During the final years of the 1980s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to the European continent with a travel partner. Because my travel mate was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in New York, we had planned a fortnight visit there en route to London.
We arrived at the postgrad residence, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Manhattan's Upper West Side called International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we got some food, took a seat, and engaged in conversation with people eating there.
Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at an Ivy League institution. He asked me what I did, and I explained that I had newly finished with a science degree and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He pointed out that there was an electron microscope unit at the institution – right next door to the school of engineering, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He proposed that I consider applying for a role with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I didn’t have a US visa.
The following day I ventured out, returning to the canteen that after dark. The man from Iraq walked over to me and let me know that he had set up a meeting for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Because he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but immediately told my host that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
As is common in NYC – a place where everything seems achievable – she declared: “That can be arranged. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I was employed there for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to earn a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his name, but his incredible act of kindness altered my destiny in so many ways. I would never have had the courage or nerve to reach out at an Ivy League university and ask for a job. Additionally, I had consistently hoped to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that tuition waiver.
What's more, that gig at Columbia paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising a family of four kids. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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