I had an Azeri Uber driver pick me and my friend up from the airport the first time I visited San Diego. He was hilarious, he kept making jokes and telling us “Look around, all the beautiful girls, the weather...this is the California dream”

He mentioned that he grew up in Azerbaijan and that his father was a general in the military and I assume war. He said he grew dissatisfied with military life against his father’s wishes, wanting nothing to do with it- eventually leaving for the United States .

I remember nudging my American friend in the back to not say anything about my heritage (although he probably doesn’t know the background) and I explained the situation to him after.