Cat Amongst Sleepy Pigeons & Hopes for Bahia

[dotinthesky]

I woke up at 8 a.m. to take Tete for a walk. When we were coming back, we ran into the maid. She was on her way to the bakery to buy some bread and milk for me. And when I finished my breakfast, she was startled that I wanted to wash my own dishes. I'm still not used to being waited around - being away from Brasil does that to me.

Having a maid in Brasil is very common. We have Leia, the woman who comes in to do little jobs and the cooking (and who went to the bakery this morning); Maria do Carmo, who takes care of Nicholas (it would be preferable if she were a proper nurse, but we can't afford that); and Fatima, who comes over once a week for a complete cleansing of the apartment: she tackles carpets, bathrooms, windows, balcony, everything.

During Fatima's last visit, 100 reais went missing (that's about 20 pounds). There were only three people in the apartment at the time: myself, Leia, and Fatima. I obviously didn't take the money, and I also know Fatima didn't do it (our family has known her, and her family, for almost thirty years.) So it must have been Leia, though we can't prove it. Now, everytime she is around, I feel uncomfortable. The way she talks, the way she tries to suck up to us. My mother asked me to start locking my wardrobe (where I've hidden my euros) whenever I go out because she cannot be trusted.

It's horrible when the mood in the house is spoiled this way. We try to rationalize the behaviour of the person (she stole because she needed the money urgently, or because she felt we owned so much more than her and could afford to do without the money.) But you know what? It's not right. Our family isn't like the many rich in Brasil who have gained their money through corruption. My dad actually worked from the bottom to get where he was, and everything we have was bought with the money from his work. My mom doesn't seem too bothered by this latest event, mainly because her entire life has been an ongoing history of maids that steal, cheat and lie. She even had all of her most precious jewellery stolen by one of them, not to mention the many others who have caused all kinds of trouble in our house (remind me one day to tell you the story of Geni).

***

My brother and I are no longer going to Natal, or staying in that hotel. Thanks a lot to whoever cast a olho gordo (fat eye) on us! I'm calling all sorts of travel agencies today to try to secure a trip to Bahia. But I'm not telling you anymore until everything is 100% for sure. Bragging about holidays only leads to disasters.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/dejavu_/]

empregada é a coisa mais maldita da face da terra, meu pai já deve ter esbofeteado umas 3 (adooooro) que, vira e mexe, 'ganhavam' algo de casa. isso quando não quebraram as porcelanas, fodiam as camisas... pena que as domésticas brancas estão em extinção (haha maldade)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Quase nunca tivemos empregadas negras e, quando tinhamos, elas ate que eram otimas! As brancas eh que sao foda - se acham, e nao sentem problema algum na hora de roubar. Putz, mas bater em empregada? Isso nunca fizemos! Se bem que a Geni quase fez eu e meu irmao jogarmos ela pela janela...

karen walker-ish

[http://users.livejournal.com/dejavu_/]

meu, maltratar empregados é uma ótima diversão, you should try it... fica aí a dica haha
brincadeira

Re: karen walker-ish

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Por favor nao me diga que voce perdeu a virgindade com empregada!

[seejaydoubleu.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Shame about the holiday. Your routine sounds lovely anyway - meeting friends, dog walks, swimming.

*casts an olho gordo on Leia*

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Your olho gordo won't work on Leia... it only works on people better off than you. ;)

It's true that the holiday here in Londrina is lovely already... but it would be nice if we managed to see some sea! Hey, how about you email me your postal address so I can send you a postcard? olliefern @ yahoo. co. uk

[seejaydoubleu.livejournal.com]

Bugger. How about giving her a fat nose instead? ;o)

Email sent already!

*runs downstairs to wait for the postman*

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

You better ask the postman in for a nightcap cause it will take a while!

[dawnage.livejournal.com]

What sort of a gayer do you think Chris is?! He's not one who seduces postmen, that's for sure! He has a vet, you see.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

vets, postmen, the garbage collector... as long as they have a uniform, I don't think Chris minds!

[purplethings.livejournal.com]

Stealing money from a family who employs you is not right, whether your father worked hard or got rich quickly. I'm so sorry this has happened to you :[
I hope it turns up randomly under a book or something....

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It's weird but I also feel that maybe the money will turn up. I look at her and I can't imagine she would be that sneaky!

[ayudame.livejournal.com]

can you write a book please?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

About the maids? Should it be fictional or not? :)

[ayudame.livejournal.com]

fiction, nonfiction. they blend too much to make a distinction. tell what's real and tell some that's not if it makes it more fun. but yes, about the maids and also i think just about being in brasil.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I have this feeling that I'll only write about Brasil when I'm very old... it somehow doesn't come to me right now, maybe because my feelings about this country are still not clear to myself. ;)

But, as soon as I write it (and hopefully we will still know each other on Livejournal!), I will send you a signed copy.

[myendeavorca.livejournal.com]

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! Isn't she worried about being fired?

[myendeavorca.livejournal.com]

P.S. Can your family adopt me and my dog please?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid Tete doesn't like to share her dog food!

[myendeavorca.livejournal.com]

haha! :-)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

But that's why the money disappeared when Fatima was here too - so nobody can directly accuse her!

[myendeavorca.livejournal.com]

But can't she be fired whether or not there is proof? Here it's called "at-will" employment, which basically means they can fire you for any reason or no reason at all(then again, that's probably why so many ppl sue though.).

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I suppose my mom could let her go, but then she'd have to find another one. But because my mom is leaving soon for the farm (and, therefore, will have to let her go anyways) I think she figured that we might as well keep for the next week or so and then let her go. And until then, we are being smart with our money.

[tete-glitter.livejournal.com]

Temos uma sorte absurda com empregada: estamos com a mesma há mais de 20 anos! O nome dela é Dete, não consigo imaginar minha vida sem ela, é parte da família já. Acho q ela trabalha com a minha mãe antes mesmo dela se casar com meu pai. :)
Mas qdo ela estava de lincença por causa do filho então recém nascido dela (q tem uns 17 anos agora), contratamos uma outra empregada q era um terror: roubou minhas bonecas pra filha dela, e sumiu com roupas da minha mãe tb. Qdo minha mãe chegou em casa e pegou ela experimentando as roupas dela, foi a gota d'água e ela foi despedida. Lembro-me q ela era mto antipática, eu não gostava dela...

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

Wow que mulher mais horrível! Roubou as suas bonecas pra filha dela? Que tristeza! =o( *abraços* Não é de admirar que vc não gostava dela!

Não sabia que a vida é tão diferente no Brasil do que aqui na Bretanha ou em Portugal...

[tete-glitter.livejournal.com]

Você é português? :)

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

Siiiiiim, sou madeirense, moro no Reino Unido com o Ollie! =oD Bem, não COM com, claro, hahaha...o mesmo país, pelo menos! =oP

[tete-glitter.livejournal.com]

Q legal! Sou metade portuguesa, meu pai é do Porto :)
Morar no Reino Unido deve ser mágico!

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

Wheeeeee o Porto é uma cidade lindísima, embora a sua equipa não seja tão boa!! =oP

Gosto muito do Reino Unido, mas não da Escócia, onde estou eu! =o( Eu preferiria morar em Londres! Adoro aquele lugar!!

[tete-glitter.livejournal.com]

Estás aonde na Escócia?

Ahh, Londres é incrivelmente incrível... Estive durante algum tempinho em Newcastle em 2003 e passei alguns dias em Londres. Tb adoro aquele lugar!

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

Estou nos arredores de Glasgow, numa aldeia chamada Cleland! =o) É muito bonita, e só leva mais ou menos meia hora ir à cidade.

Eu ia muitas vezes a Londres até o meu pai voltou à Madeira, hoje em dia não vou tanto assim como antes! =o(

A minha melhor amiga é de Newcastle! O seu sotaque é muito fixe! =oD LOL

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Realmente voce teve sorte. Nos ja tivemos de tudo: ladras, maconheiras, briguentas, fofoqueiras, encheridas, etc.

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

OMG, essa da empregada é terrível!! Nem pensar!! =o| Se não haja dúvida que ela fez isso, porque não despedir-a? Claro que não podem chamar a polícia porque não seja possível comprová-lo, mas não a deixe ficar em sua casa!

Agora bem quero que me conte vc a estória da Geni...lol.

É como uma das séries brasileiras que vejo na tele de vez em quando!

Boa sorte com a viagem! O olho gordo não foi culpa minha! =oP

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Quais series brasileiras que voce ve?! Pensei que voce tinham dito que nunca as tinha visto?

A historia da Geni fica para outra vez...

Nao sei porque minha mae nao manda ela embora. Acho que porque minha mae volta logo para o sitio entao nao quer esquentar a cabeca procurando uma nova empregada. Logo logo a Leia vai ficar sem emprego.

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

Sim, é verdade, então encontrei a RecordTV em SkyDigital!! =oP LOL, não sei o nome da maioria das séries, mas agora as vejo muitas vezes!

Ooooooo, enquanto vc está no Brasil, pode gravar algumas séries pra mim por favooor? =oD

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Que series voce quer? Nao sei se dara para lhe gravar, pois o sistema de video daqui eh diferente da Inglaterra!

troubles

[wink-martindale.livejournal.com]

that's too bad about the holiday. i'm sure you'll find something good. anywhere by the sea would be fun, non? i wish i was there! send more photos! i need some sun, even if it's the digital kind. it's too bad about the maid too. maybe you can set a little tete booby trap.

Re: troubles

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I tried to reply to your latest post but it's telling me that it's read-only at the moment! (Livejournal maintenance I think.)

Will try again now.

Also, will take photos tomorrow and post them so you can feel some heat from the laptop screen. :)

[hunterjr.livejournal.com]

q merda heim... não poder confiar nas pessoas... isso sucks big time.
e tb esse cancelamento da viagem :/
q chato...

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Esta tudo bem agora! Marcamos uma viagem para o Arraial d'Ajuda, na Bahia!