The edge
100 dollars was what I had in my pockets this evening. I was so sure I will get paid for my tutoring, so I was not so worried about money. Even though Remi had been asking me if I was okay with money. Being a independent, and all grown-up individual, I had to defend my poorness and just tiny tiny ego. So I assured him that I was good.
Before heading to my student, I break the hundred bill for bread without even thinking of the possibility that I might not have the salary tonight. Moreover I used up my money on my Easy Card. Now some changes is all I have with me now. When I entered the living room, I didn't see my student's Mom. It worried me a bit then cause she was the one who paid me. (shit..... with a twitch in my belly) They pay me on time every time!
But little did I know that this time, his mom didn't show up the whole time. So I left empty-handed. Literally I was counting my coins, seeing if I could make it back home. I spent 15 on the bus, 30 on the MRT, and I got 15 left in my pocket as I got out of Xinhai station. But how was I going to buy Remi's delicious noodles with just 15 dollars. He has such an appetite and I cannot made him down! To make things worse, 15 cannot even take me to 101!!!!! Why it's all very DeJaVu-ish. I remembered it just happened several weeks ago!(now I miss Han, as least he still got some money...)
Each and every ATM machine that I come across, I have been trying just to withdraw my 200 from my very slim bank account. God blessed, I found one on my way home, and Now I am PROUDLY announcing that I got 215!
Since I quit the job as a bartender in a tea shop, I have been living on the edge. Let's see what's on "Yurii's Daily Schedule"!
I get up at 7 everyday. After a quick fresh-up, about 10 minutes, then I will start to make my breakfast. Most of the time I will just make 2 pieces of bread, a sunny side up, very rarely I will have bacons to go with. Pouring a glass of soy milk, sitting in front of my very expensive Mac, I will put some music or DVD along with my lovely meal. This usually takes about 1 hour or so.
After breakfast, I will start working on my projects. (Technically, they are not my projects. I am working for the clients.) I will be doodling, vectoring, illustrating, and photoshopping. Some days, I will leave my apartment around 9:30, arriving at gym at 10ish. After soaking in sweat, I leave for a lunch date with Remi. Some other days I will work till 11 and go directly to 101.
Leaving 101 around 1:40, then I might go to BeYoga carrying on my projects. If I don't go to gym that morning, I will spend 2 hours there and sweat like a pig. After that If there is no tutoring, and fortunately Remi is free, we will go walk around in Tai-Da or Danshiu. After a wonderful evening with my t-shirt all soaked up with my sweat, I got home 11ish. I will browse my blog and try to spend some quality time with myself whether by writing or drawing.
Well, doing what you love costs much!
It sounds perfect and magnificent! But it pays LITTLE.
I have monthly projects with BeYoga. In this one I have to design all the graphic related stuff. It pays 10000 monthly.
I have a tutor, it pays also 10000 monthly. There is another project, but it pays really bad (and sometimes it takes forever to get the cash), it's more for building up the portfolio then making interests. It takes up so much of my time, not only on design but also on communicate with the factory.
If I were so lucky this month, I could get 10000 from the tutoring, another 10000 from BeYoga, and just say 5000 from the other project (most of the month, there is nothing). It adds up to 25000. Take off the rent for 8000, and take another 800 for janitor, another 1000 for the utilities. Maybe 500 for my cell phone bill and another 1000 for commuting. I will have around 10000 for living.
