I will never understand Canadians. Even after having lived in this beautiful country for over a decade, their honesty and kindness keeps surprising me.
On Sunday, June 23, after have gone shopping with my children, I lost my wallet with about $200 inside. I went back into the Superstore – in Newton – and asked if someone had by any chance picked my wallet. At that point no one had.
With my children, I spent some time walking around hoping that I would at least find the wallet thrown somewhere with my identity documents inside, but still to no avail.
My daughter saw how depressed I had become; it was difficult to pretend otherwise. Finally, I drove back home knowing that things do happen for a reason and I must just accept the bad experience.
While driving home, I blamed myself for keeping cash in my wallet and for having been less attentive in what I was doing. I was thinking, “I have seen and read stories of people whose wallets have been returned to their owners with all contents intact,” but I thought that could not happen to me.
When I reached home, my daughter helped me carry some stuff into the house while I made a last attempt to search the car seat, hoping to find my wallet. At that point, my daughter came dashing and shouting that “Superstore called – they have your wallet with the money still inside.”
I drove back to Superstore and found my wallet and all its contents intact. So was the contact name and number of the Surrey man who had found my wallet.
Driving home, I was speechless. I was consumed with thoughts, asking myself of how people can be so honest and kind, because that kind of generosity is hardly found in my country of origin – no one would return someone’s wallet with cash in it.
Upon arriving home, I called the man and through his daughter conveyed my gratitude and appreciation of their noble act and promised to write to the newspaper telling my story, which I just did.
Canadians, thank you for such generosity that is ingrained in your hearts.
Mulife Muchali
Surrey