Universal Kindness
I have had the very good fortune to have traveled to many countries around the world.
It has never ceased to surprise me how generous so many people have been to someone they don’t even know.
With all the problems throughout the world — and in many of the places I
have visited in the past — it is reassuring and amazingly heartwarming
to think back upon those who have helped me out in some way or another,
and be reminded that, despite all the war, terrorism, crime, etc. you
hear about all over the place, there are still tons of kind, generous,
thoughtful, giving people in every corner of the world.
I relay my story of just one of those many people here:
Vietnam
My brother and I had just arrived a few days
earlier to the hectic, bustling city of Saigon, and had been staying at a
little inexpensive and not fancy — but very clean and friendly
hotel/pension in the middle of the city.
The several women running the hotel were
incredibly kind and helpful, but it was evident that they were also very
overworked with long and busy shifts. We got to know them just a
little through a few chats with them and though some playful, joking
banter back and forth. They were always very positive and would bend
over backwards if we or anyone staying there needed anything…this,
despite it being clear they were working very hard and were constantly
exhausted.
In any case, as was required throughout travel
in Vietnam at that time, we were required to leave our passports in the
safe at the hotel where we were staying. Now, normally, my brother and I
are two meticulous, anal travelers — never forgetting anything,
noticing everything, and having all the necessary info, visas, money,
etc. exactly when they are required.
But…not on this day.
We were supposed to be heading out early to
catch a flight to Cambodia. After quickly packing up and paying our
bill for the hotel, we jumped in a cab and hurriedly began the hour
drive through the crowded streets of the city to the international
airport, in order to catch our flight that we were already running late
for.
After arriving at the front the International
Terminal, I reached into my passport holder to get some money to pay the
cab, and instantly knew something was wrong! “Brother, you remembered to get the passports, right?”
Well, no, brother did not remember…and neither did I.
Never mind whose fault it was….we were screwed! No passports, and
scheduled to leave on an international flight in less than two
hours…with our passports sitting in a safe in a hotel in central Saigon,
about an hour away. It would be impossible to take the cab back and
get the passports, and then turn around and still make our flight.
So, after spending 10 minutes trying to figure
out how to make a phone call on a local pay phone, I finally succeeded
in reaching our little hotel. Before I even said five words in
explanation, the woman from the hotel shouts “You left your passports
here! Where are you??”
I explain to her that our flight is leaving in less than two hours, and I’m not sure what we are going to do.
In response, with not a second’s hesitation,
she blurts out, “Look for me out in front of the International Terminal
in 45 minutes,” and hangs up.
“Really??”, I think to myself. My brother and I
are in a bit of disbelief, and then start to question whether I really
heard her say what I thought she said.
Lo and behold, less than 45 minutes later, she
comes darting up to us on a small moped, as we’re standing in the
drop-off area in front of the terminal. She smiles at us, holds up our
passports, and says, “You probably need these!”
She had just sped all the way across the city
in record time, dodging all kinds of traffic, chickens, goats,
pedestrians and god knows what else, just to help out two strangers she
hardly knew.
The cynical bastards among us are of course now thinking to themselves “what exactly does she want in return? A big fat tip? Or something even more?”
And, as we all from time to time get jaded and
cynical as a result of an occasional negative travel experience, I can’t
exactly say that somewhere in the back of mind, I wasn’t kind of asking
myself that question too.
But, it felt genuine. Just incredibly generous and very genuine.
Anyway, she hands us our passports and pushes us away, saying “Hurry! Good luck.”
As she does, I shake her hand, and at the same
time I push a wad of large Vietnamese bills into her hand. Seeing what I
am trying to do, she screams at me, “No, no…it’s okay,” and refuses to
take the money.
I try again. And, “No…definitely, no!”
Finally, I try to slip it into the bag attached to the front of her moped.
“No, no, no!”, she says. “I didn’t do this for money. I did this just to help you.”
Traffic is backing up behind her, and we have
to run to make our flight. I give her another handshake…then a hug… and
thank her again profusely for all her help.
I wave good bye. Never see her again.
She didn’t want anything from us. Just wanted to help us out. Help out an almost-stranger…just because.
Wow…what a world it is!
