In the final years of the 1980s, I was embarking on a budget travel adventure to Europe with a travel partner. Because my travel mate was exploring pursuing a master’s degree in NYC, we had planned a two-week stay there on the way to London.
We arrived at the student accommodation, a large 10-storey building on the UWS named International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the dining hall, where we got some food, sat down, and engaged in conversation with other diners.
Sitting next to me was an gentleman from Iraq enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I did for a living, and I shared that I had just graduated with a scientific background and had been working on studies involving microscopic analysis.
He mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – adjacent to the engineering faculty, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I should apply for a position with them. I laughed it off, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I went out exploring, coming back to the dining hall that night. The Iraqi student walked over to me and let me know that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Since he had taken the effort, I went to the meeting – but straight off informed my interviewer that I didn’t have a visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a metropolis where everything seems achievable – she said: “We'll handle it. What's your start date?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I held that position for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I also received no-cost classes 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 incredible act of kindness altered my destiny in so many ways. I lacked the courage or nerve to contact anyone at an elite institution and ask for a job. Additionally, I had always wanted to study abroad, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
Critically, that job in New York led me to a job in Zurich where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I am raising four amazing children. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger changed my trajectory in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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