During the closing decade of the 80s, I was beginning a low-cost journey to Europe with a companion. Since my travel mate was considering enrolling in graduate studies in NYC, we had planned a 14-day stopover there before heading to London.
We reached the student accommodation, a sizeable ten-floor structure on the UWS known as International House. Once we unpacked, we went directly to the dining hall, where we grabbed food, found a table, and started talking to other diners.
Adjacent to my seat was an Iraqi man studying engineering at an Ivy League institution. He inquired what I did for a living, 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 mentioned that there was an microscopy facility at Columbia University – close to the engineering department, which was why he was aware of it. He suggested that I consider applying for a job with them. I laughed it off, explaining that I was about to fly to Europe and, even more importantly, I did not possess a US visa.
The following day I went out exploring, going back to the cafeteria that after dark. The Iraqi student walked over to me and told me that he had arranged an interview for me with the leader of the research team at Columbia. Given that he had gone to the trouble, I showed up for the discussion – but straight off informed my prospective employer that I lacked the necessary visa, so I was unable to accept the role.
In typical New York fashion – a place where opportunities abound – she responded: “That can be arranged. How soon can you begin?” I never got on that flight to London.
I worked there for three years. A perk of the job was that I also received no-cost classes at Columbia, and I seized the chance to finish a graduate degree in global studies.
We didn't cross paths after that and I am unaware of his full name, but his remarkable generosity transformed my future in numerous aspects. I would never have had the courage or nerve to contact anyone at an Ivy League university and request employment. Moreover, I had long dreamed to take classes in another country, but could never have afforded it without that free tuition.
Critically, that role at the university paved the way for a position in Switzerland where I got to know my beautiful French husband, with whom I now have four wonderful sons and daughters. This was a pivotal life event. That kind stranger redirected my path in life, and I’m eternally thankful.
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