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“Never judge a book by its cover” is a reminder that appearances can be deceiving. Someone who seems ordinary or unremarkable on the outside might have a rich story, hidden talents, or an incredible background you’d never expect. Just like a plain-looking book might hold a powerful story inside, people often have layers that aren’t obvious at first glance. Taking the time to understand someone beyond first impressions can lead to surprising discoveries, and sometimes, even a whole new perspective.
According to China Press, a Hong Kong employer recently shared her personal story on famous social media, Threads about her Indonesian “kakak”. In her post, she mentioned that she has an Indonesian helper who's in her 20s currently, and has worked with her family for several years. this Indonesian helper has constantly demonstrated discipline, diligence, respect and has blended into her family, being well-loved by everyone in the household.
However, recently she unexpectedly requested to end her contract earlier to travel back to Indonesia to get married. The Hong Kong employer and their family were astonished, but were more worried as they feared she might have fallen for a scammer for dating online. Surprisingly, they've just got to know about her background, of which her fiancé is actually a pilot, handsome and responsible, who has been constantly sending her a monthly allowance of HK$3,000 (about RM1,630) since their student days, and after marriage, the allowance would double to HK$6,000 (about RM3,260) if they had children.
The employer was stunned. “We thought she was working hard to save money,” she said, laughing. “Turns out she’s already rich — she even owns a coffee bean plantation, a cocoa farm, and agricultural land back in Indonesia! She came to Hong Kong not out of need, but to experience life!” Very quickly, the post went viral and caught the attention of other employers sharing the same experience.
Many commented that it isn't uncommon. Many Indonesian workers actually come from well-off families but choose to work abroad due to limited local job opportunities, or simply to gain life experience. One of them commented: “My previous helper had a car and a house. She said she wanted to work in Hong Kong because she wanted to help others,” while the other shared that: “My maid is a military officer’s daughter. She had a fight with her family due to getting into a relationship at a young age and decided to travel and work abroad. She just wanted to see the world.”
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