hired help?

Living overseas there is a question we are often asked when living in a new place - will you be hiring a helper? When they say "helper" what they mean is someone to cook and clean for you. In America, that would be called a "maid."

In America it is also incredibly expensive and only those with enough disposable income to afford it contract such help, it is thus considered a luxury. I am American and can fully understand that position. We do our daily chores in the States; why not while living overseas?

The argument in support of hired help is that a job is provided for someone in the developing world, usually a woman with few other options for employment. Then of course, it is just nice to have someone else take care of these daily (and time consuming) chores. There are not the same modern conveniences in the developing world as there are in the States. No clothes dryer - which doesn't just mean hanging clothes to dry, but also a necessity for ironing everything. No dish washer - which means everything is handwashed. Limited access to microwaves and pre-packed food, so meals are made from scratch without appliances like a standing mixer. Grocery shopping also takes more time because one can rarely find everything on a grocery list at one store (if at all).

When moving to Cambodia, this became a great debate in our home - should we or shouldn't we? The decision was to not. We were recently asked this question in Moz, which also came with a recommendation of a lady looking for work as the family she's been working for is returning to their homeland. I see both sides of the debate (and trust me it can become a debate with both sides claiming moral ground), but the decision in our home has not changed.

What is your opinion? Should those living overseas hire help in their home? Are there certain circumstances where this seems appropriate and others where it does not? Inquiring minds want to know...

Interesting International Facts: origins of coffee

Did you know?

Coffee was discovered by a goat herder in Ethiopia. He noticed that when his goats ate a berry off a certain plant they had more energy.

After trying it himself, he boiled it and turned it in to a beverage.

Dubai 2

did I mention all the skyscrapers in Dubai? that is pretty much all one would see when driving around town.

this building is under construction. I found it fascinating because it looks like it is twisted.

a view of some skycrapers from the base

Joelle just finished her pudding cup. nice!

inside our favorite mall. looks very similar to the forbidden city in China.

another part of the mall. there were at least 5 starbucks in this one mall alone.

dancing water choreographed to music at the base of the worlds tallest building. only in Dubai!

waffles?

Where I am from waffles are simply a breakfast food. We eat them with butter and/or syrup. I am partial to Belgium waffles with fruit and whipped topping. Until I moved to Cambodia I never imagined waffles being anything more.

In Cambodia waffles are sold similar to a sandwich. They have meat fillings. Can you read the signs in these? Tuna, ham with cheese, and tuna with cheese.

Appetizing? What do you think?

International wardrobe

I don't follow fashion trends very well. I just buy what I like. I have been afforded the opportunity in my life to visit many places in the world. The other night we went out with some colleagues in Maputo. I realized my outfit was representing my travels.

This outfit: earrings from Spain (purchased 2002), shirt from Thailand (purchased 2009); pants from America (purchased 2008); custom made shoes from Cambodia (purchased 2010)

My clothes represent me and my lifestyle - do your clothes represent you and your lifestyle or is it a copy of something you've seen someone else wearing?