It is not every day that I get to meet ambitious young women.
Thus, when I do, I feel the need to encourage others to put themselves out there and get their life started, or kickstarted. Sometimes that takes some doing or at least someone to look up to.
I meet many people from different social media platforms and the same is true with Ochya. I don’t recall which came first, TikTok or Instagram but after many months we ended up meeting. While Ochya is shy, to begin with, our conversation quickly adjusted to a much more normal dialogue.
I have mentioned this before in other blogs “The Lost Generation” is one of them. Many young women are lounging around scrolling social media and wishing they could start a business or be part of one. Very few do something about it, so it is interesting to hear someone who is at least trying to make something of themselves. Normally I don’t do interviews, however, I feel I had to because it is an inspiring story for women and young ladies in general. As it happens, I end up meeting and becoming friends with many followers and I hope this is the case as well Ochya. Rima, Rossy, Bu Komang, and Bu Dewi are but a few examples.
This is What I am Talking About
In this case, I wanted to meet Ochya after she posted some very interesting and somewhat sensitive videos on Instagram. I saw a very interesting ceremony that I had to find out more about. Not every day one gets to see a sacrifice… Okay to be clear it was a ceremony being carried out after the passing of her grandfather. I had to know more about life in Sumba since that is where this took place and more about Ochya and her businesses.
Upon meeting for coffee, I had to pick her brain a little. Sumba seems to be a simple place. In many ways backward and while I will not call it primitive, it is filled with traditions. This is where it gets interesting.
For example, the women are allowed to leave and settle or follow their husbands wherever they may take them. But the boys need to stay to carry on the family traditions and farming. Somewhat restrictive but such is life on Sumba. While Ochya has brothers and sisters, she chooses to leave that life behind and start something new. She found life boring and upon returning she finds it a bit stressful to sit around and do nothing, or relax… It is a beautiful place but even relaxation gets boring after a day or two.
A typical day in Sumba would start with coffee, herding buffalo, going to work, or in this case, Ochya’s parents own a small shop and they set off for the day. The same day plays out over and over again so for young people this could get old quickly. For young people the days are simple and “boring” It takes guts and courage to pick up and leave to pursue something different. For a young lady to venture off to Bali and start a new life it is not easy. But here we are… I am writing about someone who did.
Why is Sumba so Different?
It is raw and the crowds of Bali have yet to ruin it. It is a place where waterfalls are places of solitude and peace. It is natural and not exploited. This is a con as well as a pro. It is still a place of traditions and besides the double wedding and double funeral sessions, there is more. The uncle must give away the daughter in the family and have a church wedding as well as a traditional one. The same goes for the burial of a person as I found out by watching the sacrifice of bulls in the name of the deceased. When Ochya’s grandfather passed, six buffalo were sacrificed. I got to see two of them… Disturbing? Well, I have seen animals slaughtered but never in this way. Understanding the process helps and understanding traditions helps even more. Sure, it is cruel by North American standards but normal by Sumba Standards. Who are we to judge… A regular burial followed by a traditional one seems to be the case for Sumba. Same for the weddings…
Surprisingly Sumba is all Christian and so this series of double ceremonies applies to giving children names as well. While Sumba is civilized, some parts of it are raw and maybe you want to bring a local guide along.
The Business End.
Meeting young entrepreneurs is always great. Newfound inspiration and aspirations as well. Currently, Ochya runs her own business, delivering alcohol. Order and delivery is how Indonesia is run, from Go-Jek to Grab and other delivery services. But this is not all. This young entrepreneur chose to dive into the clothing business as well. Currently, she is developing her clothing line which will be ready to launch in a few months. While I may not know Ochya well enough to say I am proud of her, I am. It is never easy to start a business and try something that many have tried and failed. However, many have also succeeded. In other words, nothing is impossible.
The takeaway is that a young woman from a village in Sumba can make a change in her life, why can’t you? What is stopping you from reaching out and expanding your horizons? How come one young woman can and you cannot? I am using this young woman as an example because while many have excuses for why they cannot, she says why can’t I? Having met individuals both young and old, many say they cannot. It takes courage to venture off a small island and make something of yourself. I am more than happy to assist people who are eager and willing. So, let’s support small businesses and support the individuals who are out there to make a name for themselves.
