During the closing decade of the 80s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to Europe with a travel partner. Because my companion was considering pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had planned a 14-day stopover there on the way to London.
We got to the graduate housing, a large ten-floor structure on the Manhattan's Upper West Side named International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and began chatting with people eating there.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man enrolled in an engineering program at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I my profession was, and I shared that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been performing experiments with electron microscopy.
He mentioned that there was an research lab at the university – close to the engineering department, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He suggested that I consider applying for a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was heading off to Europe and, more critically, I didn’t have a US visa.
The next day I ventured out, returning to the canteen that evening. The engineering student came up to me and informed me that he had arranged an interview for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I attended the interview – but straight off told my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a city where everything seems achievable – she said: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I was employed there for 36 months. An advantage of the role was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a master’s of international affairs.
We didn't cross paths after that and I don’t even know his name, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in multiple respects. I didn't possess the courage or self-belief to approach someone at an prestigious college and request employment. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a role in Europe where I got to know my wonderful partner, with whom I now have a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
What is the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?
Whether it's cheering you up to changing your life, we are interested in chance encounters that have remained in your memory.
Feel free to recount your experience if you are 18 or over, without revealing your identity if you choose. The stories you tell are protected, and will only be used the aim of this article.
