I last saw them in 2007. They are two kind souls who made my years studying in the UK such a beautiful chapter in my life.

I have been thinking about them lately and finally reached out after all these years. Whenever I look back on my time in the UK, I find myself thinking of the Easters and Christmases I spent with them and their family.

I still remember Roger driving up to Sheffield to attend my university graduation when he heard that my parents couldn’t make it. I remember the sandwich Mary made for my journey back to Sheffield after my visit. The trips to the Eden Project and Dartmoor, and the roses and witch hazel that grew in their garden, are etched in my memory.

Twenty years have passed, but I have cherished those memories all this time. As an introvert, I often feel ten emotions at once but probably only express one. Their kindness meant more to me than I ever properly expressed back then.

Roger and Mary were strangers to me at first. We met through a friend’s friend. Yet they welcomed me with such warmth and kindness, asking for nothing in return.

In a world where something is often expected in return, whenever I grow weary, I remember Roger and Mary.

This post was first posted on LinkedIn on 5 July 2026.