One of my favourite things about being a busker is telling people about my job. When I meet someone I get to tell them I’m a street performer or if I'm feeling cheeky I'll say I'm a street worker. It’s fun to watch people nod politely.
When I met Los Angeleno Christina in Kuala Lumpar, I told her that I was a street worker. The conversation moved on before I could explain what I meant. After spending 2 days together, my travel companion Hannah told me she suspected that Christina thought I was a prostitute. I decided to confront her over dinner one night.
"Christina, do you think I'm a prostitute?"
"What? Ummm.. no... I don't think you're a prostitute... I mean not that there's anything wrong... you know if you were... but... you're not.... are you?"
"No."
She looked relieved.
"I just blow boners on the street for money."
A few weeks later I was making my way to the bus station in Melaka when a man on a motorbike pulled over and asked where I was going.
“To the bus stop” I said
“Turn left, over the bridge, keep walk 5 minutes. I give you lift.“
I uncharacteristically declined the offer (be proud Mum)
“Where you go today?” he asked
“Singapore”
“Ooooh Singapore, you have money for Singapore?”
“What? Oh yes I have money”
“You want money? I give you money”
“No I’m fine thankyou”
“500!” he said
“Ummmm No thanks”
“I give you 500, all you have to do is give me nice sex”
500 Malaysian ringit is about AUD170, if he was talking about Singaporian dollars, that’s more like AUD400, a hell of a lot better than the last offer I got.
I wasn’t looking so great; falling apart fisherman pants, a baggy tie dye t shirt, a giant backpack and I was dripping in sweat. That didn’t stop him from hunting me down at the bus station and offering me 1000. There really are so many career opportunities out there for Arts graduates.
