Strangers Come To Rescue On Foreign Soil

Being a senior IT-consultant for a multi national I had been globe trotting as and when our clients would need on-site help. What’s a sure shot bet about my tour was you would my snap sacks were always filled with a variety of food-packs as the irresistibly sumptuous aroma and taste of the novel food fascinate me.

These official journeys were though well-planned and taken care by my company, however, I had been caught I  difficult situations sometimes. Still my tours had been exciting and fun-filled experience, thanks to strangers who offered me timely help.

On my trip to Belgium, I was stranded at a train station of a remote town. The trouble did not end here, I was not familiar with any of the languages understood in Belgium - French nor Flemish. However, I didn’t give up hope and looked around for help. Besides me, there was only one person visible on the station. I approached him and tried to explain him my situation, however, in English. Not to my astonishment, he answered back in French, which was of no help to me. We both kept trying to explain each other, without the other person understanding a word of it. Finally, I gave up! But he stood by me until a couple came from nowhere. He approached them and explained my situation, and probably also the solution to to it. They walked towards me, and helped me out by explaining everything in English.

Similarly I got another timely aid on my business trip to Toronto. It was a horrible experience. The temperature dripped to -32 degrees; my client team presumed me to be mastermind of some plan to "Bangalore," thus were not cooperative enough towards me; and above  all I was finding the project pressure too hard to bear. It was getting difficult day-by-day, being lonely, I got desperate to leave bag and baggage. However, a simple invitation to Friday nite out sent by Micheal, a Sinhalese came as a perfect retreat. It came just at the right time!
I met a  couple of fun-loving locals on that get-together who helped me fight back the stress and the delightful company made me realise that even in this foreign land I am not alone. This refreshing change gave me enough confidence to attain what I came for. After weeks of hard work I went to Toronto and Niagara Falls. That was my way of celebrating success.

What was astonishing about this trip that after that nite out as my attitude changed to happy-go-lucky, I was glad to see the client also turning friendly to the extend that the team bought me a complementary ticket to NBA match clubbed with grand dinner. Besides I was said good buy with a gala farewell!