An International Affair

In late December I was sitting in the Atlanta airport, waiting for my flight to San Antonio (to kick off the new year). As I usually do in Atlanta, I go to terminal B and get a turkey panini form the Atlanta Bread Co. It's pretty much my favorite sandwich and they don't have it in New Mexico so its a must.

I go back to terminal C and eat my sandwich at the gate i'll be leaving from. I look around and as usual there's not a whole lot of people there 3 hours before the flight, just the occasional person with a long layover. There's army boy sitting next to his green duffle bad, the little three-year-old playing on the floor. The teenage girl scrubbed out in sweatpants falling asleep on the bench, the business man on his blackberry,the cute old woman with matching everything, and then there was something striking that is not so common in the Atlanta airport. Sitting right across from me was a very tall, blonde, dark skinned muscular man with the brightest blue eyes that I had ever seen. I totally didn't know what to think of him, he had kind of an exotic look and seemed to be a little puzzled.

There was something definitely intriguing about this guy. I sat there talking on my phone looking back from time to time trying to figure out what it was. 45 minutes passes and I'm still talking on my phone, but i've noticed now he's been looking over here for quite some time. A few minutes later I notice this guy glancing over again, we played the glance over and pretend we never saw each other game for a bout 10 minutes. Well he then decides to get up, and right as I saw him come over my way, as though he was passing by, he stops right in front of me and in the most intriguing accent i've ever heard, asks me if it might be ok to borrow my phone as he is not from here. Of course I let him borrow my phone, he sat next to me now, and i couldn't help but speculate what his story could be. Well he only talks for a minute and leaves his friend a message saying his flight was delayed and he got to the states a day later than he expected.

At this point we start to exchange conversation, mostly small talk. It was quite a bit awkward at first because he looked me straight in the eyes as he talked and was sitting right next to me. (But maybe it's common to invade people's personal space where he comes from?) Ah yes, and that was the question I had.

"I'm from South Africa. I've lived there all my life. I own a safari business, it's what actually brings me to the states. Every year from January to April I come out here to market my company."

We continued to talk for the next two hours laughing and smiling at all the neat cultural differences as well as similarities we had.

"I'm a professional hunter and outfitter. I have a resort on 200,000 acres of land where I help people hunt the great 5." (let me just say that I didn't know much about South Africa before I met him, but after our lengthy conversation about our lives, (it felt as though i'd been there)he continued to show me pictures and talk about his family and then his goals and what he wants from life.

You could tell by the look in his eye, he was a genuine guy with almost a chivalrous demeanor. We found out we both were headed to San Antonio and were quite delighted to have the company and conversation on the way. As our hours of an international affair concluded, he invited me to Africa, and said if I ever wanted to come he would personally take me on a safari. With that we exited the plane and headed down to baggage.

I was sitting in the claim area after having realized my luggage was in Atlanta and wouldn't be here until the next flight arrived.

Hannes(this was his name) was waiting for his friend to pick him up. He came over several times to make sure I was alright waiting by myself or to see if I needed a ride. I assured him I was fine and that he have safe travels while here abroad. His friend came over and he introduced us and then we said our good byes and they walked away. Twenty minutes later Hannes returns to make sure I'm ok and that I'm on my way. As I'm still sitting there he seemed concerned and walked back over. I assured him again I was definitely ok and my luggage would be coming soon. So we said our goodbyes and he walked back to his friend. Well this series events happened a few more times until I was on my way and he saw that I had left safely.

Is it possible to meet a complete stranger from accross the world who has nothing but the most honorable intentions? Someone who seems so genuine and chivalrous...so counter culture of the fast paced, all about me, crazy day-to-day American life? That I cannot conclude seeing how it is nearly impossible to judge the true intentions of another. But what I did find quite amusing in this adventure was that two complete strangers from opposite sides of the world can relate to eachother over a pleasant conversation sharing stories of their lives.