Uncertainty is a large part of our lives.I don't feel it on a day to day basis, but sometimes it pops up when I have to make certain decisions.
For example, should I sign up for the 1-year subscription of the Jakarta Globe? If I do, it's a huge saving and I get an additional 3 months free, so that's 15 months in total at a discounted price. But I don't know whether we'll still be in Jakarta by then.
Most people will say go ahead and do it. What are the chances of moving so soon right? Well I happily signed up for a mobile phone plan (with a commitment period of 6 months) in NZ after being told that we'll be there for at least another year. A couple of weeks after, I was informed that we'll be leaving in approximately two months' time! Ha!
I used to get really upset because it's difficult to make long-term, or even short-term plans for that matter. But being here in Jakarta helps put things in perspective. These are little issues as compared to the kind of problems some people on the streets of Jakarta have. They are struggling to put food on the table, let alone be able to afford to send their children to school. Some don't know where and when will the next meal be. Those are real problems with uncertainty, as opposed to my endless whining.
3 comments:
I totally agree with you. The problem with alot of people is they don't know what the outside world is like, and they comprain comprain comprain. The girl who sits next to me, complains endlessly about anything and everything. From the subway auntie who has small hands and gives her too little everything for her sandwich to the leaky walls during the recent flash floods.
I get really irritated with her all the time, and it's so typical of someone who doesn't travel much and takes everything for granted. She complains about her maid, her kids, her husband, the school system, the singapore immigration, the everything.
Everyone should take a trip down to a developing country and see kids run butt naked and play in sand dunes because they have no toys and no school to go to.
There, I've said my piece!
hey if there's a newstand nearby; just get your driver/security dude to pickup a copy every morning, chances are you wont read it every day, and the subscription savings can be offset for days when you don't read the papers/travelling etc
But if there's no nearby paper seller, &/or you love reading the papers every morning to start your day, go for it, no regrets.
p.s. Just make sure they don't auto-roll your credit card payment authorisation at the end of year 1 (for year 2). Some newspaper/magazine subscriptions do that if paying via card.
kym, you're absolutely right. some of the things we whine and complain about are problems that other people wish they had. the story about "Peter" and his driver really got me down.
Post a Comment