When one should not treat the taxi-driver like a taxi-driver
The workshop after school was at Teachers' Network, which was located at Grange Rd near Orchard. My colleague and I had half an hour to get there after we had finished our lessons. I assumed we were gonna share a cab there, but when I suggested we leave, she said coyly, "Someone is picking me up."
Hurrah, savings on cab fare, I thought, after she said it's ok that I tag along. I assumed it was her doting boyfriend who would be giving her a lift.
Yet, it was a blue Comfort cab who came into the school carpark to pick us up. No boyfriend in sight, just 2 other ladies inside the cab. Immediately, I switched my assumption-- she must have liased with her teacher-friends from another school to share a cab to the same workshop, not a bad idea!
"They going for the same course as us?" I asked her inside the cab. She shook her head. Nevertheless, I proceeded to give instructions for the shortest route to Teachers' Network to the taxi uncle, in the brisk, curt manner that you and I are used to giving to people in the service industry. You never knew when taxi-drivers would choose a longer route.
Then the lady passenger in the front seat spoke to my colleague casually in Mandarin, in the familial manner that one reserves for family members. I saw that she was a middle-aged auntie.
That was when it dawned on me. Sheepishly, I sneaked a peek at the taxi meter; it was off. I berated myself inwardly for not realising that it was my colleague's family in the cab. At the same time, I was relieved that I did not give my colleague's father more curt instructions like "Turn up the air-con, very hot" or "Switch the radio channel to FM 99.5" (not that I usually do anyway).
Finally, we reached our destination. Trying my best to sound as appreciative and grateful as I could, I said "Thank you, Uncle". And he nodded and smiled.
The workshop after school was at Teachers' Network, which was located at Grange Rd near Orchard. My colleague and I had half an hour to get there after we had finished our lessons. I assumed we were gonna share a cab there, but when I suggested we leave, she said coyly, "Someone is picking me up."
Hurrah, savings on cab fare, I thought, after she said it's ok that I tag along. I assumed it was her doting boyfriend who would be giving her a lift.
Yet, it was a blue Comfort cab who came into the school carpark to pick us up. No boyfriend in sight, just 2 other ladies inside the cab. Immediately, I switched my assumption-- she must have liased with her teacher-friends from another school to share a cab to the same workshop, not a bad idea!
"They going for the same course as us?" I asked her inside the cab. She shook her head. Nevertheless, I proceeded to give instructions for the shortest route to Teachers' Network to the taxi uncle, in the brisk, curt manner that you and I are used to giving to people in the service industry. You never knew when taxi-drivers would choose a longer route.
Then the lady passenger in the front seat spoke to my colleague casually in Mandarin, in the familial manner that one reserves for family members. I saw that she was a middle-aged auntie.
That was when it dawned on me. Sheepishly, I sneaked a peek at the taxi meter; it was off. I berated myself inwardly for not realising that it was my colleague's family in the cab. At the same time, I was relieved that I did not give my colleague's father more curt instructions like "Turn up the air-con, very hot" or "Switch the radio channel to FM 99.5" (not that I usually do anyway).
Finally, we reached our destination. Trying my best to sound as appreciative and grateful as I could, I said "Thank you, Uncle". And he nodded and smiled.
