My friends the taxi drivers

I see Aryeh almost everyday. I usually go to his house to hang out, and he lives far enough to take a cab. I tried to walk once, but I got lost and had to take a taxi. I'm learning my way around slowly, and I now started to use the bus system. In the meantime, I've been taking many taxis and meeting lots of interesting folks. Because I've taken so many taxis, I feel like there's only a few of them I haven't met!

One of the first days I met a taxi driver whose name was Refad. Refad took me to Aryeh's house once and he got lost, so we had a chance to talk a little. We talked a bit about one another in Arabic, and of course, he gave me his business card. 

The other day I was walking from the guest house toward Mamilla (the mall) to check out some stores before I took the bus to go to school, and there was Refad. He was in his car and when he saw me, he yelled "Mariaaaaaammm!!!!" and I went over to his car to say hi. He asked me where I was going, and I told him the school, it was my first day at work. He said he'd take me. I told him not to worry about it, but he insisted. A lot. So I got in and there was this other guy there that had been waiting while me and Refad talked. 

Refad spoke to me in Arabic, so the other guy wouldn't understand, but also because he was so excited. I asked him where we were going and he said we were dropping off the person that was already in the car and then he would take me. 

We dropped him off and then we really started talking. He was telling me about the hardships of being an Arab and living in Jerusalem. He also told me the complications of being Palestinian because no one really likes Palestinians. We usually hear that all the Arab countries sympathize with the Palestinian cause, but in reality, no one wants them. Jordanians especially, he said. I knew about that already, but it just felt more real hearing it from him. 

The first time I was in Refad's taxi, he treated me like an American. Very nicely, but talking only about the wonderful things in Jerusalem. This second time, it felt as though he let his guard down a bit and started being more honest. He is a good and hard working man. He told me to please call him if I ever needed him. 

I love having good and meaningful conversations with taxi drivers. I can't wait for my dialect to get better so I can ask and understand more and better :)