Being a Housekeeper

Job of housekeeper in Syd

- Have you ever tried doing a labour job after years working in office?

- Yes, I have.

In Vietnam, I work as a TV journalist who spends half of 24 hours, several hours for family and the remaining for sleeping.

But here, in Sydney, I’m doing the work of a house keeper.

- Does it sound easy for a mother and a house wife?

- No, it is a hard job.

How can I say that? I have been with the job for 4 weeks. Just imagine you save only a morning to clean the house every week. But a house keeper needs to clean at least 5 rooms and make up 15 other rooms within 4 hours. If you are a full-time housekeeper or in busy days, you can clean up to 15 rooms and make up 15 others within 7 hours. You will work like a robot: replacing old linens, dusting lights and tables, adding drinks and bath stuff, cleaning the toilet and vacuum. No time for talk, for relax and for lunch but just a repeated saying in your mind: finish this dammed your work and leave this place as soon as possible.

Why do I have to do the job? It’s for money, for a chance of working rather than just studying and for experiencing a minor part in a developed country. When I’m in bad mood at work, I always wonder why I’m doing this different job? How will I be affected with my painful backaches, dust and lack of lunch? Then, in some better days, I talk to myself: you can get some money. This is just temporary job. This is a valuable experience which most of international students share and you can write something about it as well as understand what’s behind the hotels you had only relaxed.

What have I seen? I have seen different girls from several Asian developing countries doing this job but no Australian people. I have just tried the job for a month and always willing to quit it but most of the people have been doing the job for more than 5 years!!!(Wow). To exist in the job, I have to accept the nonsense: no break, no lunch during hours, overtime working without payment and complete order following (even the stupid things).

It’s also interesting to understand how the guests partly express themselves through their living style: some are careful, tidy and others in a big mess. Really, the younger the guests are, the more untidy lifestyle they show up! But guests are all friendly and polite.

How long will you be in the job? Not be long, for sure. I will soon quit this job because I was born to work as a journalist. Being a housekeeper is teaching a lot to exist here and to behave with people. Some day, I will return to this hotel with my TV crew. I will try to live in a tidy way and always with “Pls Don’t Disturb” notice outside my room.