I have a great story to share, and I wish I could share this to the world! Last week I went on a week holiday to the beautiful Sunshine coast, in Queensland. The flight from Sydney takes about 90 min. I decided to take my longboard with me, knowing the good chances of getting great waves up in Sunny coast. Paid extra for an oversize luggage and went happily to the gates to wait for my depart. Meanwhile, after sipping a coffee and playing around with my 15 months old daughter around the departure gates of Sydney's Airport, there was a young couple sitting close by just watching me chasing my little baby and kindly saying she was really cute. We had a quick 2 minutes chat , all about parenthood, they also have a 19 months baby daughter, and... "ring ring ring".. my phone rings, and it is a call from my airline company (Jetstar);
Jetstar - "Hi Mr Wander Godinho, I would like to let you know that your board is too big and cannot travel with you... ... you either come here to pick it up and pay the airport to store it, or leave it behind."
Me - "But I paid for this service and the board was accepted at the check in, how do you want me to go back to the main entrance and sort this out?!"
Jetstar - "I understand, but the board does not fit, you either leave it behind or storage. "
imagine how ANGRY I was with that situation. I had 15 minutes before the gates be opened>>>>>>>>
A baby to look after, my wife wasn't feeling super well that day, and now 15 minutes to think what to do with a AUD1,000 beloved longboard. When I got off the phone, the young couple overheard my conversation and approached me. The guy came (Sean) to me and said. "Hey mate, I heard you may have to leave your board behind, and I know how painful that is because I am surfer and a shaper (makes surfboards) too, my father is a shaper, and I am actually here waiting for my friend to pick me up. If you want, I can take your board with me, and when you get back, I can post the board to you. I can leave my details, my wife can give you her business card and you can find us, with no problem. "
I didn't think twice, really, I have to say, I trusted that guy just by the looking of his eyes...
Me - "Mate, thanks for that! Yes please!But where do you live, I can just come and pick up the board?
Sean - " I am from Jervis Bay, it is my country." His wife then adds; " He is from the country of Jervis bay, I am from the country of Balina, we are moving back to Jervis bay".
Me - "Oh woow! so you are native from Jervis Bay?! I did part of my Phd in Jervis Bay, working with fish ecology in the marine park! I love that place, and please let me come down to pick up the board and have a coffee?"
Sean - " Mate, sure thing! Just take my phone number here and text me when you're back"
We then ran through the gates to get back to the check-in area, picked up the board, and left it in his hands. I thanked him for what he was doing and, felt like I was making a great friend right at that time!
The week went on, I really enjoyed Sunshine coast, and really didn't think about what happened at the airport. I only sent Sean a message 4 days later, just asking if everything went well with the board and family on their way to Jervis Bay. The reply message would definitely be the answer that Sean was being trustworthy... I texted him in the late afternoon... the reply only came in the afternoon of the coming day... lol... yep.. that was the first time I thought I have lost my board, just because I was too trusty, and ... well... But the reply came and it was Sean saying the board is safe and waiting for me!
Back in Sydney, on Tuesday, I texted Sean and I wold was coming down on Friday to Jervis bay, to meet his family, his daughter and get the longboard back. To be back in Jervis bay is aways a pleasure, its a special place for me, my favourite marine park in Australia and I am so proud of having worked there for my phd. And now even more special for knowing someone who was born in there, the real owners of the land, aboriginal heritage, with a live aboriginal culture in his heart, trustworthy young "fella", with a beautiful family, and such a gorgeous little baby daughter.
I arrived to his place, we complimented each other as if we had 10 years of friendship. His wife, Sasha, invited me in to see their home as if I was a great friend.
I had no words to thank him enough. We went out in a local coffee shop, me, Sean and his daughter, his brother and his daughter. It felt so good to feel like part of that family, I felt so proud of having them, aboriginal friends with so much pride of their country, their story and beliefs. It is similar to how proud I feel of knowing I have African blood in my line, the Africans who were brought to Brazil as slaves.
While having a coffee and banana bread we shared a lot more about ourselves, where we work, what brought me to Australia, etc.. a big coincidence was that Sean's little girl was born on December 5th, my birthday!!! I got goose bumps! There were more coincidences about our stories too.
Then Sean kindly took me to an epic spot in Jervis Bay for a surf. it is called the Aussie Pipe (reference to the Pipe Line in Hawaii). There was no wave that day but, on the other hand... there were about 10 whales playing around, dancing that beautiful whale ballet. We stayed out of the water just watching the whales, and flying my drone. Sadly my drone only had 50% battery, and the whales were about 1.2 km distant.... so I only had about 6 minutes footage all up.
At the end of they, I took the computer out of my car, showed the footage of the whales to Sean's family, and drove back to Sydney. It was an incredible story I will remember forever! It is an incredible story of kindness, trustworthiness, friendship that we don't get to see often in our crazy selfish world. I got to learn about the aboriginal beliefs, culture, and that in Jervis bay their tribes still have their rituals, passing on the culture to the young generations.
Sean braz! Thanks for teaching the world about kindness!
I look forward to catch up again for a nice surf, and thanks for showing me your country of Jervis bay.
This happened all this week, last Friday July 7th, where I did the drone footage of the whales. I just had to share it and would be so happy to see this story going further than just a timeline.
