. . .The Kindness of Strangers

As someone who often wishes she had more faith in human beings, namely in terms of inherent goodness, coming to Sweden has shifted my belief system to one more alligned with the "glass half-full" camp.

One of my neighbours, the man who helped me the first day I arrived by inviting me into his coffee shop, just stopped by to give me some delicious crepr type Ramadan bread, and tell me he has found a suitable and reasonable priced bed for me. (He would not allow me to buy one, saying that I shouldn't waste my money) He and his friends are the most generous people I've met, and they have no other agenda than to help someone who they perceieve is alone in this foreign place. I'm not sure if it has to do with the fact that they were once in my position, strangers in a foreign land. Perhaps someone or a group of people extended many acts of kindness to them, and they are paying the favour forward. They have been nothing but respectful, and kind, and generous and it's really thrown me off!

Now, native Swedes have also demonstrated this amazing willingness to reach out and help. Upon hearing that I was cabbing to the airport on Friday, three of my coworkers insisted that they would drive me and pick me up. I hardly know any of these individuals yet, and the airport is a good 35-40 minute drive away. I politely told them I'd figure it out, but they persisted, and eventually I accepted one of the three offers. She even called and cancelled my cab for me, and gave me a quick tour of the city before my flight.

My principal made an announcement to tell the staff about my "big trip" and I think every single person wished me a good time. Today, almost everyone genuinely cared about how my weekend went, and asked me about it.

Anyways, these little snippets of my life are big reasons why I'm not too home-sick. It's hard to feel lonely when people show you the full-potential of kindheartedness. No one is doing anything to get recognition, or a gold star, but it just seems that some people are kind for the sake of being kind, and it took me a trip almost halfway across the world to realize that if you scratch the surface of a cynic, she might just start to regain some faith in people.

(This sap attack brought to you by: crepes and Holland nutella)