A letter from Ivano Zandra (93 ~ 94) to host Dad Tom McDermott
Hi Tom, It's been months you don't hear anything from me, rigtht I'm very well and so my family. Thanks a lot for your concern....I really apreciate it. But don't worry too much, the situation is a lot better than last year. There's no riot any more in Jakarta. But there's a couple lately, one in Borneo and the other one was in Ambon , an island in the east part of Indonesia. It's a long...long way from me. The news always sound scarrier, and TV always show the bad thing. If it's normal, they don't have anything to show.
It's true that many people try to go abroad, especially chinese ethnic, the minority. They scare it will be some more riot especially near the general election in May- June. The victim of last year riot was mostly the chinese people. There minority but many of them richer than the native. And people sometime get jealous of them. That's why, they try to imigrate to such Country like US, Australia or Canada, and bring all the money and family.
Some embassy of foreign country sugested their citizen to leave Indonesia because they're affraid about the situaion cause by the general election. People now are easy to get mad cause there's more unemployment stress, coudn't fine another job....and they still have family to feed. But generally, there's nothing to worry.
In other side, since the crises and the US dollar goes up, some people who earn or save the dollars get more welfare. Some people see more opportunity to export some goods, and there's more rich farmer or businessman because they export it and earn dollar. So does my parent, since they have savings in dollar, they could buy a bigger house and more cars.
Once again thank's for your concern. There's not too many people who cares a lot like you. My family said hello for you too.
Miss you too....
IVANO
