Personal associations to the story of Einstein in the Berlin tram.
In the hungry 90s, when I just started teaching and reading, because of the lack of contingent in the new educational institution, exclusively at the part-time department, and was without any compatibility the first full-time teacher in our university, then you understand what my salary was.
Well, I had to be actively engaged in work, otherwise it would simply not survive. Our garden was far beyond the city, we got to it by train, the ticket for which was so expensive that the maintenance and work on the 5-acre site simply did not make sense. It was customary to give the conductor 50 cops for the trip. Instead of 3 hryvnia, but the prices are not standing, unlike the salary.
Once returned with my husband from the garden, already embroiled under the bandage, he is an "Afghan" - the trip is free, the conductor meets me, I stretch her 50 cops., and she with the appearance of a martyr arranges a hysteria on the subject: "I am standing on a paper?" I honestly explain to her that I have a salary of 22 UAH, but I cannot spend it all on tickets. She disdainfully stated to me: I had to learn! I was then offended by the spirit, and although I usually get lost in such circumstances, I gave her in response: - If in our country the salary of a teacher is less than a conductor, it is a country of fools! She picked up her bags, swallowed tears, and went out at the next stop.