Friday, May 18, 2007

The Cleaning Woman Cometh

The Brazilian cleaning woman was here yesterday. She brought a helper, another woman who I believe might have been Guatamalan and who spoke almost no English.

It was an interesting experience. Bete, the Brazilian, is very no-nonsense. She quickly became dissatisfied with the work the helper was doing. Not fast enough, not enough attention to detail. Towards the end of the day, Bete began verbally prodding the woman. Granted this was all done a mix of languages I have .o5% grasp of. I understood about every 10th word, but tone comes through in any language.

At any rate, my house is remarkably clean. Bete couldn't believe I'd been cleaning this space on my own. "How?" she asked. "Not by yourself? Girl, you'll wear yourself out." I couldn't agree more.

Also, I believe I learned the Spanish word for paper towels.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:51 AM

    Yeah that it turned out great! :)

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  2. Well, what is it?

    I'd love someone to come clean, but sadly, I'd have to do a lot of cleaning just to let someone in.

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  3. I love it when the cleaning crew comes to our house. We have a crew of three, and only one speaks English, but they are fast and thorough, and the house shines when they're gone. I love the smell they leave behind--it all smells so clean!

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  4. I need a cleaning woman. Maybe that'll be what I get for Christmas one year. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving.

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  5. That is very cool that you have a cleaning woman... I've been wanting one for years but the dh says "no, we have teenagers."

    Riiiiggghhht.
    Teri

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  6. You are SO lucky to have a cleaning woman who is so fastidious!
    Way to go.

    I'll never have a cleaning woman ... I'm too much of an ADD mind - it would freak out whomever was brave enough to try.
    Thank goodness my DH is so forgiving.

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