In Reply to: I think I am really Shallow! posted by trayden on Sunday, 1. February 2009 at 09:31 Bali Time:
In my more serious moments and some on here would be surprised to know I have any more serious moments this is my take on the whole charity in Bali thiing.
Now, I am not talking about people in the poverty stricken areas of East Bali. The work that Smudge and co do for Yayasan Peduli (sp?) is above reproach and very much needed and overdue. I also enjoyed sponsoring a child through school with Rotary but was uncomfortable with invitations to the house and even school visits were a little uncomfortable for me and I add that my husband and people we have visited the school with or at the same time as don't seem to have this problem at all. They have a ball with the kids and the kids seem to share the emotion. I just don't want to appear like I think I'm some kind of "Lady Bountiful" dispensing charity and sweeping back off to my fortunate life. Maybe it's a kind of "racial guilt" being a Pom and all, an aversion to the perceived superiority of the old Memsaab in India or Nyonya/Puan in Singapore or Malaysia.
Anyway when the child I sponsored finished the project and moved on from primary school I decided that for me, and it is just for me and not a suggestion that others should feel this way, maybe I'd feel better with anonymous donations to a reputable charity. I like the rather new ageish idea of throwing something into the universe and not necessarily seeing the result. Not that I would give money to an organization that I didn't feel was straight up!!! Haven't got quite that silly yet.
Ah, now, the "Beach ladies". You've got to love them don't you? I love chatting and gossiping with them, oh the Anak Pantai too, come to that. After the bombs when we stood on Legian Beach and looked towards Kuta and saw no tourists I think it was plain to many of us that the beach population was in big trouble and help was needed so help many of us did.
Now that the crowds are back they are doing OK again and that is just great to see because they earn it the hard way, day in, day out. The massage ladies at Rp.50.000 a massage are earning considerably more than the basic wage of Rp.800.000 per month plus service charge and tips in the bigger hotels and plus tips only in smaller ones. I do tip by the way. Now, let's not, with our good intentions, create a culture of relying on charity. Not good for the recipient nor the giver in the end. I pay a fair price for what I buy from the beach sellers but no longer buy what I don't really want. I tip the Anak Pantai who bring my chairs and drinks and buy the occasional beer too but do not hand out money in any large amount any more.
Well that was long winded. It's just the way I feel.