In the late 1980s, I set out on a backpacking trip to Europe with a travel partner. Since my travel mate was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had planned a 14-day stopover there on the way to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a sizeable multi-story edifice on the Manhattan's Upper West Side known as International House. Once we unpacked, we headed straight to the dining hall, where we picked up meals, took a seat, and started talking to other diners.
Beside me was an Iraqi man enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I did for a living, and I shared that I had recently completed my studies with a science degree and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an research lab at Columbia University – close to the engineering faculty, which was the reason he was familiar with it. He proposed that I should apply for a position with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was soon departing to Europe and, more critically, I didn’t have a US visa.
The next day I ventured out, coming back to the dining hall that evening. The Iraqi student walked over to me and informed me that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had taken the effort, I attended the interview – but straight off informed my host that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
In typical New York fashion – a city where opportunities abound – she declared: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.
I was employed there for a trio of years. One of the benefits was that I got complimentary education at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a postgrad program in international relations.
I lost touch with him and I can't recall his full name, but his selfless gesture transformed my future in numerous aspects. I lacked the confidence or nerve to approach someone at an prestigious college and request employment. And, I had always wanted to take classes in another country, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
Critically, that role at the university led me to a role in Europe where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising a family of four kids. That encounter altered everything. That benevolent individual set me on a different course in life, and I’m always appreciative.
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