orangestory

"your family is very rich right?" said April, when I was there in her house.
"if not, how are they going to send you and your brother to singapore"

Many Singaporeans thought likewise, like Kelvin, QT, Miss Chong, Jesher, bla bla the list goes on.

Indonesians in Singapore = RICH? What a stereotype.

Let me make this clear: MY BROTHER AND I CAME TO SINGAPORE ONLY BECAUSE OF GOD'S GRACE.

Yes. A lot of Indonesians in Singapore are filthy rich. Look at how they shop (branded goods everywhere, bugis street is just not their level), how they live their lives (play everyday, club everynight, no studying), how they say things (most of the time their words are immature, not digested, and they take things so easily)...you know already.

However, there are some of them who are considered lucky enough to be able to study in Singapore under scholarships. (Most of my friends in church are Indonesian scholars, and tell you what, they are the oh-so-smart kids who came from small towns, or maybe from poor family background who always asked for a tuition fee subsidy, or perhaps those who are just like me, a so-so family, not so poor but can't be considered rich).

However, In Poly, most of my Indonesian friends are sons and daughters of businessmen. Their fathers have their own companies, and hence my friends have their future secured - keep the business going. The rubber wheel company, wood, rice-grains, garments, you name it. Wasis asked me once during the fathers' talk in one of TP Indo Union outing, "How about your dad, Louisa? What business is he involved in?"

Ha ha ha. Hmm... Let me see.

Should I say, education? Lol. My dad works as a part time lecturer in 2 private universities in Jakarta. Ok, no. One in Jakarta, the other one in Tangerang, a city just beside Jakarta. He teaches IT in general, computer systems in particular. He's no businessman, hey? And don't imagine lecturers in Indonesia earn as much as in Singapore. They earn in IDR, and Indonesia has lower standard of living!! He came from a poor family with 9 kids, and went to national schools all the way till high school. National schools, okay, during his time there were still prejudices, where Chinese ethnic was still discriminated against, and my dad was forced to learn Arabic and Islamic studies, even though he's a Christian. When he was still studying, he had to cycle back and forth everyday, picked up my grandmother and his other little siblings, while at the same time, studying outside the house, on the road, waiting for my grandma to finish shopping in the market.

My mother came from a better family background. They had nice steady house in Gunung Sahari, a well-known housing estate back then, and went to a private Christian school. That was when my mum received Christ. My maternal grandfather was born in Singapore, but stayed in Jakarta for quite sometime. When my mum finally settled with my dad, her family (yes, all, together with my aunts and uncle) moved to Singapore, leaving her alone in Jakarta with my dad. That's why compared to my other aunties and my uncle, only my mum can't speak fluent English. And only my mum doesn't have foreign qualifications. She obtained a degree in dentistry, and now working in a polyclinic of a non-profit organisation (under a church), helping the poor in their tooth problems. She doesn't work in a hospital. She gets her salary every month, but not much okay? That polyclinic is really non-profitable and targeted for the poor. Imagine you fix tooth decay, take out your tooth, minor gum operation, altogether for just a mere $3!!

Still think that I am rich? Hahaha. Unlike other Indonesians, I stay with my grandma. My grandma is rich, i know, that's why she can have a unit in a condo in Marine Parade. But my family is not. If they are rich, tell you what, I won't be here. I will already be in say, the US, or New Zealand, or Australia. Duh! I won't stay with my grandma. To be honest, I also want to rent a space!! But I don't want to bring up that request to my parents because I know that would mean extra cost. I stay here for free okay? And if I'm rich, I won't bother to study hard, involve in clubs, etc etc!! I will just go shopping all day and club all night. What an easy life.

• 
• 
• 
• 
•