This exact question was posted on Reddit and I'm totally ganking it. This is me being up front about stuff.
So! What's the nicest thing a stranger's ever done for you? I'll lead off with three nice things because I can't choose just one. In chronological order:
When I was 19, I missed a Holland-bound train connection in Germany. I banded together with two other travelers, a Dutchman and a Kiwi girl, who'd missed the same connection. Together we endured a long, cold, drizzly night of hardships. We finally found ourselves stuck in Bad Bentheim, Germany, about 2.5 hours' drive from the Dutchman's hometown, Gouda. He called his father, who drove out to pick us up. He arrived at about 3:00 a.m. with warm blankets and a big thermos of hot coffee, and delivered us to the Dutchman's house just before sunrise. The Dutchman let the Kiwi and me crash there, and before taking us to the train station so we could complete our journeys, he made us breakfast, took us on a walking tour of Gouda, and bought us lunch.
TL;DR: Train travel nightmare in Germany ended happily in Holland due to the kindness of some Dutchmen.
When I was about 22, a huge rainstorm struck while I was at work. On my way home I drove through a puddle that was much deeper than I thought it was. My engine got waterlogged and stalled on a blind curve on an on ramp about two miles later. I'd forgotten my cell phone at home, so I was well and truly stranded. Just as I was about to put a HELP sign in my rear windshield, a truck pulled up behind me. The driver was the owner of a towing company which dealt mostly with repossessions. He put out a call, found that one of his tow truck drivers was about 10 minutes away, and instructed the guy to come get me. The tow truck driver delivered me and my car to my apartment, then drove off without allowing me to pay or even tip him.
TL;DR: Car broke down in dangerous location, and I was rescued and towed for free thanks to a kind tow company owner.
When I was 24, I worked a particular metal band's show in Orlando. They invited me to go see them in Tampa the next night. I said I'd try to get there, but wasn't sure I wanted to risk the drive on my crappy tires. Their tour bus driver, a white-haired, middle-aged gentleman, reached into his pocket and said to me, "You know, life's been good to me. I'd hate to think of a nice little girl like you getting hurt just because she couldn't afford to replace the tires on her car." He slipped something into my hand, which I then slipped into my pocket. When I pulled it out after we'd parted company for the night, I discovered that he'd slipped me a $100 bill.
TL;DR: A tour bus driver gave me $100 to get new tires for my car.
So! What's the nicest thing a stranger's ever done for you? I'll lead off with three nice things because I can't choose just one. In chronological order:
When I was 19, I missed a Holland-bound train connection in Germany. I banded together with two other travelers, a Dutchman and a Kiwi girl, who'd missed the same connection. Together we endured a long, cold, drizzly night of hardships. We finally found ourselves stuck in Bad Bentheim, Germany, about 2.5 hours' drive from the Dutchman's hometown, Gouda. He called his father, who drove out to pick us up. He arrived at about 3:00 a.m. with warm blankets and a big thermos of hot coffee, and delivered us to the Dutchman's house just before sunrise. The Dutchman let the Kiwi and me crash there, and before taking us to the train station so we could complete our journeys, he made us breakfast, took us on a walking tour of Gouda, and bought us lunch.
TL;DR: Train travel nightmare in Germany ended happily in Holland due to the kindness of some Dutchmen.
When I was about 22, a huge rainstorm struck while I was at work. On my way home I drove through a puddle that was much deeper than I thought it was. My engine got waterlogged and stalled on a blind curve on an on ramp about two miles later. I'd forgotten my cell phone at home, so I was well and truly stranded. Just as I was about to put a HELP sign in my rear windshield, a truck pulled up behind me. The driver was the owner of a towing company which dealt mostly with repossessions. He put out a call, found that one of his tow truck drivers was about 10 minutes away, and instructed the guy to come get me. The tow truck driver delivered me and my car to my apartment, then drove off without allowing me to pay or even tip him.
TL;DR: Car broke down in dangerous location, and I was rescued and towed for free thanks to a kind tow company owner.
When I was 24, I worked a particular metal band's show in Orlando. They invited me to go see them in Tampa the next night. I said I'd try to get there, but wasn't sure I wanted to risk the drive on my crappy tires. Their tour bus driver, a white-haired, middle-aged gentleman, reached into his pocket and said to me, "You know, life's been good to me. I'd hate to think of a nice little girl like you getting hurt just because she couldn't afford to replace the tires on her car." He slipped something into my hand, which I then slipped into my pocket. When I pulled it out after we'd parted company for the night, I discovered that he'd slipped me a $100 bill.
TL;DR: A tour bus driver gave me $100 to get new tires for my car.