Precious Bike, Lose Bike

I can’t believe … that I lost my bicycle, on Sunday evening in front of my church. It was Sunday last week 16^th March 2014. In the middle of mass, I felt I wanted to go home and I felt sad, with no reason. Then I went outside to find my bike. Only its chain neglected on the ground. That moment when I realize my bike has gone. I told two men who were there, they are member of the church. One of them said, he can give me a lift. But, I am not happy with what happened, I want to talk to the police.

I rang the police to report my lose … my eyes were full of tears. Parish priest stood beside me accompanied me. When it’s start to rain, I could not hold my tears. Father then asked me to come inside the secretariat room, so I don’t get rained. There are other church members there. Father knows that I am a migrant from Indonesia, trying to be settling in this country. Before this I have to sell my little scooter (50 cc) after I bought a car. I can’t afford to pay all the maintenance and registration both vehicles.

On the night when I lose my bike, I could not sleep. Later on Monday I put an advertisement (free) in a website, I mentioned what my bike made, colour etc. I also said, I am a migrant try to settle in Australia. I asked to those who stole it to return it to the church and for those who see my bike to contact me. Then on Monday evening, father came to offer his spare bike. In the same evening someone also contact me offered his bicycle if my missing bike does not come back.

On Tuesday I worked, I told my colleague about my bike and she also offered me her spare bike. “I hardly use it” She said. But of course I have to choose one and I have said yes to the father. From all of this, I can feel, people are easy to offer you help. Even in my own country, I don’t think the story will be like this. One thing I got from this country’s culture is honesty has to be respected. From 3 persons offered me bicycle,  have to choose one and can’t be wishy washy.

By the way, in my Suburban is a common thing for bike to be stolen. I can say every bike’s owner has lose their bike. I didn’t accuse, but the common assumption in this society is indigenous who do, stealing bike. Unfortunately this assumption is not far from reality. For example when my guitar teacher’s son lose his bike. He rode his bike to a shopping centre named Earlville. Then he needs to make a phone call and he left his bike not so far. I reckon it’s still in his sight. In a second, someone poke him and asked “Is that your bike?” All this boy sees was just someone riding his bike in a flash … he identified the thief as Indigenous person.

I often see a car park on the edge of the street near my complex. Inside the car there are 4-5 men. It’s seems they are waiting something. This is weird scenery, because what usually happen only one person in 1 car. Except if one family in the car, means there are children inside. Not some males adult. Sometime, the driver seems white, and then all the passengers are black. But from what I know, although a person look white, he/ she is counted as indigenous because he/ she is mixed race.

Anyway, when I lose my bike in the church there is an Aboriginal woman – I have known her since I started live in Australia – she pat my back tried to calm me down. She is a very nice person. It seems, this remind me not to discriminate Indigenous person of Australia.