Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Give me one dollar

I have to say that Cambodia is the first country where I did not have problems with taxi drivers. They are all gentle, polite, and smiling. There is almost no bargain with them: they ask you a price, you say ‘no’ and propose yours, and they accept. Finish. Ah, Cambodia: what a country!


But I have to say that, as in most poor countries unfortunately, you are often the target of kids that beg for money: “Give me one dollar. I’ll give you a postcard”. “Give me one dollar: I’ll give you this bracelet”. “Give me one dollar. I’ll give you this scarf”.


I usually tend to snick out without giving them too much leeway, but I could not avoid to engage in a highly intellectual discussion with this child:


“Give me one dollar, give me one dollar”. “Give me one dollar, give me one dollar”.


“Why should I give you one dollar, you don’t sell anything”.


“Where do you come from?”.


“Italy”.


“If I tell you the capital of Italy, will you give me one dollar?”.


“Why should I give you one dollar, I know the capital of Italy”.


“Give me one dollar, give me one dollar”.


“Ok, let’s do this: if you tell me the capital of the country that I choose, I’ll give you a dollar ”.


[…]


“What’s the capital of Madagascar?”.


“Antananarivo”.


‘What’s the capital of Burkina Faso”.


“Ouagadougou”.


“What’s the capital of Iceland”.


“Reykjavik”.


I had to give her one dollar…


4 comments:

  1. Dovrei dare 1 dollaro anche a te... come diavolo facevi a conoscere i nomi di quelle capitali?

    ReplyDelete
  2. perche' ci sono stato ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. silvia said:
    ma la capitale dell'Italia???????

    ReplyDelete
  4. milano capitale, roma succursale ;)

    ReplyDelete