Page 68 - Life In Naples Magazine - November 2015

what in the
WORLD

is going on

by Barbara Roy day. He was able to finish the equivalent of junior high school
where he studied some English but the need to help support
In my travels I can only begin to understand the genuine his family was more important than education. He attracts few
poverty and challenges that people must endure as they go English-speaking customers so he was happy to practice the
through their daily routine. Let me tell you about Isotopo. language and actually did quite well.
I love visiting Indonesia; I like the sights, sounds and the
people. On one such trip, I rented a “Becak” from a young I invited Isotopo to join me for lunch so that I could learn
man by the name of Isotopo and we agreed upon the $1 more about his life, his family and what he saw in his future.
a day price. A Becak is a three-wheeled bicycle where It was apparent in our conversation that he was a very bright,
two front wheels support a seat for two while the operator handsome, personable young man but had no great driving
rides on a traditional bicycle seat with pedals, handlebars and ambition. In his circumstance, his options and opportunities
brakes. The young driver was a 31 year old Indonesian native, were extremely limited by the economic condition of his
who was born in a village two hours away from where I was country. When asked what he would like to do besides the job
staying in Yogyakarta. He lived with his family in a small of pedaling a Becak, he explained that he wanted to obtain
bamboo house with a well for the family’s water but no other a certificate in English. This would enable him to get a good
modern conveniences. Isotopo worked on a rice farm, laboring paying job at one of the tourist hotels, therefore raising the
in the field until three months ago when he was fortunate in living standard for his entire family. In order to do this he would
obtaining work as a Becak driver. need to study in an English program two days a week for three
Becaks are rented from a supply source, hundreds of them months, then he would qualify for his certificate. This precious
are seen in the many small cities and it is the most common certificate would show a prospective employer his English
means of transportation. Rather than making the two-hour bus qualifications and ability. The cost of this program was 300.000
trip to his poor village nightly Isotopo frequently slept in his
Becak in order to save money and be ready to work the next

BECAK