A surprise

A surprise! On Monday afternoon, I received a call from my Indonesian maid who went back home sometime in April this year. In my April blog, I mentioned that she had to leave to take care of her mum who had at accident back home. She called once when she arrived at Pontianak and thereafter there was no news from her. I was a tad disappointed that she did not contact us when she arrived home but I suppose she was too busy taking care of her mum to bother. After all, for maids, it is often, the out of sight, out of mind thing. Not the usual, I mean, "absence makes the heart grow fonder" feeling.

She told me that alot happened since the 2 months she left. Her mum was discharged from the hospital but remains bedridden. Her sister-in-law is taking care of her. And she got married! Just imagine! She told me her husband is from the same village but working in a sawmill in Pontianak. Her family members decided that she is not getting any younger and advised her to get married. But again, it is not unusual as most maids do get hitched once they return to their villages. She did not have much choice in this matter and after the wedding, she followed her husband to Pontianak. She told me of her desire to came back to Malaysia to work, but now being married, she has to seek the approval of her husband.

Looking back, I was really surprised and touched that she called and ask about our family and Ruth. It's a nice feeling being remembered, even though, she was just our maid. After all, how many maids call back to ask about their employers after they left?