An Tale of Surprising Kindness: When a University Student Allowed Me to Stay on Her Dormitory Ground
During 2006, My journey took me to the Australian capital for an admissions interview for medical school. I figured to book lodging when I arrived, however once I got there, a large conference was in town and every single budget hostels and cheap hotels were fully booked.
As a visitor from the city-state of Singapore, I thought perhaps I could bed down in the terminal – but soon learned that airport, in contrast to Changi Airport, does not operate 24 hours. Not knowing quite what to do and getting a bit desperate, I caught public transport and found myself drifting towards a gaming venue, thinking it was a place to spend those hours in an establishment that stayed open 24/7. This was not ideal in the ideal condition for acing the admissions interview the next day, however, being a student on a tight budget, luxury accommodation was impossible.
The world needs more folks with such compassion.
Apparently, I appeared confused because a female student spotted me wandering around downtown and inquired if I was OK. I explained the story of my accommodation crisis and immediately she offered I could sleep on the floor at her university residence at the local university – a perfect solution, given that my the important interview was the following day. Generously, she also provided a meal: a leftover stuffed baguettes she had taken home her part-time job. This gave me the bathroom and a protected spot and secure to sleep.
In retrospect, I can appreciate the significant risk she accepted as a woman letting a guy she had only just encountered crash at her place. At that time I was in a bubble of male privilege and did not consider to such safety concerns. As a dad now, it astounds me she offered that help – but still very grateful.
I didn’t end up study at the Australian National University, and I lost touch with the student afterwards, yet her memory has stayed with me that incredible gesture of kindness. My sincere desire is that life has returned her act of kindness many times over. We could all use more people like that woman.
