Kindness of Strangers

Lest you think that I am perpetually happy because I never encounter hardship, let me reassure you that I am as normal as anyone else. Still given the following story I am still happy just to be here!

With a rare afternoon free I needed to get our VISAs for entry into the UAE. It was11:15 and I need to get to the UAE Embassy before 1:00. I had to first go to the Main State Building in DC proper (I spend most of my time in Arlington) to get a special letter. I get the letter and try to get direction on how to fill out a form from the UAE that ask much more than just name and address. But alas, I find out the information on the letter is incorrect and it must be retyped. Well, I had to wait forty minutes for the secretary to come back because "no one else does that."

She comes back, corrects the letter and I'm off to find this embassy. All I have is an address. Half the elevators are shut down, but I finally find a bank that will take me down to street level and now I must find a taxi. I come from TN! I don't know how to hail a taxi!

I ask security and they point me to a taxi stand, Lots of taxis just sitting there waiting on me!! I tell the cabbie where I need to go and wait. I have no idea how long it will take or where I'm going. I think to myself that I should not even worry about HOW to get there, just ride. Honking horns, crazy stop signs and crooked roads, but low and behold the embassy is...THERE! I am so pleased that I will make the 1:00 deadline and look to pay the cabbie.

No Wallet. Look more, still no wallet. My blood pressure goes up, the street workers are yelling at the cabbie to move and I have absolutely no way under the sun to pay this man his $14 fee. Finally I pull out a business card with my email and cell phone number-I knew those things were important to have. I profusely promise to pay him, he agrees and gives me his name and address. I feel so badly that this man has no idea whatsoever if I will really pay him. Afterall, this is how he makes his living.

After he leaves, I'm standing in front of the locked gates of this Embassy, in the drizzling rain. I call my husband who has also just had an extremely frustrating morning. I can be of no help to him, I just want to know if my wallet is there. Yes. Well that is one situation settled. I am miles away from home and have no way to pay for transportation, but I cannot worry about that right now. I've got to get my VISA papers turned in within the next 15 minutes.

The guard lets me through the gate, but takes my Passport as it is the only identification I have. Half way through the process I have to go back to the guard and get my passport, which they will keep until my VISA arrives.

Finally, I walk out with my business concluded and wonder just how much rain we will get this afternoon. I start walking. I think I spotted a Metro Station a few blocks away-good thing I was looking. Sure am glad I wore my flats today. I could call my husband, but he's already had a bad day and it would take him 2 hours to map where I am and get here with all the traffic. I keep walking determined that this will not beat me.

At the train station I find that $2 will pay my fare back to a station where I can catch a free shuttle to FSI. So I start looking for friendly faces and begging for money. A couple of nice people do give me a dollar each after sizing me up. You know they have to be wondering if I am scamming them. Sometimes you simply must rely on the kindness of strangers.

It did all work out. I sent the cabbie an $11 tip and he called to say thank you. But you know these things happen from time to time. I'm still just happy to be here.