It was a long day when my wife suddenly asked me to have fine dining in one of the fancy restaurants in Jakarta. They named it Osteria Gia, which means “Gia restaurant” in Italian. It is located in Plaza Indonesia, a high-caliber mall frequented by high-profile Jakartans, including celebrities, politicians, government officials, and expatriates. I ordered Ravioli Cacio e Pepe while my wife had some pasta that I cannot recall. The ravioli and pasta were delicious, but the bill was very high. We don’t mind paying that much because the restaurant doesn’t judge people by their looks. Even when you misspell the menu, the waitress always smiles, is friendly, and is supportive, and she always says, “Excellent choice.” I had difficulty finding this level of service when I visited some “b-class” restaurants.
The price is a filter in and of itself. The eatery knows that when someone enters a posh restaurant, the price is already considered, so they must have a lot of cash, regardless of their attire or vehicle. The server will greet you with a smile and offer more drinks or refills, and occasionally the chef will come out to ask about the flavor. This type of restaurant provided you with an experience in addition to taste and appearance. The price itself is essentially the interior design, menu, taste, staff friendliness, aroma, and everything else that embodies the experience.
We have recently been hearing discussions about the best school for our daughter, Sara. This year, she turns four, and we have to take her to school since she needs a friend and regular activities to advance her social and sensory development. Since we aren’t wealthy, we don’t really have many options, yet we still have some. We do, however, take into account factors including the school’s worth, program, location, and cost.
There is one institution where the monthly tuition exceeds my income. Although my wife had some concerns about “the networking” that Sara will eventually acquire, I was the one who recommended that I forgo such alternatives. Nevertheless, I do not like that particular school. I attended both public and private schools during my upbringing, and in Indonesia, public education is generally superior to private education—with the exception of a few affluent private schools that use Cambridge curricula. Therefore, even though Sara is the greatest student in their class, I have no issue with her attending some middle-class schools.
From what I’ve said before regarding the restaurant, I understand that money speaks, just like price, and that statistics don’t lie. I know that the top universities in this nation usually have high tuition; in the past, they had low tuition, but even then, their costs were unaffordable for most middle-class families. Assume that the best school’s environment and surroundings differ from “b” school’s, particularly in terms of accessibility, socioeconomic status, and facilities. However, since not everyone is able to inherit from Bernard Arnault, all I can do is carefully select Sara’s best school, keeping in mind that we may be able to transfer her to a private institution in the future.
