I recently flew an international flight into San Juan, Puerto Rico. By the time I picked up my rental car, I noticed that my laptop was gone. I retraced me steps as far as I could until I hit the security blockade. It was only because of the helpful people at Cape Air who made countless phone calls and radio calls to points unknown to find my laptop, which had been left in baggage claim on the other side of U.S. customs.
Upon reflection, I had tipped my rental car shuttle bus driver basically for doing his job (moving my luggage and driving me to their office), but I barely got to say “thank you” to Cape Air people who saved my (intellectual) life. I concluded that there are just some things that you can’t pay back adequately, so you just have to return the good deed by helping someone else who is in need – Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) – that can mean so much.
Other RAK experienced by Adventures Within Reach folks when traveling.
- Two different shopkeepers in Ecuador, calling our driver, hotel, and taxi service to get us a car and driver back to the airport in time even though we didn’t buy anything from them.
- The shuttle bus in Nairobi, Kenya who held on to our bag of souvenirs that we accidentally left on the bus.
- A taxi driver in London who found my travel card and returned it to me the next day.
- The woman who offered me her home and a ride the next day when I got stranded in her tiny mountain town. She even took me out for drinks that night in one of the most beautiful settings I’ve ever seen!
- A flight attendant who handed me a gratis bottle of Prosecco at then end of a 12 hour flight for no reason, other than to be friendly. I was speechless with surprise.
- A poor family who brought me and my friends in during a torrential freak rainstorm that drenched us immediately. They insisted we wear their clothes while ours dried on the radiator, fed us a huge lunch and sang us songs until the rain let up. I’ll never forget their hospitality.
- A kind theater usher who spent the day showing me his city when he found out that I was traveling alone. Five years later we’re still good friends and speak at least every month.
- I asked for directions from a girl who ended up driving me all the way across town, back to the subway, to make sure I got where I was going.
- Countless strangers who have come out of the blue to act like my best friend- whether I’m struggling to find my metro pass (and they’ve paid with theirs), lost in new surroundings (and they’ve graciously helped me navigate my way) or just feeling overwhelmed by my travels (and they’ve lent a smile and some kind conversation).
Well, I’ve shared my experiences… and am in the holiday spirit of generosity just thinking about them! What are some of yours?
More inspirational stories to warm your travelin’ soul:
A Tale of a Harrowing Motorcyle Accident and the Kindness of Strangers by The Roamantics (Experts on Nat Geo’s Travel Channel)
A Travelers’ Mis-Adventures with Train Schedules (and the Italians who Rescued Him) by Jools Stone (Avid Travel Blogger)
The Gatorade Angels who Saved a Family Bike Trip
by Nancy Sathre-Vogel (A Father Biking with his Two Sons and Wife Across the U.S.)