Just today
Just spotted another one in the office, trailing behind a child who was on the arm of its mother. This one was in a uniform (white, basic pantsuit with pink trim on collars and front pocket).
I guess they came to pick up mum at the office. It's just like having a husband, but without the sex. I hope.
I imagine her barking at the nanny on arrival:
"I'll take it from here, Yanti!"
Just yesterday
During lunch I a woman arrive with her 2 kids and a nanny in a yellow uniform. They sat down at a table of 4. This left a spare seat, because the Nanny remained standing through the meal, in case someone needed something. Anything.
This was in a food court.
I kept trying to sneak a stare and in the end I snuck a photo.
I did not look up at them at all after the photo, just in case they thought I had taken a photo. I try to completely deflect the situation when I am being sneaky like this and never look back at the scene of the crime.
Clearly, though, they all caught me.
Just in general
I keep noticing nannies everywhere, actually. I think it's because they are every fucking where. I was at the mall the other day with a friend and said "Hey look - there's another nanny!"
He just said "What's up with you and Nannies?". I think I also spotted an eye roll in a nearby reflection. The handy thing about the malls here is that there are reflections everywhere. Learn to use your mirrors and you need never miss anything. Much like the gym.
Turns out that whole nanny thing this is not such a novelty for Indonesians, who see nothing odd about all this childcare servitude. Some of them use the term "my servants" to refer to those in their employ.
No wonder the nannies smack the little fuckers when their parents aren't watching. Least that's what I imagine happens.
6 comments:
I remember being quite obsessed about nanny-watching when I first got to Indonesia too, but the novelty does wear off after you have seen so many of them at every turn. It's the uniforms they all wear which relly bemuses me. Have you noticed they all say "Nanny" on their sleeve? Just in case we didn't know who the trailing person with the rest of the family actually is? I also know expats who have lived here forever who also refer to their "help" as servants. I guess it's all part of adapting, though when I hear people being called servants it still makes me cringe.
i think my obsession extends beyond the novelty. after all, i've got to think carefully about childcare for nancy.
all my staring would constitute an interview of sorts ...
the minute i see one actually hitting a child, she's hired.
can i punch back, daddy?
they definitely all saw you. How embarassing.
Embarrassing for me or for them? (Them, right?)
Speaking of embarrassing - what's up with your spelling? Next it will be accommodation. Then preoccupation. You'd better watchyourgoodself, missy.
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