La France redessine sa politique maghrébine avec une carte du Maroc mise à jour    Le respect de l'intégrité territoriale des pays, nécessaire pour relever les défis de la région euro-méditerranéenne    CPS de l'UA : La position africaine commune sur l'architecture de consolidation de la paix des Nations Unies adoptée à l'unanimité    Guerre tarifaire : le pétrole à son plus bas niveau pour la deuxième journée consécutive    Tarifs américains : Jaguar Land Rover suspend ses exportations vers les Etats-Unis    Présentation à Paris du climat des affaires et des opportunités d'investissement au Maroc    La mort de l'ancien international marocain Bouhlal à l'âge de 54 ans    E-sport : le Maroc participe au Championnat arabe de League of Legends    Un quadragénaire arrêté à Tanger pour diffusion de fausses alertes d'enlèvements    Températures prévues pour le dimanche 06 avril 2025    Festivals cinématographiques : 29 manifestations soutenues pour un montant global de 6,8 millions de dirhams    La session printanière du 46e Moussem culturel international d'Assilah du 5 au 20 avril    Taxes US : Le PJD veut saisir l'Organisation Mondiale du Commerce    Al Barid Bank : Une année 2024 marquée par une évolution remarquable de tous les indicateurs    Une ingénieure marocaine dénonce un haut responsable de Microsoft lors d'une cérémonie officielle : « Vous soutenez le génocide à Gaza »    CAN U17 : Le Mali valide son billet pour les quarts et la CDM U17    Basket/BAL: Le FUS Rabat s'incline face à Al Ittihad d'Egypte    Coupe du Trône: L'USM Oujda écarte le Raja Casablanca    Espagne: le FC Barcelone se contente d'un nul face au Betis Séville    CAN 2025 au Maroc : Hakimi, le leader d'une génération en quête de sacre    Marathon International de Rabat : Les points saillants de la conférence de presse d'avant l'événement    Le Maroc renforce sa préparation sécuritaire pour accueillir la Coupe du Monde 2030 et la Coupe d'Afrique 2025    La famille du football marocain fait ses adieux à Mohssine Bouhlal avec une profonde tristesse    Diaspo #383: Madhi Bnamrhar, el prodigio marroquí del scooter freestyle    Interview avec Youran Hong : « Des milliers d'enfants profitent de nos bibliothèques et programmes éducatifs »    Le Maroc s'impose comme un médiateur fiable face au recul du rôle de l'Algérie dans la région du Sahel et du Sahara    Nintendo retarde les précommandes de la Switch 2 aux Etats-Unis    GITEX Africa Morocco: des exposants et des participants de 130 pays attendus à Marrakech    La météo pour ce samedi 5 avril    Dakhla: l'AMCI et Attijariwafa bank lancent un cycle de formation à l'entreprenariat    Convention de Welcome Travel Group: un coup d'accélérateur au tourisme maroco-italien    Le PP critique le transfert de la gestion de l'espace aérien du Sahara au Maroc : un danger pour la souveraineté espagnole ?"    Maroc : l'Etat procède à l'expropriation de plus de 400 parcelles pour des projets d'envergure nationale    Projet d'aménagement stratégique à Dakhla : l'Etat acquiert un terrain de près de 7 000 m2 à Imlili    L'Etat décrète l'expropriation d'un terrain dans le Sud pour l'édification d'une installation permanente des Forces armées royales    Casablanca : Les «églises informelles» dans le viseur du PJD    Le Maroc, un partenaire clé de l'OTAN dans le voisinage sud    Después de los reveses sufridos, el Polisario cambia a su jefe de diplomacia    Affaire Bennis-Alj-Slaoui : Libération provisoire des mis en cause    Guerre tarifaire: Trump fustige les représailles de la Chine, insiste que sa politique sera maintenue    Sahara : le chef de la diplomatie espagnole dénonce «l'irresponsabilité» de ceux qui s'agrippent à des principes supposés de l'autodétermination pour figer le conflit    Marrakech : un nouveau visage pour la Place Jamaâ El Fna    L'Humeur : Val Kilmer dans les bras de Jim Morrison    El Jadida : Ces agrès, qui subliment désormais le cadre du front de mer !    Amine Radi ou « Le caméléon de l'humour »    Le 30e SIEL rend un hommage posthume à l'écrivain Driss Chraïbi    L'avenir du commerce international en lien avec l'emploi au menu d'un entretien de Younes Sekkouri avec la DG de l'OMC    Un petit bout du Maroc à Paris : le soleil s'invite place Saint-Michel    







Merci d'avoir signalé!
Cette image sera automatiquement bloquée après qu'elle soit signalée par plusieurs personnes.



Diaspo #73 : Ahmed Serhani, London's most beloved bus driver
Publié dans Yabiladi le 05 - 01 - 2019

Ahmed Serhani is London's most beloved bus driver. The Moroccan national smiles, chats and supports his clients while on duty, which made his story go viral in Morocco and the UK.
He is joyful, humble and he is London's friendliest bus driver. Ahmed Serhani is a Moroccan national who left his country for the UK to drive the happiest bus in the city, route 214. Serhani was the star of a film produced by Joe Bloom, an artist, filmmaker and one of his loyal passengers.
Before making it to social media and the news, Ahmed was a regular immigrant who decided to leave his hometown, Casablanca, to complete studies in Europe. Sharing his story with Yabiladi, Ahmed Serhani recalled the old days in his neighborhood where he was known as «Hamouda the photographer».
«Growing up, I loved photography and enjoyed taking photos of my neighbors, friends and family», he told Yabiladi. But before leaving the Moroccan metropolis, Ahmed used to study at Hassan II university.
A Casablanca-native in London
«I graduated high school and went for a law degree but unfortunately I couldn't finish my studies», Ahmed said. The young man decided to emigrate but unlike young people his age, he set his eyes on London.
«At that moment, I was dreaming of living abroad and I wanted really bad to emigrate», recalled Ahmed, who encountered a few problems at the beginning. «My English was very average when I first came to the UK, although I had studied the language in Morocco», he explained.
Hoping to finish his studies in the city, Ahmed Serhani realized that he couldn't afford tuition fees. Determined to start a career and make a living, he enrolled at a business school and worked at restaurants in the evening.
«It was hard at the beginning because as I said I did not master the language but interacting with people at work helped overcome that», Ahmed stated. However, studying and working at the same time was no easy task for the Casablanca-native who dropped out of school to get a full-time job.
«After doing several jobs, I had the opportunity to work for London's bus company», he joyfully declared. Being a bus driver became the best job in the world for the Moroccan national who was quickly noticed for his curtesy, his big heart and friendly attitude while on duty.

London's most beloved bus driver
«Working as a bus driver is an interesting job», he told Yabildi, adding : «you get to meet locals, tourists, visitors and sometimes people from all over the world». «I like my job and I enjoy meeting these people, saying 'hi' and talking to them», said Ahmed who joined Metroline, a bus company, in November 2004.
Indeed, the Moroccan bus driver proved that he really likes and enjoys his job. His story made it to social media, UK TV channels and the news after he was named London's friendliest bus driver. One of his passengers, Joe Bloom made a short film dedicated to Ahmed.
The six-minute movie called «Ahmed Serhani, A portrait», will be premiered at the London Transport Museum in 2019, the BBC reported after publishing a video on the Moroccan bus driver.
Ahmed's fame did not stop there, as London's mayor Sadiq Khan shared the BBC video on his Twitter account writing : «Taking the 214 bus? Look out for London's 'friendliest best driver' - Ahmed Serhani - whose story was shown this week on BBC London News - and is soon to be featured at the London Transport Museum».
Taking the 214 bus? Look out for London's 'friendliest best driver' - Ahmed Serhani - whose story was shown this week on @BBCLondonNews - and is soon to be featured at the London Transport Museum. https://t.co/py1pb4WPHx
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) November 30, 2018
«I got famous in London because of my passengers», Ahmed humbly declared. «After they board bus 214 and they see how I behave and deal with my clients they remember me and they tell others (…) and things get viral because of social media of course», said Serhani.
In addition to social media, Ahmed Serhani's work and attitude have been appreciated by the company he works for. The man received commendation letters and several certificates from his managers in addition to winning the Customer Service Award at the Bus Award in 2007.
Ahmed Serhani's other half
Despite his fame, Ahmed Serhani feels incomplete in London as his other half is still in Morocco. «My wife and son live in Morocco because of some unfinished paperwork», he told Yabiladi.
His wife needs to pass an English exam in order to be able to join him in London. «I can't live without my wife and son next to me», he argued. «It is tough to be separated from my family but I am not giving up and I am doing my best to succeed and work hard to provide for them», he said with a determined voice.
Ahmed believes that his job is a good way of forgetting about his problems. To him, being a bus driver is also about making people have a better day.


Cliquez ici pour lire l'article depuis sa source.