After class, many of us American students head to Bill’s, an off-license general store just down the road from the university. Bill is everyone’s friend and the go-to guy for the best information on the area and London.

Mohinder ‘Billha’ Chandhok, or Bill, opened Bill’s 27 years ago and has been helping the American students since they first began their program at St. Mary’s about 10 years ago.

“I don’t worry about you kids,’ he says. “Here, write down your name and address in my book so I can write to you.’

Before coming to St. Mary’s, most of us had heard that we should go to Bill for anything we may need help with. Bill touches everyone who comes to St. Mary’s because he is, in a lot of ways, the first friend that we American students make upon arrival.

“I’m here to be a good friend to these kids,’ Bill says, “because you are so far away from home and you may feel lost here.’

Every day customers flood in to Bill’s, including some other British students from St. Mary’s.

“Can I get a pack of Marlboro lights, please, Bill?’ says a customer.

“Oh, why do you need that stuff? You know it’s bad for you.’

“I know, I know. I hear it everyday.’

“I’m just looking out for you, my love.’

As the customers joke with Bill and he sings them the price of their items, I begin to notice the homely atmosphere that Bill provides here in his shop on a little bustling street in Twickenham.

While he rings up a customer, he realizes he’s running out of change. He pulls a little box out from under a shelf full of change. He starts to trade out coins for others and begins to tell us a story.

“You know when people tell me ‘keep the change?” he says, “Well, this is where it goes. We save it up and at the end of the year we help someone. Last year, we had 800 pounds in here and we donated it to a family in India who had a son that they couldn’t afford to send to school. You know, they don’t know us but we just like to help people like that.’

“How much longer do you think you’ll do this?’ I ask.

“Oh, another couple of years,’ he says. “And then I plan to sell and visit America and see you kids. You know it’s amazing the stuff the past kids write to me. It makes it all worth it. I begin to love you guys and I never stop.’