The other day Ibu Nina came to me as it was technically time for them to pay another installment on the loan I gave them. I don't know if you remember but about 2 months ago her brother Augus had a motor, that he had been fixing for someone, fall off the back of a borrowed motorbike while he was driving and he didn't realize it. In order to save his reputation, he of course had to replace the motor. They needed to borrow 200,000 rups at that time to buy a new motor. A month ago they paid me 50,000 and this month they were supposed to pay 75,000. But, Agus has just been hired to work for the company that makes Buavita brand juices and they also produce milk. Here in Indonesia, nepotism is alive and thriving. Agus only heard about the job because it was offered to his brother-in-law (whose friend is in personnel), Ibu Nina's husband, but as he has just taken a new job himself, he asked if his brother-in-law could try for the job. So Agus had to write a test and be interviewed and he got the job. This is a really big deal for this family. Previously Agus had been fixing motorbikes for people, but many times people didn't pay him the full amount right away or didn't pay at all saying they would pay later, or paid him well below what the work was worth. If I understood correctly, now Agus can make 2 million rups a month which is a great wage. He is on a three month trial period first and then they can decide to make him permanent or not. If he is accepted as permanent, he will qualify for their benefits program. There are many companies here who only hire people on a contract basis for short periods of time so that they don't have to pay for any benefits. (kinda sounds like Wal-Mart or something...) As health care is big business here, it's a big deal to have health insurance. Anyways, they couldn't pay me the 75,000 that they were supposed to because he has this new job and he needs to have money for travel. He won't get paid until the end of the month of course. So I'm still debating about what to do. Do I forgive the loan or not? He will definitely have the $ for me at the end of the month, but is that what I should do? It is really easy just to forgive the loan, but the problem is that you can help create an unhealthy dependence on others. If I hadn't helped them, where would they have gone for help? On the other hand I'd like to help Agus. He's almost 29 years old and not married and wasn't able to finish his studies at university because his dad died. The fact that he didn't have a "real" job has prevented him from actively looking for a wife. He also doesn't own a motorcycle himself. He's never been able to save enough for one as he always helps his mom pay for his younger brothers school expenses. So now that he has a real job and it is a bit far away, he would like to buy a motorbike because that is the best way to travel to your job. It is much faster and cheaper than taking angkots and ojeks (motorbike taxis). What would you do?