As I waited with no real hope of getting a ride all the back to the orphanage, I was shocked to have a driver tell me he would give me a ride. Typically, around lunch time, most multicab drivers will only circle the city because that’s were all the money is. Since I live in Malaybalay city, but the orphanage is a couple of towns (only about 20 minutes drive though) away, I tend to do a little waiting, hoping a driver will finally arrive. Today, I got lucky pretty early.
One cab stopped beside me with a sign in the front window that alerted me that, like all the other cabs, he was only circling the city. When I told him where I needed to go, he took his sign out of the window and told me to hop in. There were already a few girls in the back, but I just joined them, ready to make the ride back out. Less than 30 seconds later, the girls tapped the top of the car to tell the driver they would stop. Typically, these cabs are full with up to 15 people, but now, I was the only one left. My driver looked in the rearview window and just said, “You transfer up here.” Broken english for, “Come sit by me”.
I hopped out of the back for my first experience of riding in front in a multicab. The driver was all smiles when I slid in. These drivers need the money, so this is absurd that he would make a trip just for me. He quickly told me his name was Noel and asked if I would speak in English with him because he wanted the practice. I told him how thankful I was that he would go all the way out to where the orphanage was just for me. He just smiled and started asking all the English questions he knew; “What is your name? How old are you? What country are you from? Are you married?” When he ran out of questions, he just started over again.
This continued for a few minutes and we were just laughing and smiling as we repeated the questions, but changed up the answers with each round. Here was this man, that is working as a multicab driver, that was willing to give up any money he could make in the busiest 40 minutes of the day and take a totally non cost effective trip to two towns away. And for what? Four questions repeated over and over? When I even tried to pay with my coin, he told me no and gave me his number in case I ever needed a ride. I put my coin back in my pocket and dropped the first bill I pulled out of my pocket and dropped it on his dash.
How often do we put our livelihood on hold so that we can get to know, or just be a good host to someone else? I’ve loved living in this culture because of just how hospitable they are (that and Americans are all rock stars out here…). Even with all the gifts and welcomings I’ve received, this was a first today. I always put a ton of pressure on myself to make someone else’s day that I miss out on when someone tries to make mine. I truly am glad to live in community and that there are others around me. Sometimes it’s the simple things…
