Domestic Servants in Peru
Posted on 28. Nov, 2008 by Colin in peru
I have an empleada. Her name is Ernestina. She’s the building’s domestic servant. She came for the first time Sunday to do my laundry. She brought her two year-old son, Javier. She washed our clothes by hand in our laundry room sink. I went back to bed.
I woke up and went for something to eat. Did she want anything? She said no. I offered a soda. She gladly accepted. A Coke. I appreciate her services and want to treat her generously. I want her to like me. I want her to think highly of gringos. I want her to take my phone calls and give me higher priority than others. Most of all, I want to be nice to someone who was born with so much less. I returned with a bottle of Coke for her and some chocolate for Javier. She was grateful.
She finished the laundry an hour later. Roy’s load cost seventeen soles ($5.48) and mine twenty ($6.44). One sol per garment, socks free. I noticed the sink and counter were full of disgusting dishes. I asked her how much to wash the dishes, and she said it’d be free. I think she was grateful for the tip, soda, and chocolate. I told her to say a number. She said two soles ($0.64). I offered five ($1.61). She agreed and washed the dishes. She gave me her phone number, said goodbye, and left.
While in Peru, I won’t wash dishes, do my laundry, or clean the apartment because it’s so cheap to have someone else do it. Plus, I’m creating a job.
I’ve been eating lunch with Carlos lately. He has a new empleada. The one he had before – who he had for four years – resigned to focus on a little store she and her husband opened. But she brought a new girl to Carlos and vouched for her honesty. Domestic servants have been known to steal so finding them is done through networking and recommendation.
Related posts:
- Amanecer: Brothel in Arequipa, Peru SUMMARY: My first whorehouse in Peru. In America prostitution is a taboo conversation even among guys. In a conversation with Javier, however, it came out within a couple minutes or so that each of us had paid for sex before. The reason Americans never talk about it is for the...
- Amigos and Bricheras SUMMARY: I learn a new word: 'brichera'. I define it and describe meeting one. My old boss in the States, who's seen much of South America, told me "Latinos are very curious about America and Americans," and that he enjoyed "semi rock-star status" in a lot of places. I got...
- Other Oddities & 1st Pics from Arequipa, Peru SUMMARY: Another round of miscellaneous oddities to a gringo in Peru. Little Things There's this odd phenomenon in Peru of giving children English and American names. I've met people named Billy, Jennifer, Percy, Stephanie, Henry, Washington. I don't get it. ... Read more...
- Hazing in Peru SUMMARY: I get a good dose of hazing in Peru courtesy of my basketball teammates, which is described in humiliating detail. I got a good dose of Peruvian hazing last night after we pounded a team 73 - 46. There were a handful of new guys who I assume were...
- Basketball, Language, and Civil Unrest in Peru SUMMARY: My new basketball team, improving Spanish, and the protest / civil unrest dimension of Arequipa, Peru. My basketball team played our first game last Wednesday night. I played about 15 of the 40 minute game. In my 15 minutes, I had 2 points, several rebounds, a few blocks, and...
Recent Comments