Ihadneverbeenmoreanxiousinmylife.ThiswasthefirsttimeI
traveledallbymyself.IdidnotspeakEnglishwellandhaddifficulty
understandingpeople.Now,standingattheinternationalsectionofthe
airport,Iwasnervousandscared,notknowingwhatIwouldhaveto
face.Asitturnedout,Ihadthemostfrustratingexperienceofmy
life.
Ilookedaround,andnothingwasfamiliar.Apileofquestions
poundedinmyhead.Wherewastheticketcounter?Wherewascustoms?How
couldIfindtheboardinggate?ThemoreIthought,themoreworriedI
got.
Itriedtoaskforhelp,butallmywordscameoutwrong.Isawawomansittinginthecorner,soIwentuptohertimidly.
Excuse,lady.Whereticketcounter?IaskedinbrokenEnglish,pronouncingticketcounterassomethingliketincan.
Tincan?Whatdoyouneeditfor?thewomanaskedback,withaconfusedface.
Ticket,paper,flight,Iyelledandwavedmyhandsinaflyingmanner.
Shelookedatme,evenmoreconfused.Tin,flying?
Atthatmoment,someoneacrossthehallwavedather.Shestoodupinhurryandsaid,Sorry,Ican'thelpyou.Ihavetogo.
Ifeltawful.Ihadbeeninthiscountryformonths,andIcouldn'tevenaskfordirections.
After
Ifinallycheckedinattheticketcounter,anotherproblemcameup:I
couldnotfindcustoms.Myflightwouldtakeoffin40minutes.I
draggedmyenormoussuitcasebehindmeandcametoanelevator.Ihadno
ideawhichfloortogoto.Igotontheelevatorandpressedbutton3
randomly.Theelevatorslowlyclimbeduptothethirdfloorandjerked
toastop.Icameoutandfoundmyselfinanemptylobby.
Tears
formedinmyeyesasIthoughtIwouldmissmyflight.Justthenanold
airportemployeeshuffledaroundthecorner.SeeingthatIseemedlost,
hesmiledkindlyandasked,Doyouneedhelp?
Yes.I...customs,Isaid.Tearsrusheddownmycheeks.
Don't
worry,honey.Iwilltakeyouthere,hecomfortedme.Hetookmy
suitcaseandledmeupsomestairs.Afterarrivingatcustoms,heledme
pastallthelinesofpeopleandpushedmyluggagetotheinspection
counter.
WhenIturnedaroundtothankhim,hewasgone.Inever
knowthewonderfulman'sname,butIwillalwaysrememberhisgenerous
help.IhopethatonedayIcandothesameforatravelerwhosuffers
fromsimilarfrustrations.
