It was already 1:30pm but I was still trying to hail a cab. My interview was set at 2:00pm. I was standing under the hot Dubai sun, arms flailing every time a cab appeared. My face was fully made-up and I was wearing my favorite blazer.
A car suddenly stopped near me. The man was gesturing for me to approach him. A carlift? That was just what I needed. I opened the door: "I'm going to the Crowne Plaza Hotel along Sheikh Zayed Road." The driver nodded his head. I asked how much. He said he wasn't going to charge any because he is not a carlift. He probably sensed my hesitation but said it was okay. Time was running out so I decided to take the offer. I prayed that he would be another good person.
Meet Hussail, from Tehran, Iran. A red light immediately went off in my head as soon as he said his nationality. In my conversations with people here, people tend to stereotype each nationality so I always make a mental note of these things as an extra precaution. Anyway, as usual, we got stuck in traffic so we had more than enough time to talk. He asked whether I live near the area he saw me (I was feeling like a pick-up girl already..hahaha!), who it was that I was living with, how long I've been in Dubai..the usual questions you would ask a person you've just met..until..
Hussail: "Are you marriage?"
Roma: "I'm sorry? You were asking if I'm married?"
Hussail: "Yes, if you were marriage."
Roma: "No. I am single."
At this point I was really beginning to get a creepy feeling...
Hussail: "How old are you?"
Roma: "27 turning 28."
Running out of words to say, I asked if he was married too.
Hussail: "No, I am also single."
Roma in her mind: "Yikes...what's next?"
Fortunately, we reached the Crowne Plaza Hotel already. As I was about to get off, he said, "Do you mind if I ask for your number?" Halaa!!! I fumble for my phone again, trying to buy time. He had a pen in his hand already. Sensing my hesitation again, he just asked if I could take note of his number, which I did. He asked if I knew where I was going. I said no, but I can call for the exact directions. He said: "are you sure? Otherwise, I would have to wait for you." That would have been a nice gesture but you already freaked me out, I said to myself. I waved goodbye and smiled.
Here's another weird story for the books. :)
A car suddenly stopped near me. The man was gesturing for me to approach him. A carlift? That was just what I needed. I opened the door: "I'm going to the Crowne Plaza Hotel along Sheikh Zayed Road." The driver nodded his head. I asked how much. He said he wasn't going to charge any because he is not a carlift. He probably sensed my hesitation but said it was okay. Time was running out so I decided to take the offer. I prayed that he would be another good person.
Meet Hussail, from Tehran, Iran. A red light immediately went off in my head as soon as he said his nationality. In my conversations with people here, people tend to stereotype each nationality so I always make a mental note of these things as an extra precaution. Anyway, as usual, we got stuck in traffic so we had more than enough time to talk. He asked whether I live near the area he saw me (I was feeling like a pick-up girl already..hahaha!), who it was that I was living with, how long I've been in Dubai..the usual questions you would ask a person you've just met..until..
Hussail: "Are you marriage?"
Roma: "I'm sorry? You were asking if I'm married?"
Hussail: "Yes, if you were marriage."
Roma: "No. I am single."
At this point I was really beginning to get a creepy feeling...
Hussail: "How old are you?"
Roma: "27 turning 28."
Running out of words to say, I asked if he was married too.
Hussail: "No, I am also single."
Roma in her mind: "Yikes...what's next?"
Fortunately, we reached the Crowne Plaza Hotel already. As I was about to get off, he said, "Do you mind if I ask for your number?" Halaa!!! I fumble for my phone again, trying to buy time. He had a pen in his hand already. Sensing my hesitation again, he just asked if I could take note of his number, which I did. He asked if I knew where I was going. I said no, but I can call for the exact directions. He said: "are you sure? Otherwise, I would have to wait for you." That would have been a nice gesture but you already freaked me out, I said to myself. I waved goodbye and smiled.
Here's another weird story for the books. :)
