this one's for you, Adi
It's always amazing how random and unexpected the sources of inspiration come from.
This morning I woke up extra early so I could pack for St. Paul, get to work and finish the current game I'm working on -- then get to the airport before my plane departs without me. I packed quickly, then headed out to grab a taxi. I soon found one, and at first the driver seemed quite stoic -- but eventually he opened up and we started talking.
His name is Adi, and he's from Africa (I didn't ask from where exactly, but it was irrelevant to the conversation). His accent is quite thick, and while his vocabulary wasn't extremely wide, he is very articulate. He has a Masters degree in Law from his country, but that doesn't allow him to practice law in the United States. So he drives a cab. And he's received certification to sell insurance. And he's passed the real estate exams, so he's also a licensed realtor. And he's currently reading a book on credit ratings, credit status, and credit reports. This is a man who is obviously extremely intelligent, very motivated, and recognizes how the system works -- and he wants to win at it. And then, he wants to help other African-Americans win at it too.
Our entire conversation revolved around racism in the United States. Adi is not a man living with illusions, or a silver lining around every dark cloud, and this is not a man who is avoiding conflict or struggle. This is a man who accepts and embraces the reality of his situation -- as an immigrant, and as a black man in modern America. As a Caucasian male born in the U.S., I will never have these kinds of experiences. But I was very, very fortunate that he chose to share his experiences and his views with me, and while I mostly listened carefully to what he had to say, he was open-minded enough to accept my views and observations as well. Once we arrived at my destination, we continued talking for quite some time -- far longer than the actual cab riden had taken. When it was time for me to get out, I think it was hard for both of us to find a way to finish such an extraordinarily rare, open, and respectful conversation. This began, after all, as just one cab fare in a major metropolitan city. We shook hands. He offered me blessing, and I told him I sincerely hoped we met again in the future.
Since I got out of that cab, my mind has been spinning, full of thoughts. Compared to the span of one's lifetime, our conversation was extremely brief; but that time, and that conversation, was quite profound.
This morning I woke up extra early so I could pack for St. Paul, get to work and finish the current game I'm working on -- then get to the airport before my plane departs without me. I packed quickly, then headed out to grab a taxi. I soon found one, and at first the driver seemed quite stoic -- but eventually he opened up and we started talking.
His name is Adi, and he's from Africa (I didn't ask from where exactly, but it was irrelevant to the conversation). His accent is quite thick, and while his vocabulary wasn't extremely wide, he is very articulate. He has a Masters degree in Law from his country, but that doesn't allow him to practice law in the United States. So he drives a cab. And he's received certification to sell insurance. And he's passed the real estate exams, so he's also a licensed realtor. And he's currently reading a book on credit ratings, credit status, and credit reports. This is a man who is obviously extremely intelligent, very motivated, and recognizes how the system works -- and he wants to win at it. And then, he wants to help other African-Americans win at it too.
Our entire conversation revolved around racism in the United States. Adi is not a man living with illusions, or a silver lining around every dark cloud, and this is not a man who is avoiding conflict or struggle. This is a man who accepts and embraces the reality of his situation -- as an immigrant, and as a black man in modern America. As a Caucasian male born in the U.S., I will never have these kinds of experiences. But I was very, very fortunate that he chose to share his experiences and his views with me, and while I mostly listened carefully to what he had to say, he was open-minded enough to accept my views and observations as well. Once we arrived at my destination, we continued talking for quite some time -- far longer than the actual cab riden had taken. When it was time for me to get out, I think it was hard for both of us to find a way to finish such an extraordinarily rare, open, and respectful conversation. This began, after all, as just one cab fare in a major metropolitan city. We shook hands. He offered me blessing, and I told him I sincerely hoped we met again in the future.
Since I got out of that cab, my mind has been spinning, full of thoughts. Compared to the span of one's lifetime, our conversation was extremely brief; but that time, and that conversation, was quite profound.
1 Comments:
It's true. I find that cab drivers are the source of most of the interesting conversations I have during my days of running around the city. And deli guys. The guy who owns our favorite delivery place a few blocks away was a doctor in Pakistan. But a darn good chef. It always makes me feel like my life has been ridiculously uneventful.
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