The Suitcase - SFO International

SFO Airport. Terminal G.

Every Friday, Femi came to airport. He didn't travel. He just sat at arrivals with a small placard: "Welcome to America - Free Ride to Daly City / San Mateo - Nigerian Student?"

He did this for 4 years.

Why? Because when he landed in 2018 from Nigeria, no one came to pick him. His luggage was heavy. He had $200. He slept at SFO for 2 nights because he didn't know how to take BART.

A Filipino man helped him that second night. Bought him Jollibee. Showed him how to buy Clipper card.

Femi promised: "If I ever make it, I will come back for others."

So every Friday, he came. Sometimes nobody. Sometimes 1 person.

One Friday in December, cold, raining, he saw a boy. 19 years. Holding Nigerian passport and one big Ghana-Must-Go bag. Looking lost, looking at phone with no data.

Femi walked up. "Oga, Naija?"

Boy said, "Yes! How you know?"

Femi said, "That bag. Only we dey carry am. Where you dey go?"

Boy: "San Mateo. My uncle said he will pick me but phone no dey connect."

Femi: "Enter. I go take you."

In car, boy said, "My name is... Femi. Femi Junior."

Femi laughed. "My name na Femi too!"

Boy said, "My mama named me after her brother who helped her in America. She said his name was Femi who drove Uber in San Mateo. You be am?"

Femi almost swerved off 101.

It was his sister's son. Sister he hadn't spoken to in 6 years because of family fight.

He was picking up his own nephew and didn't know.

That night, he called his sister in Ibadan after 6 years. She cried.

Now, Friday free ride is now official non-profit: "Ghana-Must-Go Welcome - SFO". 12 drivers.

Moral: If you come back to lift others, sometimes you go lift your own blood without knowing.