The terrible headache of the 'krismon'
JAKARTA (JP): It must be the krismon (monetary crisis), why else would I be having more difficulty reading now? Newspapers are shrinking and the print has become smaller -- media moguls must also be economizing on printing ink too, because the letters have become less clear.
The other day, Tanya said that I was shrinking because I held the piece of paper that I was reading so far from me in order to be able read it. Unfortunately my arm was too short and I gave up defeated!
No, I don't think I am shrinking, but we do not get good quality light these days. Because of the krismon, the electricity board gives us poor quality light and during the day, pollution blocks out the sunlight.
Tanya said that if I had difficulty reading, I should ask somebody to read it for me, but I don't think that would help me because people talk so softly nowadays. They mumble, forcing me to ask continually: "What did you say?" They probably don't have enough money to go to the dentist.
Only music is loud these days, especially in the malls, and that is why I hate going shopping. The floors in the malls are slippery and the escalators go so fast. But staying at home has become quite eerie these days, because my belongings keep on disappearing, especially my keys. Sometimes I am sure that I have put my keys in one place, but they are never there when I go back to look for them. Who moved them? It may be some dukun santet (sorcerers) at work, like those who work in East Java. I hope the ninjas don't come in search of them while they are at work in my home.
So from time to time I venture out onto slippery floors and have lunch or high tea with friends. I don't enjoy the food as much as I used to -- it is usually tasteless because restaurant owners are trying to save on the cost of spices. The meat is usually tough, again the work of the krismon, I'm sure. And don't talk about chicken! It is usually tough and dry. Not only human beings, chickens too are suffering from malnourishment because of the krismon!
Nevertheless, going out can still be exciting because I get to hear all the latest gossip and jokes. The real news in Indonesia does not come from TVRI, but from the people themselves. That is why it is important to go out and listen to what they have to say. However, sometimes this leads to arguments.
One day I went out with Tanya for a lunch meeting. On the way, we had to stop at a money changer to change some dollars on the advice of one of her friends. When the dollar is weakening you have to buy rupiah. So she changed a few hundred of them and we went on our way. All was well until Lydia came in clutching her mobile phone to her ear. Covering the mouth piece she said: "The dollar has gone up by three hundred. It's now 7,500. I bought some for 7,000 yesterday. I made a profit of 500!"
What, Tanya thought, I just changed mine for 7,200 this morning, so I lost 300!
She was still smarting from the loss when Nani arrived and said: "Goodness me, the rupiah is weakening, I changed my dollars this morning for 7,000 and now it's gone to 7,800!"
Tanya then felt better because she knew somebody else had lost more than she had, but Nani continued and said. "Well, they say it's good for exports."
We were all speechless and concentrated on eating our tough, dry food until Lydia broke the silence by saying:
"Is it also good for people? Can people eat exports?"
A heated debate then followed on the pros and cons of different exchange rates, leaving me feeling something of an outsider. Having neither dollars nor rupiah to trade, I could not share in their joys and disappointments. Although the krismon has changed my life in many ways, I am glad that I have not joined the dollar rat race like Tanya, Lydia and Nani. I don't mind getting old, but going crazy is another thing altogether!
-- Myra Sidharta