In Gander, the hospitality of perfect strangers

email | 10/5/01 | Nazim Amin

[Lizzy W]

Here's another story from Gander. Since they had no extra clothing, my aunt and another flight attendant went to the local K Mart, which they described as the tiniest K Mart in the world. They walked back to their lodging, but along the way, my aunt's friend mistakenly dropped the bag containing her purchases.

A complete stranger apparently found the bag, went back to K Mart and asked if they could remember who bought it. When the woman found out it was a Delta employee, she tracked them down. Not only did she insist upon delivering the lost bag herself, but also on cooking them a hot meal and tea. Truly amazing.

[billorites]

"Truly amazing."

I too am amazed and encouraged when people go out of their way to show kindness to strangers.

It happens unpredictably, but not infrequently.

It's almost enough to keep me from becoming a total cynic. (but not quite enough!) ;-)

[mountaineer]

What a wonderful story. Imagine it multiplied by the number of flights diverted there.

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[NeoCaveman]

Positive pro-Canuck bump;

If it weren't for Quebeck.....

[Argh]

W, it's past your bedtime, and someday when I'm less gassed I'll try to explain Quebec to all and sundry.

[GnL]

I read other similar stories from NF. Reminds me of the week I spent in Newfoundland 2 years ago. Spent time in St. Johns, Gander, and Twillingate. Had a terrific time and had the opportunity to discover the hospitality for myself. A beautiful place with beautiful people. The icebergs are great, too.

[GVnana]

Bless the good people of Gander. I had a stopover there once on a flight from Paris. It's really an "outpost" of an airport. Never left the airport, but the Canadians were polite and professional. It's stunning the amount of international traffic that little town handles.

[maica]

Thanks for the bump - I am crying again - this is the first I have read about the number of planes in Gander. What fabulously heartwarming stories and links to photos! Could that be why the coverage was avoided? Newfies are all heart, but this effort was extraordinary.

It seems to me that our media do not want Americans to know of any positive feelings that people from other countries had (or have) for us during this horror.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Before I judge the Canadian's by their government, I ask myself if I want American's judged by Congress.... The Canadian PEOPLE are wonderful.

[nfldgirl]

My mother is from Newfoundland just a few hours from Gander. I was born in St. John's and am an American because my father was a U.S. serviceman stationed there at the time. He met my mother there, they were married and...well, the rest of the story is not so important. But what I wanted to say was that I'm proud to be a Newfoundlander as well as an American. I know the kind of heart my mother has, and know of the kind hearts of all my family on her side, and I can tell you, Newfoundlanders are wonderful, loving, caring people who would go out of their way, give you their last dollar to show kindness to others. Yes, a part of my heart will always be a Newfoundlander, but most of it will always be as proud as anything to be called an AMERICAN!

[Travis McGee]

I don't understand it either. This is a great story, and in another age would have made very heartwarming news on 20/20 or Dateline.

[Mugwumps]

Bump - and thanks for link to great photos!

[Dan Day]

Canadians are wonderful people, eh?

Yup. I married one. :-)

[Dan Day]

I too am amazed and encouraged when people go out of their way to show kindness to strangers. It happens unpredictably, but not infrequently.

Try spending some time in small towns, practically anywhere.

While Canadians are indeed wonderful people overall, I have to wonder if the hospitality shown wasn't due to its taking place in Canada, but instead because it happened in a town of 10,500 people.

I lived for several years in a town of 8,000 people in Ohio. And I could easily have seen the same sort of thing happening there as well. I went back and visited the place 10 years after I left it for the big cities, and it was a very refreshing thing to discover that it hadn't changed a bit, and was still just as friendly and relaxing as ever.

My wife and I have found a couple of small towns within a day's drive from where we live that we go to when we want to get away from it all and unwind. We stay at bed-and-breakfasts for a day or three. And they too are wonderful places to spend some time, full of good friendly people, mom-and-pop stores that have been in operation for 40+ years, little restaurants that are run like Mom's personal kitchen, antique stores full of items that have never once been out of town, hardware stores that have plumbing fixtures to repair a 1950 faucet (and the guy behind the counter who originally installed them), and parades down main street where the local school marching band leads the local firetruck (singular) with the volunteer firemen hanging off the sides waving American flags (even before 9/11) as the locals sit along the road on folding chairs, waving to their friends and neighbors in the parade. I'm not just speaking in metaphor, I've experienced all this, and more, personally.

Small towns off the beaten track, anywhere, all seem to exist in a fairy-tale version of the best of the 1950's.

[-=[_Super_Secret_Agent_]=-]

when you read some negative artlces abut canada there like two pages of replei but when ther e some positive..well, u get the idea

[NorthOf45]

Yeah, being from the East Coast myself, I was very proud of how it all turned out with the stranded passengers. It's too bad is was born from such a tragic event. Check out my profile for a couple of pics of Gander Airport:

http://www.freerepublic.com/~northof45/

Also, check out this site for more stories and photos:

http://theganderconnection.org/

[mabusfe]

Hi Lizzy, I am a filmmaker who is doing a story on this. Is there any way to get in touch with your aunt? Thank you.

Michael Stern
michael@visitor-one.com
www.visitor-one.com