I Am Used to Being Hungry

That is what one of my followers said to me the other day. Yes, it was a bit hard to hear but it came up after I shared my meal of the day on a photo. I happened to be at a coffee shop having a sandwich and that is the comment I read at the time.

I am fortunate to have enough to eat, drink, and have a place to sleep, however, this came up twice in the past week. One of my other acquaintances recently lost her job and was also not only looking for work but was about to be evicted for not paying rent. These situations often bring up the topic of working abroad for Indonesians. However, as I often say, stay here in Indonesia, you will be better off, trust me. Why do I say this? It is because the cost of living in Canada vs the cost of living in Indonesia is still better. Many people will argue with me on this but with 30-40% or more of your wages being stolen by the government, the difficulty level of living in Canada has reached a new high.

Game Over?

I certainly hope it’s not game over. However, as in Canada, many Indonesians hold down two jobs. Part-time helps pay for the food and gas. The rest goes to accommodations and so on. Many Individuals do not fare well in Canada or Indonesia.

I will say that many Indonesians are under-educated by situation and not by choice. Yet outside of Jakarta, most jobs here require little education, and this is why Indonesia truly needs to step up the tourism game in my opinion. Imagine if all the beaches were to cater to tourism and all the proper infrastructure was also geared towards greeting people from all over the world.

Bali is Indonesia’s cash cow. Bali could and would be a rich little country on its own. Imagine if there were ten of this hotbed of tourist places.

Imagine If…

Yes, Lombok and Sumba along with Labuan Bajo and even Raja Empat are trying. Most of these places are being developed by private/foreign investors. Most of these places are selling land and small villas to be rented out on Booking.com and Airbnb. The government is doing little to nothing to develop these areas. Also, the flights and the way to get there are a pain in the ass. Not to mention medical facilities and other much-needed infrastructure that only governments can initiate. Yes, I went a little off-topic from the I need food issue, but it comes back to jobs and jobs. With the cost of living rising, Indonesia should look at what it has to offer to the world.  Indonesia has so much natural beauty and with that comes garbage, joblessness, and the need to reinvent itself to the world.

Explore the complex dynamics of hunger, joblessness, and economic disparity in Indonesia through personal anecdotes and societal reflections. Join the conversation as we delve into the challenges faced by individuals amidst rising living costs and economic uncertainties. Discover the potential of Indonesia’s tourism sector to drive growth and create opportunities, while addressing the pressing need for infrastructure development and government intervention. Gain insights into the intersection of poverty, education, and economic empowerment in shaping Indonesia’s future. Read on to uncover the untapped potential and inherent challenges facing the nation in its quest for prosperity.