… Free your mind…
           --@RieF's blog--

integrity-tolerance-progress  

… beyond the suns that guard this roof, beyond your flowers of flaming truth, beyond your latest ad campaigns….
an old man sits collecting stamps in a room all filled with Chinese lamps…
He saved what others throw away …he says that he’ll be rich someday…
————————————— “Frank Sinatra” by Cake (taken from Fashion Nugget album)

I just listened to this old song this morning… it totally reminded me of a time when I was in northern Mexico out in the middle of a cactus field.
That time this song really reminded of Indonesia, where this country is filled with elders that are still working so hard to try n survive. At that age, they should be enjoying the rest of their lives, watching their children and grandchildren grow up, and being taken care of, instead of still having to walk thru the boiling daylight sun, earning just enough money to eat for the day. Some sold broomsticks that cost less than 50 cents for each, some sell home made charcoal (made from dried wood).
… BUT they didn’t beg for money or made themselves a charity case, nor did they rob… the looked at life right in the face, and did what was to be done… May your striving spirit be passed upon me and the rest of the young generation in the country.

2 days ago I woke up with a terrible pain in my face. I then went to the mirror and saw my face all red (especially in parts closer to the nose and eyes). It felt so hot and painful. But however I decided to go the office anyway, because at that time it didn’t seem like it was going to bother me that much.
An hour later, when I arrived to the office, people started to give me funny faces and weird looks. So I went to the restroom, to see my face… and damn… the red marks had somehow turned into bright red “lumps” and it was so horrible. My face looked like it was about to explode. Tried asking a few friends… some of them suggested it was due to some allergy that I might have, and some say its bug bite.
So around noonish, I went to the doctor… being unfamiliar to Jakarta and where the doctors are, I decided to go the nearest hospital to my office.
And man… did it amaze me how much money I spent… Here it goes:

1. Arrived at the hospital, the receptionist made me fill in a form (I wonder if this is also the standard procedure for patients with emergencies)
2. Filled out the form, I was then asked to pay Rp.30.000,- (bout US$3) for the registration fee. She then asked which doctor I’d like to consult with. So I said… Skin Specialist. She then told me to pay Rp.75.000,- (bout US$7.5), and said it was the “doctor’s fee”. And I said.. “Ok” :P
3. Finally I went to the doctors room. Upon entering, as soon as the doctor saw my face, she immediately knew that it was a bug bite. Basically i spent no longer than 10 minutes, and the doctor wrote a prescription for me. I specifically asked her if it was possible not to give me too much medicine (more medicine = more expense). So she gave me 2; one to be taken daily, and another in a form of cream that i must apply twice a day.
4. Good, so now, all I need to do is go to the pharmacy and buy these medicines. After waiting for bout 30 minutes, the medicine was ready. And I had to pay Rp. 98.000,- (almost US$10).

Okay… so basically for just a bugbite, I had to pay a sum of Rp. 203.000,- (bout US$20.3). Minimum wage in Jakarta, as far as I know, is now Rp.600.000,- (about $60)/ month.
A question comes to mind… what happens when the economically-challenged citizens had bugbites… do they really have to pay this much? Spending a third of their monthly salary…?

….. dreaming of a healthy life… and free medicines …. :P

Today is the the 25th.
My favourite day of the Month.
Pay Day :P

There’s an issue that there’s gonna be a raise next month (hurray!!! hope its true).
Still got lots to learn about budget management, coz need to save up some more.
Well.. its just so good to see all the happy faces on the 25th. You see people going off to nice restaurants, or go to a cheap restaurant and just devour themselves with plenty of food.
On 25th, you see people queueing at ATMs to cash out… the work has paid-off… hehehe…
I sometimes wonder if they cash out just to buy themselves a good time, or pay overdued bills and debts that they owe the past month…
But whatever reason… its a good day… and am listening to a damn good jazz music :)

peace out

Can I suggest that you invest in something more than hopelessness….
Before you know the ride is over…
————————————— “In My Life” - The Rasmus

Another idle morning,
I know I should be doing my accounting assignment due tommorow, but still can’t seem to grasp the power within me to actually “WANT” to do that.
Anyway, I decided to listen to this song by the Rasmus, that I haven’t heard for so long…
When are these guys coming to Indonesia, anyway???

My work colleagues are also doing a bunch of insignificant stuff… (blogging, gaming, chatting, some just … nothing) - well whatever gets us thru the day.
I received an email today from a friend I met in 2002 in Hongkong at the ITU Youth Forum. He and some friends of mine are starting an NGO caled Human Network, which aims to bridge the digital divide. They are now doing a research to see what ICT has to offer to provide solutions for social problems n conflicts (pretty interesting, huh?).

Merdeka!
Yesterday was the country’s 60th anniversary independence day. After a long absence of going to flag-raising ceremonies, yesterday morning we all gathered up at the office for the ceremony. Somehow it gave me a “weird” sensation of seeing the flag hoisted up the pole, as we all sang the national anthem…
In a way (i guess) it also made me feel guilty to all the heroes who have (and haven’t) died for Indonesia’s independence, because up ’til now the country seems to still be facing a lot of problems like poverty, education and crime.
Especialy education, it is actually stated in the preambule of our UUD’45 (”mencerdaskan kehidupan bangsa”), but there are still many children who are not able to obtain primary and secondary schooling (9 years compulsary). I sometimes wonder…. if it is so compulsary, and if the government really wanted children to at least finish their 9 years education, why not just integrate Primary and Secondary. So before high school they all go to a 9-year schooling scheme. Sekolah Dasar (SD) should be a period of 9 years, providing to students all the basics and necessities for further advanced education.
This way, parents won’t have to go all the trouble of getting their children to a secondary school (SMP) and having to pay more for the tuition, uniforms, library fee and all those expenses they need to make when their kids enter a new school.

Up to now, still 5,39 Million illiterate Indonesians , half of them are between 10-44 years of age.