On my most recent trip to visit MCC partners, my bus got caught in traffic in Odessa. The streets in larger Ukrainian cities are not made for even half the volume of cars that fill them. That morning I was supposed to arrive by eight; then I could catch public transport across town to the other bus station by 9:15, when my bus to Kiliya was scheduled to leave. I had a tight schedule, wanting to make the 7-8-hour round trip yet that day, along with having a meeting with the partners there.
We arrived around 8:45 and I thought I might be able to catch a taxi across town for around $4 (significantly more than the $0.10 I would have spent on public transport). Taxi drivers know the side streets and would probably be able to get me to my bus on time. I chose one guy from the swarm of taxi drivers waiting for their prey at the bottom of the bus steps. I asked if he would be able to get me across town in a less than 30 minutes: and how much it would cost. He thought we would make it, and—acknowledging my accent—said it would be “less than $100.” He laughed and I began to walk away, but he pursued his potential client, saying he had been joking. I asked again for an approximate price, this time asking if it would be around $4. He said it would be a “bit more” because the rates were raised on April 1st. But his taxi was “metered” and it would be “all good.”
As we left the station I noticed that the meter already read over half my projected price—we weren’t even headed in the right direction. I told him to stop, saying I didn’t have enough money. He smiled and said he would give me a rate of $10. By N. American standards this would have been reasonable but by Ukrainian standards it was a rip-off. But, wanting to get there already, I accepted. I was fuming for the remainder of the ride.
Being ripped off for my accent and nationality really upsets me. I am uncertain why this is the case. Ten bucks isn’t that much to pay and people here do have far less money than N. Americans. Part of it is my being upset because, when I’m being ripped off, I am oftentimes spending MCC constituents’ money. So they are being ripped off because of my incompetence. But it’s more depressing because it’s just another indicator that I don’t fit in.
I paid the $10 and missed my bus anyway.
Dave
