The brevity of life

The rhythm and beat of Sékouba Bambino playing as you walked into the car would immediately set the tone for the entire ride back home. Despite being late at night, the clock didn’t stop Abu from sharing his friendly personality and good spirit with passengers. He was ready to go home by the time he picked me up on the Upper West Side, but when he saw the destination, he knew he would have to delay his shift for a few more hours. The distance, however, didn’t matter for Abu.

Born and raised in Burkina Faso speaking three languages, including French, English, and Dyula, Abu took a risk and decided to move in 2016 to the U.S. When he left, he didn’t know when would be the next time he would see his family, and little did he know how much life would change in a matter of time.

In 2017, Abu received the sudden news of his sister’s passing. She was only 21, and with so much life still to live. The reasons were unknown, but she was sick for a few months, and it only kept getting worse. There wasn’t much Abu could do at the time besides mourning the loss of his baby sister while trapped in a new country, unable to return home. Since his immigration paperwork was still being processed, going back to Burkina Faso wasn’t an option. If he did go, he knew he wouldn’t be allowed back.

Losing his baby sister made Abu realize the shortness and the unpredictability of life. In just a blink of an eye, he said, everything could change. Life is also about sacrifices, and Abu knows best. It’s been six years since he saw his family for the last time, and he still doesn’t know when he will get to embrace them in his arms again. While not present in person, Abu ensures he sends money every month to his family so they can live a comfortable life. His motto, he said, is to retribute everything his parents ever did for him, so by the time he has kids, they will do the same for him. The concept revolves around karma — one he’s a fierce believer in.

Soccer has always played a big role in Abu’s life — from learning how to dribble the ball and watch the world cup alongside his family and friends to competing in small tournaments across the U.S. He found his team, and together, they travel the country to compete in small leagues. In a few days, he said, he was going to have his first game. He wasn’t been that active in the past couple of months, so he said he needed to start warming up soon to perform at his best. His team is mainly made of men from other African countries, and as a whole, they won over three championships over the past years.

Opportunities and the pursuit fueled Abu’s goal to move and establish a new life in the U.S. It hasn’t been easy, and the daily sacrifices continue to build his endurance and remind him of his purpose. Life in the city is tough as the bills continue to pile up and the workload increases. In the near future, he plans to move to Texas and enjoy the cheaper lifestyle and the laid-back life — the opposite of his reality in NYC. Regardless of where life takes him, Abu focuses on making each day count.

Homecoming

The last time Yusuf was in Pakistan was five years ago, in 2017, when he was about to leave everything he ever knew and move to start a new life in the U.S. Leaving his country also meant making sacrifices, like saying goodbye to his close friends, his hometown and, especially, his loving grandmother — the person he loves the most in the world. He hasn’t been back ever since, and the only way he keeps in touch with his grandmother and close friends is through video calls whenever he can squeeze some free time between breaks.

The wait to return home, however, is almost over. In less than a month, Yusuf will head back to Pakistan for what could be the most special trip of his life — which is all a surprise. Nobody, not even his grandmother, knows that he’s coming. The only people he told were the two friends who are going to pick him up at the airport. He’s planning to arrive on May 15, which intentionally falls on the same day as his 26th birthday. Once he lands and gets on the car with his friends, they will head to his grandmother’s house, where she will be celebrating his birthday with cake and the people closest to him. Little do they know, however, that this year, the cake cutting will be done face-to-face rather than through a cell phone’s screen.

Yusuf will spend two weeks in Pakistan. When he returns, he won’t be by himself. It will also be his grandmother’s first time flying on an airplane and crossing the world to visit the U.S. He said she’s scared of traveling, so he’s going to make sure he’s by her side throughout the whole trip. His grandma is healthy and with a good spirit. With the biggest heart and the most giving soul, Yusuf said there’s no one that can match her heart. On many different occasions when having dinner at her house, Brain recalled hearing knocks on the door. Neighbors would often come to her house and get enough food to feed their stomachs. When he would ask his grandma whether there would be food left for them, she would ensure him that she would make more so everyone would be satisfied.

Every month, Yusuf's family sends money to his grandmother. They send enough so she could live a comfortable life. The money, however, doesn’t last long in the bank account. A few days after the deposits are made, most of the money had already been distributed among family members, neighbors and friends who are in need. By doing that, he said, his grandmother feels happy and fulfilled, so they don’t even dare to interfere with her joy.

Yusuf works for Uber full-time. In a few months, however, he will reduce his hours behind the wheel and head to the restaurant business. The restaurant is set to bring all what makes the Pakistani and Indian cuisine one of a kind — with all of its masalas, spices and colors no other type of cuisine can ever match. His partner is from Gujarat, India, and they both plan to open the restaurant in the heart of Bayonne, New Jersey.

No matter where you are, Yusuf said there’s no place like home. While he sees himself staying in the U.S. long-term, there’s not a single day that passes where he doesn’t miss his culture and his home country. The people, food, customs, culture and values he grew up around have all played a role in the person Yusuf has become — and will remain wherever life takes him.

Not a day older

There was heavy rainfall taking over town when I decided to leave my friend’s place. The only option left, I thought to myself, was to get a ride home. The first driver I was assigned was going to take 7 minutes to arrive, but he later canceled for maybe noticing the short route to my apartment. The service immediately assigned me to a different driver. Now it was going to take 14 minutes to arrive. I was already getting annoyed, but when I looked closely at the driver’s information, one thing stood out — it was a woman.

Her name was Giovana — one with a light spirit, Latin roots and a love for her island, the Dominican Republic. Gio, as she liked to be called, moved to the U.S. in 1986, but every year she finds herself revisiting the place she loves the most — her home country. She already has tickets bought, ready to fly back in September. The only thing stopping her is the time until then.

Gio picked me up on a rainy Monday night, a day after Easter. The moment I walked in, her warmth and tranquility embraced me like it was a relative’s car. When I asked about her weekend, she described it as filled with blessings. Gio had just turned 61 on Saturday and then spent the whole day on Sunday with her family to celebrate the holy day. She joked about becoming older by the number, but the soul and spirit remain as young as a child.

The moment Gio steps into her home country, she feels a pure sense of happiness. The beautiful beaches, the river which runs near her house, the people and the culture all make the Dominican Republic a place like no other. In the U.S., she said, money is the only thing that people think and worry about. Back home, living is the biggest privilege. She works part-time, and the rest of the time she enjoys getting her nails done every once in a while and spending time with her family as much as she can.

I wish the drive was longer so then I would have gotten to know more about Gio’s story. It was just a 10-minute ride — delayed a bit only by the heavy rainfall on a cold night. Once we got to the final destination, she cared for my safety and advised me to always be careful whenever I'm in the city. Gio cared for her passengers as if they were long-time friends, sharing jokes, tips on the safest places to live and, most especially, giving them the opportunity to learn about her life. The trip was short, and while I wished it lasted longer, it had the impact it was meant to have.