Hierarchy of Having a Driver

We just got back from Kerala. One of the newest experiences I had while on the trip was having a driver. Of course we needed a driver to get to Kerala and around the city of Kannur. It was an awkward experience to be staying at a three star riverside resort while our driver stayed in his car for two nights. We gave him a nice tip every night to eat good meals, but I’m pretty sure he saved the money. He and his family likely needed the money more than he needed a good dinner.

In America, class distinction exists but we tend to surround ourselves in cul-de-sacs of class. We live in suburban houses with people who have similar incomes to us(they have to in order to live in the neighborhood). We go to colleges and most students assume that private equals money, although this isn’t always the case. Poverty exists but for the comfortable middle class, it’s not at their front door. The “ghetto” is never in your neighborhood and you drive through the bad part of town but never stay there.

So it’s hard to confront your own wealth, your fortunate life. For perhaps the first time you’re forced to feel uncomfortable, to realize that right next to you as you sleep in an air-conditioned room and bed, someone’s sleeping outside and there’s nothing much different about you from him. He works equally as hard if not harder and somehow you lucked out.