More Than A Village

Many colleagues and friends have stepped forward to make me feel welcomed and help me find my way. A few things have been beyond our grasp, and strangers have been there to lend a hand. It is the help from strangers that I find even more remarkable. A merchant closed his kiosk and went out of his way to direct me to the general manager a store who called his TX born wife to ask directions for me to text on my cell phone to the United States (ATT had given me the wrong access code before I left home). A sales manager for a realty company agreed to charge me a deposit of only four months rent (Brasilians typically pay 10-12 months deposit for rentals) saying, "I have no idea why I'm doing this--I just trust you." A very young bank vice-president at HSBC struggled for words in English and announced in front of his waiting clients, "Don't worry, we love you boy and we're going to try and help you". Did I look desperate? Yep, I think I did. There I was, drenched from a down pour and wearing a Patagonia hoody. That was the day that my bank card stopped working and I realized that there was no way for me to transfer funds until I got my identification card--and I had lost my umbrella. And then, there have been the many people at home who have come through for me. Victoria who sent me some more warm clothes, Tina who forwards mail that needs looked at, and Lizzy, Yanick and many others who are always there to count on. I think I'm one of the "luckiest" guys in the world. I didn't use to like to use that word. But, I've come to realize that we are all blessed--but, sometimes "lucky" and sometimes not.
BTW, HSBC has helped me out in four countries that I can think of, while I have never been a customer of theirs. Hmm, about time to think changing banks, don't you think?