When the pandemic started to get serious in the U.S around mid March government and private companies started to close down. The last couple of days I worked before the closedown were very memorable. Last Saturday night I worked when high numbers started emerging, I gave a ride to a guy who worked as a DJ player. He cried in the back seat because all his appointments were canceled up to june he said. He had no Idea what was going to happen. Another group of friends I picked from a strip club in Baltimore to Twoson where they lived, they were careless about everything and all agreed no matter what will happen they will keep their jobs, I hope they did. I gave other rides that night but those that stuck in my mind.
I don’t work Sundays, but that first Monday was the last day I worked. I remember a girl that came out to her ride with her eyes red and swollen obviously was crying. I asked nicely if everything was ok? She said her boyfriend who worked as a waiter just got a text not to come to work for the next two weeks and it can be extended. She worked as an event planner, I was driving her to work, she received a text from her manager for an early meeting and she was expecting to be laid off for God knows how long. Another lady who worked mostly from home, but had to go to work that morning started bashing the government for not taking things seriously and taking a long time to act.
Since everywhere was closing down my work was getting slow so I decided not to work anymore until I hear the end of it. I stayed home for the following two months mid March – mid May. Luckily it was a productive break. I stopped some bad habits and started a couple good ones which took hard training. I decided to start working again because my savings ran out and my unemployment didn’t kick in yet. I was excited to go back to work since I like meeting new people plus, there’s a lot to talk about with everything going on. I was also observing the month of Ramadan for the first time in ten years and it was a good opportunity to fast while staying home, but I wanted to make more effort to see how far I can go, I’m glad I did.
Started again in mid May in Baltimore city where I live because my schedule is unclear to drive in DC where I love to Rideshare. The first 5 days I gave 69 rides, I noticed something strange. African Americans are the majority in Baltimore, but when I worked here before I gave rides to white people at least 40% of the time. During the pandemic out of these 69 rides only 2 were for caucasians. I honestly don’t know what to attribute this to? may the level of education or the financial status of more advantaged people that allowed them to stay home or not take Ubers. Generally speaking African Americans didn’t seem to be afraid of the virus despite all the exaggerated news. Maybe it comes from their lack of trust in the American government?
I’m determined to keep working since I’m following all the guidelines the rideshare platforms provided for the drivers. I also want to observe how people are reacting to this pandemic and its results that will be noticed in the economy very soon. In addition I’m taking supplements as antioxidants so I could keep my cells safe from getting infected by the virus as advised by many doctors. More importantly I have renewed my faith in God and I feel fearless to this Pandemic and whatever comes. Fear weakens our immune systems and makes us more vulnerable to infections according to some psychology studies. Not only that, but it stops us from facing the challenges in this world that make us better and stronger.
ABZU 