The Story of a Strong Woman Who Supports Her Family

The beginning of November brought gray skies. In most parts of Indonesia, rain fell almost daily, seemingly unwilling to stop. Sometimes it would only ease briefly, then return to pelt the earth mercilessly. Many people chose to wait at home, postponing work due to the relentless rain. However, not for the resilient woman whose story I will tell this time.

That morning the air was cool, the scent of the sea mingling with the wet earth. I walked to the fishmonger on the beach near our house. As usual, my camera hung around my neck, hoping to find an interesting story amidst the hustle and bustle of morning activity. It was there that I met a woman named Marjani, approximately fifty-seven years old. Her gaze was sharp, her hands agile, as if her body contained an inexhaustible store of energy.

Every morning, before the sun was fully up, Marjani opened her small stall. On a simple wooden table, she arranged various types of dried fish, such as tuna, anchovies, and salted squid. All the fruits of her labor.

Marjani was more than just a vendor. She is the mother of four children and the breadwinner of her family. Her husband is a fisherman with a small boat who sometimes returns empty-handed. "If the sea conditions and conditions are bad, we can't bring any fish home," she said with a resigned smile. So, long ago, Marjani decided to join the work force, selling dried fish to keep the kitchen smoking.

She has been doing this routine for more than ten years. Heat, rain, or the bone-chilling sea winds never make her stop. "If I stay still, who else will help my family?" she said as she arranged her wares. From her words, I sensed the determination of a woman who not only works but also struggles.

I listened silently to her story. There was an admiration that was hard to describe. Amidst her simplicity, Marjani harbored an extraordinary spirit. She not only sold to survive, but also to maintain her family's dignity and hope.

Before I said goodbye, she smiled and thanked me for listening to her story. I then asked her permission to write about her life and publish the photos I took that day. In my heart, I pray that Ibu Marjani will always be given strength, ample sustenance, and an undying spirit—like the sea that never stops surging.