Opposedly to cab drivers, or "services', who are often rude and offensive, especially to young girls, taxi drivers are always nice and pleasant. It doesn't matter if they're young or middle-aged. Are all taxi drivers that way or is it just another Lebanese signature, to embrace our fellow guests?
Well, Abou Georges will start off by greeting you with his "Ahlaaan! Kifak habibi?" that will definitly make you feel comfortable. As you sit down and he starts the engine, he'll tell you that the weather is crazy in Lebanon just like everything else. By "everything else" he means..Well Beirutis know exactly what he means! As you agree with him, he'll engage you in a political conversation being implicit about his preferences before he figures you out. If you prefer Geagea and he agrees with you, he'll start belittling and cursing the "Aounieh" pointing out how stupid they are for supporting a "pro-syrian" leader. "Majnoun khalli yekhod Xanax!". If you turn out to like Mr Orange, he'll give you that They're-all-useless look under your suspicious eye and slowly change the conversation if he finds something else to talk about.
Plan B, in case silence breaks in, he can always tell you about his family. This is the part where he pulls out pictures of his children from his wallet and you have to go "Smalla!" and draw this fake big smile on your face. It doesn't matter if they're cute or not. But it happens so often that it becomes the automatic response! He'll tell you how proud of them he is, and perhaps slip a story he's probably made up about how they have straight A's without studying!
Before you know it, he's pulling into your garage. "Khalliya 3layna!" You refuse by thanking him for the ride and paying him. It's always nice to have a ride like this. Abou Georges reflects the Lebanese spirit. We are always the best at everything.
