Again it's taken me ages to write. But here I am.
Sometimes one comes across the strangest statistics. What are the chances that the three taxis you take in a row (well almost), will be driven by some of the most educated people around? One getting an M.A. in International Relations with a focus on South Asia. One who had finished his M.S. in Information Technology. And it gets better. One who was in the third year of his PhD. in Nursing. Three taxi drivers who had three things in common. All of them driving cabs to support the costs of their education. All of them immigrants from developing countries. And all of them pursuing the American dream.
Since I am nothing if not curious, I got into conversations with each one of them.
The one who wanted to make a career in International Relations was from Bangladesh and had migrated with his parents and most of his siblings. We discussed applying to Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs and internships at the UN. From my sister's experience in the international development sector, I had some real pointers for him. All the while, feeling amazed and intimidated by his passion and drive.
The second one, from India, had graduated and also just had a child and needed to support his family while applying for jobs. We talked about the recruitment process at Accenture and other big name firms because those were the ones he was applying to. Having gone through the throes of application pain recently, I could empathize and exchange notes in great detail!
The doctoral student was from Ethiopia and told me that he just wanted to have a better job once he finished school. He was in the U.S. with his dad while most of his siblings had moved to different parts of the developed world and only his mother was still in Ethiopia. When I asked him if it was difficult to be so scattered (again something that I had experience with), he said that they all wanted to have a better life. And then we commiserated about the endless tunnel that is a PhD since my husband is currently in the midst of one, too :)
Each one wanted a better life--the American dream--and seemed to have the drive to get there. But I wonder how high the cost is and if it is worth all the sacrifices people make.
I have no clue what background these three taxi drivers come from, socially and economically. I don't know what kind of a life they left behind. Or family. But I do know that each time I convince myself that the world is my oyster, I feel like too many pieces are concentrated in one spot and that spot is very far away.
Sometimes one comes across the strangest statistics. What are the chances that the three taxis you take in a row (well almost), will be driven by some of the most educated people around? One getting an M.A. in International Relations with a focus on South Asia. One who had finished his M.S. in Information Technology. And it gets better. One who was in the third year of his PhD. in Nursing. Three taxi drivers who had three things in common. All of them driving cabs to support the costs of their education. All of them immigrants from developing countries. And all of them pursuing the American dream.
Since I am nothing if not curious, I got into conversations with each one of them.
The one who wanted to make a career in International Relations was from Bangladesh and had migrated with his parents and most of his siblings. We discussed applying to Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs and internships at the UN. From my sister's experience in the international development sector, I had some real pointers for him. All the while, feeling amazed and intimidated by his passion and drive.
The second one, from India, had graduated and also just had a child and needed to support his family while applying for jobs. We talked about the recruitment process at Accenture and other big name firms because those were the ones he was applying to. Having gone through the throes of application pain recently, I could empathize and exchange notes in great detail!
The doctoral student was from Ethiopia and told me that he just wanted to have a better job once he finished school. He was in the U.S. with his dad while most of his siblings had moved to different parts of the developed world and only his mother was still in Ethiopia. When I asked him if it was difficult to be so scattered (again something that I had experience with), he said that they all wanted to have a better life. And then we commiserated about the endless tunnel that is a PhD since my husband is currently in the midst of one, too :)
Each one wanted a better life--the American dream--and seemed to have the drive to get there. But I wonder how high the cost is and if it is worth all the sacrifices people make.
I have no clue what background these three taxi drivers come from, socially and economically. I don't know what kind of a life they left behind. Or family. But I do know that each time I convince myself that the world is my oyster, I feel like too many pieces are concentrated in one spot and that spot is very far away.
