During the past two weeks we have been living our lives with a few changes. Some would say these changes would make life more difficult, and in a way, they are right, but some of these changes have been blessings in disguise. Up until now, I have been teaching kindergarten at the school our son attends, and while I love being around these precious little ones, it has been difficult at home. With my husband teaching in the high-school, our daughter teaching in the middle-school and me teaching in the elementary, our home has not been receiving the attention it deserves. So, starting the 2nd semester, I will no longer be teaching. I will become a full-time housewife again. I am greatly looking forward to it.
Little did I know that I would be spending much more time at home and getting to much more of those housewife chores than I had bargained for. Most businesses shut down during this time, and that means restaurants and fast food chains. If you have been reading my blog for long, you probably read the one about how restaurants and fast food chains deliver. Well, that was one change our family had to adjust to. All of our meals had to be cooked at home. Now that has not been a bad thing because we are home and not going to work/school. This has been one of those "blessings in disguise", except I think my son may be having McDonalds withdrawals. ;o) I am also missing our favorite coffee shop.
Another thing that happened was that our cleaner was not able to come this past week. Ok, I can hear alot of you saying "You have a cleaner come to your home?" Well, what you have to understand is that we do have someone come once a week. He gets paid somewhere between $11.00 - $12.00 for about 6 hours of work. He is a Sudanese man named Deng, and this is how he makes his living. Also, it is very helpful for him to come since we live where the sand and dust can build up in homes very fast. So, there is more of those "housewife chores" that had to be done, but fortunately, the whole family has been home so everyone has chipped in and helped out a little, plus, Deng should be back tomorrow. :oD
It has been nice being home with my family, but I can't wait till things get back to "normal". I just wonder when that will be, and if it will get back to the "normal" we were used to before, or if there will be more changes.
How wonderful to only pay 12 dollars for cleaning. I'm in Texas and we use to have a maid...85 dollars for 4 hrs....incredible!
ReplyDeleteHope the coffee shop opens soon for you!
hughugs
Hi Jackleen, strange how God strengthens us in times like this and brings us closer to each other and things that matter. I also get the reaction: you have a houselady AND gardener already in Kenya! I personally am past the age and desire of housework (did SO much in my youth and middle years) I also would be mean if I didn't employ Naomi; she has been a single mother, unemployed for years and trying to rear an eight-year old daughter. Dear Stanley was also in the village without work. He is now my dear gardener. Yeah, I love having these people in three times a week and they tell me they like coming to work. Blessings, my friend.May God keep you all safe. Jo
ReplyDeleteI think there is no shame to say that you need or you have a cleaning woman or man. I always had one my whole life because I hate housework and it gives a job to somebody else who also needs money. Since 7 years I have a polish cleaning lady who pays the university for her grandchildren she earns in Belgium.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of the poor cleaning men in the hotels at the Red Sea who were so happy to have a job and they could support their families in Cairo. What a catastrophe for all those who depend on tourists.
Jo, we once employed a Nigerian woman 5 days a week; not because we needed her that often, but because she had lost a full-time job with another expat family. We eventually HAD to cut down to 2-3 days a week, but there are so many people who need the work here just to put food on the table. Good to hear from you. ;o)
ReplyDeleteGattina, yes, we are starting to hear more and more about the people who are employed in some sort of touristic site about how their work is all but gone. I hope this crisis is over soon for their sake. Thanks for stopping by. :o)
ReplyDelete