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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell you about this random act of kindness by a refugee?

18 replies

TakenForSlanted · 29/12/2018 16:41

Not a 1st time poster, but I did re-register with a new email:

Sitting in the dining car on a train. On my way back from spending the holidays with my family to my busy professional city life.

Dining car is bursting, there's a sole waiter. I'm sitting opposite a gent who I've started chatting to for a bit and who's just told me he's a Syrian refugee.

As per usual, I'm not carrying any cash at all. When time comes to pay, it turns out the stressed waiter's machine reader is broken and won't read any of the 3 cards I try. Gent opposite me hands him a tenner.

I've now offered him a new book, my phone number for recollection of the money, a CD collection I got for Christmas and pretty much every other item of any worth at all in my bag, and he's refusing to take any of them, insisting that he should show kindness as he was shown kindness by getting to be safe here.

The thing is: I'm well off, I just don't carry cash. I've told him that. He says it doesn't matter.

Moved to tears. Xmas Blush

OP posts:
ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 29/12/2018 16:44

How lovely of him! Pay it forward yourself next time you can Xmas Grin

jjemimapuddleduck · 29/12/2018 16:47

Can you ask for his address or c/o address and send him £20?

TakenForSlanted · 29/12/2018 16:48

I asked, he won't take it.

I think I'll have to go down the paying forward route.

How very lovely of him, though.

OP posts:
Babbabump · 29/12/2018 16:57

How absolutely lovely. Sounds like he would prefer you to pay it forwards- he did you a good turn, he didn't want repaying x

TakenForSlanted · 29/12/2018 17:00

Probably.

I've decided that as soon as I get home I shall make an very sizeable donation to a charity for refugees.

Seems like the most appropriate way of reciprocating in some way.

OP posts:
currentcake · 29/12/2018 17:02

I adore hearing things like this. Gives me faith there is still good people out there.
God bless him!

CatToddlerUprising · 29/12/2018 17:05

Love this! Can I suggest looking up your local refugee support centre and donating there?

HopefulCivilServant · 29/12/2018 18:20

That’s so lovely, OP - he sounds so kind. I also agree with previous posters that donating to somewhere that offers help to refugees, or volunteering there, might be a nice idea.

Marshmallow91 · 29/12/2018 18:32

Stories like this should be told more often. How lovely xxx

Blueblueyellow · 29/12/2018 18:40

Reading that made me very emotional Op. That's really good

Billben · 29/12/2018 18:42

insisting that he should show kindness as he was shown kindness by getting to be safe here.

Crying at this 😥

eightoclock · 29/12/2018 18:45

I don't find this surprising - middle eastern people are usually very generous.

Just out of interest, what country are you in where you still have dining cars with waiters on the trains?

SauvignonBlanche · 29/12/2018 18:46

I've decided that as soon as I get home I shall make an very sizeable donation to a charity for refugees.

Excellent idea Xmas Smile

Aeroflotgirl · 29/12/2018 18:48

Awww that is so lovely, that is a good idea, making a donation to charity which helps refugees.

Bombardier25966 · 29/12/2018 18:49

I volunteer with refugees, they are the most generous people you could hope to meet. Many of the people I work with are destitute, but will still offer you food before themselves.

formerbabe · 29/12/2018 18:50

That's lovely op...

On a separate note....

to my busy professional city life

Grin
OrgyofSausages · 29/12/2018 18:50

Lovely thread OP.

I agree with others. Pay it forward Grin

Aeroflotgirl · 29/12/2018 18:51

I know that This is a cliche Bombadier but in my life, I have found the poorer people so much more generous, than the rich people, they will give you their last dime and give you what they have.

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