Toronto to Charlotte
19-8-2017
- First day in America: #ExperiencingAmerica
It was awesome. I encountered the first person at the customer service assistance – was waiting in a line – was the first one in the line. Soon the line grew and most people I think were for changing their itinerary. A few minutes later the second and only customer service assistant called me up as she was done with the previous ones. I asked in a nervous tone whether I can go outside the airport – to visit Charlotte, North Carolina and come back again to catch my next flight. She said yes you can come back if you have the Valid ID and the Boarding Pass. I said I didn’t have the boarding pass.
She said, “Give me your passport I’ll check”. She asked, “Are you going to Rome next?” and I said, “Yes, I’m”. She inquired after finding the Schengen visa, “Is this your Visa hon?” I’m mesmerized.
Oh my goodness, and I fell stumbled upon the words she chose. I was like hon – Honey. Who says that? Well, nobody says that. And actually, for the customer service executive myself( have a good experience in the past) all I have known is – there are tons of people that we have to deal with every day and showing love in this manner was not in me at the time nor the people who worked with me. I know this as I have nearly a year of experience in customer service doing a job myself dealing with numerous people every day. Trust me I have seen many good customer executives, but undoubtedly she was The Best.
Because she said in this manner, love and respect naturally were born in me for her. I put my effort and tried hard to get her name from her nameplate on her shirt. And I remembered her since that moment on, it was “Kimberly”. Even the name became sweet because of the smallest affection she had put in her everyday work. And because of this encounter, I was too much happy. Continuing, she said here’s your boarding pass and now you can enter back in the airport showing your passport with this boarding pass. “This just made my day, as this thing made the day more complete, less worried, and I just got a trip to Downtown, Charlotte all because of this lady or else I would have to sit and read till my next flight – almost 9 hours of exploring AMERICA.”
Yes, also before this she asked directly – the first thing‘- caring for me when I said I have got 9 hours of time before my next flight that ‘So, you would like me to check whether there’s a flight earlier than that ?’ and I said, “No, I want to visit Charlotte if I can”. And She said, “Of course you can go out and visit Charlotte”.
After this whole incident, I was happy a lot – smiling – I left her saying thanks a lot. This first experience made me agree to the popular saying and it made me say in a true sense with all my heart and utmost respect for all the people that, “God Bless America..!”. Although, I wasn’t able to tell her that, this feeling has been with me since then.
Apart from this everybody whom I approached – more than 5 people – they all were very helpful; in a very good manner – did everything they can to help me. That was a great part. The individuals include a lady at the tourist help counter, the traffic manager, the bus drivers or the people at the reception in their big and beautiful library.
- The driver actually walked me from her bus to the next connecting bus herself and told the next driver to take care of me.
- Another driver checked by going back in her bus if she has some change for me
- The traffic officer took some time from her work at the airport and talked to me, informing many beautiful places of Charlotte and how to go there.
- The tourist helper gave many tourist attractions info with the really big map of Charlotte and also gave me change for the exact fare in CATS – public transit.
I came back just on time, and believing that the gates would be the same, I found reaching the last – the farthest gate that they are changed and I had just around 12 minutes to find the proper gate and reach there before the gates close which was in a totally different section of the airport. Luckily, working hard- running I reached the gate just before 2 – 3 minutes which is just the usual for me – to reach on time – not before – nor late. And I was in the paradise in a moment – ROME, ITALY…
Comment:
By Intelligent former campus director of SNPIT &RC, H R Patel Sir on this incident – “She does her work this way because it helps her as well throughout the day.” And I was awestruck and went in deep thought hearing this comment.
Charlotte, North Carolina.
rishitSheth 