So, I am getting the hang of this tai-tai culture here at the racquet club. Tai-tai means "Mrs" in Chinese and expat ladies are often refers to as tai-tais (not to be confused w/ta-tas, which is what some people around here call them). Labor is cheap, cheap, cheap here in china so all tai-tais have a lot of help. All around the compound are chinese men standing outside their mini-vans waiting for their tai-tai to be ready to head out. Maybe for lunch, maybe for tennis, maybe shopping. But probably not grocery shopping, since that is the ayi's job.
Ayi, which means "auntie", can be filipino or chinese but spends her day cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, taking care of the kids and grocery shopping. The average salary for an ayi is about $2-3/hour for chinese and about $4/hour for filipino. Most work full-time, some live in.
So, when we got here, I was pretty adament that I would not have an ayi or a driver, since I would be way to spoiled and coming home will be a big slap in the face. Whether its true or not, its been strongly recommended to us that we get some "staff" because its good guanxi (sort of like kharma) and good for the local economy. And given all the layoffs here and abroad, well, I will just have to go for it.
I have been interviewing ayis and Jed has been interviewing drivers and I will try to remember that china is something new and not to get too used to anything. But, if you come to visit, expect some seriously clean laundry and a ride home from the airport. Hope everyone is well...more to come.
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