Warning: Serious gloating ahead…
As if we weren’t already living in the lap of luxury, with a free 2 bedroom (2 bath, 2 balcony) condo provided by the school which overlooks our pool and outdoor BBQ, free access to an awesome gym (if I ever get off my lazy butt long enough to use it) at the school, a beautiful neighborhood with all the conveniences of home within such an amazing city, and of course quick, easy and cheap access to some of the best beaches in the world.
But, of course, that’s just not enough. No, dear readers, superkimbo always wants a little bit more. So, we are just in the process of hiring a mae ban (maid) to cook, clean, grocery shop, and generally keep our house in order. We could have gone for full time, but, since this is the first time we’ve had a maid, we’re going to just have her come three days a week. I know, such sacrifice.
The best part is that this wonderful stress-free existence is only going to cost us around US$100/month.
Ah, life is good when you’re in Thailand!
Image: http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/1/13839/19_2007/Ann_B._Davis.gif
Yea, things in Bangkok is pretty affordable. That is why lots of tourist like to go there for holiday.
Oh, sure, make all of your American blog readers jealous. Can I move in? I’ll be happy to sleep on one of the TWO balconies.
Hmm…your Thai maid looks suspiciously like Alice…
We’ve hired a maid in KL as well. While many expats here have a live in maid, we were uncomfortable with that for several reasons (mostly, we like our privacy and the ability to run around the house naked if we feel like it), so we have someone who comes in twice a week.
There have been a few minor issues, but these are issues that I usually purposely neglect to tell my family. “Oh, your maid hid your bed sheet. They ruined your Texas apron. Poor baby with all her maid problems.” I’m not likely to get much sympathy. It’s actually a pretty nice luxury, especially for someone who avoids doing dishes like the plague.
Hey Alex and Superkimbo
I hope that you will slide her at minimum an extra $50 a week so that you are not just exploiting the locals!
Are you not involved with humanities organizations? I think that you will understand if you actually think about it that I totally don’t get it. Somehow, it does not fit what I know about you, really.
I understand that you are working a lot more and commuting a long way too – that this new life would require some assistance so that you can get some levity and free time – but seriously – you must feel some pity for the dire poor. Can’t you pay her at least triple and still get by?
Laura Canuck
Laura, you are an idiot!
If you dont understand the workings of other systems and cultures rather just shut up.
Paying one maid extra causes major ripples and problems through the whole maid community, as it causes other maids to become resentful, demand more, do less, and ultimately negatively affect the job market as not everyone can afford the extra. If you feel so strongly why dont you join a volunteer group to help the poor and needy and donate all your own money instead of telling others how to manage theirs.
Hijaackqueen,
It’s hard to believe how much cheaper things are here than they were in KL. Malaysia was so cheap compared to Germany, where we lived for five years, that we couldn’t even begin to imagine how affordable BKK is!
Lulu,
Come on over! We’ll even let you stay in the guest bedroom
Sarah,
Good for you! It’s definitely hard for people outside of developing countries to understand how important it is for wealthy foreigners to be a part of the local economy in this way. Enjoy it while you can!
Laura,
No one here is exploiting the locals. In fact, our maids (here in Nichada) all get paid at least double what a teacher in a local Thai school would make. They’re easily paid triple what a local would pay for the same services.
They specifically chose to be maids for foreigners because they can make more money cleaning homes than they can working in a “regular” job. Our maid has a home, a family, and only comes to work for about 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. It might not be my choice of work, but it is hers. Everyone needs work, right?
You are right, everyone needs to work; however, I think that the problem of equal pay is a little deeper than you are suggesting. The fact is that North Americans have been exploiting the poorer nations for a very long time.
We produce goods there at cheaper rates so that we can get them at good prices – driving the wages lower and lower so that the people get less and less. But the economics of development, is more that I want to get into heavily at this late hour – and – it is too much for this context really. I am only suggesting that you take the opportunity to make a difference while you have it. Honestly, what will make you feel like you have made an impact? A family who is well taken care of because of you, or another jaunt about? As a teacher, I know that your impact was huge – perhaps you already have enough impact making in your day to day life, and this is not really a priority?
Personally I think that the situation, it is bad, for the poorer people in poorer nations – When I asked if you would slide her extra money – I was not suggesting that this history is your fault. I know that this is not your fault, any more than it is mine, but we privileged do owe it a bit of thought at very least. A little cash is better though, in my opinion
In my life, in Canada that is, I do what I can by trying to buy local food, driving an e-vehicle, purchasing my goods from small independent stores (when I can), purchasing fair trade items (coffee and some hand made items like jewelery and so forth). I don’t need much though, so when you don’t need things any more it is hard to try to be fair with the underdeveloped world. Besides, how can one really know what impact one makes? It is hard from here, since you can’t possibly research every t-shirt that goes in the drawers of a unique family like ours!
This said, your context is unique to most of ours – you have an opportunity to see first hand how your money can impact a family who will be dependent on you for their income – it is an opportunity to really make a difference in someone’s life. I hope that you will rise to the occasion, since it is yours to have.
Poverty – of course is something that interests me – just as Amnesty interests you … I recall that you and I differed politically – hugely with respect to your political interest in that issue, perhaps it is just another one of those agree do disagree moments?
I also have a maid by the way, she is here only once a week at $10/hour, who can afford more than one day?
Laura Canuck
Where can we find Alice now that we are in KL?? I need her!
Laura,
I hear what you’re saying and I agree that the West has been exploiting developing countries ever since the discovered them. Which is why all of us here in teacher housing DO pay our maids so much more than they would ordinarily make. They also get medical insurance (paid for by us), all Thai holidays, an ID card to access the services here in our planned community, and of course, they are free to eat the food they make and drink the water.
Personally, I have felt uncomfortable with the idea of a maid for ages. I never hired one in KL (and there were plenty of poor Filipino women there that were basically like caged animals – not allowed to leave the house, trapped in a closet size room with no access to a bathroom) but when we moved here and I learned how fairly our maids are treated, I figured I could try it out.
The maids here in Samakee actually have quite a little “organization” going – a bit like the Sopranos, if you know what I mean. Only certain women can work here (those that are the “friends” of the current employees) because the conditions are so good.
None of the maids here in Samakee are starving or dirt poor – even though the salary seems quite low to you, it is actually very, very high for Bangkok (hard to believe, but it’s true). One of my wonderful friends here, Patty (who is Thai and grew up in BKK), was telling me about teacher salaries (for people with a Bachelor’s degree) here in Thailand and our maids have it much, much better.
I would never be part of the exploitation of any human being knowingly. I honestly feel that I am paying my maid a fair wage, giving her safe and comfortable working conditions, and providing her with everything she needs to be successful at her job. To me, this is exactly what I should be doing – supporting the local economy in a way that demonstrates proper concern and caring for all individuals.
I think you just need to come for a visit to see just how nice it is here!
Amy,
Good question! I think you should ask around at the school. Most people in KL do have maids, but I think they usually just come for a few hours a week – things are much more expensive in KL than they are here in BKK. Someone who’s been in KL a little longer should know someone who knows someone – and before you know it, you’ll be all set up with a maid too!
Ah! I see! Great! This is exactly what I hoped you would say!
I have been reading a book recently – about Dinga Ochoa – a human rights lawyer in Mexico – who was killed by the government. The book details the unseen truth behind Mexico’s political realities, and human rights violations, that are NOT seen by tourists.
I know that it is a different country – but I guess, since you are doing the traveling, what I would like to hear about your your experiences is more… the stuff that goes on behind the beautiful photos and niceness… the things that you would complain about if we were face to face, you know?
Remember that we are now foster parents to three lovely little people, so our life is here, and likely we won’t be able to travel for some time. We cannot leave the country with them, and putting them in coverage care for more than an overnight (wedding or funeral thing) would be not something that I would be willing to do, since our kids have had too much disruption and being hand to hand already.
What I love about you and miss about you is your intellectual rants about injustice, among other things – you are extremely astute and can tell me much in just a few words … give me a little of that girl! I can take the truth and would like to know how your travels really are and what you learned about the people and places you visit.
Laura Canuck
[...] 30th, 2007 by superkimbo Our wonderful mae baan has been cooking us tasty dinners three days a week for the last two weeks. What a treat to come [...]
Hi there,
I would like to get some informational on finding a Thai maid to work in Hong Kong.
Do you deal with this issue? or do you have any referral? Please let me know.
Thank you for your help
Best Regards,
Venus
[...] thought I was in paradise when we hired our wonderful maid, Lam Duang, back in August, but now I know I am…. And I can’t believe it took me this [...]
I hate cleaning my house. It is just so time consuming and a real pain in the neck. That’s why I have a house cleaning service do it for me anymore.
I don’t know you so I hope you don’t mind me reading your blog. I have come across this blog while researching a book on the culture of ex-pat Westerners taking up maids in developing countries, and found your comments interesting.
So far in my discussions with foreigners in this situation there appears to be a lot of justification and defensivenss surronding this issue – ie “it’s not exploitation to take up a maid, this is the best option for them in their financial situation, we treat our maid really well” etc. It appears to be such an accepted part of the expat culture in many countries, that people cease to question the social implications.
What I’m interested in is the idea of taking up a local maid in order to keep up with other expats, ie it improves your social status amongst your peers. I have worked as a teacher in Hong Kong and never took up a maid or “helper” – but found I was in the minority. I was often questioned about this and pressured to conform to the norm by hiring someone.
It may be different in Thailand where the conditions are better for local maids. I preferred not to hire “help” as I did not agree with the conditions for maids in Hong Kong, but I was also appalled by the attitude of expats to having a maid. In fact, I never felt comfortable as a Westerner in this expat environment. Although I loved my job I did not enjoy living in a country where expats live in such relative luxury compared to the locals, and seem to revel in this. This is accpeted and rarely questioned by people living this lifestyle, a fact I found incredilbly backward and narrow minded amongst my educated peers.
In fact it appears that many Western expats actually live a more luxurious and pampered life in these countries than they would in their own home countries, and see this as an opportunity to rub it in to those back in the “rat race” in their home countries.
Perhaps for me the social implications do not relate to feeling the need to hire help in a foreign country, and whether or not this is exploitation of the locals. What concerns me is the need to boast about it to friends back home. I am glad at least one of your friends has felt compelled to comment and challenge you on this. It appears all your other expat friends are just interested in where they can find cheap help.
Just food for thought.
I lived in South America (Colombia) some years ago and initially had no maid. However, a friend who was married to a local man told me that according to locals I was being selfish. In a country where most people have maids, if you can afford it, you have an obligation to employ someone. With this argument in mind, I employed a maid part time and arranged employment for her with other expats too. She was much loved and cared for, and very well paid by Colombian standards. So people who talk about exploiting locals by having maids are wrong. It’s a duty and a responsibility to do so. Having high and mighty ideals about not having a maid is denying someone employment and certainly does nothing to improve the lot of locals. Whereas by employing a maid you actually improve someone’s life opportunities. It may only be one person, but to my mind it’s actually making a difference for the better to someone’s life, rather than holding principles that help no-one.
Life must be great in Thailand! You can’t get a maid to come out for an hour for that much. But i understand your need for a maid. House cleaning is a chore and it sucks.
i need house maid in Thailand we r 4 people in home me my wife and tow baby’s need women or man who can care the home and all , who can stay there with us everytime
0822555367