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| Letter from Burma: fresh hope | Letter from Burma: fresh hope |
| (10 days later) | |
| While writing a book on Burma, I've acquired an extended family. I have known Maung Myaing for several years and knew he came from a village near Pakokku in west-central Burma. I did not know the depths of his poverty. His sole possession is his motorbike which he uses as a taxi between 6am and 6pm. Every morning he waits at the bus station offering to take businessmen on his motorbike 12km to the centre of Mandalay. | While writing a book on Burma, I've acquired an extended family. I have known Maung Myaing for several years and knew he came from a village near Pakokku in west-central Burma. I did not know the depths of his poverty. His sole possession is his motorbike which he uses as a taxi between 6am and 6pm. Every morning he waits at the bus station offering to take businessmen on his motorbike 12km to the centre of Mandalay. |
| Gradually I learned that his village has no electricity, nor a well. Every day since he was tall enough to bear a yoke he carried two buckets of water to his home. Between the ages of five and 14 one of his jobs was to help his father who was a toddy palm tapper. Twice daily, his father climbed 40-60 toddy palms (about 20-25 metres high). Maung Myaing had to collect each pot of the sugary liquid and take it to his mother. From aged five he walked 3km (each way) to school. | Gradually I learned that his village has no electricity, nor a well. Every day since he was tall enough to bear a yoke he carried two buckets of water to his home. Between the ages of five and 14 one of his jobs was to help his father who was a toddy palm tapper. Twice daily, his father climbed 40-60 toddy palms (about 20-25 metres high). Maung Myaing had to collect each pot of the sugary liquid and take it to his mother. From aged five he walked 3km (each way) to school. |
| When he was about 11 (he is the eldest son in a family of six) he had to work as a labourer on the railway. An edict arrived in the village requiring every family to provide one worker to build the line between Mandalay, Pakokku and beyond. The railway doesn't run near the family's village, but every family had to send one person. | When he was about 11 (he is the eldest son in a family of six) he had to work as a labourer on the railway. An edict arrived in the village requiring every family to provide one worker to build the line between Mandalay, Pakokku and beyond. The railway doesn't run near the family's village, but every family had to send one person. |
| Maung Myaing managed to finish school and then studied economics at university. But he failed his final exam and had no money for a resit. When I several times each year offered to help him, he refused "because you are a widow, Kinny". | Maung Myaing managed to finish school and then studied economics at university. But he failed his final exam and had no money for a resit. When I several times each year offered to help him, he refused "because you are a widow, Kinny". |
| Like thousands of young Burmese, he went to the city to earn money for his parents back in the village. He stayed with a cousin in Mandalay whom he had never met. The cousin had a wife and daughter and lived in one room. They put up a curtain between his bed space and theirs. He stayed there almost two years. | Like thousands of young Burmese, he went to the city to earn money for his parents back in the village. He stayed with a cousin in Mandalay whom he had never met. The cousin had a wife and daughter and lived in one room. They put up a curtain between his bed space and theirs. He stayed there almost two years. |
| Finally, he has accepted my offer of help and, after 10 years, is going back to university. Unbelievably he was able to find his student card, reading list of books and his examination number – which is important in Burma. Considering the poverty in which he has lived, it is a miracle they survived. By November he should have an economics degree. Then he must look for a job. But now he has hope. | Finally, he has accepted my offer of help and, after 10 years, is going back to university. Unbelievably he was able to find his student card, reading list of books and his examination number – which is important in Burma. Considering the poverty in which he has lived, it is a miracle they survived. By November he should have an economics degree. Then he must look for a job. But now he has hope. |
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