Random Acts of Kindness

So there is this student group at Michigan whose name is something like, Students for Random Acts of Kindness." (Pause to retrieve your motion sickness bag). If you can't tell, I have two issues with this group. The first is that having an organized group for random acts of kindness doesn't make sense. "This week we are going to schedule a random act of kindness for 3:30. Be there or be a bad person". The second ridiculous thing about this group is that its kinda like the group of "students against cancer". Really? Do you need to mobilize a group in order to combat the students against random acts of kindness? Do they have debates? Anyways, the reason I bring all of this up is that I felt it due time that I record some of the true random acts of kindness I have witnessed here in Egypt, the unscheduled, unorganized kind.

Scenario One: Baby-swap on Subway. I have now seen this scenario a few times, and it never ceases to amaze me. The subway will be packed, and some poor mother or father will be holding a big bag (or a baby) and will also have a walking, yet unstable toddler by their legs. Their stop arrives, and it is clear that it is impossible to pick up the child, but it is also equally impossible for the small child to battle the oncoming traffic of entering passengers. Without anyone asking, and without the need for consent to be granted, a perfect stranger who is also getting off will pick up the child and get off the car with the toddler, handing the child back to his or her parent once they are on the platform. Seriously, can you imagine this happening in the States? Can you imagine a perfect stranger, picking up your child on the New York Subway without asking you? And can you imagine him not running off with his kidnapped prize? Can you imagine all of this going down with such a casual attitude that it is as if your brother had held the door open for you, and not that a dude you don't know had picked up your 2 year old in a very busy underground subway? I can't decide what is more impressive, the fact that these strangers casually help these struggling parents, or the fact that these parents welcome the offered help.

Scenario Two: When George and I were in Alexandria, we got a little turned around looking for the train station. As we were trying to straighten ourselves out, we found ourselves trapped in a parking lot where the cars were bumper to bumper. As we jumped over the cars as best as we could, I realized we weren't alone. Two other women, both Egyptian, were also a bit trapped. They were much older than us, and one of them was in quite the pickle. I offered her my hand to help her slide over the car, and the car began to buckle under her weight. When she made it over with my help, I said "al-hamdulillah" (thank god!) and she went nuts. She was tickled to death that I not only knew arabic, but also the favorite phrase of most Egyptians. She asked me where we were going, and I told her we were looking for the train station, and she firmly grabbed my hand and informed me that she and her friend, Fifi, would lead us there. She and Fifi were delighted to find out that George was an engineer, and forgave him for knowing limited Arabic. She didn't let go of my hand until we got to the station, and I had to convince her that from there we would be able to find our train just fine.

I have a feeling Fifi and co. don't belong to any clubs promoting Random Acts of Kindness. It just seems to come naturally. Of course not all seemingly friendly acts here are truly kind, many are attached to the hope of "baksheesh" or a tip. But most of them aren't, and woe to the foreigner who tries to tip those who are only seeking to help their fellow man. I think Fifi would have smacked me up if I had insultingly attempted to tip. Luckily for all parties involved, I recognized their help as a random act of kindness, even without their formal club membership.