My Maid

My maid is a Muslim from Java Timur, Indonesia. Her name is Marsiti. She was 29 years old when she first came to work for me, now she’s 32 and has 2 children of her own – 15 and 13 years of age. She comes from quite a secluded area where there's no electricity and telephone lines. So when she first came I’ve to teach her how to use the electric appliances and almost everything. She takes and loves to eat khinzir’s meat. She hasn’t tasted the meat before and doesn’t get to eat meat (beef or chicken) unless occasionally on festive season or when a person passes away (dat was what she told me). Her food back in Indonesia will be rice (breakfast, lunch and dinner) with sambal chillies and sometimes veggie from her farm. She plants her own padi and veggie. She told me she doesn’t mind taking khinzir’s meat. If I buy outside food, I’m sure to order fried chicken for her. Now her favourite food is Kentucky Fried Chicken.

She was with me since Destinee was a month old. She went back to her hometown after the expiry of the contract of 2 years. I sent Destinee to a babysitter (thought to be a fren) but somehow Destinee was not being well treated. After about a year, I have to have a maid to do the house chores as I decided to go back to work (sorry, I’m not the type who can stay at home to look after my kid) and dat was when I was lucky to get my maid back again (I dared not get a new one for fear dat she’ll not be able to get along with Destinee and I’ve to start ‘teaching’ her from the beginning). I was so glad to hear dat she has built herself a house when she went back and she was so happy dat I decided to employ her again. My maid is one of those who really come to M’sia to work and not to ‘play play’.

This time round, I taught her how to cook and prepare soups and now sometimes my hubby praises her cooking. She takes care of Destinee, treats her as if she’s her own daugther and very protective of her too. She’ll never allow other kids to bully her. My maid used to sleep with Destinee when she was a baby but now I have Destinee to sleep with us and I’ll make sure dat Destinee ‘sticks’ to me whenever I’m around.

Sometimes I do raise my voice on her when she forgets but I’ll explain to her dat I’m teaching her and I’m glad she’s a very understanding one. She’ll sometimes say “Aiyo, saya tak da otak”. She hasn’t shown me her sour face before and always ever ready to learn and take my advices. Now she does her jobs without being told.

She used to eat a lot when she first came (at least 2 big plates or rice) but now she takes only 1 bowl of rice. And I’ll separate her food from ours i.e. once the food is cooked, I’ll immediately leave some for her and not after we’ve eaten therefore she gets to eat immediate cooked food too. She doesn’t waste food, eg. when we have leftovers, she’ll reserve the food for her next day’s lunch. She doesn’t like to go out, she dislike travelling in the car. She would rather stay at home with or without Destinee. Whenever we want to have dinner outside, she’ll request us to bungkus for her.

Whether the maids are young or old really depends on our luck. I can say dat I’m one of the lucky ones to get a good maid (keeping my fingers crossed).

Dat's my maid, Marsiti, with Destinee