Dave Kerpen while on a flight from New York to Boston met a Senator who gave him some amazing lessons in life. He didn't know the Senator, but brought up enough courage to strike a conversation with him, learned that he is a Senator who didn't put on any airs, but shared some of his wonderful insights. Read more here.
My experiences have been more modest. I have not met any person who is famous. But they have nevertheless been very interesting and the memories have been long lasting too.
Once when as a family we (5 of us) were travelling to Hyderabad from Bangalore, we had another person occupying the only other berth in the same enclosure (in an AC 3 tier coach). As can be expected, we were talking among ourselves for a couple of hours after which we had our dinner and he had his. While putting the berth for sleeping, one of my sons accidentally hurt his fingers. Immediately, the other gentleman showed his concern and asked if he could prescribe and give some medicines. We came to know that he was an amateur homeopath who carried some medicines with him. He gave my son some medicines. We woke up to realize that our train was late by about 3-4 hours. We had time in the morning to share some of our experiences and he recounted his and how he came to practise homeopathy. He also gave us a list of medicines to use in case of minor ailments like cold, cough, mild fever, stomach upset, etc. We have preserved that "prescription" even now and my sons use that for stocking up on their medicines and for a long time they have always relied on those medicines for taking care of themselves.
On another occasion again while travelling from Hyderabad to Bangalore this time by Sleeper class, I found the enclosure vacant when I boarded the train at Secunderabad (those days the train used to start from Secunderabad). At Kacheguda station, however, a noisy and energetic group of school girls boarded the train. They were school students, obviously. They were travelling in a group, and this time I was the lone passenger who was the odd man out in the enclosure. Watching them however, gave me a jolt. They were deaf-mute (pardon me if I am politically incorrect; but I don't mean anything derogatory by using this term). I saw that in the enclosure for 5 other people, there were now about 10 girls in an animated conversation among themselves. One girl jabbed my arm and drew my attention to her and then started a conversation with me, asking my name, my family details, what I did for a living, where I was headed, and such other things. Then they decided to teach me their language - sign language. The next hour was devoted to teaching me the alphabets and periodic questions of my recall. I didn't do too well, much to their amusement. I was enjoying their company and when their teacher came to inquire if the girls were a "problem" for me, I simply shook my head and told her I was really enjoying this attention from 10 girls. They mentioned about themselves, their family, why they had gone to Hyderabad and such other things. Once they asked me a question, for which I looked out of the window trying to compose my response, for which I again got a jab in my arm. I looked at the girl by my side and raised my eyebrows. She gestured to ask why I looked out of the window. I said I was thinking. She insisted that I should maintain eye contact since they were lip readers and needed the other person to look at them while speaking. Not making eye contact was a sign of disrespect. Such a humbling experience for a consultant and a trainer who has been in that profession for more than 25 years, I thought!
In another recent incident, while on a trip to Bhutan, on the night previous to the day of my departure for India, I went to the market and on my return trip engaged a taxi. The driver kept up an animated conversation with me and told me about him and asked me about myself. He also said I could engage his taxi whenever I wanted to do some sight-seeing. I found this guy to be a bit irritating and when I reached my hotel, I alighted. He asked me if I was staying there. I suspected his intentions and replied that I had come there to meet someone, but was staying somewhere else. He handed me his business card and I kept it in my wallet. Next day, I came down to the reception desk and tried to find out if my taxi to take me to the airport had reported. It had not. It was December, severe winter (outside temperature near freezing), and early morning 4 o'clock. I didn't know what to do. I called up the coordinator, who was probably sleeping soundly and not answering her phone. I asked the desk if the guy knew of any alternative. He said he could call his friend. I asked him to do so. Time was running out. The receptionist called up his friend, who told him that he was away and couldn't come to the hotel. Now my options were almost non-existent. It was almost 4.45. I had planned to leave for the airport at 4. I was behind schedule and worried about missing the flight. Then I remembered the business card. I took it out and asked the receptionist to call the number. The driver answered the phone, and promised to come in 10 minutes since he was staying close by anyway. True to his word, he came in 10 minutes. We discussed the fare and I left at 5. It was my turn now to engage him in a conversation for the one hour journey to the airport. We reached the airport with enough time to spare and I made a friend that day!
I was not so "conversational" before, but now my outlook has changed and I try to engage my co-passengers in small talk whenever I travel. Who knows I may one day chance to make friend of someone who may become the next PM or President!
