Is There Really a Friendship Between Domestic Aunt and Employer？

I’m Pinky, [and] I just came [to Hong Kong]. This is my first year with [my employer]. At first, I felt like she was always talking behind my back, but I understand [that] sometimes, people have different moods, [and] we cannot please everybody, but it’s okay for me, I can adjust easily. Before, my employer was like that, but it’s different now. 

For the first three months, I was not at peace. I was scared of making mistakes and making them mad, [and] I felt like I wasn’t comfortable with my employer. Before I could just sense that she was telling bad things [about me], and it was true because the sister of my employer told me that my employer was saying these things. I could feel it, but I told myself to stretch my patience. I’m still lucky since I have my own place - some aunties don’t have their own room and have to sleep on the floor of the room. Another auntie I know wants to send a box to the Philippines but cannot because the mother of the employer takes the things and uses them. [She] wants to find a boarding house, so she can store her things without the employer’s mother taking it away. I told [the aunties] to talk to the employers and they did, but still no change. 

Now, my employer treats me really well. Maybe she just realized that as time goes by, it’s not good for her to be like that. The mother told the employer that she really likes me because I always talk to her, even if we don’t understand each other that much. I can actually learn a lot from her in Cantonese. I don’t know a lot of terms, but she can teach me more than my employers. For example, every morning she says 早晨 (zou san), so I searched it up and realized that it means good morning. [Overall], she treats me like her daughter. When we were walking, she would hold my arm and talk to me; when I told her that I wanted to leave my job and go back, the mother of the employer kept telling me not to go since we were really close, asking “How about me? What [will happen] to me if [you] leave?” Before, they also had a helper, but the mother didn’t like the helper as they never talked, but with me, every time she didn’t like her bag, her dress, or something, she would give me it. Now, I’m happy; I want to stay in Hong Kong for longer. If my employer gives me another contract, then I’d like to stay with them. 

- Pinky

Hong Kong

Interviewer: Katie Fu

Editor: Rosabel

Translator: Philo