On our trip to Glendale Az to attend a couple Dodger Spring Training Games we elected to use Uber for all travel rather than rent a car. Having never experienced Uber before we were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use and how relatively inexpensive it was. If we are ever allowed to travel again in the future I doubt we would ever rent a car again. Uber is the only way to go.
The most positive thing about each Uber ride experience was getting to chat with each driver. Each one is too much to comment on, however one in particular stands out to me. A middle aged Black Women, when asked her Country of Origin, proudly stated Africa. She went on to tell us how she came to end up in Glendale/Phoenix Az. She, her 4 kids, and her mother escaped during the uprising/war in her African Country to a neighboring Country, where they spent 10 yrs in a refugee camp. Finally they were approved to immigrate to America. They have been here many yrs now, all have become citizens. Her oldest just turned 21. She works driving Uber 12 hrs. a day, six days of the week. She had never driven a vehicle before coming to America, (she was an excellent driver) nor did she speak any English, (her English was perfect). She couldn’t say enough about her new country (America) and was so grateful for the Welcoming she has found here. I was touched as she spoke of her life.
A personal Note:
I freely admit that through the yrs I have had a bit of a racist view of ‘Black’ and their difference to my ‘White’ surrounding. Meeting this African Women and listening to her speak about her experience in trying to come to America, how hard she is working to provide for her family now that she is here, how proud she is not only still of her native country but also of her new home, America, all within the short span of a Uber ride, changed me and my views on Race. This woman does not know what kind of an impact she had on the fare she hauled, but I do, and I thank her for it.
