About Me
- Stranger in a foreign land
- Adventurous, observer,kind, compassionate, generous, Practical, quick learner and hard working.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Queen of England
I am working for a family originated from England. When i first arrive , i immediately felt at home.
Right at the beginning im pretty aware of the duties that i have to deal everyday.
I'm pretty much the jack of all trade in the household. I' m not sure how i manage all but I know that I'm working nonestop during the day.
I normally wake up at six in the morning during the school month , not necesarry do any specific thing but just hang around in case someone come down early. Kids usually comes down at six forty five and have a quick breakfast. The school bus normally comes at seven fifteen to pick them up.
I pretty much do everything for the kids, play with them, bring them to movies, feed them , read to them, help them with school projects, fetch them from school, send them to extra classes.
I pretty much like a second parent to them. Sadly, parents are caught up with work most days.
That was 10 years ago, now the kids are both grown up, although i dont babysit them anymore . I still have to ask them to hurry up if they need to go out at specific time. I still prepare thier food and lay in front of them in the dining table. I still heat up thier food in the microwave if it needs heating up. I still have to make thier beds althought they are 19 and 16 yrs old. I still pick up thier laundry from the floor, underwear, socks, and all. I still have to tidy up thier room, even though i gently remind them to at least tindy up thier desk and free up some clutter. It seems my words falls in the deaf ear.
Sadly this kids became a lazy bones. None of them lift a single finger to tidy up thier spaces. They seems not bother to do anything in the house. The house that they are living now are thier parents but yet there seems no sense of belonging from them.
They both seems wanted to be serve like a king and queen.
Right at the beginning im pretty aware of the duties that i have to deal everyday.
I'm pretty much the jack of all trade in the household. I' m not sure how i manage all but I know that I'm working nonestop during the day.
I normally wake up at six in the morning during the school month , not necesarry do any specific thing but just hang around in case someone come down early. Kids usually comes down at six forty five and have a quick breakfast. The school bus normally comes at seven fifteen to pick them up.
I pretty much do everything for the kids, play with them, bring them to movies, feed them , read to them, help them with school projects, fetch them from school, send them to extra classes.
I pretty much like a second parent to them. Sadly, parents are caught up with work most days.
That was 10 years ago, now the kids are both grown up, although i dont babysit them anymore . I still have to ask them to hurry up if they need to go out at specific time. I still prepare thier food and lay in front of them in the dining table. I still heat up thier food in the microwave if it needs heating up. I still have to make thier beds althought they are 19 and 16 yrs old. I still pick up thier laundry from the floor, underwear, socks, and all. I still have to tidy up thier room, even though i gently remind them to at least tindy up thier desk and free up some clutter. It seems my words falls in the deaf ear.
Sadly this kids became a lazy bones. None of them lift a single finger to tidy up thier spaces. They seems not bother to do anything in the house. The house that they are living now are thier parents but yet there seems no sense of belonging from them.
They both seems wanted to be serve like a king and queen.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Maids and thier BF
Recently, maids with bf's are hot topic in local newspaper and internet forums in Singapore. My question is , what is so bizarre about it?. Some say maids are not suppose to have a bf while working in Singapore. This is a total nonsense. Who says , maids can't have bf?
What i understood is when maid gets pregnant while on a work permit, the ministry of manpower will cancel thier work permit and be repatriated immidiately. It is clearly stated in thier work permit that any work permit holder is not allow to stay in Singapore and deliver thier baby here. The work permit is not also a passage to marry a local or permanent resident. However, if the work permit holder wanted to marry a local, she/he shall cancel his/her work permit and leave the country and return to apply for a letter of intent to marry a local/pr to the relivant authority.
Although this procedure takes time to materialize, fiancees are allowed to enter the country but are not allowed to work and needs to leave when thier social visit pass expires.
However, they can return again to be with thier fiancees as much as they want.
It is not also true that when the maids get pregnant, the employer's bond with MOM will be forfeited. What i understood is , if the maid gets pregnant and her employer does not report it to the MOM, then the relivant authority forfeit thier bonds which amounting to 5k.
Everyone with legal age are entitled to have one. No law that says maid cant have a bf. Maids are human too, they have feeling like anybody else.
Employers simply have no right to prevent thier maids of having a bf. It's none of thier business if thier maid falls in love with someone.
Maids are not puppets, they are human like you and me.
What i understood is when maid gets pregnant while on a work permit, the ministry of manpower will cancel thier work permit and be repatriated immidiately. It is clearly stated in thier work permit that any work permit holder is not allow to stay in Singapore and deliver thier baby here. The work permit is not also a passage to marry a local or permanent resident. However, if the work permit holder wanted to marry a local, she/he shall cancel his/her work permit and leave the country and return to apply for a letter of intent to marry a local/pr to the relivant authority.
Although this procedure takes time to materialize, fiancees are allowed to enter the country but are not allowed to work and needs to leave when thier social visit pass expires.
However, they can return again to be with thier fiancees as much as they want.
It is not also true that when the maids get pregnant, the employer's bond with MOM will be forfeited. What i understood is , if the maid gets pregnant and her employer does not report it to the MOM, then the relivant authority forfeit thier bonds which amounting to 5k.
Everyone with legal age are entitled to have one. No law that says maid cant have a bf. Maids are human too, they have feeling like anybody else.
Employers simply have no right to prevent thier maids of having a bf. It's none of thier business if thier maid falls in love with someone.
Maids are not puppets, they are human like you and me.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Maids offday in Singapore
When i first came to Singapore few years ago, I was'st allowed to have a dayoff for about 6 months as i was still in debt with my agency. The agency charged me an equivalent to my 6 months salary and i was only entitled to recieve a SGD 30 each month for 6 long months.
This was a real surprise for me because i came here as a tourist. They explained that even though i came as a tourist , they are the one who found me a job. In a sense this is true but why the hefty amount? I bought my own airfare plus i paid the lady who invite me over. I remember handing her 3,ooo pesos as soon as i arrived. She asked for it, i did not gave voluntarily. I came here to work not giving away cash...
So i assume thats how this daylight robber does to unsuspecting victims.
Agency fees has always been in the news because of its hefty amount leaving almost nothing to a poor girl who come here to work only to be fleshed out as soon as she stepped in at the airport by the money hungry agents.
Ok so i survived that ordeal, although i hardly stomach being have to work just to be able to pay my agency. I remember going for a medical check up as soon as i arrive , but i guess the medical fee was shouldered by my employer. I learned later on that aside from the fees that comes from me, my employer also has to pay the agent, so to sum it all ...the agency is earning a lot of money. No wonder some of them now are driving a Mercedes, BMW, Porche God knows what else, maybe they even live in condos ,i can only guess.
On my first year with my first employer, i was only allowed a once a month day off after that 6 months period ( while paying my agency fee). But even though its called my offday...its not really a offday because i have to work before i go out. I handwash clothes early in the morning, mop the floor and wash the baby bottles. I generally do my usual morning routine before i am allowed to take off . I have to come back by 5 pm because i need to look after the kids while my employer cooks dinner. Her husband MUST go for a jogging so he cant help with the kids.
When my contract expired my employer renew my work permit without even asking me first, but she told me about later on so i ask her if she could allow me to have at least 2x off a month and she agreed. They let me have my vacation in my home country for a month after they renewed my contract.
I adjusted very well with my job, having been trained to do housework since young i did not encounter any trouble with it. The only thing that i really hate is washing car , because i did not think that its a woman's job. In my home country i did not see woman washing a car, i believe it was a man job all along.
Anyway, i did learned how to do it, and actually loving it , because thats the time that i could think, away from the kids noise and no ones calling me to do things. I spend couple of hours each time i do it, and that is long enough to free up my mind.
I love the children even though they are naughty sometimes, but after 4 years i left the family because i wanted to move into a expat employer whom i suppose are more open and understanding. Also they pay more than most of the locals.
I was given a sundays off plus allowed to go out on public holidays , not given any curfew or things like that.
I have my needed freedom, which everyone entitled to but not all are lucky. I spent my offdays attending enhancement classes, socialising with good company. , meet people, meet new friends , go on a weekend holidays, attend church service and more.
I enjoy going around town, do shopping and eating out. I watch concerts, movies , visit museums, go for swimming, cycling , picnic, visit library , there are countless things that you can do here in Singapore. Even though its only a tiny island compared to where i come from, you have everything you need to do and see.
Offdays means the freedom to free your burden. Time to connect with friends and family, time to search your soul.
This was a real surprise for me because i came here as a tourist. They explained that even though i came as a tourist , they are the one who found me a job. In a sense this is true but why the hefty amount? I bought my own airfare plus i paid the lady who invite me over. I remember handing her 3,ooo pesos as soon as i arrived. She asked for it, i did not gave voluntarily. I came here to work not giving away cash...
So i assume thats how this daylight robber does to unsuspecting victims.
Agency fees has always been in the news because of its hefty amount leaving almost nothing to a poor girl who come here to work only to be fleshed out as soon as she stepped in at the airport by the money hungry agents.
Ok so i survived that ordeal, although i hardly stomach being have to work just to be able to pay my agency. I remember going for a medical check up as soon as i arrive , but i guess the medical fee was shouldered by my employer. I learned later on that aside from the fees that comes from me, my employer also has to pay the agent, so to sum it all ...the agency is earning a lot of money. No wonder some of them now are driving a Mercedes, BMW, Porche God knows what else, maybe they even live in condos ,i can only guess.
On my first year with my first employer, i was only allowed a once a month day off after that 6 months period ( while paying my agency fee). But even though its called my offday...its not really a offday because i have to work before i go out. I handwash clothes early in the morning, mop the floor and wash the baby bottles. I generally do my usual morning routine before i am allowed to take off . I have to come back by 5 pm because i need to look after the kids while my employer cooks dinner. Her husband MUST go for a jogging so he cant help with the kids.
When my contract expired my employer renew my work permit without even asking me first, but she told me about later on so i ask her if she could allow me to have at least 2x off a month and she agreed. They let me have my vacation in my home country for a month after they renewed my contract.
I adjusted very well with my job, having been trained to do housework since young i did not encounter any trouble with it. The only thing that i really hate is washing car , because i did not think that its a woman's job. In my home country i did not see woman washing a car, i believe it was a man job all along.
Anyway, i did learned how to do it, and actually loving it , because thats the time that i could think, away from the kids noise and no ones calling me to do things. I spend couple of hours each time i do it, and that is long enough to free up my mind.
I love the children even though they are naughty sometimes, but after 4 years i left the family because i wanted to move into a expat employer whom i suppose are more open and understanding. Also they pay more than most of the locals.
I was given a sundays off plus allowed to go out on public holidays , not given any curfew or things like that.
I have my needed freedom, which everyone entitled to but not all are lucky. I spent my offdays attending enhancement classes, socialising with good company. , meet people, meet new friends , go on a weekend holidays, attend church service and more.
I enjoy going around town, do shopping and eating out. I watch concerts, movies , visit museums, go for swimming, cycling , picnic, visit library , there are countless things that you can do here in Singapore. Even though its only a tiny island compared to where i come from, you have everything you need to do and see.
Offdays means the freedom to free your burden. Time to connect with friends and family, time to search your soul.
Monday, December 5, 2011
My morning walks
As i grew up in our small village in the Philippines, i spend lots of walking, because my family didnt own a car. Walking a great length is part of our daily exercises. As far as i can remember, my grandfather used to bring me along with my cousins to visit our relatives in a nearby village. We used the shortest route if there is any or else we have no choice but to follow the right path.
Our village lies in a massive rice plantation, so sometimes if we choose to go by the short route to our distination we go via a rice field. I mastered to balance my step in a narrow path which about 10 inches wide. And if i lost my footing i will difinitely fall on the rice plants which if its touch your skin it gets stingey because the rice itself and its leaf is very rough.
The leaf if you feel it feels like a sand paper, quite rough if its rubbbed against your skin.
Me and my cousins sometimes race along the rice fields, whoever walk slow could be pushed aside in the mud. The best thing about walking the fields is the opportunity to catch dragonflies or sometimes tree with ripe fruits. No one prohibited you to pick a fruit in our place. People are friendly and forgiving. Sometimes, farmers even offer you thier vegetables or fruits as you pass by. I remember carrying loads of sweet potato , string beans and tomatoes on our way home. My cousins sometimes moaned for it because it is really heavy. I am talking about a basket full of vegetable and fruits.
I rememberber growing up eating organic vegetables, farmers in our area does not always use fertiliser as the soil are already rich.
Ok back to our long walks, yes it is part of our growing up. When i was about 12 or 14 years old me and my cousin and children from our neighbour together with thier parents went to climb a mountain.
We left very early, even before the sun rises because we aim to be on top of the mountain by mid morning, so we can come back the same day. We did not tell our grandparents (who are our guardians that time ) that we are following our neighbour to the mountain.
We brought some water and food for the day. Hello, that time phones are not heard of so there is no way that my grandparents will know if something happen to us. But thank goodness we all came back safe aside from few mosquito and insect bites and a sunburn. And yes we brought home some fruits from the mountain and gave it to my grandparents, and for that we did not get any beating only scolding :-(
As a young kid i enjoy walking, and even now in my adult life.
Here in Singapore, it is one of my favorite past time. I have the previlege to do my walkies in the morning and also at night. I learned that if i dont go for a walk my body will be aching for the whole day, but if i go for my usual walks i feel energized for the whole day and my mind is more active.
This is one of my favorite walkway, its a canal along sixth avenue beside Laurel rd. This is a very quite place esp in the evening, but i was told that there was a cobra sighting in this area so i avoided walking at night. Beside it, is a rain forest which is very serene and the smell of wild plants is heavenly. Aside from this place i love walking along holland road down to pandan valley then back to sixth avenue. Sound of the traffic didnt bother me, what i need is an earpiece and a good music from my ipod.
Back in my village my music used to be the chirp of birds and mooo from the cows, but as time changes it is more hi tech and modern.
Our village lies in a massive rice plantation, so sometimes if we choose to go by the short route to our distination we go via a rice field. I mastered to balance my step in a narrow path which about 10 inches wide. And if i lost my footing i will difinitely fall on the rice plants which if its touch your skin it gets stingey because the rice itself and its leaf is very rough.
The leaf if you feel it feels like a sand paper, quite rough if its rubbbed against your skin.
Me and my cousins sometimes race along the rice fields, whoever walk slow could be pushed aside in the mud. The best thing about walking the fields is the opportunity to catch dragonflies or sometimes tree with ripe fruits. No one prohibited you to pick a fruit in our place. People are friendly and forgiving. Sometimes, farmers even offer you thier vegetables or fruits as you pass by. I remember carrying loads of sweet potato , string beans and tomatoes on our way home. My cousins sometimes moaned for it because it is really heavy. I am talking about a basket full of vegetable and fruits.
I rememberber growing up eating organic vegetables, farmers in our area does not always use fertiliser as the soil are already rich.
Ok back to our long walks, yes it is part of our growing up. When i was about 12 or 14 years old me and my cousin and children from our neighbour together with thier parents went to climb a mountain.
We left very early, even before the sun rises because we aim to be on top of the mountain by mid morning, so we can come back the same day. We did not tell our grandparents (who are our guardians that time ) that we are following our neighbour to the mountain.
We brought some water and food for the day. Hello, that time phones are not heard of so there is no way that my grandparents will know if something happen to us. But thank goodness we all came back safe aside from few mosquito and insect bites and a sunburn. And yes we brought home some fruits from the mountain and gave it to my grandparents, and for that we did not get any beating only scolding :-(
As a young kid i enjoy walking, and even now in my adult life.
Back in my village my music used to be the chirp of birds and mooo from the cows, but as time changes it is more hi tech and modern.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
December
December is the loneliest month of my life. For some its the most joyous month because its the time of year where most people spend it with thier love ones.
I am working here in Singapore for 18 years and i have never have the chance to go back home and spend Christmas with my family.
None of my boss present or previous volunteer to offer me to go back home and be with my family.
Most of them are foreigners , i only work for a local family once.
My present one is English family, which i served for the last 10 years.
Although they give generous gift on xmas, i still miss the warm company of my family.
I almost always spend xmas here in singapore alone, although most of the time i celebrate it with friends.
While my employer busy planning for the xmas holiday vacation somewhere, i am also busy planning what to do on xmas day.
I know there is nothing much i can do but probably ask my friend what we will be doing on that day.
The most obvious is have xmas eve and lunch with them , sometimes in my place or my friends place, whoever is free. I mean whoever bosses are away. We are allowed to have parties while our bosses are away, sometimes our employer give us extra money for our xmas celebration. I remember my boss offered me to take 2 bottle of champagne from the wine cellar and 2 packets of smoked salmon for a starter.
We dont drink and get drunk like most people do, none of us wants to get drunk anyway. We are all good, well behaved people who enjoy a simple get together.
Normally my boss and family spends xmas holidays overseas and return after the new years day.
It might be the time where i will be on my own and have a peace and quite week, but its the most hated part.
The company of dog and cat doesnt substitute the warm company of a love ones. Although i get paid for doing nothing for the entire month of December i still feel the need of being with my family back home.
I hope to spend my next Christmas with my family.
I am working here in Singapore for 18 years and i have never have the chance to go back home and spend Christmas with my family.
None of my boss present or previous volunteer to offer me to go back home and be with my family.
Most of them are foreigners , i only work for a local family once.
My present one is English family, which i served for the last 10 years.
Although they give generous gift on xmas, i still miss the warm company of my family.
I almost always spend xmas here in singapore alone, although most of the time i celebrate it with friends.
While my employer busy planning for the xmas holiday vacation somewhere, i am also busy planning what to do on xmas day.
I know there is nothing much i can do but probably ask my friend what we will be doing on that day.
The most obvious is have xmas eve and lunch with them , sometimes in my place or my friends place, whoever is free. I mean whoever bosses are away. We are allowed to have parties while our bosses are away, sometimes our employer give us extra money for our xmas celebration. I remember my boss offered me to take 2 bottle of champagne from the wine cellar and 2 packets of smoked salmon for a starter.
We dont drink and get drunk like most people do, none of us wants to get drunk anyway. We are all good, well behaved people who enjoy a simple get together.
Normally my boss and family spends xmas holidays overseas and return after the new years day.
It might be the time where i will be on my own and have a peace and quite week, but its the most hated part.
The company of dog and cat doesnt substitute the warm company of a love ones. Although i get paid for doing nothing for the entire month of December i still feel the need of being with my family back home.
I hope to spend my next Christmas with my family.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Missing a friend
How many times we heard the phrase 'friends are forever' ? Are there really real friends? How about the phrase 'Friends come and Go' ?
The last phrase seems to apply to me accurately.
True, i have friends who come and go. When i was still in high school, i have a best friend named Marina.
She is a petite 4 feet 11 inches sweet girl. She is the nicest of my classmate, well that,s what i believe.
We were in the same section since year 7 to year 11. We sat with each other in the classroom, we help with each other in our home works and projects.
We share ice cream during recess and sometimes we share our lunch too. We both like the same local artist, we enjoy the same song and we are both outgoing.
We escape classes numerous time so we can catch out favorite movie.
We had to be called in the principals office for our silly escapades, but we just giggled when the scolding from the principal finishes.
When we graduated in high school, i went to stay with one of my sister in Manila to spend my school holiday.
By the following school year, Marina went to a college near our province, i did not follow her there although it is our plan to go to the same school when we finish high school.
After graduation, i saw Marina one more time, she came to my place to visit me, she stayed for a week and that was the last time that i saw her.
Its been a 2 decades now since i heard from her. I am until this days wondering where she might be. I tried to find her via Facebook, but she share the same name with many people and its difficult to assume which one is her. I tried google too to find her but unfortunately didn't match my search.
I really hope that she is somewhere out there enjoying life and hope that someday, our path will cross one more time.
The last phrase seems to apply to me accurately.
True, i have friends who come and go. When i was still in high school, i have a best friend named Marina.
She is a petite 4 feet 11 inches sweet girl. She is the nicest of my classmate, well that,s what i believe.
We were in the same section since year 7 to year 11. We sat with each other in the classroom, we help with each other in our home works and projects.
We share ice cream during recess and sometimes we share our lunch too. We both like the same local artist, we enjoy the same song and we are both outgoing.
We escape classes numerous time so we can catch out favorite movie.
We had to be called in the principals office for our silly escapades, but we just giggled when the scolding from the principal finishes.
When we graduated in high school, i went to stay with one of my sister in Manila to spend my school holiday.
By the following school year, Marina went to a college near our province, i did not follow her there although it is our plan to go to the same school when we finish high school.
After graduation, i saw Marina one more time, she came to my place to visit me, she stayed for a week and that was the last time that i saw her.
Its been a 2 decades now since i heard from her. I am until this days wondering where she might be. I tried to find her via Facebook, but she share the same name with many people and its difficult to assume which one is her. I tried google too to find her but unfortunately didn't match my search.
I really hope that she is somewhere out there enjoying life and hope that someday, our path will cross one more time.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
My Pilot admirer
Its been a week now since i heard from my pilot friend. I wont be mentioning here which airline he works for to keep his identity.
He is a senior pilot and is in the service for more that 20 years.
He is single in his prime age and living alone.
He came from down under, he has yet to tell me about his family, and i respect his privacy. He buzzed me up in one of the social networks and i responded. He introduced himself , show me his photo and shared some personal details about him.
After chatting for a while, we agreed to meet for a drink. He asked me to meet him at the Marina Bay Sands lobby so we can go up in the Skypark together.
Since it was weekend and not afraid to stay out late, i went to meet him. People say, do not meet stranger alone. In my case i dont see the need of anyone or any sort .
This person seems respectable and i trust my judgment. Hi truly is a gentleman. When we meet he keeps praising my dress , that i look so classy, he loves the way i dress up, the way i walk and the way i talk.I did not tell him about my job, i want to meet him first then see what his reaction when he see me.
But he seems not bothered what i do that he didnt ask me.
Maybe he sees me as a attractive girl and does not bother him whatever i do for a living.
I am a very sociable person, and having a chance like these to meet interesting people really excites me.
Well, he is setting another date night and i cant wait.
He is a senior pilot and is in the service for more that 20 years.
He is single in his prime age and living alone.
He came from down under, he has yet to tell me about his family, and i respect his privacy. He buzzed me up in one of the social networks and i responded. He introduced himself , show me his photo and shared some personal details about him.
After chatting for a while, we agreed to meet for a drink. He asked me to meet him at the Marina Bay Sands lobby so we can go up in the Skypark together.
Since it was weekend and not afraid to stay out late, i went to meet him. People say, do not meet stranger alone. In my case i dont see the need of anyone or any sort .
This person seems respectable and i trust my judgment. Hi truly is a gentleman. When we meet he keeps praising my dress , that i look so classy, he loves the way i dress up, the way i walk and the way i talk.I did not tell him about my job, i want to meet him first then see what his reaction when he see me.
But he seems not bothered what i do that he didnt ask me.
Maybe he sees me as a attractive girl and does not bother him whatever i do for a living.
I am a very sociable person, and having a chance like these to meet interesting people really excites me.
Well, he is setting another date night and i cant wait.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
My Dream House
When i first come to work in Singapore my plan is to save as much as i can so i can buy a land and then build a house in it.
I limit my shopping the best as i can, no fancy clothes, buy bargains only. Thats the rule i gave to myself when it comes to purchasing clothes.
I love fashion of course, i love to dress up like any girls out there.
But my mind is already programmed to limit my expenses.
I am also obliged to send some money to my family back home. Being a Filipino its our nature to help out our family and sometimes even relatives who needs our help.
And se being the one who is working abroad and earning a lot better, they sometimes seek our help when they need some extra cash, esp when time of emergency.
In the past year i have countless remittance sent to my family and relatives but i did not keep track on the money sent to them.
Once the money is sent to them , i dont expect it to return to me someday.
For them I am thier saviour whom can they turn to in time of needs.
In return to my generosity, they treat me as a VIP whenever i go home to visit them.
Yes, i earn thier love and respect. They consider me as the most loving sister, aunt, cousin ,daughter , friend, saviour and whatever you may call it.
I throw parties whenever i am home, this is a once a year occasion and i always make the most of it.
The happy faces of my family inspires me to work harder. And thats the highlight of my vacation.
I have a close knit family, even have extended families, meaning nephews , cousins who are so loving towards me.
Aside from the regular remittances i also send packages which contain clothes, shoes, bags, book and sometimes even computer and tv, and of course few grocery items that i felt they should try.
Ok now back to my dream house...yes after paying my agent in full when i first arrive here, i slowly save some money.
After 4 years i manage to purchase a 350 sq m residential lot. In the province land are a lot more cheaper that in the urban city.
Its a quite countryside place with few neigbors . I love the vast green land sorrouds it.
During the rainy season, we are sorrounded with a vast green scenery. The smell of rice and corn that is beginning to ripen that is ready to harvest fills the air. The air is clean compare to the air that you inhale in most modern cities.
We started to build a humble farm house as i called it. With a 3 bedrooms complete with living room ,kitchen and bathroom i think its comfortable enough for a small family.
But after a flood our house became a mini house as it shrunks to the ground after sand fills the entire land. Our house as a lot higher than the one here in the picture.
After the horrible flood it became a tiny maniature.
However, after years of saving again I started to rebuild it into a bigger one. Now the construction is still going on and hopefully by the end of this year , the construction process will finaly be over.
I limit my shopping the best as i can, no fancy clothes, buy bargains only. Thats the rule i gave to myself when it comes to purchasing clothes.
I love fashion of course, i love to dress up like any girls out there.
But my mind is already programmed to limit my expenses.
I am also obliged to send some money to my family back home. Being a Filipino its our nature to help out our family and sometimes even relatives who needs our help.
And se being the one who is working abroad and earning a lot better, they sometimes seek our help when they need some extra cash, esp when time of emergency.
In the past year i have countless remittance sent to my family and relatives but i did not keep track on the money sent to them.
Once the money is sent to them , i dont expect it to return to me someday.
For them I am thier saviour whom can they turn to in time of needs.
In return to my generosity, they treat me as a VIP whenever i go home to visit them.
Yes, i earn thier love and respect. They consider me as the most loving sister, aunt, cousin ,daughter , friend, saviour and whatever you may call it.
I throw parties whenever i am home, this is a once a year occasion and i always make the most of it.
The happy faces of my family inspires me to work harder. And thats the highlight of my vacation.
I have a close knit family, even have extended families, meaning nephews , cousins who are so loving towards me.
Aside from the regular remittances i also send packages which contain clothes, shoes, bags, book and sometimes even computer and tv, and of course few grocery items that i felt they should try.
Ok now back to my dream house...yes after paying my agent in full when i first arrive here, i slowly save some money.
During the rainy season, we are sorrounded with a vast green scenery. The smell of rice and corn that is beginning to ripen that is ready to harvest fills the air. The air is clean compare to the air that you inhale in most modern cities.
But after a flood our house became a mini house as it shrunks to the ground after sand fills the entire land. Our house as a lot higher than the one here in the picture.
After the horrible flood it became a tiny maniature.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Traveling Around Asia
Been working and living here in Singapore for a number of years now. And one of my best experience is to be able to travel around the region. In the past years i managed to squeeze some time to travel (when bosses are away on holidays). I may one of those lucky ones who can get away whenever I want to. I love traveling , i consider myself a very adventurous person.
Although my trips are short I enjoyed all my trips, I have a friend who loves traveling too and whenever we both have the chance we try to squeeze our limited time into traveling. For some maids who are working here they can only envy us whenever we said we just traveled overseas and of course they said WHOA you so lucky.
I get a very reasonable pay every month, so extra money for traveling is not a problem..The countries that i have visited over the years are , Hongkong, China, Brunei, Macau, Malaysia( been to Malacca, KL, Genting Highlands, Cucup a small fishing village in Malaysia and a numerous trips to JB)I also make a numerous trip to Bintan and Batam which I quite enjoy.
I am planning to visit Vietnam, Cambodia and Nepal someday if i have the chance and the extra money of course. I enjoy traveling because i love photography. I took a lot of photo whenever i travel and I will put them in a CD and gave it to my relatives back home to show about the countries I visited.
One particular place i went to in China is the 7 Wonders of the World. Its a massive park in Shenzen where they build a look alike of The White House, Grand Canyon, tower of Liberty, Pyramid of Egypt and so on. There was also a Eiffel tower and all looks like the real one.
And in Brunie I noticed that there is no tall buildings or sky craper like what we have in Singapore. The land is massive but you cant see tall buildings and i find it so strange knowing that Brunei is a very rich country. Me and my friend who lives in Brunei drove to the other end of the island where they built the 2 Mllionth Barrel Monument. Then we went wandering about in the Empire Hotel and Golf resort , it was a very massive place , the hotel structure is so beautiful. We sat by the edge of the pool and no one noticed that we are not a guest there. I think everybody can go there and take a leisurely walk around the hotel . We had dinner though in one of its restaurant so we are not a intrusive stranger after all..
My aunts who lives in Scotland and London are inviting me over and over again to visit them there. If only visa can be bought in a flea market why not....sigh. I heard a horror stories in Singapore about visa application being ignored by a official at the British Embassy. I f they find out that you are working as a maid they wont even look at your papers even though your sponsor provides you all the necessary documents.
Talking about assholes.......My uncle who lives in Las Vegas was inviting me to visit him and his family as well but that can wait. Wait till the word discrimination disappear in the dictionary.
Although my trips are short I enjoyed all my trips, I have a friend who loves traveling too and whenever we both have the chance we try to squeeze our limited time into traveling. For some maids who are working here they can only envy us whenever we said we just traveled overseas and of course they said WHOA you so lucky.
I get a very reasonable pay every month, so extra money for traveling is not a problem..The countries that i have visited over the years are , Hongkong, China, Brunei, Macau, Malaysia( been to Malacca, KL, Genting Highlands, Cucup a small fishing village in Malaysia and a numerous trips to JB)I also make a numerous trip to Bintan and Batam which I quite enjoy.
I am planning to visit Vietnam, Cambodia and Nepal someday if i have the chance and the extra money of course. I enjoy traveling because i love photography. I took a lot of photo whenever i travel and I will put them in a CD and gave it to my relatives back home to show about the countries I visited.
One particular place i went to in China is the 7 Wonders of the World. Its a massive park in Shenzen where they build a look alike of The White House, Grand Canyon, tower of Liberty, Pyramid of Egypt and so on. There was also a Eiffel tower and all looks like the real one.
And in Brunie I noticed that there is no tall buildings or sky craper like what we have in Singapore. The land is massive but you cant see tall buildings and i find it so strange knowing that Brunei is a very rich country. Me and my friend who lives in Brunei drove to the other end of the island where they built the 2 Mllionth Barrel Monument. Then we went wandering about in the Empire Hotel and Golf resort , it was a very massive place , the hotel structure is so beautiful. We sat by the edge of the pool and no one noticed that we are not a guest there. I think everybody can go there and take a leisurely walk around the hotel . We had dinner though in one of its restaurant so we are not a intrusive stranger after all..
My aunts who lives in Scotland and London are inviting me over and over again to visit them there. If only visa can be bought in a flea market why not....sigh. I heard a horror stories in Singapore about visa application being ignored by a official at the British Embassy. I f they find out that you are working as a maid they wont even look at your papers even though your sponsor provides you all the necessary documents.
Talking about assholes.......My uncle who lives in Las Vegas was inviting me to visit him and his family as well but that can wait. Wait till the word discrimination disappear in the dictionary.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
My American date
It was year 2006 when i meet Greg. We meet in one of the dating site in the internet. We talk via IM whenever we see each other online. He is a married guy with 5 grown up daughters he was 44 when we meet. He works as a lecturer (thats what he told me). He comes here to conduct seminar with students who wants to become a internet genius.. He has a masters degree in a California University ( didnt ask though what course he took)
When we started chatting he mentioned that he is coming to Singapore to conduct a seminar in Suntec city. He will be staying in a hotel near the building. He asked me if we could meet up one morning for a coffee and have a chat before he start with the class. I agreed to meet him.
I live about 10 minutes away from Suntec so I thought theres no problem with the travelling time.
When he arrives he gives me a call saying that he arrives safe and asked me when is the best time for me to meet him up. In short we meet up in the morning for breakfast in his hotel restaurant. There was a buffet breakfast , but we both more interested to talk than eating. After few months of talking via IM and cam to cam here we are finally making eye to eye contacts.
We both know what to expect to each other as we already talked a lot of things over the months.
Our topics consists of family, weather, work, daily routine etc.
He knows im working as a maid , and he thinks that my english is good and everytime he says that im blushing ...I have a college diploma for goodness sake and works in a different company in the Philippines before I came to work here.
He is a average looking guy, soft spoken, speaks clearly and always smiling.
He asked me if i love Singapore and my answer is YES. Is it his first time to visit but already wanting to come again if the company permits.
We meet again in the evening after his meeting and dinner with clients. I brought him in the clark quay area for a drink and show him around. He enjoyed my company we laugh a lot like we know each other for a long time..
He stayed here for 5 days and I meet him every single night till he went home.
He came back one more time around July 2008 and of course we meet again. I brought him to Vivo City and had lunch in a Brazilian Restaurant. We watched movie after and show him my photo that was being displayed in Marina Square. YES, im a maid and a photographer too. Peopl
e thinks maids are ignorant and stupid but i tell you its the people who judge maid thats is ignorant.
He was so amused with the photos that he asked me to teach him how to take good photos. We did take a few snaps at the Marina Bay area using his point and shoot camera . And took some using my DSLR . I let him use my camera for a while and he took few snaps of me . Being the photographer myself im not good at posing but we laugh at the outcome of the photo shooting.
Well, by now some of you are wondering how i manage to skip out from my employers house and meet this wonderful man.
When your employer is good and gives you all the freedom you want. This is how we suppose to live, right.
I have the right to live and enjoy life, and 10 years over with the same employer, they still havent fired me.
When I came home and showed them photos of me and Greg, they are so happy and said GO GIRL!
Now 2 years after that meeting Greg is coming again to SG. Cant wait for you my friend.
Over the years , you make my life worthwhile with your never ending thoughtfulness and your jokes really makes life bearable.
When we started chatting he mentioned that he is coming to Singapore to conduct a seminar in Suntec city. He will be staying in a hotel near the building. He asked me if we could meet up one morning for a coffee and have a chat before he start with the class. I agreed to meet him.
I live about 10 minutes away from Suntec so I thought theres no problem with the travelling time.
When he arrives he gives me a call saying that he arrives safe and asked me when is the best time for me to meet him up. In short we meet up in the morning for breakfast in his hotel restaurant. There was a buffet breakfast , but we both more interested to talk than eating. After few months of talking via IM and cam to cam here we are finally making eye to eye contacts.
We both know what to expect to each other as we already talked a lot of things over the months.
Our topics consists of family, weather, work, daily routine etc.
He knows im working as a maid , and he thinks that my english is good and everytime he says that im blushing ...I have a college diploma for goodness sake and works in a different company in the Philippines before I came to work here.
He is a average looking guy, soft spoken, speaks clearly and always smiling.
He asked me if i love Singapore and my answer is YES. Is it his first time to visit but already wanting to come again if the company permits.
We meet again in the evening after his meeting and dinner with clients. I brought him in the clark quay area for a drink and show him around. He enjoyed my company we laugh a lot like we know each other for a long time..
He stayed here for 5 days and I meet him every single night till he went home.
He came back one more time around July 2008 and of course we meet again. I brought him to Vivo City and had lunch in a Brazilian Restaurant. We watched movie after and show him my photo that was being displayed in Marina Square. YES, im a maid and a photographer too. Peopl
e thinks maids are ignorant and stupid but i tell you its the people who judge maid thats is ignorant.
He was so amused with the photos that he asked me to teach him how to take good photos. We did take a few snaps at the Marina Bay area using his point and shoot camera . And took some using my DSLR . I let him use my camera for a while and he took few snaps of me . Being the photographer myself im not good at posing but we laugh at the outcome of the photo shooting.
Well, by now some of you are wondering how i manage to skip out from my employers house and meet this wonderful man.
When your employer is good and gives you all the freedom you want. This is how we suppose to live, right.
I have the right to live and enjoy life, and 10 years over with the same employer, they still havent fired me.
When I came home and showed them photos of me and Greg, they are so happy and said GO GIRL!
Now 2 years after that meeting Greg is coming again to SG. Cant wait for you my friend.
Over the years , you make my life worthwhile with your never ending thoughtfulness and your jokes really makes life bearable.
Monday, November 29, 2010
My Australian friend
I meet this guy over the internet about 3 years ago. We started by chatting online and know each other well. He is single but living with his Australian girlfriend. He has a full time job but works at home most of the time. I never dare to ask him what exactly his job is all about. Although he did mention to me about trading job, and so i assume that he is a trader. Anyway ,that doesnt concern me.
We meet in person in one ocassion to see face to face ( although we already see each other cam to cam). We meet in Starbucks in holland v, he seems a nice guys, average looking guy , not so tall and soft spoken. He speaks with sense, he laughs at my jokes and i laugh at his jokes. We become good friend after that. We chat online almost daily talking about the weather and everything under the sun. I never dare to bring up a topic about his gf. He knows im working as a maid but that doesnt bother him. Im older than him and he doesnt mind, im just average looking girl and he doesnt mind. Im just glad that there is one person who is not tired of talking to me all these years. When he and his gf goes away for a holiday he tells me to be good and talk when they get back. He tells me about thier trip when they come home.
He allows me to tell story about my work and family. He gives advice if i ask him to, he ask me to have a break if i said im tired.
I sometimes wonder why a educated, young, good looking Australian guy not tired of talking with me.
Sometimes I asked him if he is not bored talking with me. Im not a office girl, i dont have a established career, although I have a college diploma.
When i first came to Singapore in the middle of 90s I thought it easier to come to Singapore if you apply as a domestic helper. My plan is to come here as tourist, apply as a domestic helper first just to have roof and free food while looking for a job that I want.
Unfortunately , that didnt work MOM has regulations about domestic helpers. Once you come here as a domestic helper, you will work only a domestic helper, and you cant change your job!!.
He and his gf are now married but we continue our friendship. Three years on he is still there greeting me when he see me online.
I am grateful that there is one person who doesnt look down to people like me and and im forever thankful.
We meet in person in one ocassion to see face to face ( although we already see each other cam to cam). We meet in Starbucks in holland v, he seems a nice guys, average looking guy , not so tall and soft spoken. He speaks with sense, he laughs at my jokes and i laugh at his jokes. We become good friend after that. We chat online almost daily talking about the weather and everything under the sun. I never dare to bring up a topic about his gf. He knows im working as a maid but that doesnt bother him. Im older than him and he doesnt mind, im just average looking girl and he doesnt mind. Im just glad that there is one person who is not tired of talking to me all these years. When he and his gf goes away for a holiday he tells me to be good and talk when they get back. He tells me about thier trip when they come home.
He allows me to tell story about my work and family. He gives advice if i ask him to, he ask me to have a break if i said im tired.
I sometimes wonder why a educated, young, good looking Australian guy not tired of talking with me.
Sometimes I asked him if he is not bored talking with me. Im not a office girl, i dont have a established career, although I have a college diploma.
When i first came to Singapore in the middle of 90s I thought it easier to come to Singapore if you apply as a domestic helper. My plan is to come here as tourist, apply as a domestic helper first just to have roof and free food while looking for a job that I want.
Unfortunately , that didnt work MOM has regulations about domestic helpers. Once you come here as a domestic helper, you will work only a domestic helper, and you cant change your job!!.
He and his gf are now married but we continue our friendship. Three years on he is still there greeting me when he see me online.
I am grateful that there is one person who doesnt look down to people like me and and im forever thankful.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Who should wash the car?
There are probably 80,000 filipino maids in singapore and maybe 80 percent are washing their employers car if not everyday, twice a week or maybe once a week. My question is ... is washing car our responsibility? As far as i know we are employed to do housework and childcare jobs but washing cars? Isnt it suppose to be a mans job? Why can't emloyers wash their own car? They sit and sip a coffee or read a newspaper while we wash their cars?For some unlucky maids they are being paid 300 dollars / month for a housework that includes, cooking, taking care of children ,laundry, marketing, ironing, etc. Our work starts at 5 am while our boss are still asleep and our work finish [ if we are lucky ] at 10 pm when our boss goes to bed. Some even work till 2 am sleep for 3 hours then wake up at 5 am. How rediculous is that? Some work for employers relative at day and work at employers place at night , although i have not see anyone working at someones place but i talk to few maids who relate me their situation. Some earning extra but for some they work for free it depends on their employer.
If they want us to wash their cars why can't they pay us extra at least? Or do we have the right to ask for a fee for washing their cars? Can the ministry of manpower can do anything about this or let the employers relax and sit while we wash their cars? How about asking us to rest after we wash their cars. I doubt that... i know some employer who ask their maid to quickly wash the cars so she can feed the baby or go to the market or make the beds or do the cooking or do the laundry or god knows what else. In their eyes maids are not human, maids are machines.
If they want us to wash their cars why can't they pay us extra at least? Or do we have the right to ask for a fee for washing their cars? Can the ministry of manpower can do anything about this or let the employers relax and sit while we wash their cars? How about asking us to rest after we wash their cars. I doubt that... i know some employer who ask their maid to quickly wash the cars so she can feed the baby or go to the market or make the beds or do the cooking or do the laundry or god knows what else. In their eyes maids are not human, maids are machines.
Who should walk the dog
Who should walk the dog? That's the question most maid wants to know. Is it our responsibilty to walk our employers dog? Is it fair to us to walk the dog aside from feeding, grooming while our bosses are setting pretty at home drinking coffee or reading newspaper? In fact they are the one who choose to have dog and not us. Is there any answer for these?
Monday, May 28, 2007
date with the birds goes wrong
I went to jurong bird park yesterday with a group of friends. I went their a couple of times already but the reason of me going their this time is to take a photo of the birds. Photography is one of my favorite hobby, I have taken photos of birds before and I love the color of their feathers. Although I have a huge collection of bird photos in my photo album, theres none in my pc. So when one of my friend brought the idea of going to the bird park last weekend I was pretty excited about it.
When we reach the park around noontime it was all bright and sunny . Only to become cloudy after the bird show. After a brief walk around the park we went straight to the ampitheater to find a good spot in the middle of the canvas canopy. I admired how they perched the canopy in a cave like angle in the heart of the park.
Going in a park with a group of friends is not a good idea after all. Every one wants to go in a different direction. I wanted to go in the lory loft so I can have a close look at the birds and be able to take a close up photos of them. That didnt work because my friend dragged me to the waterfall aviary [ it's a man made waterfall but they did a good job by make it look like the real one.]I managed to take photos of flamingos,pelicans and other birds. Only to find out that all my shots are blured later on. My friend accidentaly changed the setting of my camera when I asked her to take a photo of me. I was really pissed when I found out about it. I will never let anybody touch my camera again. I want my 16 dollars back...
When we reach the park around noontime it was all bright and sunny . Only to become cloudy after the bird show. After a brief walk around the park we went straight to the ampitheater to find a good spot in the middle of the canvas canopy. I admired how they perched the canopy in a cave like angle in the heart of the park.
Going in a park with a group of friends is not a good idea after all. Every one wants to go in a different direction. I wanted to go in the lory loft so I can have a close look at the birds and be able to take a close up photos of them. That didnt work because my friend dragged me to the waterfall aviary [ it's a man made waterfall but they did a good job by make it look like the real one.]I managed to take photos of flamingos,pelicans and other birds. Only to find out that all my shots are blured later on. My friend accidentaly changed the setting of my camera when I asked her to take a photo of me. I was really pissed when I found out about it. I will never let anybody touch my camera again. I want my 16 dollars back...
cats are away but mouse cant play
First of all I've been trying to add a post in my blog, but whenever I start keying words there are always distraction. I spend an hour figuring out what to add first but whenever an idea enters the corner of my mind, there is always the hesitation about the topic that I about to write. Anyway, here I am at last I hope there are no more hesitation and distractions.
I will begin with my family [ boss]who is going away on a short trip to Phuket. They left a couple of nights ago. There were some hysteria and confusion while they are packing stuff that they need to bring. This is not a surprise to me anymore, it happens everytime they go away. Ladyboss will lay couple of dozens of clothes on the bed along other stuff and leave their for hours before she choose what to bring. If they are away for say 5 days she will bring 3 pairs of clothes per day . So you could imagine how much clothes she bring all the time.. She will pack 5 flip flops, 1 sandals , a night shoe [ in case they go bar hopping]. A swim suit must be different everyday. Why can't she just bring one pair and wash it after using it then wear the same the next time they go swimming. She have this annoying practice of fishing clothes in the laundry basket and ask me to wash it because she need to bring it with her. She have thousand of clothes in the closet why she need to bring the one she wore the other day?
The teenage daughter is the same as her mom. Daughter doesnt wear anything other than ROXY for her its the coolest clothes ever. I remember buying her clothes with different brand she didnt ever wear them. What a shame... She too pack 3 pair of flip flops, 3 different shoes one trainers in case they play tennis.So you could imagine the bulk of their luggage. I really hope they wont lose their luggage.
Father and son is easier, they re not as fashionable than the two ladies.
With all the bulks of clothes they packed I could see myself spending 2 days doing the laundry plus another whole day ironing and putting away all the clothings when they come home. I have to prepare myself mentally and physically for that.
While my masters are away, I could have spend my time sippping margarita by the house pool but there is no such luck. I will be spending my time changing the beddings , master room, plus 2 kids room, spend the whole day doing the laundry. Well not physically doing it [ let the machine do the work] but i still need to supervise it and transfer them in the dryer when they are washed. While the washing machine is working I will be hoovering the house as well. We live in a 3 storey house with 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, two hallways 1 huge verandah, 1 huge kitchen plus I need to walk the dog. I just wished that before they come home I could manage to catch my breath back.
Bosses are the best boss I ever had. They are not complaining nor asking me to this or do that. My only complain is Why we need to live in this massive house.
Enjoy your holiday guys see you soon.
I will begin with my family [ boss]who is going away on a short trip to Phuket. They left a couple of nights ago. There were some hysteria and confusion while they are packing stuff that they need to bring. This is not a surprise to me anymore, it happens everytime they go away. Ladyboss will lay couple of dozens of clothes on the bed along other stuff and leave their for hours before she choose what to bring. If they are away for say 5 days she will bring 3 pairs of clothes per day . So you could imagine how much clothes she bring all the time.. She will pack 5 flip flops, 1 sandals , a night shoe [ in case they go bar hopping]. A swim suit must be different everyday. Why can't she just bring one pair and wash it after using it then wear the same the next time they go swimming. She have this annoying practice of fishing clothes in the laundry basket and ask me to wash it because she need to bring it with her. She have thousand of clothes in the closet why she need to bring the one she wore the other day?
The teenage daughter is the same as her mom. Daughter doesnt wear anything other than ROXY for her its the coolest clothes ever. I remember buying her clothes with different brand she didnt ever wear them. What a shame... She too pack 3 pair of flip flops, 3 different shoes one trainers in case they play tennis.So you could imagine the bulk of their luggage. I really hope they wont lose their luggage.
Father and son is easier, they re not as fashionable than the two ladies.
With all the bulks of clothes they packed I could see myself spending 2 days doing the laundry plus another whole day ironing and putting away all the clothings when they come home. I have to prepare myself mentally and physically for that.
While my masters are away, I could have spend my time sippping margarita by the house pool but there is no such luck. I will be spending my time changing the beddings , master room, plus 2 kids room, spend the whole day doing the laundry. Well not physically doing it [ let the machine do the work] but i still need to supervise it and transfer them in the dryer when they are washed. While the washing machine is working I will be hoovering the house as well. We live in a 3 storey house with 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, two hallways 1 huge verandah, 1 huge kitchen plus I need to walk the dog. I just wished that before they come home I could manage to catch my breath back.
Bosses are the best boss I ever had. They are not complaining nor asking me to this or do that. My only complain is Why we need to live in this massive house.
Enjoy your holiday guys see you soon.
Monday, April 30, 2007
My American Dream
I was introduced to my American employer by a friend who used to work part time with them. They decided to hire a full time maid because they are having another baby [ which i didn't know about] Having been working with a local family for 4 long years, I decided to move into a new invironment. The thought of me getting every Sunday off with my new employer excites me [I manage to get a twice a month off from my previous employer]. Plus the fact that I have no more curfews. My previous employer impose this rule to me that by 5 pm I should be home to cook or feed the children. Some employers have this kind of practice which is I find it rediculous. I use to hear maids grumbling at the bus stop at 4 pm saying how short the time is for them. They wished they could stay out longer and not rushng home when the sun is still shining brightly... I was in the same boat as them so I know how it feels .
The thought of me not going to rush to the bus stop again at 4 pm makes me smile.
I was looking forward to attend every sunday service in our church and be able to meet my friends on weekends. We go to the same church on our offdays.
My new employer is a young couple with 5 and 2 years old daughters. The man is working but works home for some days, he works for an American newspaper as a financial columnist while the lady is a stay home mum.for the kids. He travels for work once in while.
They seems a nice couple when i first meet them. They prefer me to call them with their first name rather than sir or ma'am. Which I felt is more appropiate as our age gap is not that much. I am the same age as my male boss , my female boss is 2 years younger then me. I will call them Pete and Shar [name change to protect their identity]
I have no idea what my work will be aside from helping her to look after the girls. I was given an instruction to focus on the children. Not to worry about cooking , cleaning or laundry.. My head start to get muddled as soon as I start working with them. Shar expected me to be around while she plays with them, so the girls will get to know me.. Fine for me [but not long] . Feed the children when they are hungry not necessarily wait for proper meal time which is breakfast, lunch and dinner. For them meal is a snack..And let them feed themselves which is kind of weird to me [ maybe i used to spoonfeed my previous employers kids ].Naturally food is all over the floor not into the childrens mouth. When I attempt to help them feed them Shar would say it's ok they can feed themselves. Maybe she is trying to teach them to be independent but for goodness sake this kids needs to eat properly .
Every meal time kitchen is a whole mess, foods thrown all over the place. This maybe kind of normal to them but it is killing me.. I am very tidy person and trying my best to keep this house tidy as much as possible but with these 2 throwing food kids is impossible. My nightmare didn't stop there. Once, I was doing my housework when suddenly Shar asked me to stop and bring the girls to the park so that they can play. For goodness sake it is middle of the day and the sun outside is scorching hot. I have to push this double trolley with 2 kids on it in the middle of the day and walked half a kilometer to get to the park. She said she will get an hour nap and instructed me to come back an hour later. I have not eaten my lunch and I had only a cup of coffee and a piece of toast for breakfast and this inconsiderate person ask me to bring out this kids so that they could play and she can get a nap. Honestly, I wished I could protest but she is my employer and I have just started working with them.
Pete is the nicest of the 2, when he is around he will ask if I'm eaten or he will bring the kids out so that I could rest. Of course I wont be resting cos I still have to do some other things at home. With 2 kids throwing everything inside the house, the place obviously needs tidying up if there is a chance. If there are so called messy person Shar is one of them. I'm not sure if she ever know how to clear her mess but I'm sure I have not seen her making an effort to practice it. It makes me squirm by the sight of her used underwear in the bathroom floor. Why cant' she just throw them inside the laundry basket.
My temper is thinning everyday and so as my patient. I tried to ignore her weird behaviour thinking that maybe its part of her mood swings caused by her pregnancy. But one day she makes me snap when she accused me of hitting her eldest daughter. The eldest daughter suddenly cry for no apparent reason [ she does that all the time] . And everytime she does it , she would ask me what I did to her.For God sake I never left a finger to anyone how could she suspect me of hitting this small girl.
One morning while the girls are playing at the backyard I was also there attending to the girls and Shar is just a few steps away talking on the phone [as always]. When suddenly the eldest girl started crying, Shar looked up at me and said " what did you do?" I said nothing, but the girl accused me of hitting her which i didnt do. Shar got up and growled at me like she is going to eat me whole. I said i didnt do anything but she didnt believe me. I raised my voice in protest but she just doens;t listen. I went inside and left the girls with her, I shut myself inside my room and felt so angry. I never get angry that much in my entire life but this time i'm really really angry. I wanted to leave in that moment but wasnt sure where to go. I started packing my stuff in case she ask me to leave. After an hour she came to my door knocking and when i open the door she asked me to leave because she doesnt want to see me again. In a foreign country where you dont have anybody to turn to except your friends what choice can you make. I called the person who intruduced me to my employer and told her what happen. She ask me to go ang ask for an apology to my employer. How can i ask an apology if i know that i didnt do anything wrong with them. And how can I ak for an apology if she wanted me to leave on the moment? Yes, I am a maid but I have my pride and i know deep in my heart that i didnt do anything wrong to be treated that way. In that afternoon I left my employers place and stay in a friends place for a month. Can you imagine because of those nasty employer i was left with no job, no income , nowhere to go....in a foreign country.
The thought of me not going to rush to the bus stop again at 4 pm makes me smile.
I was looking forward to attend every sunday service in our church and be able to meet my friends on weekends. We go to the same church on our offdays.
My new employer is a young couple with 5 and 2 years old daughters. The man is working but works home for some days, he works for an American newspaper as a financial columnist while the lady is a stay home mum.for the kids. He travels for work once in while.
They seems a nice couple when i first meet them. They prefer me to call them with their first name rather than sir or ma'am. Which I felt is more appropiate as our age gap is not that much. I am the same age as my male boss , my female boss is 2 years younger then me. I will call them Pete and Shar [name change to protect their identity]
I have no idea what my work will be aside from helping her to look after the girls. I was given an instruction to focus on the children. Not to worry about cooking , cleaning or laundry.. My head start to get muddled as soon as I start working with them. Shar expected me to be around while she plays with them, so the girls will get to know me.. Fine for me [but not long] . Feed the children when they are hungry not necessarily wait for proper meal time which is breakfast, lunch and dinner. For them meal is a snack..And let them feed themselves which is kind of weird to me [ maybe i used to spoonfeed my previous employers kids ].Naturally food is all over the floor not into the childrens mouth. When I attempt to help them feed them Shar would say it's ok they can feed themselves. Maybe she is trying to teach them to be independent but for goodness sake this kids needs to eat properly .
Every meal time kitchen is a whole mess, foods thrown all over the place. This maybe kind of normal to them but it is killing me.. I am very tidy person and trying my best to keep this house tidy as much as possible but with these 2 throwing food kids is impossible. My nightmare didn't stop there. Once, I was doing my housework when suddenly Shar asked me to stop and bring the girls to the park so that they can play. For goodness sake it is middle of the day and the sun outside is scorching hot. I have to push this double trolley with 2 kids on it in the middle of the day and walked half a kilometer to get to the park. She said she will get an hour nap and instructed me to come back an hour later. I have not eaten my lunch and I had only a cup of coffee and a piece of toast for breakfast and this inconsiderate person ask me to bring out this kids so that they could play and she can get a nap. Honestly, I wished I could protest but she is my employer and I have just started working with them.
Pete is the nicest of the 2, when he is around he will ask if I'm eaten or he will bring the kids out so that I could rest. Of course I wont be resting cos I still have to do some other things at home. With 2 kids throwing everything inside the house, the place obviously needs tidying up if there is a chance. If there are so called messy person Shar is one of them. I'm not sure if she ever know how to clear her mess but I'm sure I have not seen her making an effort to practice it. It makes me squirm by the sight of her used underwear in the bathroom floor. Why cant' she just throw them inside the laundry basket.
My temper is thinning everyday and so as my patient. I tried to ignore her weird behaviour thinking that maybe its part of her mood swings caused by her pregnancy. But one day she makes me snap when she accused me of hitting her eldest daughter. The eldest daughter suddenly cry for no apparent reason [ she does that all the time] . And everytime she does it , she would ask me what I did to her.For God sake I never left a finger to anyone how could she suspect me of hitting this small girl.
One morning while the girls are playing at the backyard I was also there attending to the girls and Shar is just a few steps away talking on the phone [as always]. When suddenly the eldest girl started crying, Shar looked up at me and said " what did you do?" I said nothing, but the girl accused me of hitting her which i didnt do. Shar got up and growled at me like she is going to eat me whole. I said i didnt do anything but she didnt believe me. I raised my voice in protest but she just doens;t listen. I went inside and left the girls with her, I shut myself inside my room and felt so angry. I never get angry that much in my entire life but this time i'm really really angry. I wanted to leave in that moment but wasnt sure where to go. I started packing my stuff in case she ask me to leave. After an hour she came to my door knocking and when i open the door she asked me to leave because she doesnt want to see me again. In a foreign country where you dont have anybody to turn to except your friends what choice can you make. I called the person who intruduced me to my employer and told her what happen. She ask me to go ang ask for an apology to my employer. How can i ask an apology if i know that i didnt do anything wrong with them. And how can I ak for an apology if she wanted me to leave on the moment? Yes, I am a maid but I have my pride and i know deep in my heart that i didnt do anything wrong to be treated that way. In that afternoon I left my employers place and stay in a friends place for a month. Can you imagine because of those nasty employer i was left with no job, no income , nowhere to go....in a foreign country.
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