My favorite thing to do lately is talking to my taxi driver when I go to work in the morning. For whatever reason, taxi drivers are more engaging at 5am in the morning. Maybe because they are refreshed from a good night of sleep or full of excitement to the day's earnings.
There are two driving shifts during the day; a night shift and a day shift. The day shift, most preferable, starts around 5am and ends around 4pm. The night shift picks up when the day shift ends. Of course, there are lots of overlaps since some drivers start earlier or later depending on their own schedule. They lease the taxi for approximately $300 HKD per day. And on the average, based on a poll of one driver...I guess that's not really an average but anyways, a driver takes home about $15k/month. That's around $24k/year USD. That's pretty good money for HK standards. I'm not sure how much NY taxi drivers make...hmm, that's worth looking into.
Talking to taxi drivers is a great way to brush up on my Cantonese. I always try to sound like a local but inevitably, after one sentence, they often realize I'm not! Here's a conversation from last Thursday in Cantonese, but translated to English...
Nam - Good morning. Eagle Centre plaza, please.
Taxi Driver - Okay. Are you going to the bus terminal?
[The Wan Chai bus terminal is the best option to cross the border into Shenzhen, China]
[Silence]
Nam - No...I'm going to work...I work U.S. hours.
Taxi Driver - Oh, I could tell your Cantonese is not authentic. I thought you want to go to bus terminal. Most people say Eagle Centre but they really want to take the bus.
Nam - Oh, do...I sound...Mandarin?
Taxi Driver - No....[Silence]Maybe slight American accent.
[Silence]
Nam - Yeah, I grew up in California and moved here two months ago. Is my Cantonese really poor?
Taxi Driver - No. It's not bad. Though, you seem to be scared of talking. Just talk more.
Nam - Okay.
Taxi Driver - Also, you should sing more karoake! Singing "K" helps.
[Silence]
Nam - Okay. I'll try. Does that require reading Chinese characters?
[Arrive at Eagle Centre]
Taxi Driver - Is this where you want to go?
Nam - Yes. Thanks
Taxi Driver - $22 HKD
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how's your K singing skills these days? have you been practicing? i think nyc cab drivers might make more than 24k... some of them are able to save money and buy apartments.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I have. I'm not allowed to sing in public, actually not even at home. My parents left my older sisters with the vocal skills and me the good looks instead.
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