The Dark Side

Occasionslly I am in a situation where I think, why would they do this. Why did people join the Royal Navy in the days of Nelson, they lived on the ships in awful conditions for years on end. Of course, the reason is that is was better than the alternative ….in this case they got three meals a day and access to medical care which is something they did not get on land.

On my last trip to Dubai I saw a modern-day version of this. I needed to take a 30-minute taxi ride and got chatting to the Indian driver. He told me he worked 10 months of the year and went home for a two month break each year, nothing unusual here, that’s the way it works in the Middle East. He had no family in Dubai his wife and Children live in India because he does not have the sort of job that allows him to bring his family to Dubai.  He told me that we worked 12-hour nightshift …. seven days a week for the 10 months he was in Dubai. He lived in a two bedroom flat with seven other taxi drivers, he shared a bed with the driver that drove his taxi during the 12-hour day shift. The taxi they drove had 410,000 Kilometres on the clock and was 18 months old.

He is on a commission only job he earns approximately 900 Euro a month and Pays 260 Euro for accommodation and food, he keeps approximately 100 Euro for himself and then sends 550 Euro home to the extended family in India. He had been working in Dubai for over 20 years. Why do he do it, because it’s better than the alternative of living and working in India.  The same India that has a huge amount of multi millionares.

When I think about I remember what a lucky life I have had and am forever thankful of that. I gave him a big tip, always take the chance to talk to “the little guy” and see life from their perspective. They only want the same for their families that I want for my own ……. the best. It’s just I have been luckier than most and I should never ever forget that.