Be thankful

For the last few days, it has been very cold in my office, particularly in the third floor where my cubicle is located. I guess the pouring rain and frequent shower in Jakarta have contributed to the the room temperature drop. With the air-con still blowing, I had to bear a room temperature of 21 degrees Celcius. That is cold! I have been practically shivering all the time it was raining.

Having been born in a city by the sea like Surabaya, I am absolutely not made for living in areas with low temperature. Maybe I would never go and live in Europe or America with this physical condition. But then I should thank God for that, or I will not survive a day. Am I exaggerating? Perhaps yes. But I'm telling you, you can keep me - with jacket and head scarf - in a room without air-con. I would gladly stay in that room than in that space of mine in my office.

Still, I need to thank God once again because as I was shivering, at least I had a job.

According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, today there are 10 million people unemployed and 19.5% of them are youngsters (detikFinance, 6/11/08). Wow, that's a lot of people to compete with. What's more, having had high education does not guarantee one a job.

Yesterday an old friend sent me a text message saying that she was still waiting for the result of her last interview. She was my companion when I studied for my postgraduate degree. With her eloquence and interpersonal skills, I suppose she should not have a hard time finding a job. But no. Until today she is still searching for a job, all the while her husband is unemployed.

Another acquaintance from my postgraduate years had also contacted me recently. She has been busy being a mother of two, and now she believes the right time has come for her to start working. As a professional, I mean. I guess it won't be easy for her. She does have a master degree, but I don't know whether that will give her a bigger chance to get a job.

At the same time, my ex-house maid has asked for my help in finding a new boss. At home, my current house maid is also trying to get her sister a job. And this morning, while I was on my journey to the office riding an ojek, the driver asked me if the company I'm working for happened to have a vacancy for office boy.

Sometimes I envy my college mates who are now already a manager. Some even get to be an AVP (assistant vice president). But then I come to think that all this time I haven't had much difficulty in landing a job. Except when I was studying for my master degree, there was never a time when I did not have a job. And I hope there will never be.

Really, I should be thankful to God I have a job.