During the closing decade of the 80s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to Europe with a travel partner. Since my friend was considering enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had arranged a fortnight visit there before heading to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a large 10-storey building on the Upper West Side named International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the canteen, where we picked up meals, took a seat, and began chatting with people eating there.
Beside me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at Columbia University. He wanted to know what I did, and I explained that I had recently completed my studies with a degree in science and had been working on studies with electron microscopy.
He pointed out that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I consider applying for a position with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I lacked a US visa.
The following day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that night. The Iraqi student came up to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had made the arrangement, I went to the meeting – but straight off told my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
As is common in NYC – a metropolis where anything feels possible – she responded: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I worked there for three years. A perk of the job was that I was granted complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I can't recall his name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in multiple respects. I didn't possess the courage or nerve to contact anyone at an elite institution and request employment. And, I had long dreamed to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
Perhaps most importantly, that job in New York paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. That encounter altered everything. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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