In Reply to: orphanages, donating, hassling etc posted by Alexje on Sunday, 29. March 2009 at 23:50 Bali Time:
Your grammar is perfect.
One thing that comes through here is that they mostly see foreigners who are in "tourist mode".
I have experienced some pretty obnoxious and loud American tourists, whereas I found them to be friendly and "normal" when I toured the USA (Maybe I became the obnoxious one?!!)
Similarly with Germans, having encountered "pool chair rage" and "blow smoke over your food rage" from tourists, I found that when working for a short time in Germany, they were thoughtful and as considerate as anyone else.
I really don't think that the Balinese or Indonesians see the best of foreigners when those foreigners are in tourist mode.
There are also huge cultural, religious and political divides between Muslim and Hindu Indonesians and "us".
Naturally, this will create a fair bit of "how strange" when both sides look at the others way of behaving.
I am sure that rural Balinese (especially older ones)see tourists in an entirely different light to the perceptions that a local tourist strip operator would see the same tourist.
It is difficult to form an objective view on the giving of money or goods and visits to orphanages, and any short or long term benefits, or otherwise that this may have.
One thing that this can certainly do is generate a fair bit of jealousy if not managed properly, and this may contribute to a fair degree of negativity from those who are left out.
I would certainly think that a couple of years assistance is better than nothing, and the recipients must be aware that the "windfall" may not always be there, and plan accordingly.....much the same as we do at home in similar circumstances....it's called making hay while the sun shines?!
You have provided a very interesting insight into the mindset and views of a small sample of Balinese society, although just how representative of the "big picture" it is remains to be seen.
It is anyway a good reminder for all visitors to Bali (or anywhere else for that matter) to be mindful that building bridges is fine, but just make sure that you have the building materials to effectively bridge the gap before you start.
Please don't pick on my grammar, because I don't have any excuses if it is wrong.