what have you done with your morning?
Mar. 24th, 2008 02:08 pmI founded a new circle of hell dedicated to people who jump taxi queues.
Was doing my usual block-long walk scouring for a cab today, running late like you sometimes do when no piece of clothing you own looks right. Out of desperation and uncertainty how long my feet would hold up in new heels, I stopped at a taxi stand halfway along. Being only the second of two people waiting, I felt my chances of being at work sometime soon were good.
A cab appears not a minute later, all but prompting me to dance. I'm next! Is this a magical spot? So I step up, practically bouncing with happiness, when a Filipino woman (this is important to note, as NOBODY messes with Emirati women no matter what they do) walks past and stops maybe 10 feet ahead of me, then looks back dismissively. I think, Don't think so, lady. And when a taxi does pull up, stopping closer to her, I rush ahead and block her getting in, pointedly noting I was there first (the likelihood of her understanding English being very high, in my experience). I tell the driver jareedat al etihad.
Nothing. He just looks at me in the rearview mirror, shaking his head and repeating no, no, no, no. I try this two more times before realizing it's not worth the toll on my blood pressure and get out. Thankfully, another taxi was by in a minute or so, and with Goldfrapp soothing my soul we made it to work.
A colleague suggested I should've pressed my case further, which I would have if not for the reasonable certainty that another cab would be by very soon. Next time, though, it's war.
Was doing my usual block-long walk scouring for a cab today, running late like you sometimes do when no piece of clothing you own looks right. Out of desperation and uncertainty how long my feet would hold up in new heels, I stopped at a taxi stand halfway along. Being only the second of two people waiting, I felt my chances of being at work sometime soon were good.
A cab appears not a minute later, all but prompting me to dance. I'm next! Is this a magical spot? So I step up, practically bouncing with happiness, when a Filipino woman (this is important to note, as NOBODY messes with Emirati women no matter what they do) walks past and stops maybe 10 feet ahead of me, then looks back dismissively. I think, Don't think so, lady. And when a taxi does pull up, stopping closer to her, I rush ahead and block her getting in, pointedly noting I was there first (the likelihood of her understanding English being very high, in my experience). I tell the driver jareedat al etihad.
Nothing. He just looks at me in the rearview mirror, shaking his head and repeating no, no, no, no. I try this two more times before realizing it's not worth the toll on my blood pressure and get out. Thankfully, another taxi was by in a minute or so, and with Goldfrapp soothing my soul we made it to work.
A colleague suggested I should've pressed my case further, which I would have if not for the reasonable certainty that another cab would be by very soon. Next time, though, it's war.