Gary Calhoun

We had traveled to Siena from Florence on the regional train. This train ride was in
sharp contrast to the high speed rail we had taken a few days earlier from Florence to Rome.
This train was the local route filled with people traveling between villages along the route. The
seats were small, close together, and with passengers standing with tight grips on wherever
they could find a hand hold. We had decided on traveling to Siena on our own and forgo the
recommended tour groups. When traveling with a tour group there is by nature insulation
from your surroundings. Our style has always been to embrace the local culture and try to
connect with the people. We have never lacked for help and assistance when taking the solo
traveler route. Today’s ride would offer an opportunity to repay the kindness we have received
from others during our solo travels.

The trip started with a shadow of tension as the digital signs inside the train displayed a
different route number and destination than the master board in the station. After inquiring
with several locals, we were assured this was the correct train and to ignore the digital signs
inside the train. We got the impression that this discrepancy was not an uncommon
occurrence.

A couple settled into the seat across from us and the tight quarters were such that our
feet and knees were almost touching. The couple appeared to be in their late fifties. The train
was quickly filling up as three young male hikers settled down on a bench across the aisle from
our seats. The three young men seemed to be in their mid-twenties. They set the large
backpacks on the floor at their feet as they devoured stuffed panini sandwiches. They were
obviously tired and hungry. Typical of crowded situations no one was making eye contact and
were keeping interactions to their travel companions. The woman sitting across from Susan
leaned over and asked if we were going to Florence. She told Susan that this trip to Italy was a
celebration of their 30th wedding anniversary and honeymoon in Florence. They were Finnish
and on their way to Pisa after visiting Siena for the day.

As the train settled into that familiar clacking rhythm over the tracks the young man
sitting closest to me leaned over to get our attention. He asked if he could use the electrical
outlet in our section to charge his phone. After some difficulty raising the tray table to expose
the outlet the young man plugged in his phone to a dead outlet. You could see the
disappointment on his face as he thanked our group and settled back down on his bench. After
seeing the look on this young man’s face, I knew he was desperately in need of a charger. I
leaned over to Susan and told her I was thinking of loaning the young man our portable
charger. She reminded me that we would need this charger at the end of our train ride in order
to use google maps. The question raised in my mind was the young man’s need greater than my
risk of losing a charger? I was not concerned about the charging being depleted. The charger
was capable of recharging at least 4 phones. There was no doubt that his need was immediate
and that made the decision easy. I reached into my sling bag and pulled out the portable
charger. I passed the portable charger to the young man and said, “you can use this to charge
your phone.” His look of surprise was followed by an initial polite refusal. I responded that it
was no problem, and this would charge his phone. He responded with “are you sure?” as he
plugged in his phone. His traveling companions both smiled. Our new Finnish friends also began
to smile.

The atmosphere of our impromptu group changed after this simple act of kindness.
The gentleman from Finland asked the hikers where they had been and where they were going.
They had hiked from their hometown of Lucca Italy to Siena.
Lucca is a medieval town with walls from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries still surrounding the city.
This city is the birthplace of the great opera composer Puccini. The hikers had been traveling from Lucca to Siena on holiday.
They were now making their way back home on the regional train lines.

The young man needing the charger had left his in a hotel room along their route. The
hiking trail they were on was an ancient trail that was used in the past by villagers traveling
between the small villages dotting this area of Tuscany. The hike was over 100 km (over 60
miles) in distance. Along this famous trail was a series of B&B’s, small hotels, and farmhouses
accepting hikers for the night. I imagine the forgotten charger would be an unexpected find for
the next hiker.

Now that the conversation was opened by this small act of kindness, we would learn
more about our fellow travelers. The Finnish couple owned a large door and window
manufacturing plant in Finland. They were on the way to Pisa and seemed to be re-creating
their honeymoon trip of 30 years ago. The young hikers had taken a holiday from work to hike
the famous trail from Lucca to Siena. They were also headed to Pisa, where they would change
trains for their final destination of Lucca. Our end of the car was now filled with laughter and
sharing of traveling stories.

The young hikers and the Finnish couple readied to disembark at the next stop in order
to change trains for Pisa. The young man tapped me on the knee, returned the charger, and
thanked me. The next stop must have been a popular transfer point. As the train pulled into the
station there was a wave of passengers disembarking. The young hikers began to put on their
backpacks to depart the train. The Finnish couple said goodbye and asked to follow the hikers
since they were headed to the same train. The young man who had borrowed the charger hung
back from his companions waiting for the crowd to thin. As the final passengers were
disembarking the young man turned to face me with a purposeful effort to make eye contact.
At that point he said to me “you were very helpful”. There are times when you hear words
spoken that you know to be genuine, and this was one of those times.

Without a simple act of kindness these connections would have never enriched our trip
from Siena to Florence. This simple act only required being attentive to your surroundings and
recognizing someone in need. Generally, when one speaks of situational awareness it is in
reference to issues of safety. Situational awareness can also be crucial for recognizing others in
need. Loaning a fellow traveler a portable charger is in the grand scheme of things a simple act
with minimal costs. The return from this act of kindness was connecting with five fellow
travelers and making a lasting memory. How could this not be a good return on your
investment? I believe that acts of kindness are remembered. It may be debatable on who
benefits the most from small acts of kindness. Is it the giver or receiver?

Gary Calhoun