Servants

When will I get used with people working for me in my home?

Now we have a couple working for us in our house and living in a servant quarters. Upper class Indian homes and apartments usually come with separated lodgings for staff, locally called "servant quarters". They have their own entrance so it doesn't really feel like they live here.

Swamy is our cook. It's just to order what you like to have and he buys food and make delicous meals with nice desserts.Carl loved his vegetables made with a soya sauce. I will became fat in India!
As soon as he come from the market where he buys all the food he starts to clean all the fruits and vegetables with water and removes dirt. Then he soaks everything with a solution called "Fruit and Veggis cleaners". Yesterday he baked us some garlic naan. No more ready made food in this household. We can't drink tap water. I am looking forward to Malmön's water this summer!
The cook will:
shops for food
cleans and prepare it
keeps the kitchen clean
washes dishes and utensils
cleans appliances
sets the table
polishes the silver
serves drinks
runs errands
answers the door
head of staff

His wife Salomeena is my housekeeper. She is sweeping and washing all the marble floors every day! It's so dirty and my feet are always black!! It's so hot outside and it's dust all over the place.
The housekeeper will:
Sweep and washes floors
Cleans bathrooms
Sweeps the stairs, balconies and roof
Cleans domestics' quarters
Removes the garbage
Lanuders and irons clothes, cleaning and servicing it
Put the clothes into the cabinets

In my household there also is a gardener(mali) every day, an out door sweeper that sweeps the driveway and one stair every day, two security guards (chowkidar) that performs in front of the house, checks on who comes in, raises alarm of case of threat, opens and closes gates, fend off vendors and any other person unwelcome to us and I have a driver. He is always waiting for me and takes Carl to and from school. He cleans the car.
All staff exept from securiaty guards are having Sunday off.

Belive me it's very nice but also very strange. After talking with a new friend she told me about how lucky these peole are to work for me. They don't need to sleep on the street ( I have seen many!) and the are treated very well. I am thinking about all hard working Swedish women (and sometimes men) that do a lot in the household . It's hard work. Here in India I never see anyone stressed. My housekeeper is having a lot to do but she is walking slowly and taking her time.

I remember some years ago listened an interviwe with Stina Dabrowski(one of my favourites) about wether she had someone working in the household for her or not. She rapidly answered:
"Of course I have! Both me and my husbands travels a lot in work and we need someone to help us in the household. Sweden is one of the few countries where it's not appropiate to have help in your house. Women in Sweden are working very very hard!

Tonight I am going to a bookclub at Lotta. She is soon leaving Delhi after 2,5 years. She told me:
I am the big winner in this move having all these people helping me out with kids and household. I wouldn't mind staying another year.

My South African friend Mona Craven has also given me some good advice:
Have fun ordering your maid around and think of me – I would have no problem!

Well after thinking about what my husband and friends are telling me I will get quickly accustomed with all my help. It's just to enjoy and still be thankful.

Thanks for having this opportunity in life!