'I can't cope with thirst at midday'

'I can't cope with thirst at midday'

Depriving oneself of food and drink from dusk till dawn is not
easy. It is even harder for people who have to work outdoors,
under the hot sun, away from the luxury of air conditioned
buildings. Some people share their views on the matter with The
Jakarta Post.

Cede, 47, a street sweeper who has been working for the City
Sanitation Agency for five years. She lives in Kemanggisan, West
Jakarta, with her husband and eight children:

I'm fasting despite the fact my job is to sweep the
thoroughfares. Thank God, it's fine so far.

I frequently drink herbal medicines and food supplements to
maintain my energy. Otherwise, my legs wouldn't be strong enough
for walking back and forth to clean the street.

My husband even bought me a large belt to support my waist as
I suffer from back pain.

Despite the hardship, I do my duty every day from 4.30 a.m.
until 1 p.m. just for my children. I earn more or less Rp 16,000
a day.

If I don't keep myself in a healthy condition, how could I
earn money to support my family? That income is so precious to
get by, especially to support my children's school tuition. My
husband only works for a car repair shop.

However, I thank God for the cloudy days so I can work well.
Besides, I can resist my thirst as it is not that hot at midday.

Amat, 35, a worker who installs telecommunications cables
under the road. He rents a house with his fellow workers at Tanah
Abang, Central Jakarta. His wife and three children live in
Cirebon, West Java:

I'm sorry to say that I'm not fasting. My job is really tough
as I have to dig the road and drag the cables and bury them the
whole day.

Maybe I could resist my hunger but I can't stand the thirst
during the heat of midday.

Well, in a way I realize that I'm sinful for not performing
fasting since fasting is a religious obligation. I probably would
not get any religious rewards as stated in our religious beliefs.

My wife and children fast, but if I fast, I can't work well
and who would earn money then? I would not be able to work hard
and consequently I don't get my wages. For me the wage is the
real reward as I need to feed my wife and children.

Frankly, if I'm fasting I would not be able to earn money,
which is around Rp 20,000 a day.

Rio, a street musician for four years. The native Jakartan in
his early 20s resides with his family in Duren Tiga, South
Jakarta:

Honestly speaking, I don't fast. I can't stand the thirst. As
a street singer I must sing loudly on public buses. Besides, I
also play harmonica, tuning my favorite songs, which are Iwan
Fals' songs. I would not have enough energy to sing and play if I
fast.

I guess earning money is always hard wherever you work or
whatever your job is. I used to sing on the commuter trains for
years. But it's all the same in terms of the income.

There's no big difference between the normal days and during
the fasting month. On average, I only earn Rp 20,000 per day.

Marbun, a mini bus attendant on the Pasar Minggu to Tanah
Abang route. The single man in his 20s resides in Kampung
Rambutan, East Jakarta with his friends:

I don't fast. I need a lot of energy to perform my daily job.
I have to stand (onboard) and shout all day long.

I think my position is so tough that I need to eat more and
consume other food supplements, including herbal medicines and
energy drinks.

Otherwise, I'm prone to sickness. When I'm sick I would lose
my daily income so I could not survive any longer in the city.

Anyway, the daily income during the fasting month drops almost
50 percent. Normally we can earn around Rp 100,000 a day but now
from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. we only get Rp 50,000 after we pay the
Rp 200,000 daily rent to the bus company. Out of the Rp 50,000, I
get Rp 20,000 and the rest goes to the driver.

-- Leo Wahyudi S