surprises from new ahyi

The new Ahyi gives me surprises everyday!

Let's start from the day after her interview on the last Sunday of July which we immediately agreed that she will start work 1 week later on a Monday. 2nd week of August. (Becoz my previous part-time Ahyi was supposed to leave end-July but since the other fulltime Ahyi played us out, she agreed to extend working for me until i find another fulltime Ahyi...and so i wanted to give her 1 week notice too.) BUT the very NEXT DAY (Monday morning), i get a knock on my door. It's her sis who works for the family downstairs! Surprise! Surprise! She said that she wanted to clarify with me what i told her sis yesterday, about the salary etc. Then she said that becoz the other family (whom her sis turned down before she came to us) wanted to employ her now and they want her to start immediately on Tuesday! And she doesnt wish to wait till the following Monday to work for us becoz it meant she had to feed herself for one week without a job! She mentioned that her sis stayed at home yesterday and had to cook herself. How ridiculous does that sound to you??? But she prefers to work for us becoz the other family has a kid and a granny. So...i told her to talk to her sis again and let me know immediately IF she wants to work for us OR them. She came up again to tell me later that her sis will wait a few more days and work for us. It's good but i think we've already lost some faith in her.

Then...
1. On her first day of work, she told me that she woke up at 4+am becoz she took on another job in the morning 5-7am cleaning an office with a group of Ahyis. How is she going to keep that morning job when she start living with us??? Leave our house at 4am and come back to attend to my kids at 8am??? (She's supposed to be our Mon-Sat fulltime live-in helper whenever we needed. We told her she can stay out if she wish to now, but she'll have to start living-in after the new baby is born. Most likely after my confinement since Elvis can handle Joel while the confinement lady & myself will handle the new baby. Otherwise, her work hours start from 8am to bring Joel to school till 10pm.)

2. Since Joel doesnt "need" her to play/feed him (and she has that morning job), i let her leave earlier at 8pm on the first day of work. Since then, she has been thinking that she leaves at 8pm everyday. She rushes me/Joel to bathe/eat at 7pm so that she can go off at 8pm sharp!

3. She said she's planning to find a bigger rented room with her sis. That means she wont live with us in the future???

4. She said at the most, she'll leave later at night after we have the 2nd kid.

5. She said her husband visits her in Shanghai every now and then and if she live-in, she wont be able to see him at night. (Note: She gets Sundays off and Saturdays she gets to leave earlier since we're mostly out anyway - at least before the new baby arrives.)

6. She cooks almost vegetarian dishes for me everyday. Lunch is probably 1 stir-fry vegetables and 1 vegetable OR tomato soup (w/o any meat). Dinner, add 1 more vegetable dish. IF Elvis comes back to eat, she will cook another meat dish. I've since told her to add some meat (and salt) inside the soup for more flavour. So now, it tastes much better. I also have to remind her every now and then that I LOVE MEAT & SEAFOOD!!!

7. One day, lunch was a cabbage that tasted a little spicy (but doesnt look like there's any chilli inside). I thought that perhaps it's the garlic or ginger. For dinner, she cooked another brocolli that also tasted the same - spicy! So when i asked her, she said she added chilli sauce inside. Since i couldnt see any chilli bits, my guess is she used the bottle of garlic chilli sauce. (That's probably why i miss my fast food meat patties and fries.)

8. Ok...hygiene! I'm not fussy about her cleaning around the house (even though she is absent-minded and always forgets what i tell her to do). But i got a shock this week when i realized that my toilet looked like a public toilet! She dumped her blood-stained tissue paper inside the dustbin inside the toilet like what Chinese people did. (FYI, same goes for shit) YUCKS!!! SO GROSS!!! So, i told her that in Singapore, we dont have that practice. I told her to flush the toilet paper and she can throw her sanitary pads in the kitchen dustbin. So those are out of sight on Day 2. Phew~

9. She said the sensor door card is spoilt. (My previous Ahyi had no problem using that same card for 2years+. Before that, we have been using the card.) Then i saw it and realized it's becoz she punched a HOLE on it and looped the key there! She kept saying that her sis' card also has a hole and it works fine. The management office confirmed that it's becoz of that hole and i had to pay to get it replaced. After that, i made sure to remove the handwritten block & unit number on the card since she keeps the card & key together (which also includes the property name).

10. For the first few days, i realized that she doesnt lock the door whenever she goes to the market or when she goes out to throw the rubbish. Throw rubbish very fast, so it's ok lah. But i told her that when she leaves to go out, she has to lock the door. Then she said that most doors lock automatically when it's closed!!! (Why then didnt she open the door again with her key???)

AHHHHH...

UPDATE!
She was supposed to tell me her "decision" today whether she will stay-in OR continue to rent a (bigger) room with her sis. (FYI, she has been complaining that her sis' rented room is very small and very warm. They also have to bathe on the rooftop with just a curtain. No aircon, no heater, no water heater. So, i told her that she can bathe here before she goes home during winter.)

When i asked her in the morning, she said that she did not get the chance to discuss with her sis last night or this morning. I said before & during the interview, we already said we wanted a full-time live-in Ahyi. She act blur... Then she said that she can stay till 10pm no problem. 

In the afternoon, she broached the subject herself and said that she can quit her 5-7am job after 1 month (when she get her salary). Then she can live-in with us. I asked her how does she expect me to trust that she will not just leave us after my baby is born or when someone else offers her a little more money? Besides, she started giving me problems the day after interview! She said, "I wont lah". I said, "Say, ¥100 more?" (Approx S$20) She kept quiet. She continued to defend herself and said that it's the other family who backed out on their words so many times and she's afraid too.

At that point, i had already decided to let her go and find a replacement from an agency. I just didnt know how to tell her she's given the sack!

Later in the afternoon, she asked me again if i thinks she's not trustworthy. I said, "YES!" I told her she has so many versions! And since her first day of work she said cannot stay-in, wanna stay with sis, dont wanna give up part-time job, can stay later till 10pm, cannot stay-in coz wanna see husband at night, can stay-in coz husband only visits occasionally, can start stay-in after i give birth... I'm not sure if she even knows what she's saying!!!

So, yes! I said it! YOU WILL WORK TILL THIS SATURDAY! END OF 2 WEEKS.
(We had intended to pay her a full month's salary for her 3 weeks of work this month - to make her happier and hopefully more committed to her job. I dont know who is out of luck? She or us?!)

taking the blame

I just read about Noah's dislocated arm...and my heart went out to him and his mommy. It was a very touching post. I've always thought of Astrid as strong and capable. How could it be possible that such a woman could feel helpless and break down and cry? The reason was becoz she was a mother and it was for her son, Noah - whom i'm sure is still a "baby" in her eyes. It was also a post about whether or not to blame the maid (who had caused it to happen), blame oneself for not being more sensitive...and ultimately about believing and trusting in God.

This time that Joel is sick, i have to admit that part of me also blamed Ahyi for it. At least, she might have caused Joel to fall sick.

When i brought Joel to Gymboree on Sunday, i noticed some kids with flu...and i made sure that Joel didnt stand next to them in class. (Keke...) When we left the place, i also made sure to wipe his hands. Of course, i'm also guilty of giving in to him and letting him drink some Coke that day during lunch.

However, on Monday, i saw Ahyi playing bubbles with Joel on the balcony - out in the cold, probably slightly below 10˚C - wearing just his home clothes of a long-sleeve tee + home vest and home pants. I kinda got a shock! (Note: Joel's home clothes that day was similar to the picture on the right, but with a thinner home pants) She, on the other hand, was wearing the clothes she wore when she walked through my front door (i.e. her winter clothes). When she saw me walk out of the kitchen to the living room (i had been preparing Joel's food), she told me that Joel didnt want to wear his jacket. Immediately, what came to my mind was "Then you shouldnt have let him out!"...but i didnt say anything. I just called Joel to come back in. I also knew that lately, Joel is a little fussy when i put on his jacket for him. So i'm not going to jump at Ahyi and make a fuss out of it. I kept quiet and behaved as if it didnt matter.

That night itself, we took a cab to the dinner place which meant just hop in/out the cab...and Elvis & i noticed Joel had slight runny nose. The next day, it got worse and i had to bring him to the doctor.

Ahyi went with me to the doctor's since it was within her "working hour"...and i also thought that she might be able to help me out in case Joel acts up (like what he did at the Singapore PD's office). As usual, she was "impressed" with all the angmohs with their kids...and thinks it's a "good place". (The hospitals her son goes to only charges S$2-3 for consultation, less than S$10 per visit. That's 1% of what i'm paying!) Part of me also wanted her to know that she should be more careful in future becoz her carelessness caused me almost her month's salary - in medical fees!

I really dont know who to blame for Joel's flu... It could have been my fault... But i really felt like letting Ahyi know that it mattered to me that she made my child stand out in the cold! I really felt like telling her not to do it. Never again!

nursery options

3 days ago, i started to do some research on schooling options for Joel. I got a shock even though i knew that international schools here are very expensive - more expensive than those in Singapore. From nursery/kindergarten level at SAS, it is already more than US$20,000/year (tuition fees here). Even the Singapore International School (SSIS) , the somewhat "local" international schools (YCIS) and the "better" non-international schools (Fortune Kindergarten) are very expensive!!! When i divide by 12 months, it ranges from S$1300-$1800 PER MONTH for international schools, and S$900-$1000/month for the non-international schools. I felt so disappointed... :(
(My friend who works at an International School Singapore says their nursery is cheaper at S$12,000/year)

The following day, i found a 2006 map of our Luwan district and saw a list of Nursery/Kindergarten inside. It was great coz it meant they'll be near our house, and i wouldnt have to spend extra money on school bus or cab fares (4 trips, if i were to fetch Joel to/from school). Hopefully, there was something within walking distance coz Luwan is so big. I called the 15 schools on that list. Some numbers were no longer in use...but it's ok since there's so many anyway.

It was then when i hung up the phone that i realized that schooling in Shanghai is indeed THAT EXPENSIVE!!! Such bad news! These neighbourhood nurseries are charging ¥3800-¥4800/month, approximately S$760-$960/month!!! And the prices goes up at every level - K1 & K2. All prices excludes meals (about ¥10/day) and school bus (about ¥400-600/month). For these schools, an English teacher will come in once/twice a week. Most of the teachers can speak English, but it's not in their job scope to teach that.

I've short-listed a few of the ¥3800 schools within 5-10 minutes walking distance from our house, and we'll go take a look within the next few months. 1 of the school is also offering a half-day nursery at ¥2300/S$460 (which i kinda prefer not becoz of its price)...but the class is full for now.

Ahyi also gave me the telephone number of her niece's school which she said is not bad too...and it's quite near our house. (She said she saw big & nice cars waiting outside the school. Haha!) I called...and it's unbelievably cheap (compared to the rest of the local schools i called)!!! It's like a ray of hope - ¥880/S$180 month for full-day nursery. (If you want to pick up your child earlier, it's also at the same price) We'll take a look at that too.

I hope we can find something that we like and also reasonably good. I'm at a lost what is a reasonable amount to pay for nursery.

mommy's sick again

When i woke up yesterday, the room was spinning. I vomitted, had diarrhoea and everywhere i looked was dizzy. I dont know how i managed to go through the rest of the day. I was really sick. I felt weak and tired. I was worried that i wouldnt be able to look after Joel especially since he's stuck to me and no one else.

Fortunately, Joel took a long nap with me. When we woke up for dinner, i felt sick again and finally went to see a doctor. The doctor said it's viral infection.

Thank God i'm feeling much better today - to go through with today's activities with Joel.

cannot use anymore

I have been using Hotspotshield - a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access the websites blocked by China. Now, everyone is busted! I guess becoz practically everyone in China is using that now. I couldnt get a connection since last night. Hence, no more updates (or pictures).

Sorry guys! See you in Singapore!

party daddy

Elvis is someone who likes clubbing. Okay, you know it's an understatement. He absolutely heart it! Pun intended.

If he has to work late most days...and there's 1 day that he can leave the office earlier, he would catch up with his friends over dinner and then clubbing or maybe karaokeing. I dont understand why he prefers that over having dinner with me and spending time with Joel. Believe me, i have McDonalds delivery 3-6 times a week (lunch & dinner). The other times, i'm probably having instant noodles.

Last night, he told me that IF he's not working late, he might meet up with a bunch of his Bates ex-colleagues (coz a girl just came back to Shanghai). FYI, it's his ex-ex-company. Then i asked why cant he have dinner with me instead??? He said OK. In the evening, i called him to ask if he has to work late. He said most likely not, so he'll join them. I reminded him, "I thought you said you're not going?" Elvis said OK, and we agreed that he'll dabao dinner home. After dinner, we watched TV and also Joel's DVD. Elvis played with Joel a little.

When i was trying to make Joel sleep at 11pm, Elvis suddenly opened the bedroom door and said, "I go out a while, ok?". I thought he meant 'out of the room' becoz he hasnt had his bath. Then, from the look on his face, i knew he meant 'out of the front door'.

So...here i am. All alone at home again when Joel is sleeping. No one to talk to. Just typing on the keyboard. Silence.

Hmm...no wonder Elvis didnt bathe since he came home. It was a plan. It must be.

Before Joel:
Elvis also had to work late nights...and i also ate a lot of MacDonalds. There was a period he was out so much (and denying it) that i had to make a chart to prove it. I noted down the days he went out clubbing on my calendar. At the end of that month, i showed it to him. 4 days in a month. Or was it 5 days?? Anyway, he even argued that 1 of it was Lesley's birthday...so not counted. (!!!)

Each time, he'll tell me he'll be back by 3am/x am. But he's always appear an hour later. So, i decided to tell him instead to come home by 5am (coz i reckon that's a super long time he can shake his ass)...and he really will appear at our front door at 4.45am/4.55am. Smile and give me the I'm-on-time look!

another block

The riots in XinJiang, China has caused Facebook to be blocked too!

fyi, the people in Shanghai (and some other province) look just like Singaporean Chinese. But XinJiang people dont look like Chinese. They look like Chinese + Indian + Angmoh.

Riot reports here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090706/ap_on_re_as/as_china_protest

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/07/07/2009-07-07_over_1400_arrested_following_riots_in_china_sparked_by_tension_between_uighurs_e.html

2nd chance

I went to collect my Panasonic Lumix camera from the repair shop before going to the zoo.

Then... Elvis & Joel dropped it on the floor at the zoo. SMASHED!

At that instant, i felt kinda stupid "wasting" ¥250 on the repairs just a few hours ago. Truth is, i felt a little angry and sad...more at Elvis. :[

But i'm getting a cool-looking Ricoh! OR maybe i should get something else...

snapped

Joel bit the shutter release button off my camera!!!

FYI, it's the same knob i press to take pictures and also to zoom. Other than these 2 functions, the Lumix is still fine...just that i cannot take any pictures with it. I'll see if i can it fixed. Otherwise...ELVIS!!!

~ Sunday, 14 June 2009

UPDATES:
To replace the small button costs ¥250. Need to order the parts and takes time. Getting it fixed anyway...

blank

HEADLINE: China Blocks Twitter, Flickr, Others as Tiananmen Anniversary Looms

Read this news:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524339,00.html
~
Some people have been asking why i dont blog with pictures now. I've been trying to find a proxy to use that i'm able to post pictures...but NOTHING!!! I miss looking at Joel's photos too.

The Great Firewall of China.
Sometimes even Google and Hotmail dont work too...for about 1-10 mins. I cannot live without these 2 and blogspot.

fb loophole

Do you realize that once you tag someone in your Facebook, your entire album is no longer 'private'?

Is that the only loophole? I wonder.

dinner

This is what Ahyi cooked about 3 weeks ago. I remembered i told her to buy the "si ji dou" 四季豆 vegetables...she then suggested with much enthusiasm that she will cook another veg which she cooked for another family and they liked.

End up it's...
1. water chestnut with some mushroom (i dont like leh)
2. chicken with my cashew nuts tidbits, cooked her usual soya sauce style
3. tiny prawns with my usual bottled chili sauce




And this is what she cooked today. Actually all taste ok lah. Much better than before (very bland). It's just the process before the buying/cooking sucks!
1. chicken fillet sliced too thinly with lots of spring onions
2. eggs with prawns (when i walked into the kitchen, i stopped her from "mincing" the eggs any further. Coz she wanted to minced them like what she did the first time!!!)
3. chicken, pork & wolfberry soup (which she didnt cover the lid after turning to low fire...but i wasnt sure until i checked with Elvis later at night. He said can cover the lid fully when it's simmering. Coz i realized Ahyi ALWAYS let the soup EVAPORATE until left 2 small bowls! I thought it was a bit weird coz the nutrients will be evaporated mah...But since i cant cook, i better dont "say her" in case she give me some special ingredient inside the soup.)

i really hate it

Finally, Elvis can come home earlier for dinner! I dont have to order delivery.

I just sent Ahyi to the market. I hate 'that moment' telling her what to buy, what to cook... It's so damn awkward!!! She'll be standing at the side while i'm trying to flip the cook books quickly, thinking which dish to show her, what ingredients she can buy, what to "simplify", what can she cook...

WHY CAN'T SHE LOOK THROUGH THE PAGES I'VE TAGGED TO SEE & LEARN WHAT WE LIKE TO EAT???

She always questions me about the "ingredient" too!?! Even a simple kai-lan 芥兰, she will say, "Show me the picture." So i always ask her again, "Do you know how to cook?"

OMG!!! She never learns! I've bought so many cook books, and even tagged (post-it) some of the simpler home-cooked dishes for her! I told her many many many many times to take a look when she's free...BUT she never listens and never learn any new dishes!!!
(I also told her she can watch TV when Joel is asleep. But she would rather sit on the sofa and stone...or play with her cellphone)

I know you might think i'm being ridiculous and horrid. But here's the dishes i've tagged. I hardly think it's complicated at all. Anyone who knows how to cook will know how to cook these:
1. steamed egg toufu with cucumber
2. stir-fry chicken with cashew nuts (with my bottled sauce)
3. eggs with prawns
4. steam fish with some preserved vegetables on top
5. fish slices with ketchup
6. "si ji dou" (as what i've cooked previously)
7. stir-fry bean sprouts
8. squash & prawn soup (just dump in and boil)
9. chicken soup with wolfberry (just dump in and boil)
10. radish & fish soup (just dump in and boil)
11. fried rice with prawns and eggs
12. fried rice with salted fish and diced chicken

Am i being so difficult???

Fedup.

UPDATE:
She came back with CELERY instead of "kai-lan"!!!
The 1st time i told her it's NOT "kai-lan" 芥兰, she said, "They look the same from the picture". When i told her again the 2nd time it's NOT 芥兰, she said, "The seller said dont have". So...which one is true??? I think most likely she doesnt know.

pros-n-cons.com

Perhaps you could tell me what you liked and disliked about your Polaroid (or even your instant Fuji).

I'll start...

LIKE
1. Instant
2. Holding it in your hands seconds after... Anticipating
3. Can write/draw on the white part
4. Unique
.
.
i wish there was more to say

DISLIKE
1. Bulky to carry around
2. Expensive film (S$2 each photo at that time i used my Polaroid. Joycam film was about S$1)
3. What comes out is slightly different from what you see in the viewfinder (coz of the distance between the 2)
4. The colour is a little yellowish/greenish. Not vibrant
5. The colour fades over time
6. Difficult to split among friends (if taken in a group...and too expensive to take so many shots)
7. Difficult to store them
8. Worried that the film will be out of stock/discontinued

friends on facebook

Hey, you guys, I know I've just fired all of you, but remember - we're still friends on Facebook! Not bad, huh!?

1-to-10

Sometimes (sitting here), i can hear Ahyi counting 1, 2, 3... to Joel. He has a few books on numbers from 1-to-10.

She told me she picked up numbers when she was working in the previous Xiang Yang Market years ago. Lots of tourists and angmohs go there to buy imitation LV bags, DVDs etc... (The famous Xiang Yang Market closed down in 2006 becoz of the Beijing Olympics)

The other day, i heard her counting again 123 58...12! I really dont know where she found the number 12 from!

(Faint)

dont snap me

Today, i went out to repair Elvis' Samsonite suitcase. It is not far from our house (at HuaiHai/XiangYang Road). My cab fare was ¥15 one way.

I wanted to shop along HuaiHai Road when i've dropped off the suitcase. Maybe walk to H&M, Parkson, XinLe Road...

At the Samsonite service center:
Me: My suitcase is spoilt. It's the number dial...
Man: (snap snap) It's done.
Me: HUH!
Man: It's ok now.

I was really puzzled and stood by the side trying to figure out what he just did. The first SNAP was to open the flap. The second SNAP was to push the red "setting" up. O, and there's a third SNAP - to close the suitcase.

So...i had to go home immediately with the XL suitcase.

(!!!)

oops

To the overwhelming response from my earlier post Nagging Mom...

Dear mommies,

Oops... I think you gals are a bit more x-rated than me! Haha... Coz i dont really bite on Joel's body parts! LOL!

Pinch/bite/smell cheeks, arms, thighs, butt, feet, toes... OMG!!! Haha... Lots of terrible mommies here! ;p

At the most, i will use my palms and SQUEEZE Joel's spongy fat thighs and butt! It has a very shiok "OOSH" feeling! Keke... ;p

Cheers,
A Normal Mommy Jo

panic

Joel was pretty clingy since this morning... (Actually since last week, he has been crying quite a bit the moment i'm out of his sight) I tried to take his temperature, but he wouldnt let me touch his ear.

After Ahyi left in the evening, Joel didnt want to stay in his play yard alone, so he sat quietly with me as i watched TV. In my heart, i was thinking, "O, he's such a sweet boy!" It was then i realized his head and hands were quite warm... After struggling with him to get the ear themometer in, i realized he's having a fever! 37.7˚c

The paediatrician had gaven me paracetamol in case Joel develops a fever after the MMR vaccination. After he took the medicine (2.5ml), he was still pretty active - playing with the telephone, smiling sheepishly when his girlfriends appears on the TV ad... After his last milk feed, he still didnt look sleepy... My patience was wearing thin. I hope he wasnt waiting for Daddy to get home coz today will be a late night.

Joel didnt let me take his temperature again but his limp hair was a little wet. It was pretty cold at home coz the temperature dropped again to below 10˚c...so i had the heater on and Joel was wearing 2 layers.

So i wondered if i should
(A) turn off the heater,
(B) remove his vest,
(C) sponge him,
(D) all of the above.
or perhaps even let him wear another layer since i normally feel colder when i'm running a fever. Joel also sleeps with a thick comforter at night. (Anyway, the old folks always say to sweat it out!)

Besides being allergic to mosquitoes and insect bites, this is the first time Joel's having a fever...so i'm pretty worried. O he's had a cold once before too.
.
.
.
.
He's finally asleep now and the fever has subsided. Phew...
What a night.

P.S. I just read from Anne's blog that any growing tooth also can cause fever... But Joel only has 4 out & 4 others popping... And those already out are not 100% out either. (Sorry, i dont know what are the specific names for teeth)

donkey punch

We watched Donkey Punch (2008) the other night...and i felt quite distraught after the movie.

Dont be fooled by its 'beautiful people basking in the sun' cover. Definitely not recommended for children. R-rating for above 18.

It's party time on the Med and three girls are out to lose themselves in a hedonistic whirlwind of sun-soaked, booze-drenched, depraved fun. When a group of like-minded lads offer to keep the party going by taking them to their luxury yacht, it's just the glamorous adventure the girls are up for. But the night takes a vicious turn... Some lose their inhibitions, others lose their lives as the evening suddenly erupts into a drug-fuelled frenzy of bizarre sex acts including the 'donkey punch', savage violence, gruesome murder and a ruthless fight for survival.