Work is busy, I have to put the machine in silent mode. It wasn’t until my break that I called back or replied to people’s messages.
Sitting at work, my heart is not calm at all. Over the past few years, I’ve had a hard time doing business, and my income has been much lower. My two children are in college, my wife does not have a stable job, all the burden of spending falls on me.
Every meal, listening to my wife complain regarding money, I might not swallow rice.
Tet is coming, so many things to prepare: Food, drink, lucky money, Tet holiday… But my biggest fear is the festivals and meetings at the beginning of the year.
In recent years, all over the world racing to form associations. These are the local councils, the same age groups at all levels of school… Any association I join, because I think that these associations create a feeling that connects people with each other. Thus, I roughly calculated that I also participated in nearly a dozen associations.
As is customary, every year the associations organize a meeting in the early spring. And of course, everyone knows that in order to maintain the activities of the association, there must be funding from the members.
In the first few years, the groups I joined only held tea parties, confectionery… so the contribution was not much, everyone was happy. But following that, everyone held a salty party, so they contributed more.
For those who have a salary or trade, the amount of several million is normal. However, it is not a small problem for freelancers or farmers with low income to join many associations.
With the concept that “a ten thousand loss is not equal to an inch less than you”, so some bad things happened in the groups. Some people take all the family’s savings to pay the association, there are people who have no money but want to show that they should borrow at interest rates… The incident broke, the day of the meeting, the wife and children came to make a fuss, causing a ruckus. messy family.
I think back to last year, when it was like that, I thought I wouldn’t have a meeting. However, having a few days of Tet holiday, calling from one group to another, it was difficult for me to refuse, so I had to go. Originally contributing to a few groups, I lost nearly 5 million dong, not to mention other incurred expenses.
Bringing the reputation back to my hometown to celebrate Tet with my parents and brothers, but there are a few times when I stay at home. During the whole New Year, I stayed at home on the 1st, the rest of the day I attended meetings.
My aunts and uncles also only came to visit briefly and then returned. There are times when I don’t want to go to meetings but I can’t avoid it.
This year, there are still two weeks until Tet, but the groups have called me to make an appointment to meet. I thought regarding going to a meeting, paying money, and then getting drunk once more, naturally feeling bored.
Establishing groups is a good thing, but in my opinion, groups are created to connect people, create solidarity, help each other, share joys and sorrows.
Associations should have clear guidelines and regulations, and the level of contribution should be consistent with the general income of the participating members. The amount of the fund should be used to visit and encourage members of the association in difficulty or to use in filial ceremonies… That would be more meaningful. There is also Tet holiday for everyone to have time to reunite with family.
The meeting should be kept for a few years or according to a certain cycle. Should not do it every year, very expensive. Meetings where drinking, beer and travel is both a violation of traffic safety and other unfortunate things can happen. I don’t know if everyone thinks like me.
