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Staph

(6,454 posts)
13. For those at work, with Twitter blocked...
Tue Apr 17, 2018, 08:00 PM
Apr 2018
Hey guys, I know I usually just post shitty jokes on my Twitter but bear with me because I wanted to share something.

So in one of my Management classes I sit in the same seat in the front every day. Every single day I sit there.

Now, I also sit next to some foreign guy that barely speaks English. The most advanced thing I've heard this guy say in English is "Wow, my muffin is really good".

This guy also has a habit of stacking every item he owns in the exact space I sit. His bag, his food, his books, and his phone are ALWAYS right on my desk space.

Now, every single time I walk into class this guy says "Ah, Tom. You here. Okay." And starts frantically clearing my desk of his belongings. He then makes it a habit to say "Ready for class, yeah?" And gives me a high five. Every day this guy gives me a high five.

I was ALWAYS annoyed with this guy. I'm thinking "Dude, you know I sit in this seat every day. Why are you always stacking your shit here? And the last thing I want to do is give a guy who barely speaks my language high fives at 8 in the morning" Just get your shit off my desk

But today I came to class and was running a few minutes late. I'm standing outside because I had to send a quick text. I could see my usual space through the door out of the corner of my eye. Of course, my desk was filled with his belongings. The usual.

As I'm standing there on my phone another guy who was also late walks into the class before me and tried to take my seat since it's closest to the door. The guy sitting next to me stops this dude from sitting down and says "I'm sorry. My good friend Thomas sits here."

It was then that I realized this guy wasn't putting stuff on my seat to annoy me. He was saving me the seat every morning. And this whole time he saw me as a friend but I was too busy thinking about myself to take him into consideration.

Cheesy as it sounds, I was touched.

I ended up going into class and of course he cleared the seat and said "Ah, Tom. You here. Okay." And I did get a high five.

At the end of class I ended up asking him if he wanted to get a bite to eat with me. We did. And we talked for a while. I got through the broken English

The guy moved here from the Middle East to pursue a college education in America. He plans to go back after he gets his degree. He's got two kids and a wife. He works full time and sends his all his left over money back home to his wife.

I asked him how he liked America as well. He said he misses his family but it's exciting to be here. He also said "Not every American is nice to me like you are, Tom."

I bought lunch, of course. Dude deserves it. He gave me a high five for buying lunch. Gotta keep up tradition.

Moral of the story? Don't do what I do and constantly only think about yourself. It took me nearly the entire semester to get my head out of my ass and realize this guy was just trying to be my friend. Better late than never I suppose.



Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Thanks - I was! 50 Shades Of Blue Apr 2018 #1
Delightful!! Thanks for posting, dog...if I wasnt so lazy I would copy and paste the rest of Leghorn21 Apr 2018 #2
Heartwarming NT Rorey Apr 2018 #3
Off to the greatest page malaise Apr 2018 #4
Along the same lines matt819 Apr 2018 #5
Standing shoulder to shoulder with you... N_E_1 for Tennis Apr 2018 #52
Ok, this may seem silly matt819 Apr 2018 #57
Couldn't figure it out until I thought to click on the posting. Canoe52 Apr 2018 #6
Yes, please click to read the entire thread on Twitter. Cattledog Apr 2018 #8
Great story. TomSlick Apr 2018 #7
Very very sweet RandomAccess Apr 2018 #9
Never... Snackshack Apr 2018 #10
rec blogslut Apr 2018 #11
Thank you ... that warmed my heart UpInArms Apr 2018 #12
For those at work, with Twitter blocked... Staph Apr 2018 #13
Appreciate it. I can read Twitter but wasnt going to read what should have been posted as whole text Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2018 #14
Great story. Mr.Bill Apr 2018 #15
And now: The rest of the story... keithbvadu2 Apr 2018 #16
I needed this sweetness today mcar Apr 2018 #17
I was raised you are always nice to anybody until they show themselves to be a holes kimbutgar Apr 2018 #18
Nice. iluvtennis Apr 2018 #19
Tom is right TxDemChem Apr 2018 #20
Dug. cachukis Apr 2018 #21
K&R, please read till the end uponit7771 Apr 2018 #22
Human kindness is so powerful, just hearing about it transforms the listener Obvious85 Apr 2018 #23
Wonderful story. Thanks for posting. Ferrets are Cool Apr 2018 #24
Thanks Jarqui Apr 2018 #25
Sorry to hear that Jarqui, I hope things start looking better for you! Canoe52 Apr 2018 #44
Wow DUgosh Apr 2018 #26
Yes, I read it all, and glad I did. mountain grammy Apr 2018 #27
A car salesman in a small Oklahoma town.... Toorich Apr 2018 #28
Love this! KT2000 Apr 2018 #40
Thanks for sharing, great lesson in avoiding assumptions !! Pluvious Apr 2018 #29
Congratulations, you just stepped onto the Boddhisattva path vlyons Apr 2018 #30
Beautifully said BuddhaGirl Apr 2018 #31
Love this onetexan Apr 2018 #32
Well now I'm crying AwakeAtLast Apr 2018 #33
Great story, really sweet. Bluepinky Apr 2018 #34
Great story! misanthrope Apr 2018 #35
This is awesome, thanks for posting sharedvalues Apr 2018 #36
Beautiful story. HurricaneWarning Apr 2018 #37
Amazing! C Moon Apr 2018 #38
thanks for posting this KT2000 Apr 2018 #39
That was pretty fantastic. BobTheSubgenius Apr 2018 #41
twitter responses are interesting. not all positive Demovictory9 Apr 2018 #42
k&r TeamPooka Apr 2018 #43
I was/am crying hard, Cha Apr 2018 #45
I guess it's impressive Awsi Dooger Apr 2018 #46
Hi Awsi Dooger syringis Apr 2018 #47
Hi Cattledogs syringis Apr 2018 #48
So touching TY stuffmatters Apr 2018 #49
Excellent! Kurt V. Apr 2018 #50
Suddenly, I don't care that it's 2:48 a.m. raven mad Apr 2018 #51
Thank you. This is the power of the positive post bronxiteforever Apr 2018 #53
thank you for sharing this--readng the whole thing brought such a smile. niyad Apr 2018 #54
Thank you so much jimmy2.0 Apr 2018 #55
Thank you for posting. mainer Apr 2018 #56
Great thread, thanks for posting. n/t FSogol Apr 2018 #58
The Golden Rule.... KY_EnviroGuy Apr 2018 #59
+1 chwaliszewski Apr 2018 #60
Thanks so much for posting this. argyl Apr 2018 #61
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