Meet Salem, the cabbie who says the job requires psychiatry skills
Salem Al-Fuady says trips can become a balancing act between who he is and who he needs to be for his customer
Cabbie Confidential is a CBC London series that asks the men and women who know our city streets the best to "tell all" about what they see on the roads, who they meet and some of their hopes for this city.
There's more to driving a cab than, well, just driving.
Salem Al-Fuady, who's been on the job in London for 20 years, says that while he loves getting to meet new people, so many daily interactions can take a toll.
The CBC's Sofia Rodriguez hopped into his cab to find out his story. Here's part of that conversation:
How did you end up driving this cab?
When you come from a war zone, such as Iraq, you try to prove yourself and provide for your family back home so they can live a better life. In 1995 I was looking for a job so hard and it was really hard to get one as a newcomer. I worked at a hotel for a bit and then a friend told me to try a cab. I tried it and I loved it. After a few years, it got harder.
Why was that?
It's all about patience and common sense in this business. You need to [recognize] the customer's mood — they want to talk, or they don't want to talk, they broke up with their girlfriend. You got all these kinds of things and you basically have to be a psychiatrist, because you have to calm them down and you have to help them as much as you can. That part I love, but it's really tiring.
Sometimes you have to change your personality for every single customer. So, it becomes a balancing act between my own [personality] and who the customers need. If it's at night, I really have to go along with them because if they're intoxicated, it can get bad. So when people swear at me, I just smile to ease my life.
What's the worst customer experience you've had while driving this cab?
There's been a lot. When you work nights it can be really dangerous. When you leave the house you don't know if you're coming back or not. Maybe you do come back, but are you in one piece? Are you happy? Was there a fight? Were you in a robbery? Al of that can happen.
That's happened to you?
Once, someone pulled a knife on my throat and asked me for the money. I gave him all the money. I called police and, luckily, they caught the guy and got the money back, but he could've killed me in the moment. But, I guess that's life.
- Favourite street to drive on: I love driving through Old South because it's beautiful.
- Least favourite street to drive on: There are good people in bad streets, but sometimes I don't like King Edward Avenue. You never know what people are going to do there and with some people it's a hassle for the payment.
- What's the one thing London drivers do that annoys you most? They're slow. Disastrously slow. It feels like they have no common sense.
Did that change your perspective on wanting to drive this cab?
Actually, the London community is one of the best and when I serve this area, I'd say 99 per cent of people are great, sweet and polite. Sometimes it's just that the good guy is being stupid because of some drinks, things like that. Sometimes there are girls who were left alone at the bar, they're cold and just want to get home and you feel like you've helped them. When you deal with these great people and you help them, it gives you calmness and that's why i stay working in this business.
What's the one thing you wish people who got into your cab did more of?
Nothing. I'm not expecting anybody to make me feel good, because I'm here doing A to Z to take you wherever you want. All I wish is respect. As much as you respect yourself, respect me. Treat me the way you want to be treated.
