1.20.11

There are three types of people in service occupations that I like to befriend - security guards, janitors, and taxi drivers. These people are gatekeepers to sometimes privileged information, which is one reason I'm drawn to them.  Another reason is because after working in retail you empathize with anyone who has to deal with the general public on a regular basis.  On my recent trip to Singapore (my first time there), it was taxi drivers that I connected with.  I happily chatted it up with the driver on my first taxi ride as he rattled off all the important facts and points of interests of his homeland.  There's something about discovering new places that I love, and I usually ask the same questions to different drivers even though I may already know the answers (acting completely ignorant means better conversation).

I know not all people in service positions are nice.  But you never know what you discover when you make friends from these people.  It sometimes even gets me free food :)