Dar taxi: their voices, their stories

  After using Bolt as my mode of transportation back home for nearly 4 months, I've noticed that most drivers are well-educated, and it's always disappointing to see these well-educated people not putting their education to use. It always makes me lose hope because it reminds me that there is a chance that I will not use the knowledge I learned in school or that my school smarts will lead to nothing. But my recent drive home with Andrew made me see a different perspective. Andrew picked me up from school at 4:00 p.m. The first few minutes were quiet until he told me that he thought my school was only for Indians and he was surprised that I went there. I laughed and told him that there were many “locals” at the school too. He proceeded to make a pretty good guess by saying that my school uses a different curriculum, I told him that he was correct. He asked what curriculum I take then to which I replied the IB. He didn’t sound interested in the IB but he wanted to know if I can a...

I know rideshare drivers act like good listeners so they can get good ratings but my conversations with Matthew felt different, they did not feel inauthentic and it did not feel like he was just listening for the sake of a good rating. I felt like he wanted to learn something from him and for me to learn something from him. It was 3:45 p.m., and I'd been waiting for my transport home for quite some time. Matthew arrived to take me up and apologised for the delay. He humbly addressed me as "Boss," which I didn't like because it wasn't something I heard very often. My 45-minute drive began as soon as I got into his car. Matthew broke the ice just a few minutes into the trip. He inquired as to what form I was in. (The term "form" refers to grades/years in the Tanzanian secondary education system). I told him I was in a Form 6 equivalent and that I followed a different curriculum (the IB diploma programme). He was intrigued by the diploma program and he show...

I love maps! It is not an exaggeration to say that I am obsessed with maps. Maps provide a distinct perspective on the world and transform ordinary locales into exquisite works of art. My favourite maps are the ones of my native country, Tanzania, the United States of America, Europe, Germany, Washington DC, and, of course, Dar es Salaam. Although I enjoy maps, I have never encountered somebody who is as enthusiastic about them as I am until this week, when I was driven home by John, a fellow map aficionado. When I hire a bolt, I always know I'm in for a different individual every day, but I never expected to meet someone who enjoys maps as much as I do. This all changed on Wednesday when John arrived.  John picked me up around 3:30 p.m., and while we were both tongue-tied at the start of the journey, things changed fast when John highlighted Tabata's sheer size. For those who don't know, Tabata is a neighbourhood in Dar es Salaam where I live. Tabata, on the other hand, is...

  Hi!  My name is Grayson, and I reside 17 kilometres (or roughly 11 miles for my American readers) away from my high school. Although 17 kilometres may not seem like much, my city's infrastructure ensures that it takes me 45 to 60 minutes to get to school. Yes, it seems annoying, but after taking the same route to school for more than six months, you learn to get used to it. I typically have a calm, uneventful, and occasionally scenic morning journey to school. My evening commute is rather unique. I use the ridesharing app Bolt to get home, and as a result of Bolt, I get picked up by a new driver each day. Each driver has a distinct narrative, point of view, and voice. These drivers make my evening. journey more intriguing, exciting, and less dull. Most of them are typically friendly and hospitable, and most of all, they have a tale to share. Every narrative feels like it comes from a separate realm. Some worlds are gloomy, while others are more lighthearted, funny, and whole...