As the train crept slowly out of the St. Petersburg train station I gazed out and saw her, my kind-hearted stranger. She was smiling and waving as she blew a kiss, then turned and walked back toward the city. I waived and smiled back at Katirina, knowing that our paths would probably never cross in the future. I’ll never forget her.
I awoke at 5 am that morning in St. Petersburg and met her in the lobby of the hotel. She stood patiently waiting for me, both of us bundled, and in silence we walked to the subway station, rode across town, and then walked to the train station to meet my departing train. I had only met Katirina the night before, and although we did not share a common language, I think she had the sense that I was nervous about catching that train. We’d shared dinner that night in a cramped, noisy restaurant near our hotel. Since we couldn’t communicate in spoken words, we drew on napkins, pointed, and even played charades. I had just learned that day that the station where I was to catch my train to Finland the next morning was rerouting some trains to another station. While I had researched and inquired profusely about where the other station was located, the language barrier interceded. I admit I wasn’t completely sure where I had to go and I had to make that train! At some point in the evening I pulled out my map and showed her the station, signed an X, then showed her my train ticket and pointed to the other station with a look of question on my face. She nodded like she understood my dilemma. When she showed up in the lobby that morning, early as it was, I was surprised. She smiled, grabbed my arm, looped hers in mind and signed that she was escorting me. I thought she was just going to walk me to the subway, but when she got on with me I tried to tell her, no, but she’d have none of it. She insisted and kept signing that she was taking me there.
I have met other travelers that shared similar stories of strangers stepping in and saving the day. The gestures can be small, but they are usually not forgotten. Most travelers understand that the guide you bought and studied prior to your trip is never going to be 100% accurate. Restaurants and bars close or uproot, street names change and as I discovered, trains are sometimes rerouted. Even the best planner finds herself scratching her head in wonderment when the street she is walking down is not on her map. In such instances, you can panic or you can look up from your map and ask a stranger. In my experience most locals want to help tourists have a good time in their city. It’s rare that someone will point you in the wrong direction. Of course, you need to have a little sensibility about just whom you approach. When I’m lost or need a point in the right direction, I usually stop someone my age or someone walking a dog. It may not seem obvious to everyone, but people that are out with their dogs are usually local.
Why exactly do people go out of their way to help travelers? I like to believe it is a code that we travelers share. Living in a large city like Chicago, I frequently meet a map wielding tourist in search of assistance. The assistance can be minor like pointing out the way to the lake, or it can be a bit more time consuming like giving a tutorial on the transit system. Whatever it is, I am more than happy to help, as others have helped me. As I finish writing today I am out to chase the sun in the park with my two dogs. I’m sure that I will see many strangers and probably one in search of another stranger, seeking some kindness.
Michelle Ray is the Assistant Manager at Lockwood, the restaurant in the prestigious Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. She just passed her first Court of Master Sommeliers exam and plans to be a Certified Sommelier by summer’s end. She and her husband Chris live in Chicago’s South Loop with their two dogs, Willie and Brodie and when not at work they enjoy exploring the city and taking in all of the beauty of Grant Park. Michelle and her husband have started to make travel plans for their next adventure which will take place in Africa in 2012.