Money Money Money, Ain’t So Funny
Although I have lived in Australia most of my life, I still haven’t adjusted out of the Filipino economy and back to the Australian way.
At the cinemas, when I gave the bloke a $10 note for my movie ticket, I got glances from as far back as the food court. “That’ll be $16 dollars, mate”. “No problems jack, I can handle that” I said as I whistled my way over to the Candy Store. I picked up a bottle of water and gave the girl $2 and waited patiently for my change. I get groans from people in the queue and a look from the girl that cold peel paint off a truck. She finally snaps with “that’ll be $3.70!” I fumbled around my pants praying for something that could end this tight situation; another $2 coin or a gun would be equally satisfying.
What’s the deal with everyone I know winning 100k + in a week? I don’t think I met a single person in Crown Casino who didn’t report to be making this kind of money. And if they weren’t making that, they were telling me stories of other people making it. What happened to the days when, if you made 10k in a week you got a pat on the back and a chocolate chip cookie?
Some days I want to smash everyone and allow the whole scene get the better of me and aim for bigger and bigger months. Other days, I just want to rent a $20/month apartment in Manila and eat dried fava beans for the rest of my life. The only thing stopping me is the fact I am allergic to fava beans, and there is no internet connection or running water in the apartment.
The only people making any money in this city are the taxi drivers. They are the only people in the world who cash-in on rainy days and traffic jams. At some point every cabby in the world metamorphosis’s out of their sweaty roller beaded chair and becomes a pimp and drug dealer. They got hoes in every area code and can get you horse tranquilisers if that’s your thing to get you going on a Saturday night. I guess cabbies need the excitement of going to jail to keep them awake during the day. I don’t blame them; I know I would do the same.