Rural people display material success during Idul Fitri<\/p>\n
Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Banjarnegara, Central Java<\/p>\n
The age of the cell phone has not yet subsided. Maybe it has in
\nlarge towns, where cell phones have become ubiquitous, and
\nconsequently, have lost their status as luxury goods.<\/p>\n
However, in remote villages, cell phone fever has apparently
\njust begun.<\/p>\n
See what has happened in Watuurip village, Banjarnegara
\nregency.<\/p>\n
Three years ago, the ringing of cell phones was rarely heard
\nin the village. Now, the situation has been completely reversed.<\/p>\n
Cell phones are now frequently heard in the village,
\nespecially during the Idul Fitri holiday.<\/p>\n
At the Idul Fitri celebration this year, more and more young
\nmen or women wandered around the village with a cell phone in
\ntheir hands.<\/p>\n
Some, wearing stylish clothes for the area, were seen with
\ncell phones dangling on their chests from a sash. Others,
\nparticularly the girls, with hair dyed red, wore tight dresses,
\nkeeping their cell phones in their pocket.<\/p>\n
"Hi Yun. I've just arrived in Indonesia. Can we buy tickets
\ntogether for Taiwan after Idul Fitri?" Sutirah, a 24-year-old
\nresident in Watuurip village said to her friend Yuni via a cell
\nphone.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, Sutirah was a shy person. But thanks to
\nincreased wealth after working in Taiwan, she can now talk to
\nothers with confidence.<\/p>\n
For Sutirah, Idul Fitri has become the right moment for her to
\nshow other people in the village that she has made a success of
\nherself after working overseas.<\/p>\n
During Idul Fitri, when most people return -- from other towns
\nor from overseas -- to their home village to celebrate, Sutirah
\ngladly shared her achievement in Taiwan.<\/p>\n
A cell phone -- that small, sophisticated, but handy object --
\nis something that has enabled her to demonstrate to people that
\nshe has become a successful person. Ownership of a cell phone has
\nautomatically elevated her status in the eyes of the people in
\nher village.<\/p>\n
But a cell phone is not the only thing that Sutirah and others
\nhave used to demonstrate their elevated status to others.<\/p>\n
Jumiyati, 26, has worked in Taiwan for three years. She has
\nreturned to Indonesia for two weeks vacation, to celebrate the
\nIdul Fitri holiday.<\/p>\n
Like Sutirah, she has also spent her money on things that
\npeople perceive to be luxury goods.<\/p>\n
Luxury home appliances could easily be spotted in her house,
\nincluding a large refrigerator, 21-inch television set and a
\ncompact disc player with huge speakers.<\/p>\n
She has a large, two-story house, rather unusual in a remote
\nvillage like Watuurip. It stands in stark contrast to other
\nmodest houses in the village.<\/p>\n
When The Jakarta Post visited her house a few days ago, she
\nsat on a new luxurious sofa with her husband, Suparno. Jumiyati
\nwas dressed Taiwan-style, with shorts and a sleeveless shirt.<\/p>\n
Her skin was white and clean, in sharp contrast to her
\nhusband's, which was dark and dull. Suparno is a farmer.<\/p>\n
Jumiyati and Sutirah are just two among thousands of
\nIndonesians who work overseas. In Watuurip alone more than 30
\nmigrant workers are employed in various countries overseas.<\/p>\n
This does not include hundreds of other young people in the
\nvillage, who seek a living in Jakarta or other cities in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, in many cases, they are unwise and
\nirresponsible in their spending.<\/p>\n
Buying luxury goods is popular with these young people, who
\nfind their wealth increases after hard work overseas or in large
\ncities.<\/p>\n
They simply spend their money on unproductive assets. They buy
\nexpensive electronic devices, motorcycles for their younger
\nbrothers and other such things, which are not really needed. They
\nrarely save or invest money for their children's or families'
\neducation, or use it as working capital to start a business.<\/p>\n
Their awareness needs to be raised in order that they spend
\ntheir money wisely. If not, once their work contracts come to an
\nend, their wealth will vanish quickly and they will be back to
\nsquare one -- poverty.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rural-people-display-material-success-during-idul-fitri-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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