garyt

Several years ago,fresh out of college and with little or no money, I was called about a resume that I had submitted outside my state... The catch was that I had to get myself to the interview at my expense... the cheapest was a no-frills airline that required me to sleep overnight at Newark airport terminal before the AM flight out. It was me, a few other lucky passengers and an assortment of personalities wandering through the terminal. I had just settled in for the night, when a large, poorly dressed, seemingly homeless man began to walk directly toward me... My fear increased when I looked around and saw no other passengers or security nearby. When the man came within 6 feet, I began to prepare myself for a defense. Instead, he calmly leaned forward and speaking softly, said "your wallet fell out, its under the chair". After my frozen thank you, he smiled,turned and walked away, making an impact on the rest of my life. This incident affected how I raised my children, and everytime I go through Newark, I think about my friend.

Sarah

On the last subway ride of the evening in Paris, New Years Eve, 1985 . I had just parted from a group that I’d spent the day with. I did not speak English and was a female student traveling alone. A Moroccan leered at me and I gave him a disgusted look back. He punched me in the stomach and set off a tear gas bomb at my feet. The entire car was screaming and running. They were speaking French a language I do not know so I thought that they were panicking over our pending death. Disoriented by the punch I did not know the bomb was at my feet. I just thought there had been some kind of electrical problem that was going to kill us all. One and only time in my life I thought I was dying. We all got off at the next stop of course, some other people just hopped onto the next car I remember thinking what are they crazy, they are reboarding a death trap. On the platform I could I could see that this stop was far away from my destination. There were English speaking Greek students who got off the train also. Tears coming out of my eyes from the gas, it was easy to get 5 boys to walk me home. It was a couple of miles to my hotel. They sang Greek Christmas songs to me. It truly was the nicest thing any stranger has ever done for me. AND IT WAS NOT AS SCARY AS IT MIGHT SEEM ABOVE. I NEVER LET THIS GET IN MY WAY OF TRAVELING ALONE AGAIN, GOING TO PLACES FAR MORE EXOTIC THAN PARIS. The only reason why it still comes to mind is the thought of those sweet boys singing and walking me home.

zzz

topper

dnorrie

There have been so many! Certainly Australia where I was a woman travelling alone. I would be sitting alone for dinner and be invited to join another couple for dinner (they would ask if I was a tourist) and then, on several occasions, insist on paying for my dinner. While sitting, reading at Circular Quay, being invited by a native Sydney'er to allow her to show me the Rocks and Darling Harbour, being invited, not only for dinner but to stay at people's homes, and one that really stands out in my mind, while walking in Coff's Harbour to my hotel with my pack over my shoulder (a heavy pack), being asked by a lovely young girl where I was going and if she could give me a life which I gratefully accepted as the walk was quite a few kilometers. And then, even though I was at least two decades older, being taken out that night by these young girls to have fun on the town. What wonderful people in Australia.

In Fiji, being invited into the home of the bartender at our hotel for Kava and fish stew (which I didn't particularly enjoy) but the hospitality was wonderful.

In New Zealand being given free plates of lamb and white meat (which is very expensive) because we had never tasted it before.

I just hope that I always remember to return the favours that I have received and I certainly try to.

What a great post. Thank you.

Stephanie

huh? I posted this EXACT thread about a week ago and now I can't find it. ?????

Wah! Does the site ever pull threads off the site?

Stre et

As Blanche DuBois was last heard to utter in a Streetcar Named Desire, "i have always depended on the kindness of strangers". it's nice to know that so many at fodors still carry the torch of humanity. thanks.

kathy

Number 1 : Windhoek, Namibia. the airport is 40 kms from the city, and I landed there late at night. The car rental guy had finished work at 5 pm but came back to personally hand me my car, then drove infront of me all the way into town, right to the hotel I had been booked into, and waited to make sure I had checked in safely.

Number 2 : Maputo, Mozambique. Our plane was delayed for 5 hours and there was no water at all in the airport. On a hot day in November (Southern African summer), this was not fun! One of the airport officials arranged fruit juice and cheese sandwiches for all of us who were stranded. For no cost (Mozambique is the poorest nation in the world, and there were about 40 of us)and I still don't know how who paid.

p3k3nd

Paris, 2013. I arrived the French capital for the first time at night time and it was drizzling. I got lost in Alesia looking for my hotel. I felt so tired already after more than 20 hours of travel. I wanted to ask for instructions but was a bit reluctant after hearing how snobbish the French are but I had no choice unless i want to be drenched in the rain on a cild night. I saw a man walking his cute little dog. With fingers crossed I approached him and asked for help. He was so nice to accompany me to the hotel! With the dog!
Tokyo, 2015. While we al know how polite Japanese people are, i never expected that they would pull someone who can speak english just to communicate with you. Saying sorry profusely if they don't understand you, like they have cut off a finger from your hand!
vive la france! Arigato Japan!

jmoyogi

I took a Greyhound bus across country with very little money and a stranger bought me a hot meal.

emalloy

This is a very nice thread and I'm amazed that a new poster was able to find it after 19 years. We all could use a little kindness, from strangers or friends. I hope we all have nice memories like this.

janisj

>>. . . and I'm amazed that a new poster was able to find it after 19 years.

Moderator2

This thread is so old, I am going to close it.

Moderator2

I am reopening this thread, as per the wishes of he community. Members should be aware that very old threads topped by a new post may be closed.

jmoyogi

Thanks!!!

mlgb

Nice to see!