I recently became acquainted with a Bangladeshi worker who sweeps the floor in my apartment block. His name is Rahul.
I was getting out of my flat and calling out loudly to wifey inside to tell her that I was leaving when Rahul looked up and answered, "Yes Sir?"
I smiled and explained to him that I was talking to someone inside. He continued to look my way as I was putting on my shoes and as I waited for the lift to come up, seemingly eager to strike up a conversation.
So, I asked where he comes from (Bangladesh) and his name.
Then he asked me if I am a teacher and I said, yes. But how did you guess, I asked. He pointed to the book that I had pressed against my body under my arm, and read "The Secret ...?".
So, I showed him the cover with the title, The Secrets to the Millionaire Mind, by T Harv Eker, adding that I teach business, show people how to set up their own businesses and how to make their life better.
I asked him what he studied in school. He said that he is a graduate in Mathematics from Bangladesh's Dhaka University! (I thought to myself, "A Maths grad!!!!") My lift came. I excused myself and wished him a good day.
The little chat left me wondering .. How did a highly-educated Maths graduate from Bangladesh end up sweeping the floor in Singapore's HDB flats? ... Is this a problem of a poor country providing too much higher education and not enough economic or employment opportunities? Is this a problem with universal University education, like what seems to be happening in Malaysia and what I think has been happening in The Philippines? Think graduate maids.
Or is Rahul doing a cleaner's job in Singapore because he gets to make more money this way here than if he tried to convert his Maths degree into a job back home? Which, if so, is kind of a good thing for him, and his family.
Before long, my thinking turns positive and creative as it is conditoned to do, and I am wondering ... Perhaps, Rahul's is a long convoluted journey with many twists and turns which may possibly lead to something great and inspiring for his family, his countrymen and even mankind.
Let me tell you what else I'm thinking ... I want to lend him a little book. Yes, a book. The same book that opened my eyes 7 years ago to an exciting new world of incredible possibilities that I didn't up to then realize even existed. The same book that has since changed my life forever.
But first, I've got to find Rahul - at the right time and the right place with the book on hand.
Strange ... I haven't seen him outside my door again since ... except yesterday morning when we crossed each other's paths in the lobby downstairs, both in a hurry going in different directions. He recognized me, and said, Hello Sir.
Maybe, it's not yet the time for him. I do believe that if what I have in mind is meant to be, Providence will take care of it.
