My Global Good Samaritan Encounters That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity (Part 1)

As a solo female traveler, I’ve learned to navigate the world with a healthy dose of caution. Yet, time and again, I’ve been humbled by the kindness and generosity of strangers. In a world often overshadowed by negativity, these encounters serve as reminders of the inherent goodness that exists among us. In this post, I begin a thread of recounting some of the heartwarming stories of Good Samaritans I’ve encountered during my travels. 

Almost Losing All My Cards in Montevideo, Uruguay

Traveling from Montevideo, Uruguay to Porto Alegre, Brazil by bus, I found myself rushing last minute to catch my bus, as is often the case with my trips. With my ticket secured and adrenaline coursing through my veins, I settled into my seat, eager to lose myself in my downloaded episodes of “El Marginal”.

A few minutes into my binge-watching session, a lady approached me with a curious expression. “I think this is yours,” she said. In her outstretched hand lay my phone pouch, containing all my debit and credit cards, which I had dropped on the floor on my way to the bus. I profusely thanked her for a whole minute. As I settled back into my seat, the driver started the engine. I realized that had she arrived even a moment later, I would have unknowingly crossed the border into Brazil, blissfully unaware of my loss until much later. The thought sent shivers down my spine. My entire trip could have taken a disastrous turn but her simple act of kindness spared from a potential nightmare and set the stage for the incredible adventures that awaited me in Brazil.

The Airport Angel That Brought Me A Chauffeur in Baghdad, Iraq

With my visa on arrival in hand, I stepped into the bustling arrivals terminal of the Baghdad airport, naively ready to navigate the way to my hotel. Unaccustomed to the intricacies of Iraqi airport logistics, I found myself at a loss as I attempted to order a Careem (Middle Eastern version of Uber). Unlike many airports, here, the rules dictated that taxis were not permitted within a certain perimeter of the airport, complicating my plans to call a ride. As other passengers dispersed, a middle-aged woman, from my flight, approached me. 

“Are you traveling alone?” she inquired, her concern evident. I nodded in affirmation. With a reassuring smile, she beckoned me to follow her, leading me outside the airport in search of a shuttle carrying passengers beyond the airport boundary. Navigating through the throng of shuttle bus drivers vying for passengers, she negotiated a fare in Arabic before ushering me onto a waiting vehicle. As the trip began, she pulled out her Careem app. “Do you have someone to pick you up?” she asked. “No, but I plan to use Careem,” I replied meekly. She hesitated, again with an expression of concern. She then extended the invitation of adding my hotel as a stop on her own journey.

When we reached the outskirts of the airport, we found her Careem driver already waiting. The driver, fluent in English due to his years living in Lebanon, became my unexpected lifeline. Considering the language barrier among many local drivers, the woman insisted I take down his number, assuring me of his reliability should I need further assistance during my stay in Baghdad. As fate would have it, I found myself relying on the same driver several days later. He picked me up at 6 am from Najaf and drove me for about 4 hours to Chibayish where he took all my photos on my boat ride in the marshes. He then drove me another 2 hours to Basra where I stayed for a few days before crossing the border to Kuwait. Not only did I find an awesome chauffeur, but also a lovely companion as we conversed throughout the road trip.

Reflecting on that lucky encounter, I can’t help but marvel at the ripple effect of kindness. Had it not been for the airport angel who took me under her wing, who know how long I would have been at the airport for, and I would have missed out meeting the amazing driver who facilitated my phenomenal adventures in Iraq.