'I can't cope with thirst at midday'<\/p>\n
Depriving oneself of food and drink from dusk till dawn is not
\neasy. It is even harder for people who have to work outdoors,
\nunder the hot sun, away from the luxury of air conditioned
\nbuildings. Some people share their views on the matter with The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Cede, 47, a street sweeper who has been working for the City
\nSanitation Agency for five years. She lives in Kemanggisan, West
\nJakarta, with her husband and eight children:<\/p>\n
I'm fasting despite the fact my job is to sweep the
\nthoroughfares. Thank God, it's fine so far.<\/p>\n
I frequently drink herbal medicines and food supplements to
\nmaintain my energy. Otherwise, my legs wouldn't be strong enough
\nfor walking back and forth to clean the street.<\/p>\n
My husband even bought me a large belt to support my waist as
\nI suffer from back pain.<\/p>\n
Despite the hardship, I do my duty every day from 4.30 a.m.
\nuntil 1 p.m. just for my children. I earn more or less Rp 16,000
\na day.<\/p>\n
If I don't keep myself in a healthy condition, how could I
\nearn money to support my family? That income is so precious to
\nget by, especially to support my children's school tuition. My
\nhusband only works for a car repair shop.<\/p>\n
However, I thank God for the cloudy days so I can work well.
\nBesides, I can resist my thirst as it is not that hot at midday.<\/p>\n
Amat, 35, a worker who installs telecommunications cables
\nunder the road. He rents a house with his fellow workers at Tanah
\nAbang, Central Jakarta. His wife and three children live in
\nCirebon, West Java:<\/p>\n
I'm sorry to say that I'm not fasting. My job is really tough
\nas I have to dig the road and drag the cables and bury them the
\nwhole day.<\/p>\n
Maybe I could resist my hunger but I can't stand the thirst
\nduring the heat of midday.<\/p>\n
Well, in a way I realize that I'm sinful for not performing
\nfasting since fasting is a religious obligation. I probably would
\nnot get any religious rewards as stated in our religious beliefs.<\/p>\n
My wife and children fast, but if I fast, I can't work well
\nand who would earn money then? I would not be able to work hard
\nand consequently I don't get my wages. For me the wage is the
\nreal reward as I need to feed my wife and children.<\/p>\n
Frankly, if I'm fasting I would not be able to earn money,
\nwhich is around Rp 20,000 a day.<\/p>\n
Rio, a street musician for four years. The native Jakartan in
\nhis early 20s resides with his family in Duren Tiga, South
\nJakarta:<\/p>\n
Honestly speaking, I don't fast. I can't stand the thirst. As
\na street singer I must sing loudly on public buses. Besides, I
\nalso play harmonica, tuning my favorite songs, which are Iwan
\nFals' songs. I would not have enough energy to sing and play if I
\nfast.<\/p>\n
I guess earning money is always hard wherever you work or
\nwhatever your job is. I used to sing on the commuter trains for
\nyears. But it's all the same in terms of the income.<\/p>\n
There's no big difference between the normal days and during
\nthe fasting month. On average, I only earn Rp 20,000 per day.<\/p>\n
Marbun, a mini bus attendant on the Pasar Minggu to Tanah
\nAbang route. The single man in his 20s resides in Kampung
\nRambutan, East Jakarta with his friends:<\/p>\n
I don't fast. I need a lot of energy to perform my daily job.
\nI have to stand (onboard) and shout all day long.<\/p>\n
I think my position is so tough that I need to eat more and
\nconsume other food supplements, including herbal medicines and
\nenergy drinks.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, I'm prone to sickness. When I'm sick I would lose
\nmy daily income so I could not survive any longer in the city.<\/p>\n
Anyway, the daily income during the fasting month drops almost
\n50 percent. Normally we can earn around Rp 100,000 a day but now
\nfrom 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. we only get Rp 50,000 after we pay the
\nRp 200,000 daily rent to the bus company. Out of the Rp 50,000, I
\nget Rp 20,000 and the rest goes to the driver.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-cant-cope-with-thirst-at-midday-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }