During the closing decade of the 80s, I was embarking on a low-cost journey to the European continent with a companion. Because my companion was exploring starting a postgraduate program in New York, we had arranged a two-week stay there on the way to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a large multi-story edifice on the Upper West Side known as International House. Once we unpacked, we made our way to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, sat down, and began chatting with fellow residents.
Adjacent to my seat was an gentleman from Iraq pursuing an engineering degree at Columbia University. He asked me what I my profession was, and I told him that I had recently completed my studies with a scientific background and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He pointed out that there was an microscopy facility at the university – right next door to the engineering department, which was how he knew about it. He proposed that I consider applying for a job with them. I laughed it off, saying that I was about to fly to Europe and, additionally, I lacked a US visa.
The next day I toured the city, returning to the canteen that after dark. The Iraqi student walked over to me and told me that he had organized a discussion for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had made the arrangement, I showed up for the discussion – but immediately informed my host that I didn’t have a visa, so I was likely not a suitable candidate.
In typical New York fashion – a metropolis where opportunities abound – she said: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I missed my plane to London.
I worked there for a trio of years. An advantage of the role was that I got free tuition at Columbia, and I seized the chance to complete a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I am unaware of his full name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in multiple respects. I would never have had the courage or self-assurance to contact anyone at an prestigious college and ask for a job. And, I had consistently hoped to pursue education overseas, but wouldn't have been able to pay for it without that educational benefit.
What's more, that job in New York resulted in a role in Europe where I met my handsome spouse from France, with whom I currently share a family of four kids. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger set me on a different course in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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