I don’t know about you, but I love talking to taxi drivers. More often than not they have an opinion and are willing to share it. They are a wealth of local knowledge, invaluable to a constantly inquisitive traveler like me.
On one trip in Lusaka I was chatting
to Chris, a local taxi driver. He was taking me from my hotel to the
Swedish Embassy a short drive away. After the usual discussion about
the fare, conversation turned rapidly to football. He gave the usual
nonstop hysterical laughing fit at the suggestion QPR were obviously
the greatest football team in the world and we soon settled down to
further discussion about family and work.
Once he knew I worked with HIV, he told me of family members who had passed away and the devastation the disease was causing. Now I know this will seem rude, but I always make a point of asking whether the taxi driver has had an HIV test or not and in Chris’s case it was no different. His answer was the same one every taxi driver I have ever spoken to in Africa has given.
NO.
The reasoning is this: “Since you cannot provide treatment for me, there is no point in me taking the test since I am going to die in a few years anyway. If I take the test and I am positive, I will lose my job, my friends and possibly my family, and I will die a lonely poor man in a few years. However, if I don’t take the test, then I will not know, I will keep my job, my friends and my family, and will still die in a few years but not as lonely and not as poor.” Of course I always ask the question: “Aren’t you scared of spreading the disease?” Chris’s response was typical – a shrug of the shoulders and a change of conversation back to football.
Thank you in advance for your quick answer !. Very nice post.
Posted by: Alışveriş | November 30, 2009 at 11:40 AM
nothing can compare to the beauty of this magnificent work of art of nature
Posted by: buy valtrex | April 17, 2010 at 12:01 AM
The natural insitinct is to look for value in tech stocks when you want to capitalize on the tech revolution, right? Wrong. The tech revolution has arguably created the most value in retail, notably the success of Wal-mart and the Walton family fortune.
Posted by: Nike Shox Classic Sale | February 15, 2011 at 04:22 AM
None of the turmoil that routinely attends film-star existence ever seemed to visit the Astaire household.
Posted by: air jordan | February 26, 2011 at 02:37 AM
Buildings are not cheap and not every person is able to buy it. However, business loans are created to help people in such kind of situations.
Posted by: MAYO26Ramona | March 27, 2011 at 05:26 PM
I was in Lusaka for a week just to catch a taxi with them, not several. Both drivers appeared to experience a professional and very well and I ended up very happy with the taxi service.
Posted by: barnet taxi | April 19, 2011 at 04:19 PM
His answer was the same one every taxi driver I have ever spoken to in Africa has given.
Posted by: ClubPenguin | May 05, 2011 at 11:10 AM