How can I help this person?

[Coolbreezee]

There's a man who works in the area I live (London) clearing rubbish, sweeping leaves, general maintenance that kind of thing. He is the most friendly person. I see him every day, he greets me with a smile, he makes a fuss of my baby in the pushchair. He is one of those people that brightens up everyones day. He is the same with everyone and very popular with the locals.

Over the past few months he's told me more about himself and he is actually a very interesting human being. He is 60 years old. He has 7 children. When his youngest was 7 years old, his wife died of cancer. He raised the children himself. Oldest is a lawyer, youngest now studying to be a neurosurgeon (which is why he has this job to help support her through school). He attended a top university in his home country, and taught mathematics. He also can speak 7 languages including English, french Dutch, German and Arabic. I asked him why he didn't get another job. The answer: his degree certificates need to be translated from dutch and this will cost at least £4000 which he doesn't have. I know he is pretty down about his job, but he doesn't let it show. He works so hard every day rain or shine from 7am to 5pm.

Is there anything I can do to help this person? Does anyone know about the process of translating certificates? Its seems like such a waste of human knowledge and talent.

Someone I work with just had their masters certification translated for £70. I'd be inclined to not believe him unfortunately but contine to enjoy the friendly interaction!

It's a wonderful thing to not be world weary OP.

But it could get you into a lot of trouble. He isn't telling the whole truth.

I like to believe the best in people

Nothing wrong with that as a stand alone thought on its own. But you are now actively looking for ways to help him, which could involve using your own money or resources-if he draws the conversation in that direction next- thats where believing the best in people can deceive you and end up costing you.

As a PP said, why do you need to do anything to help him? why not just continue to have nice bright conversations- that is more than enough for a complete stranger you know nothing about.

This.

Also, a quick google shows that you can buy translations of official documents (like qualification certificates/birth certificates/passports) from
£20-25+ each.

You can read the op and think aww what a nice guy or ...

makes a fuss of baby = potential predator

this will cost at least £4000 which he doesn't have manipulator

his wife died of cancer. He raised the children himself. setting scene for self pity by targeting empathetic woman

I have just watched Love Cheats on channel 4 which might have made me more cynical. Op I recommend you watch it if you are the gullible sort.

@Coolbreezee I’m a bit like you but with a dash of realism. But his story is like a fairy tale. 7 kids, youngest was 7 when mother died, 7 languages. Taught maths at a ‘top’ university, one kid’s a lawyer, another, trainee neurosurgeon. Why is he in London? Where are his children, why isn’t he near to at least some of them? By all means take an interest and his story may well just be face- saving as a PP has said. You could help him perhaps by saying that there’s no shame at all in a job well done, however ‘humble’ that job is.

I just googled it- it costs between £30-60

He is lying to you.

A trainee surgeon is usually in paid work already. In this country at least, you do medical school (unpaid but you can't say you're a trainee neurosurgeon at that stage, you haven't got into the specialism). Then foundation years (paid but not yet neurosurgery). Then paid surgical speciality training. You could do a PhD but this is quite likely to be paid and competitive if taken as part of the pathway of becoming a surgeon, not out of interest.

Perhaps he just wants to talk, and I agree with a PP that it could easily be that he's accepted the prohibitive cost as the reason for his job now rather than wanting to acknowledge the difficulties he may face achieving the type of career he was once looking at.

Earlier point being, He wouldn't really be supporting a trainee neurosurgeon by necessity.

Also, it doesn't cost 4k (even close) to translate a Dutch degree cert and do an ENIC.

By all means enjoy his friendly presence. But do be aware that his story doesn't have the ring of truth. That's not to say he is necessarily a liar as such, or on the make but I wouldn't get too involved and find out by trying to help.

He may just appreciate a friendly face and the chance to talk over his version of the truth. I wouldn't go digging, even with the best of intentions. He may not actually want this. Or, he may be about to ask for money. If he does, you obviously say no, sorry and a PP has given you a resource to suggest.

Just keep having your chats and take the rest with a pinch of salt.

I can see why you'd want to help, as you sound caring and empathetic to his situation. BUT as others have said, he has children who are clearly very intelligent (if this is true) who are the people who are responsible for helping their Father. If his story (by a long shot) is accurate- then his 7 intelligent children who he single handedly raised, will know how to help him. As kind of you as it it, he really isn't your responsibility and if his life story is true - his adult children will be there to support him if needed. So...just be smiley, friendly etc, but no need for any more. Just my opinion.

https://www.dialexy.com/en £35 per page.

I met a chap almost exactly like this a number of years ago.

He had fallen off his bicycle and I helped him up and said I would walk back home with him to make sure he was safe and he pushed his bicycle along as the chain had come off.

He spun me a yarn about all his children having moved to Australia and how successful they were and how much he missed them and how he used to be a doctor but was now retired etc etc, he was very convincing.

As we got to his house, a young woman flung the front door open and yelled at us, "Dad! Where have you been?!" She grabbed his shopping bag off the handlebars and pulled out a pack of beer cans and almost in tears shouted at him, "You're not supposed to be drinking!"

He went inside with the bike and she told me that he was an alcoholic and asked what story he had spun me! 😬

Also
He has 7 children
Speaks 7 languages
His youngest was 7 when their Mother passed.
I'm surprised it wasn't 7k to translate the certificates 😂

Again, £4k for translation is just not true. Loads of people here have posted true figures which are much less. And as I said, from personal experience of hiring people from overseas we didn’t need the certificates translated at all.
You seem absolutely determined to believe him despite everything people here have said. If you really do believe him and want to help, give him some of the helpful links people have posted and leave it there.
If it’s all true but he’s decided not to apply for better paid jobs because he doesn’t think he’ll get one, stop thinking about trying to help him because you can’t.

Indeed. Your user name is very apt here 😂

Missed your update re neurosurgery but the rest stands. It costs nothing like 4k to translate a degree cert. Less than a ton.

He can look that up , his kids can. Very easily indeed. If I thought he could be unaware of that I would say just let him know or suggest checking, he may not be aware it's not that kind of cost.

Something makes me say refrain. This is more about what might've been for him.

"Trust, but verify."
— Ronald Reagan

Came here to say this.

Oh come on op.

You poor thing

Eek

I smell 🐂 💩

I had to have a long, legal document translated a couple of years ago from German to English (100s of pages, very specific legal terms and phrases). It required a translator with a very specific skillset.

Translation cost between 400-500 pounds.

Just to put his claim into context that translating his certificates would cost 4000 £

It's so obviously made up.

Hang on. He is sweeping the streets in order to put his child through neurosurgeon training.

What is he using to live on then?

I think he sees you as a cash cow.

First of all, he's bullshitting you, and secondly, i often find that men interpret any attention as sexual overtures.

Just be careful. You don't know this man, so i'd keep him at arm's length.