Bachelors<\/p>\n
It strikes me as odd that many young people from Indonesia,
\nwho finish their education in European countries (Germany, the
\nNetherlands, Switzerland), prefer to remain single after
\nreturning to Indonesia. Even those who get a job after finishing
\ntheir studies prefer to remain bachelors.<\/p>\n
My friends, some mothers of those young people, are
\nexasperated, because most of them are in their 70s. Naturally
\nthey are worried. They reason that a man who reaches 40 usually
\nremains a bachelor for the rest of his life. What happens when he
\nturns 60 and has to retire by virtue of company regulations, and
\nhas no children who can take care of him?<\/p>\n
In Europe, the "from cradle to grave" or "from womb to tomb"
\npublic welfare system is available, but as far as I know, this
\nsystem does not exist in Indonesia. In my case, being a 72-year-
\nold retiree, I wouldn't be able to make ends meet if I didn't
\nhave any children who could take care of me.<\/p>\n
I know an unmarried woman who spends the rest of her life in a
\nretirement home. Fortunately she has her life savings to defray
\nher expenses, because the residents have to pay and only
\nrelatively healthy people are admitted, meaning that disabled
\npeople are not welcome.<\/p>\n
Another acquaintance of mine, who is unmarried and is well
\npast 70, lives alone and stubbornly refuses to employ domestic
\nhelp. She defrays her expenses from interest she receives from
\nher bank on her time-deposit. One day she stumbled and fell; she
\ncould hardly get up. Fortunately she has a very kind neighbor who
\nhelped her in her time of need.<\/p>\n
I was told of some Indonesian parents in Holland who thought
\nthat it was high time for their beautiful and intelligent
\ndaughter to find a partner. After repeatedly persuading her to do
\nso, the daughter lost her temper and said: Zeur niet! or Don't be
\nfinicky! I can take care of myself. I own my own house, have a
\ngood job, and have a Mercedes. What more do I need? A husband? No
\nway!<\/p>\n
As an old-timer, I have to admit that the way of thinking of
\npresent-day youth is different from what it was in the past.<\/p>\n
A. DJUANA<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bachelors-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }