Female parking attendant fights against heavy odds<\/p>\n
By Ida Indawati Khouw<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Protecting herself from the rain with an
\numbrella, Nunung ran to collect the fee from an outgoing car at
\nthe parking lot of which she is the parking attendant. The driver
\nstuck his arm out the car window, handed her the Rp 500 (US 20
\ncents) parking fee and sped away.<\/p>\n
Nunung ran to take shelter when another car arrived. She ran
\nto the arriving vehicle and marshaled it to a parking space.<\/p>\n
"Go straight, go back, ya, stop!" she shouted. It was the same
\norder she had given for 16 years, at the same place, during the
\nsame shift.<\/p>\n
Nunung Nuraini, 45, started working as a parking attendant at
\nthe Indonesian-American Friendship Association (PPIA) English
\ncourse on Jl. Pramuka, East Jakarta in 1980.<\/p>\n
It is traditionally a male job, but for the grandmother of
\nthree, it has been a necessity since she decided to be a
\nbreadwinner besides her husband.<\/p>\n
With eight children, including one undergoing long-term
\nhospital treatment, her husband's income from trading scrap
\ncloths was far from enough.<\/p>\n
She views the attendant job as a tough challenge.<\/p>\n
"This is my daily job, from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m.," Nunung said.<\/p>\n
The hard-working mother said she faced no problems when she
\napplied for the job. She said her employer was not particular
\nabout recruiting men.<\/p>\n
"I don't think a parking attendant must be a male," she said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Nunung is ashamed.<\/p>\n
"No one in my neighborhood knows what I'm doing ... Why does a
\nwoman do this job?," she said during intervals between regulating
\nparking.<\/p>\n
But she added her principle is that she does a rightful job,
\nalthough it gives her little gratification.<\/p>\n
"I've been scolded by many drivers whenever they parked at the
\nwrong place," she said.<\/p>\n
Nunung also voiced her sorrow over being picked on with
\ninsults such as "You worthless thing!" by stubborn drivers.<\/p>\n
She said she always retorted back, "My life doesn't depend on
\nyou, man!"<\/p>\n
Being told lies is also a daily experience. Several drivers
\nalso cheated her by saying they would not stay long, just to drop
\na passenger or wait awhile for someone. In fact, they did stay
\nfor a long time.<\/p>\n
"I always chase after such drivers for the parking fee. I
\ndon't do that for myself, but for the PPIA," she said.<\/p>\n
After moving to and fro, Nunung sat on the floor and continued
\nher story. "The nice thing about the job? Maybe ... if someone
\ngives me extra money," she said, after a long period.<\/p>\n
She stretched out her legs, clearly displaying a pair of
\nvaricose veins.<\/p>\n
"I've tried everything to cure it, but people said if I want
\nto be totally cured, I must avoid standing up for a long time. It
\nis impossible, my job forces me to be on my feet all the time."<\/p>\n
Her feet become stiff, but she said she was too preoccupied
\nwith thinking about how to earn more money.<\/p>\n
Nunung said she uses most of her monthly Rp 110,400 (US$46)
\nfrom PPIA to finance her two children's education.<\/p>\n
"They study in Sukabumi (West Java), my hometown," she said.
\nFour out of her eight children are married. They gave her three
\ngrandchildren.<\/p>\n
One son helps his father's business. Another has contracted
\nleprosy and is being treated at the Sitanala Leprosarium in
\nTangerang, 20 kilometers west of here.<\/p>\n
"I also have to pay for his treatment," she added. She didn't
\nsay how it happened, only that she entrusted everything to God
\nAlmighty.<\/p>\n
"I've made every effort to alleviate his suffering, I have
\ntaken my son to a traditional healer, but to no avail."<\/p>\n
How can one survive in Jakarta with Rp 100,000? For some, it
\nmay be impossible. But Nunung manages, though not without
\nsacrifice. She skips lunch.<\/p>\n
She said PPIA gives her a daily transport allowance of Rp
\n3,000, but it is barely enough. She lives in Cengkareng, not far
\nfrom Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.<\/p>\n
"If I have lunch everyday, I'm afraid I can't afford to meet
\nmy children's needs," she said.<\/p>\n
Nunung smiled and paused a while when asked about her dream
\nbefore she began her job as a parking attendant and what she
\nwished for in the future. "Maybe I just want my children to be
\nsuccessful," she said.<\/p>\n
But Nunung envisions it would be nice to do what other women
\ndo, if she had the time. Maybe she also does not have the time to
\ncelebrate National Women's Day, which falls on Dec. 22.<\/p>\n
"I wish I had time to join other women going to the mosque to
\nhear religious lectures," she said, when asked what she really
\nmissed doing.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/female-parking-attendant-fights-against-heavy-odds-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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