Because I do not own a car, I ride in taxicabs to my office and wherever I need to go. Cab drivers in Kabul have some of the most interesting stories to tell. They often look at signs of conversation encouragement from the passenger. They will shoot off with a small comment and then depending on how you respond to it, they will continue discussing a topic.
The political knowledge of ordinary Afghans - literate and illiterate - is interesting. Everyone has an opinion about a political decision, party or act. You hear a lot of criticism of the government, while some of the drivers would also acknowledge the difficulties facing the Afghan government.
If not about politics, the conversation is either about women or an heroic act that the driver performed somewhere, sometimes ago. The majority of these cabdrivers come from poor families with very conservative beliefs - and those beliefs often encourage repressive customs and practices. These also include a mandatory wearing of burqa - the ugly head to toe cover for poor Afghan women.
When they hear my anti-burqa arguments, they start to slowly accept the validity of points I present. I have challenged a few men to wear that cover in a hot summer day and try to pass the heavy Kabul traffic in mid-downtown.
If you ever happen to ride in one of these Kabul taxis, try not to sit in the front-seat, and also do not allow the driver to take another passenger. It is always good to sit in the backseat and to be alone. If you are a foreigner riding around Kabul, do not show that you are new or unfamiliar with the surroundings.
I cannot give you any tips on how to avoid the dirty seats that the majority of these cabs have, I guess the solution is to save and buy your own car. That is my plan!
The political knowledge of ordinary Afghans - literate and illiterate - is interesting. Everyone has an opinion about a political decision, party or act. You hear a lot of criticism of the government, while some of the drivers would also acknowledge the difficulties facing the Afghan government.
If not about politics, the conversation is either about women or an heroic act that the driver performed somewhere, sometimes ago. The majority of these cabdrivers come from poor families with very conservative beliefs - and those beliefs often encourage repressive customs and practices. These also include a mandatory wearing of burqa - the ugly head to toe cover for poor Afghan women.
When they hear my anti-burqa arguments, they start to slowly accept the validity of points I present. I have challenged a few men to wear that cover in a hot summer day and try to pass the heavy Kabul traffic in mid-downtown.
If you ever happen to ride in one of these Kabul taxis, try not to sit in the front-seat, and also do not allow the driver to take another passenger. It is always good to sit in the backseat and to be alone. If you are a foreigner riding around Kabul, do not show that you are new or unfamiliar with the surroundings.
I cannot give you any tips on how to avoid the dirty seats that the majority of these cabs have, I guess the solution is to save and buy your own car. That is my plan!
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