Abu Dhabi Taxi
1.) Indian Cab Driver (as another cab almost collides with our cab): “Those Pakistani cab drivers are crazy, they don’t know how to drive”.
2.) Pakistani Cab Driver: “Where do you come from?”
Me: “I’m from the USA originally”
Pakistani Cab Driver: “Your drone attacks kill many innocent people in my country.”
Me: “Well, I have nothing to do with that and don’t necessarily agree with everything my government does.”
Long uncomfortable silence during the remainder of the ride as the driver seems to be a bit more reckless in his control of the vehicle.
3.) Muslim Cab Driver: “What you do in Abu Dhabi?”
Me: “I work in health care.”
Muslim Cab Driver: “You are doctor.”
Me: “Technically, yes, but not a physician.”
Muslim Cab Driver: “I have a very important medical question for you, a question that I think of all the time. Is it possible for a woman to still be a virgin on her wedding night but to have lost the proof of her virginity?
Me: “What? This is not my area of expertise.”
Muslim Cab Driver: “You are a doctor, you will know. Can a woman still be a virgin without a hymen?”
Me, thinking I’d better not make a joke about this: “Well, I guess a very athletic woman; one who competes in sporting events could be so active that it could tear.” Somehow that came out of my mouth without skipping a beat.”
Muslim Cab Driver: “Yes, That is correct. That is very good answer. You very smart. That is very good answer.”
4.) Pakistani Cab Driver (as another cab almost collides with our cab): “Those Indian cab drivers are crazy, they don’t know how to drive”.
5.) Pakistani Cab Driver: “Where are you from?”
Me: “I’m from America.”
Pakistani Cab Driver: “Obama bombs my country and kills my people.”
Me: “Well, I haven’t lived in the USA for over 10 years and am not up to date on word politics, but I am sorry to hear that.”
Long uncomfortable silence during the remainder of the ride as the driver seems to be a bit more reckless in his control of the vehicle.
6.) Sri Lankan Cab Driver: “Today I am a very happy man. My wife gave birth to a son three hours ago.”
Me: “Congratulations. Why are you working today? You should be with your wife right now.”
Sri Lankan Cab Driver: “I drive cab. I work every day.”
I gave him a good tip.
7.) Me: “I’d like to go to the BMW showroom in Khalidiya.”
Elderly Cab Driver: “You know how to get there?”
Me: “What? That’s your job to know that.”
Elderly Cab Driver: “This my first day working as driver.”
Me: “Well, I have a map. Do you know where we are now?” (I had been walking and wasn’t sure what intersection he picked me up.)
Elderly Cab Driver: “I think Electra Street, I get directions at petrol station.”
Me: “Wait, you’re going the wrong way.”
8.) Pakistani Cab Driver: “Where are you from?”
Me: “I’m from Canada.”
Pakistani Cab Driver: “Canada! Very good, very nice.”
Hilarious! Thank you for sharing!
A common tale of crude prejudice and discrimination, based solely upon one’s nationality. Oh yes, I know that story! Simple minded people like those cab drivers are the reason why I usually make false statement about where I am originally from. Why should I subject myself to uncomfortable looks when I could simply lie and get away with it!? Yesterday, at a Friday brunch, a random person asked where my “big nose” is from and I made the mistake of telling him the truth; he almost jumped a couple of feet back in a state of panic and said “oh, I’m sorry” while trying to pull himself together and find a way out! This happens to me at least twice a month and I’m really getting tired of it! I could easily pass for three or four different [more acceptable] nationalities so, once again I ask, why should I subject myself to uneasy looks and bizarre conversations when I can simply lie and get away with it!? The truth is that I’m as much British as you’re Canadian, but the sad reality is that we’re better off this way rather than being from an undesired country.
Mathew, Funny how some of the nicest people I have met in the UAE are from those “undesired” countries. However, I am not going to change hard wired prejudices in a 5 minute conversation so I will remain a virtual Canadian for now and have a nice chat with them.