In an age where mobile screens have hijacked relationships, where keypad sounds buzz louder than face to face conversations, where deadlines have more chance of meeting than your dear friend from Kajang, Uber is a blessing in disguise to my otherwise cheap commute (monorail) to work.
Sometimes my excuse is ‘I don’t know the way’, or ‘I don’t trust Waze’, other times the driver wants me to sit in front, out of fear of getting badgered by other cab drivers, in either case I enter the car with an intention of going from point A to point B, but almost always end up meeting and having long conversations with different types of Uber drivers.
Some drivers are funny, some are serious but they all have some story to tell. Here are some of those different drivers I have met;
- The ex oil and gas employee now a driver
“I earned a high salary in my previous job, but guess what, Uber doesn’t pay that bad too”
- The struggling job seeker driver
“You know sir, economy of Malaysia is not all that good, I am finding it tough to find the job I really like, till then Uber helps me sustain”
- The fund my fees student driver
“Earlier I use to work in a café, now I drive. I like Uber as I can earn more, and also get to meet different types of people”
- The soccer mom driver
“I took up Uber driving, as I have to send my children to school every-day. I use my in between free time to drive and earn a little extra income”
- The once a businessman driver
“I incurred big losses in my real estate business, I am a contractor by profession, Uber is helping me sustain some of my losses”
- The never became salesman of the year driver
“I am a salesman, but the fixed income is so low, that I have to find alternate ways to make more money”
- I am a millionaire but still like to drive driver
“I am a Geologist working in China. Every-time I come back to Malaysia on a holiday, I drive Uber. It’s so boring to be at home doing nothing”
- I am recovering from my mental illness driver
“I am doctor my profession, but due to my mental illness, I am not practicing medicine any more. Uber lets me meet new people, and it\’s helping me cope up with my issues”
- I have a GF who will not marry me, because I am a Uber driver
“I have had my relationships in the past, but no girl takes me seriously as I am a Uber driver”
- I am an aspiring Bollywood actor part-time driver
“I am doing a course in acting and art direction. All my friends are married and doing stable jobs, I am 28 and still not finished my course. I know my passion will not pay me a stable income soon, but that doesn’t dissuade me from pursuing my childhood passion”
- My boss doesn’t know I am a Uber driver
“Well I have some much free time, that I can drive Uber and still finish my daily sales calls on time”. Sshhh….my boss is calling me, I have to pretend that I am still at home”
The next time you’re calling a Uber, remember there’s more to your ride than just commuting from point A to point B, only if you have an open mind. If you are stereotyping your Uber driver to be boring, less cool and kitsch like then you might want to rethink about it. There are all kinds of people out there, and a little dollop of conversation won’t harm your ride.
So, do share with me an interesting conversation or story you had with your Grabcar or Uber driver. I would love to hear them.