r/AskReddit • u/MD786 • Dec 13 '10

Have you ever picked up a hitch-hiker?

My friend and I were pulling onto the highway yesterday when suddenly a Mexican looking kid waived us down and ran up to our window. He was carrying a suit case, the big ones like we take on international vacations and it seemed as if he had been walking for a some time. Judging from his appearance I figured he was prob 20-21 years old. He asked us if he could get a ride to "Grayhun". We both looked at each other and understood that he was saying Greyhound, and the only Greyhound bus stop in town was at this gas station a few miles down the road. It was cold and windy out and we had some spare time so we told him to jump in.

Initially thoughts run through your head and you wonder... I wonder whats in that suitcase...is he going to put a knife to my neck from behind the seat... kilos of coke from Mexico because this is South Texas?... a chopped up body?...but as we began to drive I saw the sigh of relief through the rear view mirror and realized this kid is just happy for a ride. When we got to the gas station, my friend walked in and double checked everything to make sure it was the right spot but to our surprise the final bus for Houston left for the day. The next bus at 6:00 p.m. was in a town 25 miles over. We tried explaining this to him, I should have payed more attention in the Spanish I and II they forced us to take in High School. The only words I can really say are si and comprende. My friend and I said fuck it lets drop him off, and turned to him and said " listen we are going to eat first making hand gestures showing spoons entering mouth and we will drop you off after" but homeboy was still clueless and kept nodding.

We already ordered Chinese food and began driving in that direction and when we got there, he got out of the car and went to the trunk as if the Chinese Restaurant was the bus stop. We tell him to come in and eat something first, leave the suitcase in the car. He is still clueless. When we go in, our food was already ready. We decided to eat there so he could eat as well. When the hostess came over, she looked spanish so I asked her I was like hey listen we picked this guy up from the street, he missed his bus and the next one is 25 miles over can you tell him that after we are done eating we will drop him off its ok no problems... and she was kinda taken by it and laughed, translated it to the guy, and for the next 10 mins all he kept saying was thank you. After we jumped into the car, I turned to him in the back and was like listen its 25 miles, I'm rolling a spliff, do you smoke? He still had no clue, but when we sparked it up, and passed it his way he smoked it like a champ. He had very broken English, but said he was from Ecuador and he was in America looking for a job to make money for his family back home. Like I said he was prob 20-21 years old. Shorly after, we arrived at our destination, and said farewell. Dropped him off at some store where he would have to sit on a bench outside for the next hour.. but I did my best. I hope he made it to wherever he had to go.

My man got picked up, fed sweet and sour chicken, smoked a spliff and got a ride to a location 30 mins away. I hope he will do the same for someone else one day.

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10 edited Dec 14 '10

Just about every time I see someone I stop. I kind of got out of the habit in the last couple of years, moved to a big city and all that, my girlfriend wasn't too stoked on the practice. Then some shit happened to me that changed me and I am back to offering rides habitually. If you would indulge me, it is long story and has almost nothing to do with hitch hiking other than happening on a road.

This past year I have had 3 instances of car trouble. A blow out on a freeway, a bunch of blown fuses and an out of gas situation. All of them were while driving other people's cars which, for some reason, makes it worse on an emotional level. It makes it worse on a practical level as well, what with the fact that I carry things like a jack and extra fuses in my car, and know enough not to park, facing downhill, on a steep incline with less than a gallon of fuel.

Anyway, each of these times this shit happened I was DISGUSTED with how people would not bother to help me. I spent hours on the side of the freeway waiting, watching roadside assistance vehicles blow past me, for AAA to show. The 4 gas stations I asked for a gas can at told me that they couldn't loan them out "for my safety" but I could buy a really shitty 1-gallon one with no cap for $15. It was enough, each time, to make you say shit like "this country is going to hell in a handbasket."

But you know who came to my rescue all three times? Immigrants. Mexican immigrants. None of them spoke a lick of the language. But one of those dudes had a profound affect on me.

He was the guy that stopped to help me with a blow out with his whole family of 6 in tow. I was on the side of the road for close to 4 hours. Big jeep, blown rear tire, had a spare but no jack. I had signs in the windows of the car, big signs that said NEED A JACK and offered money. No dice. Right as I am about to give up and just hitch out there a van pulls over and dude bounds out. He sizes the situation up and calls for his youngest daughter who speaks english. He conveys through her that he has a jack but it is too small for the Jeep so we will need to brace it. He produces a saw from the van and cuts a log out of a downed tree on the side of the road. We rolled it over, put his jack on top, and bam, in business. I start taking the wheel off and, if you can believe it, I broke his tire iron. It was one of those collapsible ones and I wasn't careful and I snapped the head I needed clean off. Fuck.

No worries, he runs to the van, gives it to his wife and she is gone in a flash, down the road to buy a tire iron. She is back in 15 minutes, we finish the job with a little sweat and cussing (stupid log was starting to give), and I am a very happy man. We are both filthy and sweaty. The wife produces a large water jug for us to wash our hands in. I tried to put a 20 in the man's hand but he wouldn't take it so I instead gave it to his wife as quietly as I could. I thanked them up one side and down the other. I asked the little girl where they lived, thinking maybe I could send them a gift for being so awesome. She says they live in Mexico. They are here so mommy and daddy can pick peaches for the next few weeks. After that they are going to pick cherries then go back home. She asks if I have had lunch and when I told her no she gave me a tamale from their cooler, the best fucking tamale I have ever had.

So, to clarify, a family that is undoubtedly poorer than you, me, and just about everyone else on that stretch of road, working on a seasonal basis where time is money, took an hour or two out of their day to help some strange dude on the side of the road when people in tow trucks were just passing me by. Wow...

But we aren't done yet. I thank them again and walk back to my car and open the foil on the tamale cause I am starving at this point and what do I find inside? My fucking $20 bill! I whirl around and run up to the van and the guy rolls his window down. He sees the $20 in my hand and just shaking his head no like he won't take it. All I can think to say is "Por Favor, Por Favor, Por Favor" with my hands out. Dude just smiles, shakes his head and, with what looked like great concentration, tried his hardest to speak to me in English:

"Today you.... tomorrow me."

Rolled up his window, drove away, his daughter waving to me in the rear view. I sat in my car eating the best fucking tamale of all time and I just cried. Like a little girl. It has been a rough year and nothing has broke my way. This was so out of left field I just couldn't deal.

In the 5 months since I have changed a couple of tires, given a few rides to gas stations and, once, went 50 miles out of my way to get a girl to an airport. I won't accept money. Every time I tell them the same thing when we are through:

"Today you.... tomorrow me."

tl;dr: long rambling story about how the kindness of strangers, particularly folks from south of the border, forced me to be more helpful on the road and in life in general. I am sure it won't be as meaningful to anyone else but it was seriously the highlight of my 2010.

**edit: To the OP, sorry to jack your thread, this has nothing to do with Hitch Hiking. I sort of thought I could just get this off my chest, enjoy the catharsis and watch the story languish at the bottom of the page. Glad people like hearing the tale and I hope it moves you to be more helpful in your day to day. **

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u/Frankocean Dec 14 '10

"hoy por ti, mañana por mi"

Thank u , thank u, so much for writing this, Im mexican (born and raised) and it hurts so bad how my people is viewed outside at times, by the narco war, inmigration and many problems, I think americans are afraid of us. But we mexicans in general are fucking cool people, who view americans "gringos" (wich is not a racist term btw) as neighbors and friends.

I remember one time me and my mexican friends defending americans that where being beaten up by some fucking cholos from east l.a or some stupidity like that. This guy ask Godoy, a friend, "why did you defend us? where fucking gringos."

He said, "because we are the real face of Mexico, not those fuckers."

THank u so much, PM where you live, I can send you some tamales,mexican recipes and anything you like from my country.

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

It's all a media thing. I love Mexico and up until the recent narco nonsense most people I know had a pretty favorable view of Mexico, too. I have spent a lot of time in Baja and the people there are amazing. Having come from a small farming town up here, and having worked the orchards too many summers than I want to think about, I can also attest to the quality of people that make up the migrant work force. Where Mexicans get a bad name is beyond me... I think my country and the people here need a little bit more of what makes Mexicans who they are.

Thanks for the offer of tamales but you shouldn't keep your secret recipe secret! Spill it... tell us all the secret to your tamales.

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u/Frankocean Dec 15 '10 edited Dec 15 '10

Ok Here it is!!..straight from my moms!.

Ingredients.

1 kilo of corn flour. 300 grams of pork lard. 4 chiles (big ones) well cooked and without the skin 750 gr. of either, pork,chicken or meat in strips, ropes, threads, the word in spanish is deshebrada, but I didnt found any good translation. half a kilo of tomato, and well chopped onions (algo 500 gr) jalapeño chiles strips, ur call on the amount. 1 can of peas. 4 carrots well chopped in juliana style * 4 potatoes also chopped in juliana style * 1 spoon of chicken consomme Oil, in the right amounts. Tamale papers made from corn.

Ok so you basically, blend the chiles with their cooking water, and let them cool off for a while ..... let into hot oil the onion, add the tomato, when it is cooked through and broken up add the meat, the chile from the blander, olives, raisins and sliced jalapeno peppers, season well and leave at the end add the carrots, potatoes, leaving the den to a boil, only to be finished in the tamale bake, form a tortilla dough, fill in the hash, and close the tortilla and place it on a piece of tamale, tie them on the tips and steam cook it for an hour ......

in a saucepan place the cornflour, add the lard until it turns kind of sandy, arenosa, the leftover chile and some meat juice and then knead to consistency ....

note .... the meat broth should be well seasoned so it is not insipid mass ....

*Julian style http://cocinasimple.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/cortar-juliana.jpg

And there you have it!, any doubt, my mom would be glad to help!.

Grammar nazi, help a brother out!

Also, here´s a youtube video about the art of making tamales, its in spanish butt, the process is universal ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffqDMxdoBFo

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u/dddaaabbb Dec 15 '10

I rewrote your recipe to try and figure it out, but I'm not sure if I've got it right. Will there be enough water in the hash to boil carrots and potatoes? Where do the peas come in?

Here's what I wrote:

  • 1 kg of corn flour

  • 300 g of pork lard

  • 4 chilis (big ones)

  • 750 g of shredded (cut it into strips) pork, chicken, or other meat

  • 500 g of tomato

  • 500 g well chopped onions

  • sliced jalapeño chilis (to taste)

  • 1 can of peas

  • 4 carrots well chopped in juliana style

  • 4 potatoes also chopped in juliana style

  • 1 spoon of chicken consommé

  • oil, in the right amounts

  • tamale papers (made from corn husks)

Tortilla dough in a saucepan place the cornflour add the lard until it turns kind of sandy add the leftover chili and some meat juice knead to consistency

Filling Cook the chilis well and preserve the cooking water. Remove the chili skins. Blend the chilis with their cooking water, and let them cool Heat oil in a pan and add the onion Add the tomato When it is cooked through and broken up, add the meat Add the chili from the blender Add olives, raisins, and sliced jalapeno peppers Add the carrots and potatoes and bring to a boil Season well. Remove the hash from heat

Note: the meat should be well seasoned so it is not insipid mass

Tamales Form a tortilla from dough and fill with hash Close the tortilla and place it on a piece of tamale Tie the tips of the tamale and steam cook it for an hour

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u/rhoner Dec 15 '10

YES! FrankOcean, official ambassador to reddit from the great state of Baja California!

Admins, can we get this man a badge or something?

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u/Frankocean Dec 14 '10

All right! its actually my moms, but shes asleep already, will post it tomorrow!.

And yeah us Baja people are pretty damn cool ;)

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

From Baja! Awesome, whereabouts? Also, what is a person from Baja called? Bajan? Or does it not really translate between languages?

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u/Saddam_Husseins_Ass Dec 14 '10

Please share on r/cooking too, if you don't mind. Thanks!

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

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u/Dundun Dec 14 '10

I'd fallen right for media stereotype and felt like shit about it

So, after you realized this you probably hopped on a kangaroo and rode to a party where you had shimp on the barbie.

Am I close, Bruce?

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u/BlackLeatherRain Dec 14 '10

I tried eating tamales from a can when I was younger (yes, I know, I know...) and absolutely HATED them and couldn't figure out why anyone would try to eat them.

It wasn't until about two years ago that I realized that you're not supposed to eat that outer corn husk along with the tamale, which is what I had been attempting to do previously. I'll have to try them again some day.

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u/Reductive Dec 14 '10

In the office environment, the folks who work the hardest are often shunned by their peers. It's largely because the hard workers raise the bar, demonstrating that everyone else could be working harder too. Many people are insecure with their own work, but they are also reluctant to work any harder. Also they wonder if unselfish colleagues have something to hide -- they suspect some ulterior motive is driving them.

I think people's negative reactions to immigrant workers are largely related to this phenomenon. Immigrants have it hard back home, so they are willing to work harder for less pay. This scares people, especially folks who already have small skill sets. The fact that having such hard workers boosts the economy and builds up the country doesn't really matter to these guys -- that's why they have to wrap themselves in flags so they don't feel like assholes.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

Your government controlled media makes it a priority to try to convince you that Mexicans are bad people.

Great story rhoner. Choked me up a bit, especially since I'm an (8 )right now. You have inspired me to be more helpful.

Mexican people are fantastic. Traveled in Mexico several times since I was 10 years old and have enjoyed the people immensely.

Frankocean: Thanks for being nice to us gringos, bro.

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u/Frankocean2 Dec 21 '10

Dont mention it man. Hope to do somethings for you one day..hey would you like a mexican charro sombrero?

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u/maybekathy Dec 16 '10

"I think my country and the people here need a little bit more of what makes Mexicans who they are." Thank you, I was thinking the same thing as I read many of these posts. Anti-immigration (anti-Latino) racists need a nice big dose. ~ another American who welcomes immigrants

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

Gringo here. I grew up in a rough neighborhood, lots of gang violence, I've been jumped at night a couple times by Hispanics. I've also worked with tons and tons of extremely kind, very, very funny Mexicans. I never, ever saw the gangbangers as the face of Mexico, but as a shithead minority that absolutely any race or nationality could fall into.

Viva Mexico, my friend :)

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u/Frankocean Dec 14 '10

Thanks man, thanks to all of you, in this lonely mexican night where I am far from home, you guys made me go to bed with a smile,Im certain that at the end all we have is each other..

Thank you so much reddit and everyone in here.

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u/ian_510 Dec 14 '10

there are more Mexican Redditors, I don't feel so lonely anymore. :)

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u/Frankocean Dec 14 '10

Viva Mexico, ian, faltaba mas pues!. And Viva Reddit!.

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u/nahuDDN Dec 14 '10

r/mexico is full of us, come check us out!

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u/broccoli Dec 14 '10

Where are my mexico city ENTs

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u/lawfairy Dec 14 '10

Some of the coolest, kindest, awesomest, hardest-working, loveliest-accented people I've ever met are Mexicans.

Also you guys make some of the best food in the universe. Mexican food -- REAL AUTHENTIC Mexican food, not that Taco Bell processed food-imitation crap -- is the nectar of the gods.

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u/Frankocean Dec 14 '10

Thanks man!, I dont want to brag but my mom does this awesome green enchiladas melted with cheese..heheh, a little torture for ya there.

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u/sara_b Dec 14 '10

I understand that "hoy por ti, mañana por mi" directly translates into "today for you, tomorrrow for me," but when people say it compares to the american phrase "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." I feel like the american phrase has a more negative connotation -example- 'i'm only doing you a favor in hopes to get something in return.' Where as the spanish version sounds more like a postive connotation, like 'I know you would do the same for me' Am I correct on this? because that's what I was getting... :/

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

I think the more appropriate American phrase would be "pass it on" or "give and you shall receive" (if I'm not mistaken this is a Christian phrase). In Hindu it would be Karma.

The back scratch would have implied that he gave him the 20.

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u/MD786 Dec 14 '10

You have made a wonderful contribution to the thread. Thank you for sharing your story sir.

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u/PetitPois Dec 14 '10

Both of these stories are amazing. After reading them I find myself experiencing this wonderful warming sensation. Straight up happiness. Thanks to you both for sharing these awesome tales. I am going to try and be more like you, OP, after hearing these 2. Would certainly like to buy both of you guys a beer someday.

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u/Prometheus-Bound Dec 14 '10

I think his story has everything to do with hitchhiking. I Second the beer sentiment. Today, I buy. Tomorrow, you buy.

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u/ThatsItGuysShowsOver Dec 14 '10

I started reading from rhoner's post and for the first time in months I feel very emotional. I am gonna buy a homeless person some food today.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

I could really go for a tamale right now.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

I just wanted to say that this story inspired me to help a complete stranger today. Coming out of the gym I hear the squeal of tires on ice and pavement (it snowed here and then froze). A guy was stuck in a downward angle in his parking spot, unable to back out because he kept slipping on ice. Several people walked right past him but I remembered this very story from Reddit and said why not, I'll be a good person today. I spent 5 minutes helping him clear the ice and snow from under his tires and gave him a push off and he finally got out. The genuine "thank you" he gave me (repeatedly) made my day and I'm sure I made his. Thank you Reddit.

TL;DR: Helped a stranger because of Reddit, felt good about it.

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u/jupiter3888 Jan 07 '11

you sir are a true gentlemen. I dip my hat to you.

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u/Mistergino Dec 14 '10

both stories made me goosebump ^

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u/billdoughzer Dec 14 '10

can i get a "fuck yea"?

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u/JustYourLuck Dec 14 '10

Two great stories for the click of one.

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u/asthehourglassturns Dec 14 '10

I lol'ed, but not because I thought it was funny. I was genuinely happy to read that.

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u/identifiedlogo Dec 15 '10

This is absolutely true. I was driving from Colorado to Texas in August/2010 without no rest trying to return before school starts. But I took a quick nap in my car at a Macdonald in NewMexico, woke up after an hour and strated driving. after driving 1/2 a mile, a flat tire and I was stranded. I was worried because its my first time having a flat tire on the road. I tried to change the tire, but I accidentally broke the nut adapter you hook on this special feature Nissan (Maxima) tires. Mind you this was at 5-6am. So i put my blinkers on stood outside in the cold hoping somebody would stop by. I stood there for about 20 min, and people just passed me, I was looking for somebody to give me a ride to a tire shop which was about a mile away. Anyways long story short, a Mexican family (a husband wife and son)stopped and gave me a ride. They showed me where the tire shop was and then took me to a subway to get something to eat, and drove me back to the tire shop. Yeap, I still can remember all those people who were more than capable to help, but this Mexican family with their beat-up oldsmobile stopped to help. They didn't even speak English very well, I said as much "gracias" as I could before they left. Oh ya, I offered to pay, but didn't take.

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u/itsnotjackiechan Dec 14 '10

relevant

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u/bakedpatata Dec 14 '10

Speed round: Name 10 things that aren't Jackie Chan.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

as long as you stay out of r/politics, r/wtf and the other bastions of depravity you should come out better than you went in...

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

that seems not only fair but very accurate...

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u/trippin-balls Dec 14 '10

It's all good in r/trees :)

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u/shinyperson Dec 14 '10

Comments in r/gonewild are worse than all those together.

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u/nixcamic Dec 14 '10

r/atheism and r/gonewild also come to mind.

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u/dakboy Dec 14 '10

r/askreddit can get dicey too, some of the things here just leave me wondering about humanity.

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u/Skapo Dec 14 '10

i have decided no more making fun of gingers and i will help people on the side of the road.

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u/internet_warrior Dec 14 '10

This story is fake.

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u/santaclausonvacation Dec 14 '10

Well then, a big fucking upvote for you kind sir!

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u/sozeltd Dec 14 '10

I never have a reason to tell this story but I think it fits here. I was traveling in Mexico, one of my first times outside the U.S., and at the time I spoke essentially no Spanish. I scratched my cornea, which for the lucky among you who don't know is indescribably painful. After literally 72 hours with no sleep due to the pain, I finally deliriously admit to myself I'm going to have to see a doctor, and thus cut my super low budget trip short. I walk into a sunglasses shop, best thing I could think of in my state, and with the help of a phrasebook, I clumsily convey that something is wrong with my eye. The sunglasses guy puts me on the phone with a friend who's an eye doctor and who speaks some English. The doctor gives me detailed directions on how to get to his office on the subway from where I am, and tells me he can see me. When I get there, I realize he's not normally open on Sunday, and in fact he has interrupted family Sunday dinner to see me in his office which adjoins his house. From the table next door where everyone else is still eating his very young daughter peeks her head in a few times, and he tells me she's learning a little English and wants to eavesdrop, but she ends up being too shy to converse. He gets me completely patched up (literally; turns out an eyepatch is step one in stopping the pain), and gives me a prescription for some drops. I ask him "What do I owe you", sort of already bracing for what I assume will be the "off-hours" price and wondering if I'll have bus fare back to the States. He says "Some day, someone in your country will be in a jam, maybe they won't speak the language too well, and they'll need some help. That's what you owe me." It's been years and I still can't think of that story without tearing up a little. It immediately pops into my mind whenever I'm faced with the question of whether to make a little extra time for somebody in a jam.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

god i seriously cant continue reading shit like this. I was nice for my whole life and when i turned 20 i got this idea into my head that everyone was going to try and get one over on me, i barely even trusted my family or friends.

Now im starting to think there is good in the world again. STOP IT FUCKERS I LIKE MY HATRED.

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u/klarnax Dec 14 '10 edited Dec 14 '10

One time last summer I happened upon a very very old immobile Jewish dude in a broken electric wheelchair who didn't speak any english and was all by himself near the side of the road. I pushed him about 2 miles back to his apartment, dodging traffic the whole way, following his pointed directions. Him and his machine weighed hundreds of pounds and the parking brake was engaged the whole time.

Fortunately I am a giant.

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u/CRoswell Dec 14 '10

Many people are pieces of shit. Even those people will graciously accept help when they're down and out, stranded, or just having a junky day.

Be the better man / robot / zombie.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

You have been brainwashed kind sir. I'm sorry if I'm the first person to be telling you, but indeed you have been.

I used hallucinogens to deprogram the brainwashing that happened to me.

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u/sandraJH Dec 14 '10

Awww, I'm sending you a hug.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

Even if someone is trying to get one over on you, what's the harm in letting someone use you once in awhile?

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '10

Haha, I fully understand where you're coming from! You know, I don't trust family or friends either...and when it gets me down I go to my volunteer job and am always cheered up by the strangers that come in. And also, I feel a bit smug for doing something good for someone I'll probably never meet :-)

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u/BlackLeatherRain Dec 14 '10

I have to share - I am an especially jaded person who truly believes most humans are morons. I may very well be part of that group of morons, I'll add. Still, when I read stories like this (and other stories in this thread), my heart warms and I find myself loving my fellow man, which is a rarity for me. In all seriousness, thank you for helping restore my often shaky love of humanity.

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u/The_Smooth_Mexican Dec 14 '10

This man.. this man is a Mexican hero.

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u/VapidStatementsAhead Dec 14 '10

If you tear up whenever you think about it, you may want to make sure that corneal scratch hasn't re-opened.

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u/Not_Just_Lurking Dec 14 '10

I scratched my cornea, which for the lucky among you who don't know is indescribably painful.

It's been years and I still can't think of that story without tearing up a little.

I see what you did there.

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u/sozeltd Dec 15 '10

I wish I could take credit on that one. Good eye though.

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u/iguano Dec 14 '10

That's fantastic. Reading stories like this are encouraging me to act on the urges to help people that I don't always fall through on.

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u/uollse Dec 14 '10

What if someone says something as touching as that, and gets in return a look of nonchalance?

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u/andario Dec 14 '10

Another great story, sozeltd. It makes the Worls smaller, and nicer. Cheers.

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u/Rugil Dec 20 '10

next door where everyone else is still eating his very young daughter

I'm so, so, sorry.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

This sort of reminded me of something that happened to me. A few years ago, I helped a friend move out of his 2nd floor apartment.. with a VERY narrow 90 degree turn out the door and down the stairs. Extremely hard to move anything in or out. It was a good 105 degrees that day in Dallas.. his electricity was shut off, so we had no A/C. His cups were already packed so we had no water. We pushed on.. kept moving boxes/furniture. We had to, he needed to be out that day. It was one of the most miserable days I can ever remember. Anyway, about 3/4 done and around the corner comes a Mexican man, who had to be in his 60s or so, pushing a little ice cream cart around the complex and sees us resting.. exhausted beyond words. The man walked up to us, didn't speak a word of English, and handed us both an ice cold bottle of water from his cart, smiled, and walked off.

I will NEVER forget that.

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u/oenoneablaze Dec 14 '10

that's an awesome story.

but for the future, you might be interested to learn that two hands cupped together make for a fairly effective temporary drinking receptacle, especially when the glasses are already packed.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

Yeah, my ancestors used to do that.

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u/dlm04e Dec 21 '10

Or just stick your head under the faucet or shower head.

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

Reading that I was hoping he came around the corner with a hand truck and a moving crew but I bet the water was even beter

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u/iguano Dec 14 '10

Awesome story - thanks for sharing!

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u/alfis26 Dec 14 '10 edited Dec 14 '10

Hoy por tí, mañana por mí.

As a mexican I can say that we are generally nice people, and most times will go out of our way to help a stranger in need. Specially the less fortunate.
When I was in high school, I did some social work in a really poor community. Poor as in houses made out of cardboard.
It was moving and just mindblowing that someone in that situation would invite you in as a guest and be so excited about cooking something for you. Even when they were well aware that you might end up eating the entire family's food for the rest of the day.

I think the willingness to give without expecting anything in return is all part of the mexican mindset of "there's always someone less fortunate than me." That's good karma right there.

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

I am so glad he struggled through a translation for me... I can just see myself standing there wondering if the guy just called me a name or something :)

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

You know, I used to think things like that whilst traveling around in other countries. But I've gotten extremely good at reading body language, it truly does convey half of the persons emotions/feelings/ideas etc.

When you develop this skill, you are generally able to tell when people in other languages are talking about you.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

It's not just Mexican... I get the exact same treatment when I'm wandering on foot through some random African country (something I do fairly regularly... it's how I go on vacation). I'm the one white guy in the area... I'm always given a ride. People are kind, caring... look out for me.. share their meals with me. Of course I do all I can in return, but they are never expecting anything.. a pure willingness to share and give whatever they have today because "today you... tomorrow me".

It's ingrained in the human psyche... given a chance, we all would do the same. It's only the culture we've grown up in that has taught us to behave differently.... to gawk, but provide zero help to those in need... to look on those begging in the streets with disgust... to step over and around those in need and ignore them.

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u/AdlerIrene Dec 16 '10

I agree. People are so generous; it warms my heart. I try to do whatever I can to help other people, but one of the things that pisses me off is when people volunteer for something they don't care about so they can say "look how many service hours I have!" I have never kept track of my hours; I have no clue how many I have accumulated. I serve on the youth advisory board of a charity, though, and I'm a Girl Scout (in a troop that actually does something). Genuine caring is one of the most important things in the world.

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u/Chinamerican Dec 20 '10

I've heard it's the same thing in Mongolia, where the people who practise the nomadic lifestyle are legendary for their hospitality. Gotta stick together if you're going to survive the elements.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

It was moving and just mindblowing that someone in that situation would invite you in as a guest and be so excited about cooking something for you. Even when they were well aware that you might end up eating the entire family's food for the rest of the day.

And they cook awesome.

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u/superdug Dec 14 '10

As an American I can say the same thing. Americans are generally nice people. Sadly, most of the assholes are the ones you get to see on television most of the time. We aren't a country that hates healthcare and social justice, but we have some very very loud people who are able to stir up a crowd quite well.

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u/Wesa Dec 14 '10

Reminds me of a time I stopped for someone who needed help. I was pulling off the freeway to get gas and a woman holding a baby standing outside a minivan on the offramp reached out with one arm and a look of absolute need as I drove by. I stopped, backed up, and asked if she needed help. Her van had broken down. She had a baby and 5 older girls in the car, on their way to a birthday party. She had been on the side of the road for 2 hours and no one would stop. Because of the age of the girls (I'd say 6ish) and the baby, she couldn't walk to the gas station 1/2 a mile away for help without chancing one of the kids running off and getting hurt. I handed her my cell phone, held her baby, and talked to the older girls while she made a few phone calls, then stayed with her while waiting for her help to arrive. I was so mad when I heard that no one would stop to help her. Her husband finally arrived, looking worried, and I went on my way.

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u/Allakhellboy Dec 14 '10 edited Dec 14 '10

I know this will be at the bottom, that's just how life goes. I have somewhat similar story but different ending.

Me and my dad always pick up hitchhikers, always have and always will. We decided we where going to drive down to El Paso (from Salt Lake City) to see Tom Waits live, so obviously in the spirit of things... we where going to grab everybody we could.

On the way we saw 2x young punk kids outside of Phoenix, so we grab them, turns out they're on their way to stand outside the concert hall that Tom Waits was playing at. This made us feel awesome.

The 2nd set of people where 2x people who lived in the boondocks of nowhere. I believe they where 90+ and all they where doing was getting groceries, one of them was in world war 2, and they seemed happy as shit just baking in the sun waiting for a ride. This made us feel awesome.

The 3rd was a Hispanic dude in a broken down vehicle with 2 other Mexican dudes. He made the motions and implied it just ran out of gas. We're in the boondocks still, nothing around for fucking miles. We take him all the way to the gas station and buy him a thing and a gallon of gas and as soon as my dad hands it over he goes through his broken English and says "Thanks yous" and what not, then the mother fucker just starts walking back towards his car like a champ. I'd say how far it was but I'm not good with distance, and there's no way I would walk the distance in the hot sun. So we grab him and shuffle his ass back to the car and give him a ride back to his car. (I think it was about a 15 minute drive on freeway.) When we finally drop him off... and I'll never not hear this in my head when I think about it... he said in the best English that he knew "I... I... thank you... I... I love you."

Best road trip of my life.

Edit: LOL, I'm at work and I started crying when I had to retype this.

P.S. My Dad is awesome, I never learned how to work with my hands or anything, but he taught me how to be an awesome person.

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

Your dad sounds like he raised an hell a son.

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u/Allakhellboy Dec 14 '10

One of the things he did teach me was reddit! And I love stories like these on reddit.

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u/shatana Dec 14 '10

Dammit, I teared up.

(none of that onions crap.)

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u/just_some_redditor Dec 14 '10

Upvote for honesty. I'm still going to blame the onions though. :')

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u/shinyperson Dec 14 '10

I-I bet they were lying about picking peaches, it was obviously onion season.

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u/dornstar18 Dec 14 '10

I think there were onions in the tamales

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u/lvnshm Dec 14 '10

Oh man, I got something in my eye.

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u/NoPickles Dec 14 '10

This is like the first time. All these stories of onion that i didn't believe but now.

I have seen it /tear

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u/binaryice Dec 14 '10

Thank you, and to the other who replied without bringing up onions. It makes me very sad, in a genuine, "I'm willing to admit it," way, that so many men on Reddit think it's cute to hide behind that joke. I know it's not as pathetic as hiding behind the facade of "I never feel sadness," but I still think it's a profound issue with out society that we are supposed to pretend that we don't feel sadness, or tears of joy.

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u/shatana Dec 18 '10

Bit of a late reply, but...

I completely agree that gender policing of both men and women is a huge problem in our society. Have you watched Tony Porter's TED talk? He mentions this issue in an anecdote: his brother had just died, the family was attending a funeral, and his father burst into tears. Porter follows-up with,

The thing that sticks with me the most is that he was apologizing to me for crying in front of me. And at the same time, he was also giving me props, lifting me up, for not crying.

I think it's a terrible shame that many men grow up (in US culture, at least) with this paradigm that the concept of a "true man" includes not feeling (or, at least, not publicly showing) certain emotions or reactions. And I think it's an equally horrible shame that this is often contrasted with what is considered "femininity" (e.g. it's generally considered socially acceptable for women to cry) and that the reason some things are "bad" for men to feel or do is because it's associated with women.

Gender politics are so convoluted.

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u/randomb0y Dec 14 '10

Me too, and I'm usually a pretty cynical asshole.

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u/sza57 Dec 14 '10

Same here.

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u/thinkbox Dec 14 '10

Dang, me too. I'm going to have to show my non reddit friends this story. Great stuff sniff

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

Manly tears.
Like a boss.

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u/The_Cake_Is_A_Lie Dec 14 '10

Crying in an internet cafe - people here keep giving me sideways glances to make sure they don´t miss it if I have a full on breakdown.

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u/Im_Irrelephant Dec 14 '10

The_Cake_Is_A_Lie... I dont know if I should say happy birthday, or if the cake is a lie.

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u/baloneyjoe Dec 14 '10

damn testicle caught in mousetrap

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

Six years ago, my wife and I were biking through Oregon and Idaho. We'd just arrived outside of Boise and I had just gotten my seventh flat tire of the day (we later discovered that the tape on the rim had worn out and a spoke was puncturing the tire). We hadn't made it half a mile since the gas station where I'd just finished patching my sixth flat tire. My wife was thoroughly fed up and wanted to get to the hotel room my mom had rented for us in Boise as a present. She decides to try hitch hiking and starts walking her bike towards me. Given that we've got two heavily loaded bikes, and that we're both obviously filthy from biking through Eastern Oregon, our hitchhiking prospects were slim. A van pulled up and a family of latinos loaded our bikes in the back and drove us to our hotel. They refused money. It was awesome.

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

And I can attest to how filthy one gets biking through Eastern Oregon... those people were saints!

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u/lechatmort Dec 15 '10

While we were riding on the freeway in the Sierras near Donner Peak one of us crashed on a drainage grate (thought it was a good idea to down pain killers haha). An elderly couple stopped within five minutes and offered him a ride to our destination in Tahoe City. We ended up declining and making it on our own but it was still great to be offered help like that.

Also worth thinking about: the bike shop guy in Nevada City said we were 100% certain to die if we chose to ride on the freeway, while actually most people were very considerate. The few idiots buzzing and honking you do sortof ruin the day however.

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u/gradyh Dec 14 '10

Thank you for writing this.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

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u/Yawnn Dec 14 '10

What's wrong with dogs anyhow? They're Man's best friend, man.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

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u/mextremist Dec 14 '10

the saying in Mexico is "Hoy por ti, mañana por mi".

Translates, literally as "Today for you, tomorrow for me"

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u/jaydj Dec 14 '10

Ah, like in the musical, "Rent".

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u/zem Dec 14 '10

thanks - i figured it was some sort of mexican saying being literally translated.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

TODAY YOU, TOMORROW ME!!!

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

It sounds way better than "Pay it forward"

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u/Meatgortex Dec 14 '10

And far less ominous than "Tonight... you!"

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u/DriftingJesus Dec 14 '10

Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. [Matthew 7:12]

I'm by NO means a religious freak but I always hear that tossed around and thought it was appropriate :)

we now have proof that there is at least 1 good thing in the bible

Don't flame I'm not trying to be a douche

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u/daftbrain Dec 14 '10

It's called the Golden Rule and practically every single major religion or code of morality contains this maxim in some form. I'm not a Christian but I also really like the Parable of the Good Samaritan. There are plenty of good things in the Bible, particularly in the Gospels, but reading them often reminds me of this quote by Gandhi:

I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

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u/shinyperson Dec 14 '10

The two central tenets of Christianity are the Golden Rule, and "Love God," and everything else flows from there.

If we loosen what counts for God, those same two rules still form a really good foundation for morality*, if you ask me. Completely secular and intimately religious, at once.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

It's like copyleft for helpfulness - anyone who hears it will henceforth put it into practice and the good deeds will spread.

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u/bfalava Dec 14 '10 edited Jun 01 '25

pause flag longing unwritten lavish memory exultant theory innate roll

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u/stygyan Dec 14 '10

It seems to me like a mangled translation of "Hoy por tí, mañana por mí". Thing is, I can't think of a short, catchy translation.

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u/scottcmu Dec 14 '10

Sounds like Jon Stewart's "You go, then I go"

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u/heyitsjihye Dec 14 '10

visions of a transvestite in a Santa dress dancing in my head..

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u/SunshineIsBeautiful Dec 15 '10

Arrrrggghhh! From the time I read it I can't get that song outta my head!

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u/snaxxx Dec 14 '10

Stewarts "You go, then I'll go" was really inspiring also.

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u/Trenks Jun 02 '11

each one, teach one.

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u/KindaOffTopic Dec 14 '10

Yes we can?

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u/Skapo Dec 14 '10

:')

I've had similar experience, I'm from an Indian decent and on my last trip to India we got in a huge car crash and are on the side of the road. I swear at least 100 people must have stopped at one point or another to check on us and help us out till a family member was able to come and pick us up (no AAA lol). But in America nobody really stops to help, but they'll all just stare.

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u/this_isnt_happening Dec 14 '10

The staring is what gets to me. You're on the side of the road, you obviously need help, and people just stare at you. Aren't they ashamed?

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

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u/Protuhj Dec 14 '10

In the US, someone might sue you if you try to help them in an accident. Sad but true.

(Think of the guy who tried to save the woman at the beach)

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u/OriginalStomper Dec 14 '10

Most US jurisdictions do have "Good Samaritan" laws that protect amateur rescuers from liability, so long as they acted with good intentions.

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u/diamondjim Dec 15 '10

I didn't know about this. I hope she got sued back into oblivion for her actions. Nothing less than total bankruptcy would be appropriate for her ingratitude and lunacy.

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u/Gyakutenno Dec 14 '10

Come to Minnesota. There's ALWAYS someone that stops by to help if you're stuck. Just this weekend in the big snowstorm we got stuck at the pharmacy in a snow pile and a random stranger ran up to me and helped me push my car out of the snow.

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u/Shoegaze99 Dec 14 '10

But in America nobody really stops to help, but they'll all just stare.

An untrue generalization that would be called out for what it is were it not in reference to Americans.

Americans do stop, often frequently, it just depends on where you live and the regional culture there. (People who think or assume that America is the same across the board painfully underestimate how disjointed and diverse it can be from region to region.)

For instance, if you're stopped on, say, the New Jersey Turnpike, good luck finding someone to stop. People will zip by at 80 mph with nary a second glance. On the other hand, if you're on the side of the road in, say, rural South Carolina, people will be falling all over themselves to stop.

I've sat on the side of the road for an hour with no one to help and I've stopped and had six or seven people stop within five minutes. It all depends on where you are.

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u/shmian92 Dec 14 '10

Your tale gave me chills. Thank you :')

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u/badmathafacka Dec 14 '10

Thanks for the story. There is a common saying in Spanish that goes "Hoy por mi, Mañana por ti", which roughly translated is what he told you. It's common to hear that phrase in Mexico and Central America

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u/Trisa Dec 14 '10

In Spain we often say too "hoy por ti, mañana por mí", so I think it's something from our culture (South American, Spaniards...).

Un abrazo a todos los compañeros mexicanos al otro lado del charcho :)

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u/BearsBeetsBattlestar Dec 14 '10

This might be my favourite post that I've ever read on this site. I teared up when I got to the "Today you... tomorrow me."

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u/PetitPois Dec 14 '10

I think it's mine too. Have an upvote :)

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u/ikoss Dec 14 '10

Definitely a very strong candidate for post of the year!

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u/internet_warrior Dec 14 '10

Why do people insist on informing the rest of the world that they started crying when they saw post X? I guess it's to feel a kind of forced closeness to the speaker and the community at large. Whenever i see posts like this I picture someone desperately thrusting themselves forward, trying to manufacture a bonding dynamic that is only really genuine when it occurs organically.

I think for most people, the line "Today you...tomorrow me", if seen on say, a daytime soap opera, would come off as more than a little trite. These types of lines are only referred to as containing gravitas in social situations, where there are other people available to share in a manufactured closeness that a shared appreciation of an important moment would provide. I guess at the end of the day that's why these types of posts really bug me. They come of as disingenuous or (eughh I hate this word) fake because it is obvious that the commenter is intentionally ignoring the true emotional value of a line. What's worse, he/she is encouraging others through a bonding aesthetic to join him/her in this intentional denial of reality. My distaste for these types of comments springs from the same place as my distaste for young-earth creationists, or anyone who refuses to be emotionally honest in an argument.

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u/ruinercollector Dec 14 '10

Right. People having an emotional reaction and then sharing that emotional reaction is fake and weak. Since they don't react the way that you do, they must be pretending in order to feel a "fake closeness" with other people.

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u/andario Dec 14 '10

A soap opera is a soap opera. You do not come here to find those, but real stories, so I find GREAT to believe that "some" people are moved enough by a great human story to shed a genuine tear. Whether it´s "fake" or not, it´s just an election you make, just like giving a few coins to some guy in the street who says "I´m hungry": the possibility of that being true, it´s worth the "risk" to me, more than the fact that he may be spending those coins on crack and cheap hookers. Ultimately you choose, Mr. Warrior.

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u/BearsBeetsBattlestar Dec 14 '10

Whenever i see posts like this I picture someone desperately thrusting themselves forward, trying to manufacture a bonding dynamic

The last thing I’m looking for when I come to this site is bonding (sorry people). I’m not an emotionally demonstrative person, and random tears are my least favourite trait in another person. So I can understand where you’re coming from, to an extent. Sometimes when I see posts where someone says they cried, I roll my eyes. Most times, though, I think that the person connected to something in a way that I didn’t. Everyone’s got different thresholds, and as you go on you realize yours isn’t the only “right” one. I’m sure there are things that touch you that I think are stupid. I'm not going to say you're wrong, though, because there’s no right way to feel.

that is only really genuine when it occurs organically.

Words like “genuine” and “organically” are so loaded they essentially meaningless. You may as well throw in “natural” and “healthy”. If someone goes on a roller coaster and experiences crap-your-pants terror, is the emotion invalid because it happened in a manufactured environment? Is the laughter in comedy club not “genuine” because it didn’t happen “organically” on the street. Taking what you’re saying to its logical conclusion, you’re arguing against the emotional impact of all art. You’re saying that if an event didn’t happen somewhere you thought was “real,” then it shouldn’t have an impact.

I don’t think that’s what you mean, though. What you’re actually saying is that because something didn’t move you, nobody else should be moved by it.

I think for most people, the line "Today you...tomorrow me", if seen on say, a daytime soap opera, would come off as more than a little trite.

Your analogy is flawed. It’s like saying that because I laughed at a decapitation in a schlocky horror movie, I’d do the same if my paramedic friend told me he saw one on the job. As with most things, context is everything. There is no “true emotional value of a line”. By saying that a line is empty because it wouldn’t work on a soap opera, you’re saying that no sentence can ever carry emotional weight because I can imagine a context where it wouldn’t.

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u/darkcity2 Dec 14 '10

I have to agree with you. Whenever I read about redditors crying or bursting into laughter in response to a thread, I think to myself, really? am i emotionally dead or is everyone else over-emotional?

Glad to know I'm not the only one.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

I agree and I did the same. We don't get to see many stories like this here, so it was an excellent read. I couldn't imagine such goodwill and kindness.

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u/Beneneb Dec 14 '10

Thanks for sharing that, that was actually a very heart warming story.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

Thanks. Honestly, that family deserves all the credit. I think about how what they did led to me helping a bunch of people, and how telling this story here might get others to help other people and it is just, I don't know... good?

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u/PetitPois Dec 14 '10

I think you've just inspired a whole bunch of people with your story, dude, including me. I believe in Karma and I hope things work out better for you in the future after hearing you've had a tough year.

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u/darien_gap Dec 14 '10 edited Dec 14 '10

Ten years ago, I backpacked in Central America for three months and everywhere I went, locals would offer me a ride if they saw me walking along the side of the road. It was very normal for them, as so many people don't have cars. It made me nervous at the beginning because I'd be an easy target for robbery and sometimes the ride was a pickup truck with a few guys in back with machetes. But once I realized that they needed the machetes just to do their jobs, it became no big deal. Everyone was super nice.

That is, until I got to about 30 miles south of Cancun, where more of the cars were U.S.ians tooling around in rented jeeps, etc. On that particular day, when I was trying to get to the airport to meet somebody flying in to meet me, nobody would stop, despite my putting my thumb out. I even walked up to a gringo at a restaurant and asked him point blank if he would mind just dropping me a few miles up the road. He just shook his head and rushed away, looked a little scared even. I realize that these people were bringing their context and reality into a new and unfamiliar context/reality (and I looked pretty scruffy by then), but it really made me realize what a nation of pussies we've become -- afraid to help a person with who's fairly obviously in a pinch -- because of the .5% chance I've got an ulterior motive.

TL;DR: Pick up people who obviously need help. Anybody encumbered by a huge backpack is the one taking the risk.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

When I moved to Chile a few years back all my friends were seriously worried and really thought I'd come back in a body bag, if I was going to come back at all.

Fast forward a couple of years. I'm leaving Chile, heading for Miami, Florida. My Chilean friends were really worried: "The Norteamericanos are so violent, 300 million nut jobs with guns, you're gonna get killed."

Symmetry, ain't it sweet?

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u/darien_gap Dec 14 '10

It amazes me the degree to which people fear the harmless, but are cavalier about things that will probably end up killing them. People categorically suck shit at risk assessment.

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u/tora22 Dec 14 '10

People categorically suck shit at risk assessment.

So blasted true. Just look at what we do in our airports for fear of the bogeyman.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

All of the other responses to your post are incorrect. The correct answer is grokking statistics and poker.

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '10

Panamanian?

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10 edited Dec 14 '10

This is why you don't give guns to people.

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u/fatnino Dec 14 '10

those chileans are crazy

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u/rfj Dec 14 '10

Symmetry is really funny that way. But I think one of the best things to happen to me was becoming able to see symmetry - when another person is thinking the same thing as I am, and to use that to understand them better.

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u/xtracto Dec 14 '10

As a Mexican (imagine that!) that's one of the reasons why I chose to come over to Europe instead of the USA... basically I was very afraid of living in a country where each and every person can have an AK-47 Cuerno de Chivo in his car...

Ya know, what if they think I want to rob them while walking of in the street. Drama and stigmas certainly go both ways, sadly.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

That's hilarious, (but actually not funny) that everyone is scared of everyone else. I'm sure you enjoyed your world travel, gratz.

People called me crazy when I went to India. People said I was truly insane when I went back a second time. They'll probably say the same thing when I go back a third time.

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u/Proeliata Dec 14 '10

People called you crazy for going to India? Where the heck do you live?

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u/alienangel2 Dec 14 '10 edited Dec 14 '10

I think it's some odd sort of cultural thing; maybe people here just aren't brought up aware that it's a desirable option to help someone at very minor inconvenience to yourself, so some people choose to do so on their own, while it never occurs to others. I grew up in the subcontinent, and moved to north america. A lot of people I know in the west are really nice people, good friends who'll study with you and hang out with and trade gifts at Xmas and birthdays and stuff ... but there's this horrible sense of give-and-take to many interactions with them that just doesn't make sense from my slightly foreign point of view.

It's mostly little things, like if I'm snacking on something at work and one of my co-workers wanders over, I'm going to offer him whatever I'm eating (chips, nuts, candy etc), it doesn't actually matter whether I'm hungry and the nuts were expensive and almost finished or not, I have to make the offer since I'd feel appallingly rude if I kept eating without them. The same with classmates in university, or housemates etc. Yet the same people will not share a damn thing if I wander into their cubicle. The same with rides to lunch and stuff, they're for the most part really averse to giving people rides to the place they're going anyway unless the person in question also drives and will give them rides in turn. After being puzzled for a while I've come to the conclusion that they regard it as their being taken advantage of if there isn't an obvious trade to be made. I haven't figured out a polite way to work out if they're short on money enough for the fuel cost to be relevant or something. Very strange.

Not to say that everyone is like that, but there are a hell of a lot more people with this attitude than people back home, mostly because where I grew up not doing this sort of thing was just considered basic good manners - there's plenty of corruption and deception and crime all around you too, but if you're in a situation where you're at least holding up the pretense of being civil, you have to be free with help and food - and if you're not just doing it to be polite you actually enjoy being helpful. Whereas here it's pretty much up to you to decide for yourself how helpful you want to be, meaning the ones that choose to be helpful without expectation of reciprocation are considered abnormally good people.

TL;DR USians as you put it can be incredibly generous people, but it seems to be a very self-developed thing that a lot of people don't develop, whereas other parts of the world more or less have it as a social norm to help others with little things when you can (even in a society where honesty isn't particularly abundant, courtesy and helpfulness are).

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u/JorusC Dec 14 '10

I think that in situations such as roadsides, movies and urban legends have taught Americans to have an inordinate amount of fear. I hate the American fear complex, and while I don't stop every time I see a stopped car, I pick up my fair share. When my wife is with me, I practice due dilligence and do a quick check for signs of a weapon, and I make sure I could probably take the guy if it came to that. But seriously, people, grow a pair and help out your fellow man.

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

That sounds about right... we are just too afraid most of the time. Sad, sad state...

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u/d-piddy Dec 14 '10

I would upvote this twice I had the same experience

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u/Game_Ender Dec 14 '10

It's not all nice in south america you know. In many areas, especially near tourist cities you are very likely to get robbed, have your backpack stolen or slashed open. I had a friend who had it happen several times on one trip.

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u/darien_gap Dec 14 '10

I had my share of dicey encounters. It's more of a rural/urban thing. People were very friendly out in the country, whereas I'd watch my back in the city. Just like in the U.S.

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u/econleech Dec 14 '10

U.S.ians... is that like Americans?

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u/slevenznero Dec 14 '10

You know that everyone from the AmericaS are american. People from the United States need to stop claiming the continent has their own.

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u/darien_gap Dec 14 '10 edited Dec 14 '10

Yes.

Force of habit, popped back up while recalling this story. In Latin America, I picked up the habit of referring to myself as Estadounidense ("United Statesian") as a small token of respect to the other kinds of Americans. In more formal contexts, at least. Then they'd call me "Americano" almost to let me know, yeah, it's ok to call yourself that. Then I'd leapfrog that and just call myself "gringo," until I realized that made people a little uncomfortable, a little too self-deprecating, as they would consider it pejorative.

Gringo really nails it here though. I should've used that throughout the story.

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u/daftbrain Dec 14 '10

S/he's referring to people from the United States.

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u/LouisCyphier Dec 14 '10

"Today you.... tomorrow me."

This needs to be spread like a virus.

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u/iamyo Dec 14 '10

Hm. It's such a stupid thought I have all the time when I go to Mexico (I go once or twice a year) but I can't help having it, which is basically: Mexicans on the whole are about 50 times nicer than Americans.

I'll be in Mexico, everyone kind, mellow, helping me out, whatever, smiling, not freaking out about a bus breaking down and then I'll get on the plane and every American looks like they have been constipated for about 12 days, complaining about every fucking thing then running off to their yoga class because their head is about to explode from the stress. You'll see Mexicans selling peanuts who have to walk 5 miles from their job and they don't complain but you'll get on the plane and some guy will be going on and on about how his IT people won't let him get an Android.

There's something wrong with people here. On the whole, we are vastly more miserable than people who are a lot poorer than us. And I really wonder if it isn't because we are so self-centered? We don't even notice other people most of the time, except when they annoy us. And I do not exempt myself.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

this is one of the best things ive ever read. I was at lake mead once, and my friends car battery dies, she left the lights on, so she gets it started ( a miracle start) and then after about 30 seconds turns it off again. i almost slapped her.

anyways, this mexican family shows up to fish at like 9 at night. we have no jumpers etc. he fiddles around for a while, goes to the back of his truck and pulls out a huge fucking extension cord. the kind that arent cheap. and just cuts it like its nothing. then he rigs up the batteries and off we go.

i was like omfg, do you know that guy just sacced like 50 bucks to get your car started? the bitch didnt even care. :C

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

...big signs that said NEED A JACK and offered money.

I think you got lucky.

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u/rhoner Dec 14 '10

I can't tell if you are making a sex joke or not :)

Funny thing is, I took the sign down before the family stopped. I was writing out my hitch hiking plea on the other side as they pulled up. Dude just stopped because I had flashers on... he is my hero.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

I was in a similar situation. It was about 2 am and a deer jumped in front of me. I avoided it, but blew out both passenger side tires. I could replace one with a donut, but still was out a tire. I stayed at the side of the road for close to 2 hours before someone finally stopped to help. I explained the situation and he just gave me his spare tire.

He hung around till I had gotten it on the car. I had no cash to offer him. He told me not worry about it, but tires aren't exactly cheap. We talked for a little while when I got my first good glimpse of his face in the headlights of a passing car. His eyes were redder than the devil's dick. I joked "You must either be really high or really tired." He responds "Both, actually."

We shared a bowl and went our separate ways.

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u/BelindaMarie Dec 14 '10

Second this story! My sophomore year of college, I was driving a ford taurus with electrical problems. I was paying my way through school, and I hadn't saved up the money to replace it yet. The electrical problems basically meant that sometimes it started, and sometimes it needed a jump. Every fucking time that summer the only people there to give me a jump were mexican or south american. In return, I try to pick up hitchhikers or stop for people with car troubles. :) Today you... tomorrow me :)

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u/cstoli Dec 14 '10

Great. Now I am crying on a plane over Lake Michigan.

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u/HumboldtBrewer Dec 14 '10

I got stuck in the snow one time pulling over to play around in it with my girlfriend, (neither of us have really experienced snow). After a while a van of mexicans shows up. Like 6 or 7 hop out with shovels and pieces of lumber, we make a little corduroy road for my car and I'm out! Before I can get to my wallet to give them some cash they were gone. I was boned without them, stuck in the mountains with no service.....

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