From a village in France, Nanette came to the US to study international marketing and merchandising in a university cultural exchange program. She moved in with her American host family who seemed so happy to have her in their home. But the arrangement quickly fell apart. The host family liked to hold lots of parties, every other day or so, staying up until the wee hours of the morning with lots of carousing and noise making. No judgment against party people, but it is hard to study and make good grades when you are trying to do it in a language that is not your native tongue and the environment does not help you concentrate or rest! So Nanette had to decide if she could continue her studies without the financial benefit of the exchange program.

While hiding in the University library preparing for a major test, Nanette sat with tears running down her cheeks. A young married woman who was a student in the history department saw Nanette's tears and asked if she could help. Nanette explained her situation. The young woman went to phone her husband, returned, and offered Nanette a room in her home for the weekend to study undisturbed. She was still living there two years later, when she completed her Bachelor’s degree.

Nanette is a marketing professional for a perfume maker in Paris now, and has two young sons. It has been 15 years since the young couple gave her a home. They visit Nanette’s family in France every few years and she still visits them in the States. They share the the joys and disappointments of life and give each other advice and comfort. Theirs is the bond of friendship grown out of one act of kindness from a stranger.