During the late 1980s, I was beginning a budget travel adventure to Europe with a travel partner. Because my travel mate was exploring enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had arranged a fortnight visit there before heading to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a large 10-storey building on the Upper West Side named International House. After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the canteen, where we grabbed food, took a seat, and began chatting with people eating there.
Sitting next to me was an Iraqi man enrolled in an engineering program at a prestigious New York university. He inquired what I my profession was, and I told him that I had just graduated with a degree in science and had been performing experiments involving microscopic analysis.
He noted that there was an microscopy facility at the institution – right next door to the engineering faculty, which was how he knew about it. He suggested that I ought to seek a position with them. I chuckled at the suggestion, telling him that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I ventured out, going back to the cafeteria that night. The man from Iraq walked over to me and informed me that he had arranged an interview for me with the head of the electron microscope unit at Columbia. Because he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off informed my host that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a city where everything seems achievable – she responded: “We'll handle it. How soon can you begin?” I didn't board the aircraft to London.
I was employed there for 36 months. One of the benefits was that I got no-cost classes at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a master’s of international affairs.
I lost touch with him and I don’t even know his full name, but his selfless gesture changed my life in so many ways. I lacked the confidence or self-belief to approach someone at an prestigious college and seek a position. Moreover, I had always wanted to pursue education overseas, but could never have afforded it without that educational benefit.
Critically, that gig at Columbia resulted in a role in Europe where I got to know my handsome spouse from France, with whom I now have four amazing children. It was a total sliding doors moment. That kind stranger changed my trajectory in life, and I’m forever grateful.
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