Myanmar maids

[hquek]

yanyan,


I suggest for you to make a trip (if possible) to city hall peninsula plaza to buy the phone cards. they have very weird cards that give fairly long time to talk - think it was like $10 for 30 or 50 min. I tried starhub before and it was $10 for 15min or something - if call via the premium IDD line (008 or something), it’s only 6 min!

I had asked my maid about sending mail instead. Her reply was that her village is very remote and there is practically no mail services. FYI, it takes her 2 days bus journey and 1 day train journey to/from Yangon to her village.

[yanyan]

Thanks Hquek! Ok, will make a trip to peninsula plaza to take a look. Meanwhile she already written a letter (super long one) and i will help her post… then when i get the card then let her call again lo…

[moonee]

Yan… dont think yr maid can get reception,… mine wrote back a month n half ago to her errr … mother but till today no reply, initially she did lok worried but after I asked her is it her bf or really her mum, she kept quiet,smiled and denied. At 18plus and one that dont stay home and work in another state, I dont think shes that close to her parents besides when i spoke with her she says her parents know shes in spore. Just like my last mynmar, came to spore without parents knowledge.

Thats the problem when they are undr 20, they just leave the country without the blessing of their parents and later start to regret.

[hquek]

Mine told me that she was like the first to actually call back home. Previously those who left the village mysteriously dropped out of sight - no money, no calls home.


FYI, on remittance. We went to some minimart (think it’s at 3rd floor) at Peninsula plaza - they do remittance services. They accept the money (service charge S$3), print out some receipt (MUST double check the name spell correct). One week later, the person whose name is shown will have to go to some place to collect the money.

My maid was so worried when her family didn’t get the money on the appointed day (exactly 1 week later), but the next day, when she call back, they did receive it (probably kancheong, so go too early). Whew!

[cher_06]

I am very happy with my burmese maid that I employed! The only downside is that she may not renew after her contract is up!

[hquek]

cher_06:

I am very happy with my burmese maid that I employed! The only downside is that she may not renew after her contract is up!

keep her happy also? If she has a reason to come out to work (eg young siblings/old parents), you can quietly point out to her pros of continuing.

I did broach the topic with mine even though she's not finished a year. She said that if she had to go home (for holidays), she likely won't want to come back becos the journey from airport/village is simply too long and she'll miss her family and friends. Will cross the bridge when I get there.

[cher_06]

the problem with mine is that her family is relatively ok. They are easily contented, so she feel not much of a need for the money.


Of course, I am still trying to talk to her about how she cannot depend on her parents forever and with more money she can start business etc.

headache!!!

[Angelight]

Cher, you're lucky to get a maid you're happy with. Most of us here either have maids with communication or attitude problems or BOTH.

cher_06:

I am very happy with my burmese maid that I employed! The only downside is that she may not renew after her contract is up!

[cher_06]

Hey Angelight,


I think for them, we just have to be extremely patient. I think attitude is more important than communication. For mine, I think she really wants to study. Every night I see her reading her visual english and burmese dictionary.

Sometimes when I do reading with the kids, she wants to read too… haha. So I teach her as well…

[Angelight]

How old is your maid? maybe the younger ones are more adaptable and willing to learn. The older ones tend to be stubborn and less willing to change or learn new things.