I should've seen it coming

Last night I dreamt that I was suddenly being sent to work at the Tamaki clinic for several days, but the school offered to put me up in a hotel since it was so far away. I thought about it and wondered if it would really help much to stay out there in a hotel. What would I do at night in a hotel room? I think that's when the alarm went off.

"It's time to get up. It's 6:40!" I was off for my morning coffee and newpaper by 7:03, since I spend about five minutes getting ready these days- no makeup, glasses. With the recent weather changes, I get about three showers a day just by walking places.

After settling in at my desk at work, Janine (our clinic manager) came down the hall with a frowned face. "Can you go to Tamaki? James called in sick and I just got the message."

"Can someone else go? I'm already there tomorrow and Thursday." I was feeling a little agitated about the change in schedule. And wondering why I whould be going there three days of the week when there are actually five full time tutors plus about five part time. The Tamaki Campus is about an hour commute each way.

I ended up going anyway and was sent in a cab with some university funds to get there quickly.

After standing in the pouring rain for a few minutes, I was picked up by Abdul, a cabbie from Discount Taxis LTD.

I sat down in the backseat. "Hi, I need to go to Tamaki Campus."

He asked for the address, but I didn't have it. He decided he knew where he was going. "Can you put your bag on the floor if it's wet?" (Like it could not be wet in this weather.)

Then he started explaining, "The car will get moldy-smelling. Next time I'm going to bring a towel to put on the seat."

I was thinking, well I don't know what I was thinking, but I wasn't thinking that this would be an enlightening experience. I settled in and hoped for a silent, peaceful cab ride.

"Are you from the UK?" He had a thick accent, sounded Indian to me.

"No, the USA."

"Are you a student?"

"No, I work for the University. Someone called in sick, so I had to suddenly go to the other campus- that's why I got a cab. Usually I ride the bus."

He wanted to know what I did in the US, like I'd done something different than in NZ. Now that I reflect on it, many foreigners are not working in their career- we have lots of bus drivers who are educated as engineers, math teachers, accountants, etc. I gave my explanation and told him that I was working with students here. He was from Pakistan but living in New Zealand for twenty years. This somehow led into a talk about peace in the world. Saying you're American has that effect, or perhaps I just invite it myself. I have a tendency to try to compensate for our tarnished world reputation.

Abdul started saying how Americans were good people- they have an open heart. We drifted along talking about the importance of humility and respect and peacefulness. I said how the world would be a better place if we could all just work on those things.

He said, "It starts with one person, we all can make a difference."

How true.

I found the thirty minute cab ride was over before I knew it. I paid my $25 fare and walked into the clinic. It was about quarter after nine. I hoped that it was not too much of a disaster since patients start at 8:30AM.

When I arrived, the clinic was empty, except for one student. "Are all the other students with patients?" I asked.

"No they're upstairs getting treats." I think he said that anyway. No one had a first patient. It didn't even matter that I was late.

So I started talking to the front desk. I told them that I was supposed to be at Tamaki Clinic three days in a row. Christene (one of the front desk staff) said, "Why don't you just stay overnight?"

I thought, this is all just too weird. Maybe I need to start paying attention to my dreams a little more.