I was driving my somewhat rusty car somewhere on Airport road when it failed on me and just conked out. Seriously thinking about my options (or lack thereof), I waited in the car in the middle of the road, praying for my car to restart while trying desperately. I can't possibly push my car alone, I'm a lady, and it was at the height of summer. Some cars that have pooled behind me kept honking at me, even as I signaled for them to pass me as my car has broken down. A number of expatriates have passed me, and hurled not so good comments whilst i drenched in my own sweat.
Not 5 minutes has passed when a landcruiser full of youths have starting directing traffic around me and respectfully asked me what the trouble was. Seeing that I couldn't restart the car, they have pushed my car out of the way at a safe distance, smiling and kidding among themselves as they did so. These youths are not all arabs, there was an indian and a filipino among them. Another man who stopped offered me a ride home, and he said he was a respectable man and all he was offering is a ride so I can get to my destination. My house is quite near, but it was stifling heat in the middle of noon so I took his offer, he let me sit at the back alone. The youths followed this car (on convoy) to my destination, and was gracious in their goodbyes along with the respectable arab man who drove me home.
Before all final goodbyes were said, they have given me advice on the people to contact so I can get my car fixed, so by the end of the meeting a had a couple of numbers to contact on my car problem. I thanked them graciously and told them I had never known that people could be so helpful. The man who I rode with said Qatar is a place where people don't see the good in others because of fear and ignorance. All the others agreed with him. I shook their hands and said my goodbye.
I consider that day not bad luck at all. Sure, my car has broken down and I have no money to fix it right away, but I consider that day a blessing, a chance to change my perspective on people and the good that is in them, whatever race or gender they may be.
Thanks for your wonderful post and I hope my little story provide people with the same feel good feeling I had felt when my car broke down that day. :)
I was driving my somewhat rusty car somewhere on Airport road when it failed on me and just conked out. Seriously thinking about my options (or lack thereof), I waited in the car in the middle of the road, praying for my car to restart while trying desperately. I can't possibly push my car alone, I'm a lady, and it was at the height of summer. Some cars that have pooled behind me kept honking at me, even as I signaled for them to pass me as my car has broken down. A number of expatriates have passed me, and hurled not so good comments whilst i drenched in my own sweat.
Not 5 minutes has passed when a landcruiser full of youths have starting directing traffic around me and respectfully asked me what the trouble was. Seeing that I couldn't restart the car, they have pushed my car out of the way at a safe distance, smiling and kidding among themselves as they did so. These youths are not all arabs, there was an indian and a filipino among them. Another man who stopped offered me a ride home, and he said he was a respectable man and all he was offering is a ride so I can get to my destination. My house is quite near, but it was stifling heat in the middle of noon so I took his offer, he let me sit at the back alone. The youths followed this car (on convoy) to my destination, and was gracious in their goodbyes along with the respectable arab man who drove me home.
Before all final goodbyes were said, they have given me advice on the people to contact so I can get my car fixed, so by the end of the meeting a had a couple of numbers to contact on my car problem. I thanked them graciously and told them I had never known that people could be so helpful. The man who I rode with said Qatar is a place where people don't see the good in others because of fear and ignorance. All the others agreed with him. I shook their hands and said my goodbye.
I consider that day not bad luck at all. Sure, my car has broken down and I have no money to fix it right away, but I consider that day a blessing, a chance to change my perspective on people and the good that is in them, whatever race or gender they may be.
Thanks for your wonderful post and I hope my little story provide people with the same feel good feeling I had felt when my car broke down that day. :)