We have a domestic help who has been with us for more than 14 years. When she came to work for us, my son was about 10 years old. How time flies. One of the reasons she came to Singapore was to send money home to rebuild her family home.
From what I gather, her family owns a farm and her mother runs a provision shop in their village. Her father passed away quite some time ago. She returns on home leave every two years and I understand that there is a big party where all her neighbours are invited for a feast. The preparation for the feast begins 2 years in advance. I am told that her mother would buy a piglet during her home leave so that it would be fattened sufficiently for the feast on her next return! Talk about planning. I don't envy the pig :p
Over the years, she has become an indespensible part of our lives. The household chores are taken care of and we are blessed that she is a wonderful worker - conscientious and caring. Each time she goes on home leave, we scramble with the housework - sweeping and mopping the floor, washing the bathrooms, washing the clothes, cooking, ironing, etc. I have tremendous respect for housewives who do this day in day out, year in year out without complain. I find some chores therapeutic, but the routine and daily grind is a challenge for me.
I am not complaining, but I wonder what kept her working here all this time. After she rebuilt the family home, she supported her younger brother through college. I found out later that her younger brother is the same age as my son. I did not know it earlier but later found out that her brother studied to be a Civil Engineer, like my son. Her brother got married about 2 years ago.
Some time in 2011, her brother made a trip to Singapore to visit her. At the same time, he came to look for a job in Singapore. He found one and I understand that he is an engineer with a Civil Engineering firm. What a brave move.
I am reminded of our forefathers who came to Singapore to seek a better life. Many of them left families in China to make a living here. They suceeded and we are the product of their adventure :) Are we better than our forefathers? Perhaps in education but not in worldly experience. It takes alot to decide to leave one's homeland to seek a better life. I am a little ashamed that I have become so comfortable and have lost the spirit to venture out. I am reminded of a documentary I watched on television about rehabilating Orang Utans. In a certain asian country, the wild life trade is quite rampant and poachers shoot adult Orang Utans with babies so that they can sell the babies in the black market as pets. Often, these pets are kept in cages and before long, they lose their ability to climb trees or pick up the life skills from their mother. A baby Orang Utan spends about 7 to 8 years with the mother before he/she is independent. These rescued Orang Utans need to be rehabilated before they can be released back into the wild. I cannot help but wonder if we are in a state of constant rehabilitation :P There is sometimes a tendency to depend on the establishment to solve our problems - high COEs, high cost of housing, high cost of medical care, etc...hmm....didn't they create these in the first place :P
Coming back to the point, it is about a better life. I just found out that our domestic help's sister in law is also seeking a job here as an Accountant. As I reflect on this, I am amazed that a humble foreign domestic help who has toiled in Singapore for 14 years has enabled her siblings and relatives a better life - in Singapore and in her home land. I salute her sacrifice and dedication to the cause. I am sure her story is not unique. Each foreign worker in Singapore probably strives to do the same, and as a result, we are richer because we have gotten to know them as a person and not a mere statistic.
