Have you received help from strangers?
By carpediem17
@carpediem17 (1315)
Singapore
August 4, 2010 9:08pm CST
It is called from the kindness of strangers.
I remember when I was travelling between cities in Europe some years back, we met a guy (maybe in his late 20s to early 30s) on the railway train. My friend and I struck up a conversation in the train cabin (shared by 4 to 5 persons) and understand that he has been to South East Asia. We had a conversation recounting his travels to Asia. After the journey which lasted about 1 and a half hours, we disembarked. He insisted on fetching my friend and I to the hotel that we are staying in (on his way home). We said it is alright and we can find the place ourselves as we were backpacking and travelling independently. At the back of my mind, we just wanted to beware of strangers ...
I remember he was very insistent and he actually went out of his way to drive us to locate our hotel and helped us with our luggage.
We were very touched by his gesture to 2 asian girls in a foreign land, not quite the aloof European we sometimes expect to meet. I still remember his name - Thor from Austria.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
5 Aug 10
Once I was looking for a place and I simply can't find it. I flag down a taxi to get there. After knowing the address, the taxi driver took out his street directory and pointed to me how to WALK there, he said it's not necessary to take a cab. I was quite touched by his gesture because he could have earned from it and he actually took the time to show me the way instead.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
5 Aug 10
I rather like to think of this person as having a kind heart.
@damned_dle (3942)
• Philippines
5 Aug 10
Yes I did. So nice to still have "good samaritans" though only a few of them are left (atleast in my city, somewhere in the Philippines). There are more opportunists than good strangers here.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
5 Aug 10
hi damned_dle - thanks for your sharing. To a certain extent you are right. There are many opportunists out there that any kind act can be seen as having some ulterior motive. But let us continue to do good in our own little area.
@chiyosan (30186)
• Philippines
5 Aug 10
I am not sure, but i think somehow there are a lot of encounters, and helps i have received from strangers just by being out of the house everyday. even help picking up things i might have dropped while walking to opening the doors, etc.
I remember helping a stranger withdraw money too from her ATM account. I was even the one who is feeling uneasy, i asked her to pin his code and he even gave me her pin code! and asked me to withdrew a certain amount of money. She's an old lady and i was cautious myself because i am afraid she might have some companions or that she was just posing... but she told me she just walked faster to catch me up and she thinks i am kind to help her. I did help her and told her to be careful next time.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
5 Aug 10
hi chiyosan, thanks for sharing your experiences. Whoa, you must have a very kind face for the old lady to entrust herself and her money in your good hands, haha. But I think it is a very positive trust that she has and glad that you have highlighted to her to be more careful.
@macdingolinger (10385)
• United States
5 Aug 10
My help came from strangers in a totally different way. When I got my apartment I didn't have anything to put it in. I had no dishes or furniture. (it's a long story as to why...) anyway within a few weeks my apartment was totally full. Some churches started sending stuff until it totally filled up! Man, I look around sometimes and wonder where it all came from!
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
5 Aug 10
thanks macdingolinger - thanks for your sharing. Sometimes things just work themselves out. I definitely believe in the kindness of strangers especially when one is on the go and travelling in a foreign land. There were many strangers whom we approached to ask for directions and who had readily helped.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
5 Aug 10
hi p3ks626 - thanks for your comments. Definitely heartwarming to see one extending a helping hand to another.
