this is maria

Maria is my mother's masseuse. She's been here for 14 years. My age, yes. She's 42. She's this amazing woman who's just really kind. Why am I writing about her?

I feel so pathetic with myself due to the fact of feeling stupid. Look, I'm not saying that just because my marks are horrible, that means I'm stupid. No, I'm way better than that. This is because family. Have you seen my side of the story?

I come from a family who are academically successful. OhGodhelpusall. Yes, I thought it only happens in the movies, but no. My uncles were one of the very few who first went abroad for studying. And then my aunt went. This goes down to the kids. When you're 16, you go for Medical Studies. When you're 17, you must secure yourself a scholarship or a position at renowned universities abroad. Yes, they went to Oxford, Reading, and whatever there is out there. You get a Master's Degree before you turn 22. Your first car should be continental. It happens with your Kakas so why not? Mercedes Sports, Volkwagen, BMW, Audi. Yeah, and they're younger than 25. If they're not doctors or lawyers, they secured themselves a stable position with the Government.

This is all crap for me. I mean, c'mon, I'm barely 15, yet you're asking me for this? Here comes the different child from the rest. They never asked for my opinion. Perhaps it does not matter. i like to do things with my hands, like carving or pottery. Yeah, I like those kind of stuff.

Do you see where I'm going? When I am about to give up, here comes the lady to save my life.

She married young and lived in hardship. She came and became a maid. And then 14 good years later, she's a successful masseuse. What inspired me was that she got herself building a house in Indonesia worth around $300,000 having doctors as her neighbours. It took her 14 years to get to that stage. So, in my case, what do I get if I do good? It'll please you but not me.