In the final years of the 1980s, I set out on a backpacking trip to Europe with a travel partner. Since my friend was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in the Big Apple, we had booked a fortnight visit there before heading to London.
We reached the postgrad residence, a sizeable multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side known as International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the cafeteria, where we got some food, found a table, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at a prestigious New York university. He wanted to know what I my profession was, and I told him 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 university – adjacent to the engineering department, which was why he was aware of it. He recommended that I consider applying for a role with them. I dismissed the idea, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, more critically, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I toured the city, going back to the cafeteria that after dark. The man from Iraq walked over to me and let me know that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off told my interviewer that I was without a work permit, so I was probably wasting her time.
Reflecting the city's spirit – a place where anything feels possible – she declared: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for a trio of years. One of the benefits was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I took advantage to finish a postgrad program in international relations.
We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his identity, but his remarkable generosity altered my destiny in numerous aspects. I would never have had the courage or self-belief to reach out at an Ivy League university and seek a position. And, I had long dreamed to study abroad, but lacked the financial means without that free tuition.
What's more, that job in New York led me to a position in Switzerland where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share four wonderful sons and daughters. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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