We’ve all been there: you hop into an Uber, and the driver is lowkey already deep into a marathon phone call. It’s a common trope on Reddit and social media that leaves some passengers confused, but real talk? It’s not a mystery at all. For those in the diaspora, these long, winding calls are basically a lifeline. If you’re navigating the displacement of immigrant life, that phone is the only thing bridging the gap between you and your family back home or friends scattered across the globe.
More than just a chat
These aren't just "catch-ups." They are essential bonding sessions that cover everything from complex health updates and immigration advice to wedding gossip and political drama. Often, the caller is someone like a cab driver working a long, solitary shift, chatting with a parent back home who is busy cooking in the kitchen. The conversation isn't about being efficient; it’s about existence. They’ll have long, comfortable silences where someone might mute themselves to park the car or use a food processor, and then pick right back up like no time passed.
Why we stopped calling
It’s a massive cultural contrast. In many Western societies, we’ve adopted a very capitalist approach to time—viewing it as something to be strictly guarded for “me time” or recharging for work. We treat phone calls like an intrusion, often sending a “heads up” text before dialing. But in many other cultures, time is social and public. You don’t call ahead; you just show up, or you stay connected through these “beast mode” phone calls because the isolation of being far from home is real.
Why it matters
We’ve traded deep, vocal connection for scrolling, memes, and surface-level “likes,” and honestly? It’s giving loneliness. We think we’re connected because we’re online, but we aren't exchanging anything meaningful. Reclaiming the long, aimless phone call might be the best way to fight that digital alienation. Next time your driver is on a call, maybe just appreciate that they’re choosing connection over silence. Lowkey, we should all probably try to call our friends more and text them less.
