What Was Your Favorite Subject in School?
by Adam Bonislawski
We’ve said it in this space before: you couldn’t give us enough money to go back to high school. We don’t even enjoy reminiscing about the experience. Sure, maybe there were some fun moments getting drunk in the locker room, or playing euchre in the cafeteria, but man… shudder.
DIOUE
Where I hailed him: Harlem
Where he hails from: Senegal
Years as a cabbie: 16
Previous profession: Carpenter
Science! Most definitely science. For me, that was a special subject. I was always good at it. You know, I’m 50 now, and I still wish I’d have done more with chemistry, especially. I loved it. But you have to earn money, right? The periodic table wasn’t going to feed my kids, unfortunately. Not without a college degree.
ERNESTO
Where I hailed him: Williamsburg
Where he hails from: Ecuador
Years as a cabbie: 4
Previous profession: Mover
Girls, man! My favorite subject was the girls. Girls in class, girls at the beach. I learned English, and I learned some history and math, but mainly I was studying the women. I don’t regret it at all. I wish I could go back to school and study some more!
ARUL
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 1
Previous profession: Student
Business is my favorite. I like the classes; I like the challenge. In two years I’ll have my undergraduate degree in business, management and finance from Brooklyn College. I’ll be out of this cab after that. But it’s not so bad driving. I enjoy trying to maximize revenue.
CHEEMA
Where I hailed him: Lower East Side
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Newsstand Attendant
What I liked most when I was in school was the physical education part. I liked playing basketball, especially.
ANG
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: Nepal
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Mountaineering Guide
I was always interested in math. I liked algebra a lot. I don’t know why I liked it, but when I was in school I was always really good at math. Now, though, I’m really interested in forestry. The village where I am from is suffering a lot of environmental damage, so I’d like to learn about forestry and maybe help improve things there when I go back. Right now they are cutting a lot of trees there, but not in a very sustainable way.
DIOUE
Where I hailed him: Harlem
Where he hails from: Senegal
Years as a cabbie: 16
Previous profession: Carpenter
Science! Most definitely science. For me, that was a special subject. I was always good at it. You know, I’m 50 now, and I still wish I’d have done more with chemistry, especially. I loved it. But you have to earn money, right? The periodic table wasn’t going to feed my kids, unfortunately. Not without a college degree.
ERNESTO
Where I hailed him: Williamsburg
Where he hails from: Ecuador
Years as a cabbie: 4
Previous profession: Mover
Girls, man! My favorite subject was the girls. Girls in class, girls at the beach. I learned English, and I learned some history and math, but mainly I was studying the women. I don’t regret it at all. I wish I could go back to school and study some more!
ARUL
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 1
Previous profession: Student
Business is my favorite. I like the classes; I like the challenge. In two years I’ll have my undergraduate degree in business, management and finance from Brooklyn College. I’ll be out of this cab after that. But it’s not so bad driving. I enjoy trying to maximize revenue.
CHEEMA
Where I hailed him: Lower East Side
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Newsstand Attendant
What I liked most when I was in school was the physical education part. I liked playing basketball, especially.
ANG
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: Nepal
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Mountaineering Guide
I was always interested in math. I liked algebra a lot. I don’t know why I liked it, but when I was in school I was always really good at math. Now, though, I’m really interested in forestry. The village where I am from is suffering a lot of environmental damage, so I’d like to learn about forestry and maybe help improve things there when I go back. Right now they are cutting a lot of trees there, but not in a very sustainable way.
