‘Do you have any house help there?’ This is one question that I often come across in India.
And I answer (with an essence of slight narcissism in my voice), ‘No, we don’t have any.’
‘Then how do you manage everything without one?’ comes the immediate question.
‘Both of us split the chores,’I reveal the secret on how me and my husband run the household without the help of a third person.
When we shifted to Singapore two and a half years back, this was my first concern. The absence of a house help. Of course, the services are available here as well. You spend money. And someone will come at the doorstep to help you. But that was the million dollar question before us.
Did we really want to spend money behind a house help?
We Indians always convert a foreign country’s currency to Indian Rupees in our minds before spending even a single buck abroad. If the calculated INR amount for anything comes greater than it’s normal value in India, then it is considered to be highly expensive.
That’s why the need for a house help automatically was a big NO for us. Me and my better half were both insipid to hire anyone. Neither of us wanted to spend a few hundred dollars behind house help which in turn amounted to thousands of INR (when calculated in mind).
Cooking, cleaning, dusting, sweeping the floor, washing dirty laundries were completely unimaginable without two extra hands in India. But, I never imagined that someday hiring a help in my house wouldn’t look like a wise idea anymore. Reason?
- You don’t need to constantly remind someone to clean the dishes properly or show that a particular corner of the house has never seen the face of a broom till date. Ironically, the biggest advantage of not having a house help is, you get a cleaner house.
- There is no need to wait and wait and wait and wait and wait for the help every morning till middle of the day with a sink full of last night’s used utensils . The wait can sometimes become never ending giving your patience a quality check.
- It is frustrating when you call your help and she answers, ‘Ma’am, I am not coming today.’ Ask ‘Why?’ and you will get an unique reply each time. The extent of creative reasons will put you to shame and make you think, ‘Why can’t I ever come up with such an excuse in front of my Boss whenever I need a leave?’
- Doing your own work always makes you self-sufficient and gives a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day. So help or no help, you are always ready (with some help from the man of the house himself though) to sort out each mess inside your house.
So, you see I am better off to know that my house help is not turning up today………because I haven’t hired any.
How is your life like with or without a house help?
In the USA, I don’t think it’s as common to have house help. I’m the first to say my 3-room apartment is slightly messy 😮
I think this house help system is common mainly in India and few other Asian countries. People mostly from the below poverty line work in other’s household to earn a living.
I resonate with your story very well because my Co – sister and brother in law are in The USA from last 4 years. Wish you luck and peace of mind.
Thank you
U ‘ re welcome.
Haha! I was smiling through this post because I don’t have a househelp too, or yet. We shifted to a new place and the helps who came looking for work seemed ‘too clean’ and not-inclined to attempt to do any dirty work. I’m surviving, yes. It is tiring but lot easier than keeping tab on them.
I can relate to your situation too. But then at the end of the day,self help is the best help
Moved to Singapore about two years ago and didn’t get house help as it is not really a thing for Americans to do; however, those who did… man! Did they have the life. Sadly time in Singapore has come to an end. I return briefly to see my son Graduate from SAS and then bid the equator goodbye for a while.
Sending my best wishes for your son.
Absence of a house help doesn’t bother me much at present. Ironically, I feel relieved to not have any.