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.