Motivated by the desire to smell and taste new food, my travel bags are always ready. Often these travels are enriched by helping hands offered by total strangers.
I was, once, stranded in a train station in a remote town in Belgium. I knew neither French nor Flemish, the two languages understood in Belgium. I approached the only other person in the station and tried to explain my predicament - in English. He replied - in French, I think - which I didn't understand. This cycle of explaining and reply, went on few times before I backed out in despair. But he didn't. He waited until another couple came to the station, approached them, explained a solution to my predicament and requested them to explain that to me in English!
Another time, such a help came my way in Toronto. The trip was turning to be a disaster - the weather was -32 degrees; the client team assumed that I was part of a plan to 'Bangalore' them and hence understandably hostile; project pressure was too high to handle. As a result, I was feeling lonely, desperate and ready to pack and leave. The turning point came in the form of invitation to "Thursday get-together" by a Sinhalese named Ricardo. The fun loving people that came to Thursday parties helped me to cool-off and realize that I'm after all, not that lonely. I gained enough confidence to make the trip a success - despite the cold, I visited Niagara Falls and other places in Toronto; the project itself became successful and client team became so friendly that on the last day they gave me a farewell; and one of the team member bought me a ticket to NBA game and then bought me dinner too. Can't ask for more!
Does one need to be helped only in a Foreign land? How about getting help in your own country? I never expected to be helped within my own country - not because I'm haughty, but because I assumed that I wouldn't be in a situation to seek help.
That assumption became invalid when I moved to Delhi as an Independent consultant.
When I moved to Delhi, there was no helping hand from corporate 'Le Concierge' desk nor from pre-settled family members. Without knowing the local language, I was stressed about everything related to settling down - from renting a flat to getting a TV connection. Timely help came from Muthu, a Tamilian worked with my sister long time back. Having stayed in Delhi for more than a decade, he not only gave useful tips, he also searched to find a good locality and got me a flat via a broker. It is such a relief to have a roof over my head in a new city without knowing the language.
What's your story? Have you been helped by a stranger? Better yet, have you helped a stranger?
