After reading Ayesha’s post about Angels, it reminded me about the experience I had when I was in the States.
Many years back when I just packed one luggage, one backpack and headed to the States alone, I was venturing into a new stage of my life. I didn’t inform anyone about my arrival, and I just settle things on my own, including opening an account, apply for my social security number, looking for apartment, and all that.
Not wanting to stay too near to campus because of many concerns, including the fact that the campus village is too far away from any grocery areas and it is pretty expensive compared to off-campus living, I rented one small apartment, which was a street across Kroger and Foodmax, and even nearer to the only KFC in town. Did I forget to mention that it was a really small town that has nothing but Wal-Mart, Foodmax, and Kroger?
Back to the topic.
Not coming from rich family, I couldn’t afford to buy a car, so I had to make a choice between staying near to campus or near to shops where I can get things easily. I decided the later, and the end result is that I have to walk 50 minutes (one way) to reach the campus. It doesn’t help at all when it is winter, with freezing gale brushing through your face and you can feel that your nose and ears are frozen. Sometimes when I was really lucky, I would receive a package from my family and that required me to walk another 50 minutes to the other direction than campus to collect the package from the postal office. The experience is still vivid in my mind and sometimes I wondered how did I survive that period of tough time.
That was the time when I met my angels.
The first Angel: It was my first week in the States and I was just at the Registra Office to enroll myself to the Uni, and on my way back, I kinda lost my way because the campus is really huge. While walking and beating the heat (it was end of Summer), a Jeep stopped by and a guy said, “Hey dude! Do you need a ride? Where you heading to?”
Being raised in Malaysia during most of my childhood and learning from parents that we should not ride with strangers because it could be dangerous, I said, “Yeah sure. I’m heading to Yellowjacket, if that’s not too much trouble for you.” It was a daunting experience because everything was new to me so I thought to myself that I should open myself and experience this new venture into a new life.
“Nawww… not a problem at all. Hop in!” came the reply. We talked a bit and he found out that I was new to the country, and I had no car. So he offered to pick me up everyday to send me to class. I was so embarrassed that I rejected his kind offer, but the wonderful thing is that he actually timed my being and would “coincidentally” saw me on the street and offered to pick me up.
The second Angel: It was winter and I was walking head down to because of the freezing gale, and suddenly a blue Saturn stopped next to me. Her head came out from the window and her blonde hair flowing in the strong wind, and asked, “Hey! Its cold out here! Do you want a ride?” I beckoned her with my million-dollar smile and hopped into the car to welcome the warm air generating from the heater.
Angel2: “Man, its cold out there. How could you walk under this kind of weather?”
Me: “Because I don’t have a car.”
Angel2: [eyes almost popped out from her socket] “What? You don’t have a car?* So you walk everyday? Where are you staying?”
Me: “Yup. I don’t have one, so I walk everyday. I am staying at the Yellowjacket apartment.”
Angel2: “Gosh. Okay, I am actually staying quite near there. Why don’t I take you to class everday?”
Me: [blush] “Its okay. Thank you very much for your offer.”
Angel2: “You sure?”
Me: “Yeah. Thanks”
Angel2: “Alright then. If you need a ride, just flag me when you see me k?”
There are angels living among us. If we keep our eyes and minds open, we could see them. They are actually everywhere. Be gentle to these angels, and be nice to them. You won’t know when you will meet with one again in your life time.
For the two angels I met as mentioned above, sorry that I don’t know who you are and I don’t remember your names. But I thank you for giving me a chapter in my life and I learn how to be nice to others. If you happen to read this blog and you are the angel, please accept my thanks and hope everything is well for you.
Of course, I bought a car later, and that’s another story.
*In small town, almost every people and dogs have a car.
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