UBERING - LOOKING BACK IN THE PAST YEAR

Hard to believe it's been a year since I started giving rides around Middletown. The cool surprises that have come out of it are many.

College kids - While some folks look down on our younger generation, I see the positives. Enthusiasm, compassion, and interesting stories. These kids might be young, but they have done and seen a lot already! 

I should qualify that most of the ride requests have been from international students. Many have been in the United States for high school. They speak English well, they respect their family, and  have traveled to many places, here and abroad. Their families are generally well-off. It IS expensive to go to school here, but the advantages are in the quality of education and experiencing the world.  

Diversity - The first six months, I tried to keep track of all the different countries my passengers have originated. China was the most common. India was the second, no surprise, since they are the two most populated countries on Earth. Mixed in with those, I counted over 20 nations represented. If I include ALL riders, I had over 30. Wow...

Ghana, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Panama, Mexico, Korea, Japan, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Argentina, Australia, Namibia, Jordan, and many others have given me a peek into the mind of people that are, on one hand, similar, on the other very different. 

Take, for example, the two passengers that were maybe the most interesting. One from Israel and the other from Palestine. They rode only a month apart, yet the questions I had were the same. I felt so lucky to have the opportunity to see the world through their eyes, no media bias or political slanting standing in the way of their truth. 

The questions were simple. The young man from Palestine showed passion and resolve in his speaking about home. I asked how he felt about Israel and it's people. I asked about the problems there and if there was hope for a peaceful future. I asked the same of the man from Israel. They both had the same answers. 

What you see in the news is NOT the reality for the common man in that part of the world. According to these two guys, 95% of the people care about each other and want a peaceful resolution to their issues with the land. It's the remaining percentage that creates the issues that have plagued their home for decades. The rest of their stories could have come from anywhere. Most people have the same desires, concerns, and values. They confirm to me that we COULD all get along, if not for those in power that profit from the conflict or are addicted to the power. 

I've had many conversations with people that didn't realize they were NOT just going to sit there and be ignored by their driver! I've had riders that were having a bad day. I've had some that were as happy as could be. I feel like it's my job to lift those that are down and celebrate those that found joy. Talking of hobbies, or work, or vacation destinations, it didn't matter. Getting a stranger to share is something I truly enjoy.

I also enjoy driving, but not at night. I only pick up folks in the daytime, so I don't have drunken fools to deal with. I have met a few that I can call a friend, and a few that I'm sure hope I don't pick them up again, because I talk too much. I've had a few that I had the pleasure of taking on their first ride. 

Long Distance Fun - Most rides are short (less than 20 minutes) but some have crossed state lines. New York City a few times, New Jersey a few times, Virginia more than a few times, DC, and BWI airport have been driven. The really cool part of those trips are, IF you have someone that wants to have a conversation, you can talk about many things. The time just flies by. 

After more than 2000 rides and over 10,000 miles, I can say it is a very interesting way to earn a few extra dollars. Of course I started tracking what I made, hours I worked, and miles I have driven. The average income turned out to be around $8 - $10 an hour. It doesn't sound like much I agree. It serves our purpose though, since I can't be away from Mom for too long at any one stretch.  

The money earned mostly goes to Mom stuff, like saving for travel adventures and related items. I can't imagine doing it full-time though. Too much of ANYTHING, no matter how much fun, is still too much.