that has rubbed off on me, work in office now & get phissed off at colleagues who spend half the day browsing net & scratching their hole doing the bare minimum.

JuliusCaesar · 03-09-2013 08:11PM

When young kids in the street and the park stopped addressing me as "Hey youngwan" and started calling me "Hey Missus" :'(

Agricola · 04-09-2013 11:28AM

Malia Fancy Frost wrote: »

Arriving in Lebanon in 1988 and being issued a rifle, ammo, flak jacket and helmet.. Then seeing the first 'Landmines' signs, then the drive from the Israeli/Lebanese border to our area of operations and into a war ~ I was 19 years old.

Been there. Reminds me of my first airsoft tournament. Deep in woodland, night falling, my replica M16 empty and no mags left. Down to my sidearm of choice, the Beretta. Checked the mag, only about 20 bb's left. I honestly didnt think Id make it out............ then I remembered I had to have the car home by 8 so I had to head off. Relief.

Spring Onion · 04-09-2013 02:24PM

stefan idiot jones wrote: »

You can't just leave it at that !!!!

Tell us more, please.

Did you fire your rifle at anybody ?

Did you get em ?

Go easy, he's a bit deaf.

The Moment you realised you're in the big bad world now

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