An Interlude Part.2 (Interesting People)

If there is anything that comes of writing about the people I’ve met while abroad, its that underneath culture and personality everyone the world over has the same dreams, hopes, and aspirations. So much thought and study is put in to what is different that we often miss the fact that that’s all secondary. Every key may have different teeth but at the end of the day its still a key to open a door with.

To get to the meat of the matter I’ve met Welsh, Irish, North Irish, English, German, Spanish, Dutch, Indian, Australian, South African, and several more. Primarily I’ve been close with the first five or six of those and so can really only go in to any depth with that group. With the understanding that I’m only giving my impression and not some deep truth I’d like to start first with those people I did not really get to know but were nonetheless interesting.

It always pays to talk to cab drivers. Generally they’re bored out of their skull and would love to talk to you anyway if you give them half a chance. My cab driver from Cardiff airport was Welsh, and his description of Welsh culture and education, as well as the history of Cardiff, proved to be spot on. He was almost like having a tour guide as we entered the city. At the time I was exhausted and daunted by the adventure I was finally at the start of after two long days of travel and wasted time in airports. It was nice to have the scene set, some questions answered, and to be given some much needed encouragement.

A few weeks later I was a bit more settled in and had a brief but interesting conversation about gas prices and Tesco with an Irish cab drivers (owner and employee of Celtic Cabs). I would see him again about two weeks later on what was apparently a bad day, he didn’t want to talk. He did remember me.

My trip home from Morocco was another long day, and at the end of that was another cab driver. About halfway back home I decided to call it quits and just let someone drive me the last fifteen or twenty minutes of the walk. A loaded down and rather disheveled me climbed in the cab of an Indian gentleman. He wasn’t very talkative. I tipped him anyway since he violated a traffic law to make a turn and would likely need the tip money to pay the fine. The next night my parents and I got in to a cab at the same taxi stand, which turned out to be driven by the same man. He talked our ears off and was very gracious, he even pointed out that our destination was very close by and suggested we save our money and walk. I thought that was very honest of him and kind.