Normally your commute to work on the subway (or bus, train, streetcar, whatever) is the most isolated and impersonal experience of your day. You cram onto the public transportation, headphones on, phone in hand and you zone out for the duration of your ride. You seldom make eye contact and when’s the last time you even smiled at a fellow commuter?
Which is what made this story so amazing and in light of all the racial and political shit that’s getting stirred up with the election of Trump and other world issues, we need to hear this story, just to we can know that it’s going to be ok.
Because it will be.
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Salma Hamidi was riding the subway in Toronto, when she saw a curious thing happen. Having immigrated from Iran 12 years ago, she was used to seeing how different cultures reacted to one another, but last week she saw transit riders, both young and old from different backgrounds, band together to help a young man running late for a job interview. She shared the story on Facebook, and has gotten shared on the news outlets.
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“This morning while waiting for the subway to leave Finch station, a Latino guy entered the train looking very angry and irritated. Sitting down in front of me, he was holding his head and kept saying “OH GOD”. The Russian guy sitting beside him asked if everything was ok, in a pretty heavy accent. He said he has a horrible headache and is running late for an interview. Overhearing the conversation, I offered him Advil (cause let’s face it, I don’t leave my house without it!). He took it and thanked me but said he doesn’t have water so he’ll have it later. The middle eastern woman sitting beside me wearing hijab, took out a juice box from her kid’s backpack and gave it to him telling him that if he takes it now he’ll feel better by the time he gets to the interview. He started thanking all of us for helping him out and said he’s nervous for the interview. The russian told him to walk in confidently and to tie his hair back if he can. A Chinese teenager sitting on his other side, handed him a hair tie saying she has a million of them. I told him if he gets in late, to apologize but not bring excuses. Nobody likes excuses. The Muslim lady told him to smile a lot, people trust easier when you smile. We got to his station, wished him good luck and off he went. Now if THIS isn’t the ultimate Canadian experience short of a beaver walking into a bar holding a jar of maple syrup, I don’t know what is!”
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Given that this is what the subway looks like on a given rush hour, it’s amazing that such a poignant moment of connection could be made between riders, all going in the same direction, all looking for that elusive connection that community brings.
Humanity is pretty amazing sometimes. This calls for a group hug!
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