September 4 - My interesting cab rides

I mentioned in my last post that I had a couple of interesting cab rides and so I did.  From the lower city I rode to the hotel for tea with a cab driver named Sameer.  As I try to do usually, I sat in the front seat so I could have a conversation with him.  Doing this has afforded me the opportunity to get to know the perspectives of people from lots of different countries which I would never have  gotten otherwise. Just by happenstance the same cab driver was first in the taxi line when I finished with tea so we continued our conversation on the way back to the ship.

I asked Sameer where he was from and he told me originally from Afghanistan but he’s lived in Canada for 7 or 8 years and he’s married to a Canadian woman with whom he has a few kids.  I  asked if he still has family in Afghanistan and he said he did – a mother, some sisters, brothers and other extended relatives. I then asked how things were for them there.  His responses floored me.  He told me that things were good there now that the war is over and the Taliban have taken over.  Wow!  I asked what his mother and sisters thought about things now.  Sameer said that they know that things have to settle down and that life will be good because the old regime was corrupt (I can believe that) and that the Taliban are more honest and fair (really?).  As our conversation progressed he said his mother used to be a nurse and one sister an ultrasound technician, but they can’t do that now and that’s okay. The fact that women can’t go to high schools or universities is also okay with him. Sameer said that it will take time to really get sorted out, but that he is hopeful that in a few years  Afghanistan will evolve into a country like what he said is the most successful country in the southwest Asian area – Iran!  He proceeded to tell me what a model that country is in terms of every aspect of governance, economy, education and life in general.  I just listen in these conversations and don’t make any comments or voice opinions.  I have to confess that this time I was really floored.  I don’t think I’ve ever personally talked to someone who thinks like this man did.  I’m guessing his Canadian wife must be Muslim and must at least outwardly agree with him.  I can’t imagine a westernized Canadian woman would be able to relate to his thinking.  I do have to say, Sameer was very pleasant to me and treated me respectfully.

Anyway, I just had to write about this because it was a pretty eye-opening experience for me.  I’ve only read about Muslims who believe these things so to talk to one was very educational.

On this, our fourth day in total in Quebec, I’ve taken a day off.  I was pretty tired from yesterday’s activities and between last year’s stop here and this one I’ve seen quite a lot.  If I liked traveling on land by myself, Quebec would definitely be a city I’d consider spending a few days visiting.  Tomorrow we’re going back to Saguenay and in just a week and a half this cruise will be over.  The time has really gone by fast!