I have domestics!

So, it's Monday, which is a day off. As such, today I had the water guy come and deliver my water and had my new housekeeper come by to show her the ropes and have her clean my place. I was very very reluctant to get a housekeeper because my apartment is one room and I feel like I'm personally insulting my grandmother by admitting that I can't manage my own 'household'. Not to mention the fact that the only other person I found who cleans to my same standard was Brian (he loves a clean kitchen).

So, the housekeeper is baffled by the following things:

1. Have an enclosed glass shower. The glass doors are curved, how the hell can she use a squeegee?! (How the hell do you spell that word really?)

2. A drying rack for dishes? Why wouldn't you just put them all back wet?

3. Fabric softener. Everything about it, it's use, it's application, all of it, gone.

4. Little jars full of various spices and flavors.

5. A mop that can be wrung out.

6. The idea of cleaning the outside of windows. This one deserves a mention. I know that in Dalian, and I've heard in most of China, there is little concern for the aesthetics of 'outside.' This explains the shameless littering, spitting, letting one's dog defecate on the sidewalk, letting one's child defecate on the sidewalk (pic 1), etc. This ideal also applies to buildings. You will see a lavish luxury apartment that looks like a ghetto project... on the outside. The inside will be Peruvian marble and granite. It's a bit insane and I will never understand it, nor will I try.

So, these are the big ones that my housekeeper found hard to grasp as they were explained to her. Right now she's cleaning my kitchen, which makes me feel a little lazy because I'm sitting here drinking tea (out of a cup she's about to wash) updating my blog. I could be cleaning... but I just don't want to! Plus it costs me 50 RMB (not even $10) to transport her here and have her clean for two hours. How could I not?

When the water guy came here to change out the jug of water (not just bring a new one, change it) and he had to step around the housekeeper in the kitchen, I realized I'm living well beyond my means... but still within them. I think, after over a year, I'm getting used to the idea that labor is cheap in China. Not only is it cheap, but these people gotta eat and there's no charity in China. Take what you will from that.

I'm going to heat up some French onion soup (then have her wash the bowl), listen to Lady Gaga (why do I love the song Summerboy?), and watch her work. She seems to have taken to the drying dish well, young padawan shows promise she does. Cheers!