A Stranger I Still Remember

It was during the World Youth Day in Köln, Germany in 2005. I was one of the youth counselors. We were a small group, seven in all. To keep close to each other, we hung on to each other's backpacks as we walked through massive crowds. We were not the only ones doing this. Other groups from nations around the world did this too. It did not matter if they came in a group of 10 or 100. We would find human chains everywhere. Everyone was afraid to lose their group. It was an endless wait to get across a human link of more than 30.

I remember this stranger so clearly because he almost instigated a fist fight. Yes, a potential fight after a religious gathering. During this particular World Youth Day, an estimated 500,000 Italians made their way up to Germany. We were not surprised. It was a Catholic world event. We were all going to see the new pope - Pope Benedict XVI.
We had camped out in the field on the eve of the Pope's mass. All groups were given their designated spots in the open field. We were supposed to share our space with others. Needless to say, by the time midnight came around, we were practically sleeping in our bags, shoulder to shoulder. Our small group bundled up as close as possible. Throw a stone to our right and we would have heard someone say "ouch" in Polish (I assume they have their own way of screaming out in pain). Toss a stone to our left and we would have definitely hit an Italian. At our feet, were a group from The Czech Republic and the Spaniards snored away above us.

After the Pope's mass, we made our way to the train station. The Germans, hats off to them, kept us as organised as possible. They closed roads, created detours and directed traffic. There were no cars in that vicinity. They did all that to control human traffic.

Extra trains were designated to move people out as quickly as possible. There were specific trains leaving for the neighbouring European countries. Normally, one would not get a direct train connection from a small town in Germany to a neighbouring country. This was an exception. Germany had to clear out more than a million people that night; not counting the others who did not attend the Pope's mass at the field. They were still loitering around in Bonn, Dusseldorf and Köln.

When we finally reached the train station, two hours later after leaving the field, we had to wait in line to get to the platform. During that time, our group decided to link up again. It was crucial seeing the immense crowd around us. It was a scary thought if one of us broke off from our link - our line was constantly moving.

Out of nowhere, a very good-looking European guy came up to me, with two of his friends. I could see a large group they behind them. They asked me in Italian, if they could pass through. I don't speak Italian at all but from their gestures I knew what they wanted. On a normal, non-maddening crowd event, I would have let the guys walk through with their entourage. That day, I just could not. I told him "no, I am sorry."
I was the last one in my group. We agreed that one adult will head the group and the other one tails.

He tried to ask again but this time his equally good-looking friend chipped in. "Maybe you don't understand what my friend said. We want to walk here. Can you let us walk through?"

I said, "Sorry, I cannot. If I let go, I will lose my group. I am the last one here. Ask the guy behind me. See, the line is moving again. If I let go, I will lose my friends."

The third Italian guy came up from behind, obviously having enough of what was taking place. He pushed my right hand off the backpack I was holding in front of me and tried to shove his way through.
I quickly found my grip again with my left hand, turned around, pointed my finger at him as if chastising a child. "How dare you? Don't you attempt that again."
I turned to the second guy and said, "You can speak to me in ten languages and I will simply not let go off my group. Ask the guy behind me. He is not with us." I realised a moment later that it probably did not look good from another person's perspective, especially to the Canadian guy and girl behind me. It was the World Youth Day. We supposed to be celebrating world unity!

Seeing that they could not get through to me, these Italian guys turned to the Canadian behind me and asked the same but with impatience and anger. He refused to let them through. No reason given. As you can imagine, tempers flared among the Italians. One of them suddenly pushed the Canadian girl aside and it looked like she almost lost her balance. The Canadian guy was furious and pushed the Italian back and said, "Stop that. You come here and rough up the ladies and think you can get your way. If you really want to get through now, find another way. You have lost your chance here." One of the Italians was raising his fist midway when his friend pulled him back saying something in their language. They realised the people around were beginning to notice their behaviour. I could hear some "boo-ing". They walked away mumbling, as I might guess, some obscenities. I turned around and thanked the Canadian guy for handling the Italians. His girl had a little shock registered on her face but she remained calm. We talked after that while our line inched towards the platform. We bade our farewells when our groups finally parted ways.

We got back to the church at 11:00pm bringing memories of our week's experience at the World Youth Day. I could say it was a unique adventure coupled with some tensed moments. A moment with a stranger I still remember.