So I worked as a waitress, and I saved up the wages and the tips, and it took a long time, but eventually I had enough for a return fare by boat.

所以我做了名女服务员，我把工资和小费存起来，花了很长时间，但最终我有足够的钱能买回来的船票。

One reason is that people nowadays tend to be more mobile, and that it is easier than in the past to save the return fare, but economic conditions also have something to do with it.

一个原因是现在的人流动性比较大，来回的车费比过去更容易省，但经济条件也有关系。