My days here start and end riding Uber. I want to rent a car but I want one that comes with a driver but so far I haven’t found one.
Yesterday after having breakfast and lunch combination in Burger King, I crossed the expansive parking area and went to Homegoods, one of my favorite stores in America.
I bought a couple of things and the cashier is a Filipina. She said she’s been working there for three years. She lives nearby, literally 5 blocks away but she chooses not to drive. Her husband brings her to and from work. (Another spoiled wife).
She convinced me to get a credit card to save 10% from my day’s purchase plus $20 for my succeeding purchases of $200 up. I agreed. Naku my daughter na naman will scold me because we will have trouble paying it when we are in Manila.
The Filipina cashier called her puti co-worker to assist her in processing my credit card application. She sounds like she’s been living in America for a long time because she has a good accent.
“She will dowet now. She alreydi en sign. Wat da det towdey? Ow tweynty por. Okey. I will dowet por yo”.
Anyway, my story is not about our kababayan with an American accent but about the puti girl I met while riding the Uber.
The past two days I learned how to Uber share. It was a brave move at first because I could not imagine myself sharing a ride with total strangers plus the additional time that I will spend. But Uber pool is a good way to save money when I am traveling a little bit farther away.
The other day, I bravely clicked the Uber pool because from $24 fare going to the antique mall, if I pool with another passenger, my fare would drop to $16. An $8 savings is great most especially that I take Uber several times a day. When the driver arrived, there were no other passenger so I thought it’s great.
After about 10 minutes, I noticed we were cruising along the freeway that’s going to Los Angeles. I was too tired and sleepy so I didn’t have the energy to get my phone and check the Uber trip live. I managed to ask “where are we going?” The driver said “We’re going to pick up another passenger”.
I must have dozed off, the next thing I knew, we were already in front of the antique mall. Medyo alimpungatan pa ako, but I was happy, I reached my destination safe.
So yesterday, since I was going to some 12 miles away, I chose to pool again. From an estimated fare of $25.68 it dropped to around $15. I don’t know how they calculate the fares but for me, the passenger, a discount is a discount especially when it’s this big.
The Uberx that picked me up from Homegoods was a van driven by an old white guy with plenty of balahibo. Sobrang dami. Bakit ko alam/ Kasi yung kanang braso nya, nakikita ko.
There was a young lady probably between 25 – 29 who was seating behind the driver. We said hi to each other. She seemed friendly naman. I asked her if she lives around the area, yes daw. She’s renting an apartment for now but plans to buy her own place soon. She’s originally from Minnesota. She used to travel back and forth to Las Vegas for work but she now spends more time in Vegas because there are more opportunities here for her.
Omb—-What sort of work do you do?
Girl—-“I work in Sapphire”.
Omb—–“What’s that?”
Girl—-“Oh it’s a strip club. I am a stripper”.
Naku nainggit naman ako. I glanced at her body frame and her stomach eh para bang naka inhale. I glanced at mine, naka permanent exhale naman.
(Oh I have to check out. Will continue this story later).
