TickleKittens
Posts 70

pumpkinz
Posts 35

@mejane

That's an excellent idea!!!
Thanks

mejane
Posts 604

I have been in this situation and it has it's ups and downs.
One thing you should do (in fact anyone who has a maid and small children might think about this) is to have a manila envelope for each child in a safe place that is accessible. I stuck a picture of each child on the front and inside had their name ,age, blood group, innoculation record and every known contact number for us and anyone else I could rely on. The maids were instructed if there was an emergency to take the envelope with the child. If one of them was on any medication I would attach that to the envelope as well.
I never went out much or for long (too nervous) but I did feel that it would help if there was a prob.

pumpkinz
Posts 35

@MDM Mom
Thanks, I agree that it is an advantage in the sense that you can still have the freedom and privacy to talk in you're own home without worrying about whether she understands you or not. Thanks for the positive thaughts

I have a toddler but have no intention of her being any sort of babysitter to him so I am not worried about leaving him with her and she not being able to help him. I simply need someone to help me with the house work!

Thanks all for you're responses!
edited by pumpkinz on 04/10/2010

MDM Mom
Posts 284

pumpkinz, I used to live in Indonesia and had a maid who didn't speak English. I took 5 lessons of Bahasa and I managed to explain her the basics that had to be done. You can also use sign language. Not sure if you speak English at home but a big advantage of the maid not speaking English is that you don't have to worry about her eavesdropping :-)

fuddles
Posts 466

If you have young children that she might babysit, please be extremely cautious. IMHO with young children, I don't think it could work at all - even if you ask her just to watch them in the playground, with friends, if something were to go wrong, you wouldn't forgive yourself. Lots of other options available. But if no kids - you could give it a shot!

mushypeas
Posts 2380

what would one do in an emergency .. point and scream

laralara
Posts 38

I wouldn't do it since you will spend a long time trying to get her to understand you and it could make you frustrated when you just want to get things done!

pumpkinz
Posts 35

@xanzec

She hasn't arrived yet but will post if I need help!

Thanks again!
edited by pumpkinz on 03/10/2010

xanzec
Posts 503

You're most welcome pumpkinz! Do post your query if you or your maid need any help. I can speak some bahasa.

pumpkinz
Posts 35

Thanks xanzec

That's interesting!

xanzec
Posts 503

If your Indonesian maid comes from an agency, she would have learnt some English words. Depends on which part of Indonesia she comes from, most maids from Central Java can pick up English quite fast. Good luck to you.

pumpkinz
Posts 35

To zedzee

Thank you for you're advise. I was thinking about the picture books as well.
I agree on the socialising thing!

Thanks for you're much appreciated help!

pumpkinz
Posts 35

Thank you so much nath!

I am looking in to employing an Indonesian lady and am very worried about not being able to communicate with her.
My DH says that because I am a stay at home mum I will have the time to spend with her trying to teach her everything. I am hoping this will be the case!
I have heard that Indonesian ladies are very hard workers annd very humble people.
I really hope it will work out for me!

Thank you agai for your'e advise

nath
Posts 658

It works very well for us it has been a good experience. our maid is Indonesian , we are family french/danish . she has been recommanded from Tunisian family where she worked during 3 years. but first 3 month patience is necessary. but she is very serious, she cooks like crazy and organised. always smiling and happy. we have a mutual respect and after 2 years she is able to make sentance, and to write the grocery shopping list. I showed her my french recipee and she can cook exactly same, but she cooks indonesian and asian food and arabic food. she speak fluent arabic. well I can say we have been lucky !!! and she learnt a lot of french words !!!

daily insanity
Posts 674

pumpkinz
Posts 35

Thank you so much for you're positive view zedzee!

If you don't mind me asking what nationality was she?

daily insanity
Posts 674

I communicate with sign language frequently to my English speaking maid, mainly behind her back but i'm sure she comprehends.

2 years to string a few words together, boy that's something to look forward to.

AnonDubai
Posts 9374

Yes. I had a maid who arrived not speaking a word of English and we somehow were able to understand each other. By the end of the year, she could understand everything I said and then I got annoyed by that because I didn't want her understanding everything I said.

It can work, but as others have said, you have to be willing to do visual demonstrations all the time. After the first month, she'll get it and the language should no longer be a barrier.

This reminds me of an episode of Seinfeld where George deliberately seeks out a non-English speaking girlfriend so he doesn't have to deal with any issues with her. lol
edited by AnonDubai on 03/10/2010

Marita
Posts 676

Yes. Can work out quite well, if you are ready for about month or so to show everything hands on, but if she is attentive - which many english speaking maids are NOT, you will manage well. Anyway am not myself native in english either LOL

Cons:

- she most likely says "yes, maam" even she don´t understand something, so you do not really get genuine feedback of the situation and cannot help
- you are often frustrated when you cannot explain something just quickly but you need to SHOW hands on how to do it.

Pros:

- anyway many works you have to show anyway, eg. the way you like the floor to be cleaned, etc. you have to really clean and work with her few days to show exactly how things are being done. My past mistake was just to expect a maid knows "how to clean well", but it is not like that, even experienced maids have been in so different families with different styles and customs
- she do not look for part time works as most part time works are in your neighborhood in another english speaking family
- she speaks (amharic, arabic, tagalog, hindi etc.) other lanquages and it is helpful when the maintenance comes or you go to buy something
- you do not end up too friendly conversations and the line between you as an employer and her as employee stays more clear between you two.


My one of the best maids was very smart and very attentive when I was talking to her and we got along and I took her even to travels with me, she understood but was quite shy to speak.
edited by Marita on 03/10/2010

daily insanity
Posts 674

pumpkinz
Posts 35

That's my fear!

daily insanity
Posts 674

Simple answer NO, it will drive you nuts!

muskiet
Posts 175

The frustration was not worth it! I Speak from experience. There are so many out there looking for work, who can speak english. You will only notice the difference once she leaves and you get someone who understands you.

pumpkinz
Posts 35

Any advise?
It's a big discision!!