Diary of an OFW in Macau

2nd Monday

Oct 16, 2023

12:19noon - I should wake at 7am or I should start work at 7. Since if I start at 6:45 then I don't have much to do until the family leave. I can't clean when they are still preparing for their school / work. Besides I'm starting to get the gist of things. Still I'm not connected. I really don't like interaction with people for long. Short term or guest are fine. That's why I enjoy being in the human resource. Meeting different people for a period of time is fun. Unlike here where I am with them 24/7 at most.

12:48noon - I will go out with anty when she bring the kid to school. Cause anty will accompany me to the immigration to file my visa. They said I will go with the employer but since it's a salo visa then I guess it's fine for me to go without the employer? I'm not sure. I will go since they told me. 😗😗😗 I'm thinking of running away en route. But I'm weighing the pros and cons. I'm really tired. I don't know why but this job feels heavy on me. Unlike labor tired, I'm mentally exhausted. I need to get busy. The one where there is less human interaction. Animal is ok. Robots are great. <Sigh> What job is there that I can be hired with such conditions. Tsk, I prefer caring for a newborn. A 9 year old isnt great to look at. They have their own thoughts. Until now the kid is still wary of me. Although not much as he sway off but he won't get near 2 meters. Haha

7:11pm - I'm done with my dinner. Just waiting for the employers to be done. Huhu. I want to take a bath. I didn't yesterday and today. Heck, I only change clothes. Shit, I smell of sweat. Good thing I'm not working in office and besides inside the house is Aircon so I won't smell much. But it feels sticky. Also my right foot got 2 blisters. OMG!!! 😱😱😱😱 I didn't wear shoes cause it's what cause me blisters on my left foot pinky but the slippers give me 2. Crappy crap. I won't poke them this time. I will soak them on warm water tomorrow and hopefully they will subside. Heck they hurt like hell when not properly checked. Usually I would break blisters with a needle and remove the boil inside then apply hemostatic or povidone. Afterwards I will ensure they won't be soak for 2 to 3 days at most. A casual bath or wash is fine. But my work revolves on soaking my feet with water so it's not advisable. Not to mention water with soap and bleach. I clean the cr and mop the floor. Soaking is an understatement. So I can't break this blisters.

I didn't get to file for my visa cause the immigration officer said I still have a valid one. I have to come back on the 8th of November or a day or 2 before that day to apply for my visa. Why did she have to check my passport and see those visas. Tsk. Really, how can she do this to me. Anyway, that goes with what I want. If by chance I won't be granted visa on the November then I can go home. Yepey. Hehe. 😈😈😈

9:19pm - I'm done. Phew. 😑 Kwak. Quack. I just realize, I'm working at most 11 hours a day. I start at let's say 7am and take a short not even 30 minutes lunch break up til 1 or 2 pm. Then again work from 5 to 8 going 9pm. But of course I can't rest once I'm done at 2 or 3. Cause I will be given something to do. Consider all over I'm awake for 18 hours at most. Gosh, no wonder I feel so tired and exhausted. The work is meh and the mental stress is super. Tsk. I never slept soundly. My employers go to sleep at 1am. The male employer. So I can't fall asleep. Cause his computer room is right infront my room. And this rooms don't have insulations. Even the cr. When I wake up and want to take early bath I have to consider and be considerate to them. Cause they will awaken hearing the loud flushing and shower. Aiya, this is not what I signed up for. It's the same time frame when I was working at office but at least I could sleep in between during rides. Hehe. I also go to sleep at 10 pm or midnight and wake up at 4 am back then but I often catch sleep when I am on the bus or jeep. That's how I manage to maintain my sanity (I'm not sure I have it but I'm coping. Sort of. 😊)

Alas, I'm fine with such set up but I would prefer if they separate a kitchen or food supply. I'm a stress eater so I crave food. And they did say I'm free to eat but hello, can I really? That freedom they give is not actually freedom. Its a physiological tactic. I know. I read them. I even tried it. The more you say to your guest that they are free to take what they want or move as if it's their house then it's more likely that they will not. That is if they have shame. Even shameless ones can't escape this tactic. They will converge. I did try it as experiment to my cousin's and relatives. The result is that I got more untouched when I tell them they are free to do what they want.Hehe.

Anty bought a bottle of soya milk on our way back. So I took an ice and mix them. It has no taste. I saw a honey when I was being annoying. So I secretly pour some for taste. After dinner the employers left a slice of apple. They usually throw fruits away. They don't eat unless it's freshly cooked. So left over rice and viand are put on the fridge for maids. Even the bread on toaster left over night is thrown away. Tsk. I should have eaten that egg tart. What a waste. But I guess that's how they stay fit. No beer belly or anything out of shape. So back to the apple. I slice it in finer bite size pieces then throw in the remaining soya milk and ice cubes. I drank it in my room. Savoring it as comfort food. Also I'm hiding as I eat. Aiya, this is bad habit. This is different from when I was a maid at Philippines where maids eat after the employers separately and different dishes. If the employers left something then they will tell if it's for tomorrow or we can eat. So most times I and my fellow maids would eat silently. Ah, those days. I miss them. Cause I the house is like 5 story building and wide porch, balcony and 3 gardening slopes. With such a mansion employers aren't always at the food area so when I get hungry I would secretly pick a piece of bread or fruit and eat while working. Here no siree. You have to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. No snacks. Haiysh. When I try to eat a piece of bread anty scold me so I never try again. And at the morning I can't eat. I'm not sure what I can eat so if there are bread then I will take a slice. I would like to have a proper breakfast but I guess I will wait until day off. I will buy oat meal sachets. Also I plan to go to the immigration on Saturday. Try if I can get back. At least I have a whole day to be lost. Ah. Yes. The sim card. I really should buy one. I did want to buy one but they told me to wait for anty. But anty never brought me to buy. She just mention it. Then this Saturday when we went to hong Kong she told me to buy on my own. Tsk.

I will try it for 3 months. If I adjust then it's good. But if not then I will just finish a year. Or until my salo visa expire. Hehe.