Teh Joo Lin & Melissa Kok - Straits Times Indonesia | February 22, 2011
Singapore. In between working for a family who lives in a four-room flat in Choa Chu Kang, Indonesian maid Nessa Kartika squeezed in the time to write short stories.
She worked on them in the afternoons, using her employers' computer with their permission, while keeping a watchful eye on their toddler.
The stories and others by fellow maid Karin Maulana, who works in Hong Kong, were published last month and 10 books were printed. Both women are 27.
The book's title Karenina Singa Bauhinia combines the authors' names and two icons of Singapore and Hong Kong - the Merlion and Golden Bauhinia Square, an open space with a gold sculpture of the bauhinia, Hong Kong's floral emblem.
The 18 stories in Bahasa Indonesia are about the trials and tribulations of a maid's life and the book was put out by Dragon Family Publisher in Hong Kong.
Nessa wrote half the stories and her friend Karin wrote the rest.
Nessa told The Straits Times that she began writing the stories after she came here to work three years ago.
The stories were inspired by her personal experiences, tales from other maids and even Singapore Press Holdings' citizen journalism website Stomp, where she once saw photographs of a maid making out with a man on a rooftop.
She said: "I put in drama and spice it up a little so it is more interesting to read."
One of her stories, Love Is Not Impossible, is about a young Indonesian maid in Singapore who falls in love with her employer's dashing son.
The plots are thick with fantasy and imagination, and maids who have read the book said they found the stories gripping and believable, and that the tales offered perspective to those in similar situations.
Siti Aisah, 29, said: "When I read the book, I know it is not only me who is sad. And I feel that at least, I am better off than them.
"Sometimes, people think they will surely succeed overseas. If they read the book, they will know more about what it's like overseas."
Ms Nessa said there are no plans to sell the book here yet, although she has lent it to some friends. Those interested in the book can contact her at nessakartika.blogspot.com.
Reprinted courtesy of Straits Times Indonesia. To subscribe to Straits Times Indonesia and/or the Jakarta Globe call 2553 5055.
She worked on them in the afternoons, using her employers' computer with their permission, while keeping a watchful eye on their toddler.
The stories and others by fellow maid Karin Maulana, who works in Hong Kong, were published last month and 10 books were printed. Both women are 27.
The book's title Karenina Singa Bauhinia combines the authors' names and two icons of Singapore and Hong Kong - the Merlion and Golden Bauhinia Square, an open space with a gold sculpture of the bauhinia, Hong Kong's floral emblem.
The 18 stories in Bahasa Indonesia are about the trials and tribulations of a maid's life and the book was put out by Dragon Family Publisher in Hong Kong.
Nessa wrote half the stories and her friend Karin wrote the rest.
Nessa told The Straits Times that she began writing the stories after she came here to work three years ago.
The stories were inspired by her personal experiences, tales from other maids and even Singapore Press Holdings' citizen journalism website Stomp, where she once saw photographs of a maid making out with a man on a rooftop.
She said: "I put in drama and spice it up a little so it is more interesting to read."
One of her stories, Love Is Not Impossible, is about a young Indonesian maid in Singapore who falls in love with her employer's dashing son.
The plots are thick with fantasy and imagination, and maids who have read the book said they found the stories gripping and believable, and that the tales offered perspective to those in similar situations.
Siti Aisah, 29, said: "When I read the book, I know it is not only me who is sad. And I feel that at least, I am better off than them.
"Sometimes, people think they will surely succeed overseas. If they read the book, they will know more about what it's like overseas."
Ms Nessa said there are no plans to sell the book here yet, although she has lent it to some friends. Those interested in the book can contact her at nessakartika.blogspot.com.
Reprinted courtesy of Straits Times Indonesia. To subscribe to Straits Times Indonesia and/or the Jakarta Globe call 2553 5055.
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