It was interesting hanging out with the family all afternoon. Dad (Rusli) works as a security guard (SATPAM) at a hospital, 1 hour away. We talked about school. Vita is in 8th grade this year. Mom & dad had to pawn all of their DVDs and DVD player to put her through middle school this year. She goes to a private school because she wasn’t accepted into the public school. I don’t fully understand that, but school is not automatic here, although on paper it is mandatory for kids through 9th grade. It’s not free either. Middle school costs $100 per semester (6 months). She has to buy all her own books and supplies. The kicker for me is the payment that kids are unofficially required to make to take their tests. Each class has a mid-term and final: each test requires a $5 payment to the teacher. She has 7 classes this semester, so that’s $35 to get through test week, and that isn’t included in the cost of going to school. The reason, I hear, is that teachers’ salaries are low, and they need additional money to issue the grades that permit kids to advance.

To break down the family budget:
Mom ($40) + Dad ($60) = $100 monthly income
Subtract rent ($35), monthly school payment ($15) and they have $50 left to feed, cloth & transport 5 people.

That doesn’t leave much for savings, or paying teachers to grade your tests.
She doesn’t know if she can afford to go to school next year, but wants to. I’m pretty sure I’ll make that happen.

After playing with the kids, I brought my DVD player from home, and we all watched Shrek 2, one of the 5 DVD movies I got for them today ($3 total). We opened fasting together again on the floor of their home. Rice, steamed veggies & fish. I walked home (5 minutes away) as it was getting dark.