I got hit by a car today. No need to worry, bar a slightly bruised cheek and a scratched elbow, I am perfectly OK. My friend alleges that after a stressful event such as a car accident, the victim feels the need to tell as many people as possible in order to somehow cleanse him/herself of the event. I disagree - I think I am posting here 1). because being hit by a car is pretty exciting and 2). I am kinda tired of telling everyone the story, and since most people I know read my blog, this will save me repeating myself.

So I was crossing the road in front of my house on my way home from the u-bahn. As most of you know, in Germany there are snipers in the buildings around most major intersections, instructed to snipe any pedestrian who attempts to cross the road when the man isn't green. Having lived here for almost four years, German civic obedience is well ingrained into my psyche and the thought of crossing before the green man didn't even enter my head.

It's also important to note that there are often cars coming even when the man is green (cars that are turning on to the street you are crossing, rather than cars that are already on it and driving straight on), but the pedestrian still has the absolute right of way.

So I stepped happily onto the road when the green man appeared, and a car whizzed past me, going far too fast and ignoring my right of way. I irritably pointed to the green man, he held up his hand in apology and slowed down. So out I stepped again, and got hit by the car coming behind him. I've blogged before about how quickly one can think when an accident is taking place, and this time was no different.

I thought about how the driver was clearly looking over to his left and not at me.
I thought about how shit it was that I was going to be hit by a car.
I felt happy that he wasn't going all that fast, and that it probably wouldn't hurt very much.

And then I was getting up off the ground and looking for my glasses, feeling very much like I had escaped lightly and feeling that I should try to look more confused and hurt to make the idiot feel bad. My cheekbone hurt a bit, as did my elbow, and my glasses were a little bent. I don't know whether I hit them off the car or the ground.

There was a crowd of people around me within seconds, one of whom called an ambulance and the police despite my protestations that I really was absolutely OK. I think it must have looked quite spectacular, as one onlooker alleged 'you flew!'

It all became quickly quite embarrassing as we all stood around waiting for the police and ambulance, with the driver standing sheepishly beside me as the onlookers berated him on my behalf. He was, without any doubt, 100% at fault, which he accepted when the police arrived. The ambulance people gave me a quick check-up and the all-clear.

So here I am, alive and well. My housemates and houseguest are supervising me intimately so I am in good hands.

What an exciting day.