The Poverty Game
Poverty game. The rules are simple. No more loans, don’t sell off possessions and don’t die of starvation. The milking of sympathy cow is not encouraged but if charity comes knocking don’t refuse.
A few weeks after i’ve read George Orwell’s “Down and out in London & Paris” I’ve found myself in poverty. With only enough money to eat 2 “roti canai” every days. In a way, “roti canai” is the local equivalent to Orwell’s tea and 2 slice with the tea part missing. This lasted around a week, after which a friend bailed me out by giving a soft loan to last till my next allowance.
Being in poverty is not exactly life altering, since I’ve got safety nets: friends, family and loans sharks. But even with those safety nets it does help getting priorities organized. After a few days of hunger, depression kicks in, like a kick to the groin. The sound of my rumbling stomach becomes something more somber, like the tolling of funeral bells and when that happens tears are on the verge of falling.
This time around reckless spending got me to live in poverty again, the temptations of buying Dostoyevsky at 20% off proves to be irresistable. Leaving my coffers with enough money for 2 light meals a day. Proud to say I’ve lasted 11 days this time around. A NEW HIGH SCORE!!
