I had an early start to the city for a salon visit I knew would leave me returning to the boat in the dark, so I ordered an Uber taxi.
It was my first time using Uber, so I didn't know what to expect. However, when the driver arrived, he confirmed my name and remarked,
"Oh, you are out in the middle of nowhere!"
I chuckled and said, Yes, indeed! Hence the reason I called you.
He pointed to the nearby building and asked if that's where I lived.
I said no, I live on a boat that's moored further along the canal.
The driver asked, A boat?
So you live on a boat in this remote location?
Yes, with my husband, I grinned.
The driver was intrigued, and an endless stream of questions about boat life followed.
He's originally from Somalia, and he asked where I was from...
The driver—but your husband is not a Jamaican too, right?
I laughed and replied, No, he's an American.
Ok, because I know a Jamaican man is not going to live in the wilderness because Jamaicans and Black men love vibes and need to party. Said the driver.
The driver's questions continued as he tried to fit the pieces of the puzzle of living on a boat.
Do you have kids? he asked.
No, I don't, I replied.
He said, "Okay, because you could not have kids and live that lifestyle.
I explained that some parents do and homeschool their kids.
The driver expressed that homeschooling is only good for a year or two because children need to have social integration.
Valid point, I thought.
You've got to stoke the fire to keep it strong!
... The driver was impressed to hear that I've been married for 16 years... something he said is uncommon these days.
We both agreed that there is a high divorce rate here in the UK, despite this statistic indicating that there's a decline.
The driver freely expressed his strong views, with the blame on women.
He said his job as a taxi driver exposes him to the darker side of things, and that I'd be amazed at some of his encounters.
According to the driver, traditionally, women are the backbone of family life and the solid foundation for a nation, with examples of the motherland, mother earth, and mother tongue, which all have significance.
However, he feels that women (of the UK in particular), have lost traditions and values and are now cheap, which results in the younger generation having little value and self-respect.
"Women now live like animals." He remarked.
Look around you, he said.
Men are dressed respectably, and women walk around semi-naked.
"Do you know how many times I have had women ask me or other men in my taxi to come and stay the night with me because my husband is at work?"
The driver felt these are some of the contributing factors to many divorces: that women no longer exercise control, women have the power because a man cannot have sex with a woman without her consent as it would be regarded as r*pe, yet infidelity on a woman is common because they offer themselves freely to men to satisfy their sexual desires without consequences.
I thought that there were some harsh truths to the driver's views, and I could understand his perspective and his mentality as he's from a contrasting culture with strong traditions.
The driver went on to say that he has 4 kids that he sent his 2 younger ones back to Somalia to get a different upbringing—one that has strong values—and that he returns home every few months and still plays an active role in his kids lives. He felt that was the better of two evils, as the laws and the society here in the UK have a stronger influence on kids than the values parents try to instil in homes.
I think strong parenting still has values and can influence children's behaviour.
My return Uber driver was also pleasant and conversational and made me feel comfortable as I entered.
As I started to speak, he said, "Oh, you're Jamaican. Is your husband an American who travels a lot, diving?"
Ah, yes, you must be the lovely driver my husband told me he had recently.
Yes, he was my customer on Friday. What a small world. We spoke about everything, and your husband was familiar with the region I'm from and also Eritrea and Ethiopia.
What a random coincidence.
This driver also spoke about strong family values and said that he gave up his cleaning job of 16 years and has been driving for the last 5 years. This way, he says he can return home for extended periods to be with his mum.
The driver was considerate and told me that he picked up my husband from around the block at the end of the street, but he would take me into the parking lot and as far as his car would take me. I thanked him and smiled as I walked through the bushes with my torch.
I think it pays to be courteous to taxi drivers.
The canals are relatively safe, but I try to avoid walking alone along the towpaths at night, as I feel vulnerable in these situations.
The last time I travelled late at night, I was terrified of walking down a secluded towpath in the dark; The taxi driver from Afghanistan was engaging and I contemplated asking him if he would be kind enough to park and shine his lights until I was out of sight... then I scratched the idea and decided not to ask. As I was about to exit the taxi, the driver offered to do exactly that.
I explained to him that I was going to ask him to, but didn't bother. I tipped him £5, and when I got to the boat, I saw that he was still there, so I flashed my boat light twice to let him know that I was safe. 🙏
Kindness and being courteous doesn't cost a thing, and it pays off:)
What rocks my boat
My blog frequently features my minimalist lifestyle and adventures while living on my narrowboat.”
Irie love,
Milly
