(I have a long-distance boyfriend in Germany and I am working on moving there to study and be near him. It’s all going well until he suddenly stops talking to me, doesn’t pick up his phone, and doesn’t answer any messages. I am worried sick that something’s not right, that he can be ill or something similar, until one day I accidentally discover he has someone on the side and his not talking to me is his method of breaking up. I am so thrown away that I can’t react adequately, aside from sending him a message to tell him I know. A few hours later, I text my friend in southern Germany, telling her about what I’d found out and asking her if we can Skype soon. I don’t get a reply all day, so I get even sadder. Later I have to go to a tiny second-hand boutique with my coworker, but I am so numb I don’t even know how to tell her.)

Coworker: “Oh, look at this dress! I can’t possibly fit into it, but you should try it!”

Me: “Oh, come on, [Coworker]; it’s pink. I don’t like pink…”

Coworker: “Yes, I know, but you know how hot you’d look in it? Your boyfriend will love it!”

Me: “No, he won’t; he’s not my boyfriend anymore.”

Coworker: “What?”

Me: “Found out today he’s with someone else over there. Didn’t even have the guts to tell me he wants to break up.”

Coworker: “…but you just got accepted into [University].”

Me: “I know. And I’m going. It’ll all get better. But right now shopping with you is what’s keeping me together, basically.”

Coworker: *looking at me disapprovingly* “This won’t do. Come on, take this dress. I don’t care you don’t like it; you’re trying it on. And whatever else you want.”

(I hated the dress, but I tried it on anyway; didn’t buy it, though. I tried on a bunch of clothes and got myself some really nice things.)

Coworker: *cheerfully* “How about it? Those jeans you got are really awesome! I really don’t get your thing with olive green tops, though, but I guess olive green is to you what pink is to me. How are you feeling?”

Me: *trying to sound as cheerful* “All right, I guess…”

Coworker: “This won’t do at all! Come, there’s a [Chain Supermarket] across the street and they’re having an American week.”

Me: “Huh? What’s that got to do with anything?”

Coworker: “Chocolate chip cookies.”

(I got three packs of cookies and also some nice mustard and Spaetzle (noodles from the south-west of Germany). My mood got a bit better, because … well, cookies can do that for you sometimes. My coworker chatted with me about the city I was about to move to, because she had visited for a short time, and kept reassuring me I’ll feel all right there. Much later that day, as I was about to go to bed, I got another text from my friend in southern Germany, whose phone had been off and she had gotten my text just then. We Skyped the next day, decided collectively and with some help from her mom that my ex was a spineless swine, and chatted about a hundred things that actually cheered me up. I nearly broke out in tears, because this was her only day off and instead of chilling with her boyfriend, she spent five hours Skyping with me! A week later I got a care package from her, her boyfriend, and her family, full of sweets and eco-friendly cosmetic products and even some jewelry! It’s been more than two years and I’m still overwhelmed whenever I think of it. I’m living in Germany now and this friend gets small presents from me regularly. I’m still in touch with my old coworker and I’ve promised her that she’ll be my maid of honour whenever (and if) I get married. I love my friends.)

(I work at a convenience store/gas station with a kitchen. I am standing off to the side while my coworker and friend are working the register. It’s been a busy day so I’ve been helping earlier but have since stopped. She’s been busy with pizzas and customers all shift. A regular who usually orders pizzas, and has done so this night, stops in with his kids. The kids all grab things and my friend rings them up with their pizzas.)

Friend: “Is that everything today? Your total is [total].”

Regular: *pays with a card* “Oh, this is for you.” *hands my friend $10.00 and turns to me* “And this is for you, too.” *hands me $10.00.*

Me: *tries handing money back* “But I haven’t done anything!”

Regular: “It’s for next time. The pizzas here are always so good, and you girls are overworked so much. Have a good night!”

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(My best friend and I are from Germany. In April 2010 we visit Barcelona. Since we don’t really speak Spanish, we only find out on the day we are supposed to fly home that a volcano in Iceland has erupted and blocked all air traffic in Europe. In an attempt to find an alternative way home, we’ve come to the main railway station, only to find that the railway employees in France are on strike, so no trains from Spain will go anywhere.)

Friend: “I’ll go check with the car rental services over there. Can you stay here and watch the suitcases?”

(While he walks off, I notice a group of young people next to where I’m sitting, who are talking to each other in Schwiizerdütsch, a dialect spoken in Switzerland. A slightly older woman comes to them, says something I don’t understand, and they all start cheering and looking relieved. Knowing that most Swiss people understand German, I try my luck:)

Me: *in German* “Hi! You’re from Switzerland, aren’t you? Have you found a way to get home?”

Girl: “Yes, we’re on a student exchange. Our teacher has called a coach company in Bern, and they’re sending a coach to take us home.”

Me: “If you have some seats available, do you think it would be possible for my friend and me to come with you?”

Girl: “I don’t know. But you can ask our teacher…”

(She introduced me to her teacher, who not only said it was okay, but who called the coach company again and asked them to send the biggest coach they had. Soon after she had her students walk through the crowded waiting area and announce that they were going to Switzerland and had seats available for other travellers. On top of that she even organized a coach transfer from Bern to three cities in southern Germany, from where we were able to catch trains home. I tried to contact her through her school afterwards and sent her a thank you note, but I never got a reply. If you read this, awesome Swiss teacher: You are still my hero!)

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(My boyfriend and I are on our way to Cologne, where a group of YouTubers we are huge fans of have an event. Our train ride is supposed to last two hours – leaving us with two hours to get to the event – but already is one and a half hours late due to damages to the rails. An hour away from Cologne, we have to switch trains, where we have to stand. It’s hot, with sticky air, no air conditioning, and I have a history of heat strokes. After half an hour of standing, my boyfriend gets a seat, so I sit on his lap.)

Me: *after my hearing gets muted, a sign of fainting for me* “I’m feeling sick.”

Boyfriend: “Drink something, here.”

Me: *after drinking something, staring ahead* “I’m going to faint.”

(I don’t really remember what happened next, but my boyfriend said I slumped down against his chest. He called for help. People in the whole compartment started getting busy – fetching me more water, getting magazines to fan fresh air in my direction, bubblegum for sugar, and a bag in case I throw up, putting me in the right position, and so on. A few people stayed with us the whole time, making sure I’m fine! But that’s not it. We finally get to the event, it’s awesome, and afterwards it’s time for getting autographs. We stand in line for three hours – in the hot air I mentioned before. We had to leave our drinks before getting to the event, due to the location’s rules, so no one had anything to drink, only empty bottles. Suddenly, a guy starts calling out.)

Guy: “Empty bottles, anyone? We have a sink here!”

(People start handing around bottles of water, milk containers filled with water, everything they could find. Some people even stood on chairs and fanned air for everyone. Then, finally, it’s my turn for autographs.)

YouTuber: “Do you want a selfie or picture?”

Me: “I’d love to, but my phone’s empty. Long train ride, delays, the usual story.”

Random Person: *from the crowd behind me* “I’ll take the picture for you and then I’ll upload it for you!”

Me: “Thank you so much!”

YouTuber: “We have the BEST community! So nice and helpful!”

(And she did! The group consisted of five people, so the conversation repeated with every one of them. And each time, someone – even a YouTuber himself – offered to take a picture for me! It was a horrible day of travelling, fainting, and missing connections, but the people made it so much better!)

(I am on my way home after having been in China for a month. By the point I get back to the United States I have been traveling for about 20 hours with layovers and flight changes and have over ten more hours to go. I am exhausted, missing my husband, and very hungry. The only American money I have on me is a travel card which I belatedly realize had expired the day before. A woman, waiting for the same flight, sits next to me and we pick up a friendly conversation in which I mention my foolish mistake.)

Woman: *takes out a prepaid disposable card* “Here, there is only about seven dollars left on this but I don’t need it.”

Me: “Oh, no. Really, I’ll be fine. They are serving food on the airplane and it is really my own fault.”

Woman: “Take it, please. I’m not going to use it and you have a lot further to go than I do.”

(That woman’s kindness got me through a delayed flight, issues with check-in on the mainland, and a sprint to my gate. To that amazing person, thank you. It may have been a small gesture, but it got me through.)