During the late 1980s, I was beginning a backpacking trip to the European continent with a companion. Since my friend was interested in enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had arranged a two-week stay there before heading to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a sizeable 10-storey building on the Upper West Side known as International House. Setting down our luggage, we went directly to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, sat down, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I did for a living, and I told him that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been conducting research involving microscopic analysis.
He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – adjacent to the school of engineering, which was how he knew about it. He recommended that I should apply for a role with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was heading off 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 informed me that he had organized a discussion for me with the director of the microscopy lab at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I attended the interview – but immediately explained to my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a city where anything feels possible – she responded: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I was employed there for three years. A perk of the job was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I used the opportunity to earn a postgrad program in international relations.
I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his identity, but his remarkable generosity changed my life in so many ways. I lacked the bravery or nerve to approach someone at an Ivy League university and ask for a job. And, I had always wanted to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that educational benefit.
What's more, that job in New York led me to a job in Zurich where I encountered my beautiful French husband, with whom I am raising four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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