Guest guest Posted January 30, 2000 Report Share Posted January 30, 2000 Dear All and Mary, Mary, brilliant idea on the Archetype awards, here's mine to Janet for Rebellina Extraordinaire, this is one brilliant and beautiful woman :-) This is from Janet McElligot in Cairo, a superb dear friend, who helped release the American Hostages in the Sudanese Civil War from Rebel Guerilla leaders, by striding into the desert in her green silk pants suit and gold lame shoes, and reading the huge Guerilla leader the riot act and asking how exactly did he think America was going to continue to support starving Sudan by stealing their people? (I think the Congressmen who flew in with Janet probably had a collective stroke just about then *g*.) She is truly a chef and soup stirrer extraordinaire and an inspiration, this story has kept me laughing for two days now and I sent it forward out of my real name and everyone and their mother has called, the maids, the trashmen and the ambassadors, yeah, ya know those politicians *g* teasing! So, I thought I'd pass it along. Love, Anna Maria (Annette) Dear All, Egypt is complicated. Life is supposed to be easy, but things are never as simple as they should be wherever I'm located. Don't know why that is. Had a huge row with the help yesterday. The flat here is 3/br/ba and a large living area. The view is great by the way. I can see the Nile, the pyramids and all of Cairo from the 22nd floor. They were supposed to fix one of the toliets and didn't, so when the landlords agent came to collect the rent I asked him about it. He immediately turned to the maid and started to yell at her. Om'mosaeed is probably about 50 and looks at least 65. The years are not kind to the lower class in Egypt. She was in tears. I threw out Mahmoud immediately and told him that I'd see him in an hour. Besides my tutor was there and I was paying for a lesson. Needless to say, she started crying and told me that she'd worked for the landlord for 11 years and Mahmoud has been trying to get rid of her with the owner because she doesn't cook food for him (believe me, he hasn't missed a meal in years by the width of his girth), and she works for who ever is in the flat, not him. He is a typical abuser. The lesson was unofficially over as the maid sat and cried. She is really afraid that she'll lose her job. I pay her, but she "comes with the flat" and only makes about $90/mth. She comes six days a week and cleans and cooks for me. Quite the bargain. Mind you, the cleaning is done occassionally and there is no need for a full time cook/housekeeper for one person, altho there are those in my family who would disagree, I'm sure. I am truly lazy concerning housework. I know this is news for each of you, but believe me, it is the truth. So after the lesson finished, I went looking for Mahmoud. My tutor went with me to the fifth floor where he was waiting to see me and collect the rent. Decided to let him know where things stand. I asked him to sit down and Amr (my tutor) acted as an interpreter when I couldn't get the point across - 80% of the time. I told Mahmoud that he was not welcome in my house any longer because only a coward yells at a woman. I said that the things that were to be fixed were not the responsiblity of the maid, but his and he was the one who had fallen down on the job, not her. Then I really nailed him. I told him that I considered Om'mosaeed and him as equals (here they're not at all) because both of them work for me and the landlord and that as such he was to apologize for yelling at her in front of all the people who were there at the time. His head hung like a dog. He was equal to a maid for the first time in his life. You could tell his self esteem was finished. I told Said, my doorman, to go to the apartment and get Om'mosaeed immediately and he did. She came down and for the first time in her life, and undoubtably the last, the male landlord's agent apologized in front of a room full of men to a female maid. Her status rose and his plummeted, but it was either that or never get my rent money. Then I told him that the rent would be given to him only after all the things that needed fixed were done and that I wanted to call the landlord directly about this matter. You should have seen his face at taht one. But he had no choice. Was that ever fun. I'm sure Om'mosaeed will never forget that a man told her he was sorry. And one much more important than her. She was embarassed, but I told all the doormen that if they ever yelled at a woman in my hearing they would indeed be sorry. Tonight when I came home from class, they all stood at attention and were amazing. It was like someone had given them speed. Couldn't do enough for me. Perhaps they all wanted to tell off Mahmoud and would never be able to do that. Who knows? The trials and tribulations of managing a household staff. Technically, I have three staff. It's good practice for Arabic, but a bit of a pain in the butt. I don't generate enough for one person to do - except in the cleaning department, much less three. {...] cut Love, Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2000 Report Share Posted January 30, 2000 Janet is from a poor family and yes, has called the State Department to get the maid paperwork with her family out of Egypt. Annette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2000 Report Share Posted January 30, 2000 Kristie, Janet is living in Egypt, she is there by dint of her mind, hard work and absolutely beautiful spiritual life. She does not fly into war zones to save people only to abandon them, do not worry, she will make sure the maid is extremely well taken care of and if she does not want to leave Egypt Janet is looking into placing her with a much kinder and more loving family. I appreciate your concern but believe me, Janet is an incredibly caring soul, one of the most beautiful souls on earth, not physically, but internally, in her heart, where it counts. Annette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2000 Report Share Posted January 30, 2000 Hello!!???!! Excuse me, have I woken up on a different list? After I got over needing to toss my cookies over this story I decided I had to respond and I won't mince words. This story has to be one of the most collosal reflections of the ignorance and arrogance of prestige, status and wealth that I have heard in a long, long time. So, your brilliant friend Janet, played one-upmanship in the bully game and won. Now, who loses? She used her prestige and status the thump some poor acculturated shmuck who used his prestige and status to thump another poor acculturated shmuck. Who should have known better? I hope Janet plans to live in Egypt the rest of her maid's life because if Janet ever leaves her maid is mincemeat, if she isn't already. To bring shame to one's family in such a culture is tantamount to suicide. Janet may be proud of her actions but I'm sure her maid has far more conflicted feelings. When you march into someone else's game and force them to play by your rules you set into effect many ripples that you may be clueless about. Janet would have been far wiser to have established the protocols for behavior in her household in private with all respect for what's-his-names pride. Even requiring an apology to the maid might have been doable. But to require him to shame himself was a terrible, terrible mistake. Only Janet will never have to pay the price or even know of its exactment. Finally, I read stuff like this, reflections of the views of the rich and powerful, and I can always only think they would do very well by a stint with homelessness, privation and NOT having prestige, status and wealth. The stamp and sanction and protection of being among the elite creates grave ignorance that prevents otherwise good people from engaging in behaviors and solutions that actually promote healing. Janet's maid and her landlord would have been better served in the long and short run by the facilitation of seeing each other as humans and worthy beings. Now they have shame and anger where there might have been planted the seeds of heart and full vision. Janet's staff will kow-tow to her even more now but that shouldn't be confused with respect. Sounds to me like Janet's "protection" of her maid was really more in the nature of a veil to her own power trips. Pity. Love, Kristi At 06:17 PM 1/30/00 EST, you wrote: >RainboLily > > >Dear All and Mary, > >Mary, brilliant idea on the Archetype awards, here's mine to Janet for >Rebellina Extraordinaire, this is one brilliant and beautiful woman :-) > >This is from Janet McElligot in Cairo, a superb dear friend, who helped >release the American Hostages in the Sudanese Civil War from Rebel Guerilla >leaders, by striding into the desert in her green silk pants suit and gold >lame shoes, and reading the huge Guerilla leader the riot act and asking how >exactly did he think America was going to continue to support starving Sudan >by stealing their people? > >(I think the Congressmen who flew in with Janet probably had a collective >stroke >just about then *g*.) > >She is truly a chef and soup stirrer extraordinaire and an inspiration, this >story >has kept me laughing for two days now and I sent it forward out of my real >name and everyone and their mother has called, the maids, the trashmen and >the ambassadors, yeah, ya know those politicians *g* teasing! So, I thought >I'd pass it along. > >Love, >Anna Maria (Annette) > >Dear All, > >Egypt is complicated. Life is supposed to be easy, but things are never > >as simple as they should be wherever I'm located. Don't know why that >is. Had a huge row with the help yesterday. > >The flat here is 3/br/ba and a large living area. The view is great by >the way. I can see the Nile, the pyramids and all of Cairo from the >22nd floor. They were supposed to fix one of the toliets and didn't, so > >when the landlords agent came to collect the rent I asked him about it. >He immediately turned to the maid and started to yell at her. > >Om'mosaeed is probably about 50 and looks at least 65. The years are >not kind to the lower class in Egypt. She was in tears. > >I threw out Mahmoud immediately and told him that I'd see him in an >hour. Besides my tutor was there and I was paying for a lesson. >Needless to say, she started crying and told me that she'd worked for >the landlord for 11 years and Mahmoud has been trying to get rid of her >with the owner because she doesn't cook food for him (believe me, he >hasn't missed a meal in years by the width of his girth), and she works >for who ever is in the flat, not him. He is a typical abuser. > >The lesson was unofficially over as the maid sat and cried. She is >really afraid that she'll lose her job. I pay her, but she "comes with >the flat" and only makes about $90/mth. She comes six days a week and >cleans and cooks for me. Quite the bargain. Mind you, the cleaning is >done occassionally and there is no need for a full time cook/housekeeper > >for one person, altho there are those in my family who would disagree, >I'm sure. I am truly lazy concerning housework. I know this is news >for each of you, but believe me, it is the truth. > >So after the lesson finished, I went looking for Mahmoud. My tutor went > >with me to the fifth floor where he was waiting to see me and collect >the rent. Decided to let him know where things stand. > >I asked him to sit down and Amr (my tutor) acted as an interpreter when >I couldn't get the point across - 80% of the time. I told Mahmoud that >he was not welcome in my house any longer because only a coward yells at > >a woman. I said that the things that were to be fixed were not the >responsiblity of the maid, but his and he was the one who had fallen >down on the job, not her. > >Then I really nailed him. I told him that I considered Om'mosaeed and >him as equals (here they're not at all) because both of them work for me > >and the landlord and that as such he was to apologize for yelling at her > >in front of all the people who were there at the time. His head hung >like a dog. He was equal to a maid for the first time in his life. You > >could tell his self esteem was finished. I told Said, my doorman, to go > >to the apartment and get Om'mosaeed immediately and he did. > >She came down and for the first time in her life, and undoubtably the >last, the male landlord's agent apologized in front of a room full of >men to a female maid. Her status rose and his plummeted, but it was >either that or never get my rent money. > >Then I told him that the rent would be given to him only after all the >things that needed fixed were done and that I wanted to call the >landlord directly about this matter. You should have seen his face at >taht one. But he had no choice. Was that ever fun. > >I'm sure Om'mosaeed will never forget that a man told her he was sorry. >And one much more important than her. She was embarassed, but I told >all the doormen that if they ever yelled at a woman in my hearing they >would indeed be sorry. > >Tonight when I came home from class, they all stood at attention and >were amazing. It was like someone had given them speed. Couldn't do >enough for me. Perhaps they all wanted to tell off Mahmoud and would >never be able to do that. Who knows? The trials and tribulations of >managing a household staff. Technically, I have three staff. It's good > >practice for Arabic, but a bit of a pain in the butt. I don't generate >enough for one person to do - except in the cleaning department, much >less three. > >{...] cut > >Love, >Janet > >--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > >Looking for the lowest refinance rate for your mortgage? >GetSmart.com can help. We'll help you find the loan you >need - quick, easy, and FREE click ><a href=" http://clickme./ad/GetSmartRefinance ">Click Here</a> > >------ > >All paths go somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights, perceptions, and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside back into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of Awareness. Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It is Home. Home is where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the Finality of Eternal Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of Self-Knowledge, spontaneously arising from within into It Self. Welcome all to a. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2000 Report Share Posted January 30, 2000 Dear Annette: Fair enough. I do not know Janet so of course nothing I say can truly be ascribed as having anything to do with her. I have my own veils to power trips and my own triggers to "stuff." The post set off alot of those. My blessings to Janet and to you and all those you come into contact with. Love, Kristi At 10:23 PM 1/30/00 EST, you wrote: >RainboLily > >Kristie, > >Janet is living in Egypt, she is there by dint of her mind, hard work and >absolutely beautiful spiritual life. She does not fly into war zones to save >people only to >abandon them, do not worry, she will make sure the maid is extremely well >taken care of and if she does not want to leave Egypt Janet is looking into >placing her with a much kinder and more loving family. I appreciate your >concern but believe me, Janet is an incredibly caring soul, one of the most >beautiful souls on earth, not physically, but internally, in her heart, where >it >counts. > >Annette > >--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > >ATTENTION ONElist MEMBERS: Get your ONElist news! >Join our MEMBER NEWSLETTER here: ><a href=" http://clickme./ad/Teaser128 ">Click Here</a> > >------ > >All paths go somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights, perceptions, and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside back into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of Awareness. Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It is Home. Home is where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the Finality of Eternal Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of Self-Knowledge, spontaneously arising from within into It Self. Welcome all to a. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.