'I deserve better meals during Ramadhan'<\/p>\n
The Muslim holy month of Ramadhan is two weeks old, and as is the
\ntradition people here are breaking the fast with special
\ndelicacies and lavish meals. The Jakarta Post spoke with several
\npeople about how they were coping financially with the need to
\nbuy special foods during the fasting month.<\/p>\n
Icay, 28, works at a law firm in Central Jakarta and lives in
\nWest Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I spend more during Ramadhan because on regular days I don't
\neat breakfast and my office provides a free lunch.<\/p>\n
But during the fasting month I set aside money for predawn
\nmeals and breaking of the fast meals.<\/p>\n
I feel like I deserve better meals during Ramadhan. During
\nnormal months, I buy my dinner from, for example, the street
\nvendors near my office. So far this fasting month, I have had
\nmost of my dinners in restaurants with colleagues.<\/p>\n
Sometimes my friends and I collect some money to provide meals
\nfor orphans to break the fast. But I consider that charity.<\/p>\n
Fatimah, 38, is a mother of two who works in a bakery. She
\nlives with her family in Meruya, West Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I spend more money on food during the fasting month. My
\nchildren always ask for something different for predawn meals and
\nto break the fast.<\/p>\n
I usually spend Rp 20,000 (US$2.35) a day for food, but during
\nRamadhan this can go up to Rp 30,000. I always provide my family
\nwith fruit and traditional Ramadhan delicacies such as kolak
\n(cassava, bananas stewed in coconut milk and sugar).<\/p>\n
Tarigan, 25, is an office boy at Jakarta Police Headquarters.
\nHe lives in South Jakarta with his wife and daughter:<\/p>\n
I spend more money during the fasting month. Of course, I want
\nbetter meals and something more than my ordinary food after
\nfasting all day.<\/p>\n
For that reason, I eat at food stalls and restaurants more
\noften than I break the fast at home. Fortunately, I receive extra
\nmoney for the Idul Fitri holiday. Otherwise, the fasting month
\nwould leave me broke.<\/p>\n
Lili, 27, a housewife, also works for an international
\norganization. She lives in Central Jakarta:<\/p>\n
My husband and I spend less money for our daily living costs
\nduring Ramadhan, as we only eat twice a day: the predawn meal and
\nto break the fast. Our spending on food is significantly reduced,
\nso we can save some money to buy things for the Idul Fitri
\nholiday.<\/p>\n
I think only big families spend more money during the fasting
\nmonth, because the housewives usually serve a variety of foods to
\ntheir families. This is how the excessive spending arises.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-deserve-better-meals-during-ramadhan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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