Jonathan the cab driver and the risk of taking things for granted

Posted in Business | General/Misc. | Travel on January 23, 2012

On a recent cab ride to a Dallas shoot location, I met Jonathan. He’s from Ethiopia.

After the usual exchange of pleasantries, I asked Jonathan how he came to be driving a cab in Dallas. He said he was an engineering student at a local university, and was there on a full scholarship, courtesy of the United States government and that university. He was on his own for living expenses, so he drove a cab at night to pay the rent.

Jonathan told me he’d sat for many exams to get the scholarship. He left his wife and family behind to take the opportunity; he’s been in Dallas for two years, and has at least two years to go, more if he pursues a masters degree. He can’t afford to visit home in the interim, nor can he afford to bring his wife here.

Over and over, he kept saying “thanks to God” for being able to study in what he referred to as “this beautiful country” and for the opportunities he’s been presented with. The key word here is opportunity. There’s no success without hard work, and he knew this.

He said that he’s continually amazed at how many people complain to him about their lot in life. “There’s plenty of money in this country, plenty of work,” he said, waving one arm at the expanse of businesses that line I-35. “But, here, nobody wants to work.”

Jonathan studied hard, took lots of exams, and received an opportunity. He comes from a country where hard work is the order of the day, a place where hard work usually goes unrewarded, or is simply required in order to eat.

He reminded me that, despite the continual bombardment of bad economic news, we still live in a country with a vibrant economy and plenty of opportunity for those willing to work for it. Times may be tougher than we’re used to, but no one’s shooting at us, our infrastructure is amazing and this is still the land of plenty and of opportunities.

Jonathan hopes to find a job in the States once he graduates and bring his wife here. He has the will and intelligence to succeed, and I would be amazed if he didn’t get everything he hoped for.