Ok, wanted to post this because yesterday was a particularly good day for me in Switzerland...one of those days that makes me think of the Ice Cube song Today was a Good Day, where he raps about all the good fortune of a particular day, ends up seeing the Goodyear blimp, and it tops his day because it says "Ice Cube is a pimp." Not every day has been like this for me here, so I really appreciated this one for a lot of reasons.

I was walking around Baden yesterday morning and passed by a language school which is about two minutes from our flat. I was daydreaming as I passed by that it would be nice to teach some classes there as it is quite nice, and very close, and I hadn't heard from them since I sent in my CV about three months ago. When I got home a few minutes later, I checked my email and had an email waiting from the school asking me to interview. Sweet! Love it when stuff like that happens.

I continued on for an interview at Zurich International School at their new upper school campus, which is a little strange to get to if you have ever tried. I got lost outside of the train station and I was very short for time—was getting a little desperate and I walked into a random travel agency I passed on the street to ask for directions.
Two of the employees (I think a mother and her son) were so helpful that they said, “we’ll just take you there, it won’t be a problem for us.” So, they left the office, took me out to their car, and gave me a chauffeured ride to the front door of the school while telling me all about the neighborhood and the new buildings going up. This random act of kindness from strangers really saved me from being late for a meeting I really cared about, and just made me feel happy about the goodness many people possess. What a great way to treat a stranger! I am so thankful to them. On top of the rest, the interview went really well I believe, and I loved the new campus.
Unfortunately, all the other stuff that happens to Ice Cube in the song is x-rated, so I won’t go there in trying to compare my day with his. But, yesterday was a good day. Just wanted to share with the forum…thanks for listening.

Glad to hear you had such a great day.

So glad that you had such positive experiences and very glad too that you took the trouble to tell us!
Sleep well!

I am so tired of all the whiners and complainers here. Your post and the happy kid post are a breath of fresh air.

Thank you both.

A few years* ago I was hiking with my family and we got caught in horrible rain. Trudging along in the rain towards the train station was not my idea of fun... As the rain started really hammering down a car pulled up and too my brother and I to the train station so we could escape the rain!

10 minutes later my parents arrived in a police car!! Even the local coppers felt sorry for us and gave my parents a lift to meet us...

I've had many very good experiences out in the countryside... Less in the cities but that's the same the world over I think.

Anyway, just thought I'd add something positive to your positive story as I'm pleased to hear that such acts of kindness still exist...

*going on for 15 years now...

Very nice to hear your rescued from the rain story Lynn...and thanks to the others for putting up with a somewhat sappy post that I just wanted to get out there.

I know that not everybody is nice in any country, but a few can really make up for the bad apples out there. I think, especially in America, that many people have become absolutely paranoid about strangers and prefer to play it totally safe by avoiding contact with them. Or, they just have better things to do with their time. I can understand this attitude for kids, but I think we adults are usually able to make a pretty quick read on a stranger and figure out if they are a nutcase or not--so why not help a fellow human being--even if you don't know them?

I have also been fortunate to have strangers give me a helping hand and I also assist when I can. One evening I took a short walk to the convenience store at a nearby gas station and just as I was heading home two young boys with a dog approached the entrance. It was raining and they and the dog were absolutely soaked. A few people passed them but nobody stopped. Hard to believe others didn't think they looked out of place.

I just knew something was wrong, so I approached them and first I asked about the dog and whether he had fallen in a puddle. They explained that they had taken their dog for a walk late afternoon and had somehow had taken a wrong turn. One had a mobile phone but the battery was dead. I gave one of the boys my mobile and told him to call home which he did. His mother had been worried sick as they had been gone for hours. She was coming straight away to pick them up. I took the phone and explained to her where they were. The boys were shivering and I told them to wait inside the doors while I stood outside with the dog (who was not allowed inside) and waited for the mother. I asked the boys if they wanted a warm drink (they had no money) but they said they were okay.
When the boy's mom arrived she couldn't thank me enough. She said her son and his friend, who was sleeping over that night, had left hours ago, well before it was dark. She said the boys told her they were afraid to ask someone for help.

Actually, they didn't ask me, I offered, but really, if kids (and adults) are so weary of strangers that even when they need help they won't ask for it, this is very sad. Somehow in times of need you have to use your instincts and trust someone.

isn't it special to feel so blessed?
pull the blanket around your shoulders and huddle there for a while - it is a truly special feeling...
i'm very happy for you, i've been feeling like that a few times this past month or so, we should write about it more...

I blame the fear-mongering media for this. Everyone is walking scared about everything. If something happens to someone somewhere, it is broadcast nationally and everyone has a new paranoia. Sure bad things happen, but not that often really.

Sorry I don't mean to make a positive thread negative and whining about the media but I just find people scared of everything now, rather than grasping the world and getting the most from it, people tend to hide in their little shells, scared to do anything and pass this on their children so now children stay inside playing video games.

Hey Ben !!!
I am very happy for you!! Seems the time of being a "home-working spouse" might soon be over I hope your little dream of working at Zurich International School will come true. That was what you wanted, wasn't it ??!!
Sada

Still, I know of one school where parents are encouraged to allow their children to make their own way to and from school, and many do... building independence and trust in society, one child at a time...

nice... are you going to work there at the upper school ???

My meeting with the principal went really well, and I'm going to work as a substitute there until a social studies teacher retires, marries an exotic foreigner and.or has to move out of the country, or some other bit of luck that opens up a position. The place is pretty impressive from what I've seen, so employee turnover isn't exactly high. I'm teaching English now for three different schools, but I have to keep the dream of ZIS alive...just have that sort of feeling about the place. So, I'm biding my time and waiting for a bit of luck I guess.

I am happy for you, Mr Ben. I hope you will like your work and that you will be offered a permanent teaching position soon.

Congratulations on your interview going well, and having work as a substitute.

Goodluck for the future, and please let us know how you get on