Friday, May 26, 2006
Begging
Jakarta is one place where the reality that you can't live without money strikes you like a slap almost everyday. Begging is commonplace.
Today, was out with Dad when Mom called from the office asking what should she do about this man wearing a Scout uniform who was asking her for money so that he could go back to Makassar. Thinking him a professional beggar, we thought we could get rid of him by handing him Rp.5000. But when we reached the office, I found him planting himself in one of our chairs still. He showed Dad file with some documents which I couldn't tell what it contains. That was when I found out that he was mute! Felt a wave of pity sweeping over me as I watch him struggling to explain what he wanted with actions and writing. In the end, we gave him Rp. 10, 000 and he left. I wonder if he's actually really in need of going back to Makassar like he claimed and if we had managed to meet that bit of what he needed.
Street urchins come up to you at every traffic light and try to cajole you to hand them loose change by singing some songs. I always think to myself sadly that these kids shd be in school. And they shd at least learn some skills that will prepare them to make a living for themselves rather than beg. How can I help them? Sometimes thinking abt these make me very unhappy with myself. I do pray for them whenever I remember.
On a different but almost similar vein, we were at Bandung at the time of the anniversary of the May Riots of 1998. When the night fell, the university students went out in full force to raise funds at the roads to commemorate the anniversary. It happened last year in Jakarta too, but the Bandung students were much more creative. They "begged" in small groups. One group stopped our car and did a juggling act in front of us. Another had one of the guys dressed up in a kebaya and pretend to do a strip tease! In his sunglasses and cross dressing, he actually reminded me of Najip Ali for some reason hahaha. Found the political awareness of the students here highly interesting. Wished that I had been able to participate in that sorta thing back then.
Today, was out with Dad when Mom called from the office asking what should she do about this man wearing a Scout uniform who was asking her for money so that he could go back to Makassar. Thinking him a professional beggar, we thought we could get rid of him by handing him Rp.5000. But when we reached the office, I found him planting himself in one of our chairs still. He showed Dad file with some documents which I couldn't tell what it contains. That was when I found out that he was mute! Felt a wave of pity sweeping over me as I watch him struggling to explain what he wanted with actions and writing. In the end, we gave him Rp. 10, 000 and he left. I wonder if he's actually really in need of going back to Makassar like he claimed and if we had managed to meet that bit of what he needed.
Street urchins come up to you at every traffic light and try to cajole you to hand them loose change by singing some songs. I always think to myself sadly that these kids shd be in school. And they shd at least learn some skills that will prepare them to make a living for themselves rather than beg. How can I help them? Sometimes thinking abt these make me very unhappy with myself. I do pray for them whenever I remember.
On a different but almost similar vein, we were at Bandung at the time of the anniversary of the May Riots of 1998. When the night fell, the university students went out in full force to raise funds at the roads to commemorate the anniversary. It happened last year in Jakarta too, but the Bandung students were much more creative. They "begged" in small groups. One group stopped our car and did a juggling act in front of us. Another had one of the guys dressed up in a kebaya and pretend to do a strip tease! In his sunglasses and cross dressing, he actually reminded me of Najip Ali for some reason hahaha. Found the political awareness of the students here highly interesting. Wished that I had been able to participate in that sorta thing back then.
// posted by Jenn @ 10:55 PM 
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