Hello - That's the first Tamil phrase we learned from Balamani, a waste collector working in Singapore.
For 4 years he has been away from his home in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. For 4 years he has not returned to visit his ageing mother and younger sisters.
He accepts his plight with a sense of quiet resignation, "I must work what. Better money than my job at the plantations."
"But isn't this job kind of... smelly?" we carefully ventured.
"Used to it la." he replied with a mere shrug of shoulders and a slight smile.
For some of us Singaporeans, it may be a 'smelly' and low-paying job. For some of them, the same job promises a better future.
Let's always bear in mind the waste collectors' remarkable determination and strength.
 |
| Joanne says Vanakkam to Balamani! |
