Alberto G. is hard-working and generous
Sunday morning. I am somewhat late leaving for church and come across an empty moto-taxi which I board. The doors at the front are missing and rear ones are open. “Please bring me to the church down in the town.“ I say as I take hold of the metal body.
Alberto, my driver nods and speeds off. His vehicle’s suspension has definitely seen better days. After five minutes or so he stops outside a small evangelical church. “No, not this one; keep on going!” “Okay, no problem!” Alberto accelerates again and a short while later we have reached the next church. “That is also not the one I mean. Please drive me to the Centro Biblico de Curahuasi behind the school.” I call from behind. Alberto is amazingly patient with me and his moto-taxi speeds off for the third time.
Upon arrival and having parked his vehicle, Alberto rummages around, pulls out his Bible and gets out: “I also attend these services!”
I am totally speechless: “Wait a moment, I must pay you the fare,” I call. – “Oh no, you do not need to,” answers my chauffeur generously.
“Yes, I will, since a worker deserves his wages!” In no time I have given him the usual fare for inner-city trips: 2 Soles. “How much did you pay for your moto-taxi?” I ask inquisitively.
“7,500 Soles!” The equivalent of USD 2,200 or €2,000.
Life in the Andes is hard. Alberto needs a minimum of 3,750 trips in order to break even with only the moto-taxi’s purchase price. Not to mention the interest he has to pay if he had to borrow from the bank.
The service starts and everyone enthusiastically joins in singing the first songs. /KDJ
