Street Painter

On January 2012 I went to Jogjakarta, Indonesia. Jogjakarta is a very cultured city and the customary still very strong. What caught my attention much in Jogjakarta is Malioboro street. Many sellers sell their stuff in some kind of booth/stand along the road. When I take a walk along Malioboro I saw a booth which sell handmade painted canvas bag. I’m curious and want to talk to the owner but that woman is too busy. In the evening I came back to that shop, I met a man. I intend to buy one bag from him and have chit-chat, I asked him if I can help him paint one bag my self. Fortunately I can paint and I love painting. During painting I asked him many things. I asked about how much he got everyday from his shop. And I asked why he not took another job. He said that painting is the only one he competent in. He don’t know where else to work and what to do if he not painting. What a pity. And suddenly an idea crossed my mind at that time, why didn’t he sell his bag across Jogjakarta. I told him to sell his bags online in Facebook. And what he said about it surprised me. He doesn’t know how to make it! Seriously! I’m so frustrated but also touched.
This reality slapped me on my face. How can people don’t know how to use Facebook. And then I realized that me and him are different. I’m the one who exposed with the latest technology and in other side there are many people still don’t understand technology. They can not using technology for improving their life. And I’m the one who can use technology not use it for something useful beside for college task and social network. I was so embarrassed, how I did not become a thankful person by using every opportunities and facilities with full responsibility, while the people out there need it but do not have the same opportunity as I got. This trip is not just pleasure like another trip, but there are life lessons I can take. From that moment I promise to my self I’ll use everything in me wisely.