Mr. Cab Driver

Yes, that number from Lenny Kravitz. The scene from that song as well happened to me when i first came to the land down under. I choose to write about this now because it happened right when I came here, and the song I'm listening to reminds me of this incident. 

With the instalment of the first black President of the United States, one would assume that racism is virtually non-existent today. But as of 2 or possible more months ago (I know I'm very late with this) I observed and experienced otherwise. As expected, this particular incident involves a white man, an Indian man, and me. But the chain of events are not exactly of what you'd expect. I shall stress beforehand that I threw no insults or objections the whole time. So no, it wasn't because I was rude. Here goes:

It was my second morning Melbourne. I had just taken a ride in the tram for the first time, my tummy filled with meat pie to last me through the day. I went to the central station (equivalent to the KL central back home) because I had no idea how I was supposed to get to school. After lot's of searching and inquiries, I still made no headway because my school, as much as it's famous, is still probably the smallest and least well known university in Melbourne. So I decided that, since it was my first time, I'd splurge and take the cab. 

Now for this story to make sense, you have to know that at Flinders Station (the equivalent of the KL central), you can't just hail a cab as portrayed in American movies or as per the Malaysian culture. There are special lanes designated for getting taxicab service. Much like any other central stations anywhere. These special lanes are covered with fences on it's sides leaving just enough space in the middle for slightly more than one but not enough for two. 

So I line up behind some people who were already waiting. Shortly after, a middle-aged white couple lined up behind me. Ten minutes of waiting and I was finally at the front of the line. It wasn't long before a cab stopped by where we were to pick people up. Instinctively, I walked towards the back door of the car. But before I managed to open the back door, the cab driver came out (which I found weird because usually, he waits in the car while passengers get on board). He was a middle-aged Indian guy. Quite obvious that he was an immigrant because of his thick Indian accent. More than half of Australian cab drivers are immigrants from Asia who settle here. 

The cab driver who has stepped out of his car, calls out to the white couple behind me. Now, I was more confused than affronted. I thought that maybe there was a ticketing system or whatever that I didn't know about that I hadn't complied to. Buuuut, the white couple, being polite and respectful of my place in front of the line, told me to go first. Instead, the Indian csb driver says to me "did I say you were next? I called out to them didn't I?" in his thick accent quite rudely while pointing to the white couple. The couple was surprised and was quite affronted. They proceeded to debate with him about the fact that I was at the front of the line, logically suggesting that I am by all means and purposes, the next to receive the taxicab service. Yes, the couple was arguing for my sake while the cab driver went on a rant saying migrants like me come here to make trouble and don't understand simple instructions in simple English. He continues to say that he'll choose who he decides to ferry around in his cab and chooses not to ferry someone who probably doesn't even know how to tell him where he'd like to go. What was I doing you ask....... well, I was standing there, gobsmacked, speechless and blank-faced (probably fuelled his idea about my inferiority). Not even knowing that I was being insulted and racially discriminated. After a while of this, while still not exactly comprehending the true nature of the situation, I asked the cab driver what the problem was. He shuts me up by telling me that I don't need to start talking. I was affronted but couldn't get a word in edgewise because he then ends the argument with the couple and points to the people behind the couple and ferries them instead. Leaving me and the couple to catch the next cab. 

I didn't go to school that day. Didn't take a cab or anything. I thought that since it was only orientation, It wouldn't be a matter. Months have gone by and I have found that to be true. I thought that I'd find a proper and cheaper way to get to school by doing some research considering it was the weekend the next day. Instead, after that fiasco, I spent my time walking and getting lost, just to explore the city and it's cultures. The kind couple asked me if I was alright. I still wasn't sure of what happened at that point and assured them I was fine. They were probably very sympathetic of my plight after that because they spent a whole 20 minutes or so just telling me of the places of which I might find useful (places to eat, government offices, immigration, etc.). I found a spot and sat down for a while just wondering about what had happened. I did in the end, understand what happened and continued to brood for a while. I however, stopped brooding when I found a place that sold 1 dollar pizza slices. Compared to the prices here, that was the cheapest and filled me up well. 

So there it was. My first full day in Melbourne and I already saw the best and worst this city could offer. As much as I do not advocate it, I believe racism has never left the world. We hear tales of white cab drivers not picking up black guys as is expressed by the great Lenny Kravitz. I did think that there was a chance that it might happen to me when I get here, but never in a million years did I expect to get it from an Asian guy holding on to stereotypes against his own kind and a white who argues for my sake. 

You'd think, compared to what was about a hundred years ago with the open discrimination against women and certain races, the world is a better place today. But these events give me a reason to believe that some people are still as stupid as people were back then. Racism no longer an issue? I have reason to believe that in certain factions, it just got uglier......