can i get a ride?

I don’t take taxis that often in DC because my pocket book isn’t a big fan, and I happen to be a big fan of public transportation – or walking. But from time to time, when life necessitates it, I’ll flag one down.  Like yesterday, when I needed to get from Reagan Airport to Dulles. 

Now I like a good conversation.  I appreciate a friendly banter and learning things from different perspectives.   Which I why I usually enjoy taking a taxi from time to time.  It’s interesting to hear about people’s lives and where they came from. 

I remember once having the most hilarious taxi driver in Ghana, who was obsessed with WWF and spent the entire drive telling us, or rather, yelling in a very animated manner,  about the different fighters, who’s who, who beat who, etc.  If I remember correctly, I was with my friend, Ryan, who quickly realized that the taxi driver was watching very, very old episodes and was clearly shocked and appalled to hear the news Ryan was telling him about his favorite wrestlers.  This may or may not have been the same taxi driver that broke down about ten minutes into our ride – but I really can’t be sure. 

Anyhoos, I have come to realize recently that I HATE being lectured by cab drivers.  The last cab driver told me all about his eating habits and how he doesn’t eat anything that he doesn’t make for himself because it’s disgusting to do anything otherwise.  Even Subway, the restaurant that totes being “fresh” – you are just never quite sure where that little piece of microwaved chicken came from.  Although this tirade went on for about 45 minutes, in the end, I admit he was right.  It is kind of gross.  I haven’t had a chicken sub since. 

Point 1: Cab driver

But then he went on to tell me all about God and our sins and how I should behave in life. Ugh.  I may or may not agree with you, but I don’t appreciate being proselytized to.  I love a good conversation about religion and am willing to discuss this from all viewpoints, but I really don’t like being told what I should believe. 

Point 2:  Me

Yesterday, I got into a taxi cab with a FEMALE DRIVER.  That was awesome.  I have often wondered why there are not more female drivers, and I’m fairly certain this was my very first ride.  She got into an argument with the man at the airport that was directing people to cabs. I have to think that being a female cab driver in a male-dominated business would have its difficulties.   When I got into the car, she told me that this man doesn’t treat cab drivers with respect, and she thought that someone needed to tell him.  So she did.  Apparently, it didn’t go over that well, but serious props for sticking up for herself. 

Point 3:  Cab driver

This cab driver was born in Eritrea.  She asked me where I was coming from and where I was going.  When I told her I was in public health and was traveling to India, she told me that it was good I was going to do that because there are so many countries where people are dirty.  Even Indian people here are dirty because they don’t know how to clean themselves properly.  See, third world countries, even if people can speak English, they still need the Western influence to come in and tell them how to do things. 

Really?! 

                Point 4:  Me.  That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. 

She then asked me how many times I am able to visit my family since I had just come from Wisconsin.  I said, maybe twice a year or so.  Then she told me about how her parents died in Eritrea, and she saw them just once before they died.  It had been 18 years since she had last seen them. She said to me, “You are very lucky.”  “Sometimes you need to compare your life to others in order to see how lucky you are.” 

Now the next point is up for grabs because I can’t decide who to give it to.  The thing is, she’s right.  I know she’s right.  I told her she is right.  Sometimes you do need to step back and look at how lucky you are.  But for some reason, this didn’t go over that well with me. Maybe I was annoyed about her running commentary about third world countries.   Although we all need to hear things like this from time to time, including me, please don’t assume that I don’t know anything about life or that I’ve never heard of Eritrea or that I don’t know what is happening in Africa.   Please don’t assume that I do not consider myself lucky or haven’t met people along the way who have reminded me of that.  In fact, I have met a lot of people along the way who have reminded me of that fact. You don’t have to travel across to world to see that, you just need to open your eyes every day.   Even though I don’t always remember it, I try.

So why did I react so negatively?  Maybe it was just her approach.  I am lucky that I can drive home to see my parents.  Or I can fly home.  Or they can visit me.  Or we can chat on the phone without the phone cutting out or having to walk into town to use the phone or not having enough money to make the call. 

 In her life, she met a man in Yemen who brought her to the United States.  After a year, he had to return. She decided to stay and knows that this is the right place for her to be.  She told me that people in our lives serve always serve some type of purpose, and then they leave after serving that purpose.  That man had served his purpose.  She never heard from him again.

So I guess that this cab driver, despite my crabbiness, served her purpose in my life by telling me to get my head out of my ass and take a look around.  I am on my way to India.  I am lucky.  I may feel that I am overworked and over tired and don’t have enough time to do everything, but I have so much to be thankful for.   Although she was right in the end, she might need to work on her delivery.

Also, she served her purpose in reminding me of acceptance –of cultures, practices, beliefs, things we don’t understand, etc.  She reminded me that we all need to be careful of judgments we make about other people, sometimes even without realizing.