AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
Nice Americans.(In Real Life: First-person America)(helping others)
QUEBEC, CANADA--In the summer of 2004, I made a solo kayak trip from New York City to Quebec. Not many realize it, but an inland water route connects these two cities. It includes the Hudson River, the Champlain Canal, Lake Champlain, the Richelieu River, and the St. Lawrence River, which flows right past Quebec City. The month-long, 467-mile trip was full of discoveries, but perhaps my most remarkable find was how generous and helpful everyone was.
My first human contact after leaving the marina at Dyckman Street in Manhattan occurred just south of the Tappan Zee Bridge, near Nyack. I had run low on drinking water. I saw a man in front of a house on top of a sea wall, and paddled over to ask for help.
He was impressed that I had paddled all the way from New York City in just an afternoon. He agreed to refill my water bottle, which I threw up to him. "Would you like an extra bottle?" he asked.
That exchange set a perfectly consistent pattern: In the course of the trip, there were about 70 times where I asked for help, or where people could see I needed it. In every single case, assistance was given--often more than I requested. Seven times people drove me to places I needed to go, eight times I was given food to eat, six times people offered me a place to camp. On two occasions, I spent the night in homes of strangers who had invited me to join their families. Four times I was offered the use of a shower. I was given laundry detergent twice, and Tylenol once. People let me park my kayak every time I asked. I was given water more than a dozen times, and directions and information about 30 times.
Near the end of my trip, at the village of Batiscan on the St. Lawrence River, I was sitting on the grass in the shade, resting after lunch. A man came up. "This is my property" he said.
Uh, oh, I thought. For the first time on the whole trip, I'm going to encounter hostility. "I'm sorry" I replied, indicating I was willing to leave.
"No, no, you can stay here" he said. "I'm a paramedic. When I saw you sitting down, I thought you might be ill. ...
- Comptroller sees $7.5 billion of bond sales by New York, New York City,...
- Magazine article from: The Bond Buyer Gasparino, Charles April 7, 1993 700+ words
...its bonding authorities, and New York City of about $4.52 billion. The...Other large offerings planned by New York City include an $800 million general...GO bond offering in June. The New York City Water Finance Authority, meanwhile...
- USA. New York. New York City. 2001. Photographer Bruce DAVIDSON. Photographed...
- Picture from: Magnum Photos Bruce Davidson January 1, 1900 700+ words
...01-01-1900 USA. New York. New York City. 2001. Photographer Bruce DAVIDSON...states of america new york state new york city usa continent us nyc american...and book covers usa. new york. new york city. 2001. photographer ...
- USA.New York. New York City. Opening night of East of Eden. Fleur Cowles (left)...
- Picture from: Magnum Photos Eve Arnold January 1, 1950 700+ words
...01-01-1950 USA.New York. New York City. Opening night of East of Eden...projection Media New York State New York City Cinema Auditorium Entertainment...entertainment) USA.New York. New York City. Opening night of East of ...
- USA. New York. New York City. Christopher Isherwood and W.H. Auden. 1952....
- Picture from: Magnum Photos Eve Arnold January 1, 1952 700+ words
...01-01-1952 USA. New York. New York City. Christopher Isherwood and W...America Nationality New York State New York City Profession Artistic profession...Famous person USA. New York. New York City. Christopher Isherwood ...
- USA. New York. New York City. Viewers with Gicometti's statue, Museum of Modern...
- Picture from: Magnum Photos Eve Arnold January 1, 1960 700+ words
...01-01-1960 USA. New York. New York City. Viewers with Gicometti's statue...Manhattan Museum New York State New York City Continent Museum (name of) Culture...Y.C. MOMA USA. New York. New York City. Viewers with ...
- USA. New York. New York City. Owner of 711 Bar. 1950. (LON42916)
- Picture from: Magnum Photos Eve Arnold January 1, 1950 700+ words
...01-01-1950 USA. New York. New York City. Owner of 711 Bar. 1950. Keywords...States of America New York State New York City Catering Trade & services...NYC N.Y.C. USA. New York. New York City. Owner of 711 Bar. 1950. ...
- USA. New York. New York City. Edward STEICHEN, director of photography at The...
- Picture from: Magnum Photos Eve Arnold January 1, 1959 700+ words
...01-01-1959 USA. New York. New York City. Edward STEICHEN, director of...Museum Nationality New York State New York City Optical instrument Photographer...Old man MOMA USA. New York. New York City. Edward STEICHEN, ...
- USA. New York. New York City. Museum of Modern Art. 1960. (LON40236)
- Picture from: Magnum Photos Eve Arnold January 1, 1960 700+ words
...01-01-1960 USA. New York. New York City. Museum of Modern Art. 1960...Manhattan Museum New York State New York City Continent Museum (name of) Culture...Y.C. MOMA USA. New York. New York City. Museum of Modern Art. 1960...