In Reply to: how much and what for? posted by annyf on Sunday, 26. June 2005 at 13:04 Bali Time:
I know how you feel. It is hard to say no. I think the first time it happens, you can make a sensible judgment about whether the need is genuine, whether what you are doing can make a difference. We sent a considerable sum to someone we considered a friend and, when we returned to Bali, he became very 'possessive' of us - for example he sulked if we talked to his colleagues. When we turned down a second request for money, we suddenly became invsisible people. I love Bali and the Balinese and I hate to stereotype, but ex-pat friends say that emotional maturity can sometimes be an issue. It is akin to sibling rivalry, and I'm sorry, but while they do genuinely like you, you can so easily be seen as a 'patron' if you show any favouritism.