BUS STATION BOOK-SELLER

AN INTERVIEW
Taking the bus from Mandalay to Monywa, I met a 19-year-old book-seller, with three dozen Myanmar-language books propped on a long strap and balanced on his hip at the scrappy station in central Mandalay. His girlfriend lives back in Monywa (three hours north), where he's from and soon plans to return for university. He's living with some Mandalay cousins to earn a little money before school starts. He gets around by foot or bicycle.

What kind of books do you sell?
Some education books, but most are 'honey books like this [shows skinny paperback with cartoon cover of silly-looking couple].

How many do you sell a day?
Oh, sometimes seven or eight in six hours. If I'm lucky, 15.

How much do you earn a day?
About 2000 kyat (US$1.65).

What would you like to do?
Go abroad. Probably Singapore or Malaysia. Best is Singapore - the salary there is about US$2500, Malaysia is only US$1000. I want to work at a restaurant.

As I got on the bus for Monywa he added, 'Today is a happy day because I get to talk to you.'