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Aug. 10th, 2006 10:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lizzybennetThis morning we went to Wal-Mart and I told the taxi driver where to take up. He understood my attempt at Chinese! Walmart is easy to remember because it sounds pretty much the same: Wo Are Ma. I took pics, but photobucket isn't cooperating with me tonight so I'll post them tomorrow instead. Every time we go to Walmart we end up with a cart full, which normally wouldn't be a big deal. However, when we have to carry our bags a block and then catch a taxi back home, it becomes a big deal. One time when Chris bought a lot of groceries all at once, the cashier kept asking him who all the food was for. He said "We Chinese never buy this much food." It was mostly all juices for the boys. (right now I'm watching Chinese break dancers on tv. They are very talented!)
I've hired a nanny. I feel weird about it, like I can't imagine myself actually employing a nanny (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hopeness, don't take any of this personally. I totally respect the profession of nanny!) Mariannette (the Anthropology professor's wife, and the only other mom in the group) set up the nanny interviews through Map Magazine. Julie, an English editor for Map, text messaged the address to Mariannette and she simply showed that to the taxi driver. It was very simple to find the office. Once we got in and seated in a conference room, we chatted with Julie and another English editor whose name I can't recall. Anyway, these are both young Americans living and working in Nanjing. They were super nice and helped us translate with the nanny when she arrived. She was a little late, so we had time to chat and get to know each other. I really enjoyed just talking with them. I miss being able to meet and get to know new people. It turns out that Map magazine sponsors ex-pat events on a regular basis, so we should get to meet people that way too.
We were under the impression that several women would be showing up to be interviewed for the two nanny positions. However, only one woman came. At first, I thought she wouldn't be too keen on working for me. She even said that she didn't know if she could handle three boys and that she wasn't the type of person who could play sports very well. I told her that if I could handle them, she could :) I also assured her that she wouldn't have to play soccer with them, they could entertain themselves outside on the playground with no problem. Mariannette only has a 10 month old baby to be watched, so I thought that gig would be far more attractive than mine. I'm not sure what swayed her, but she said she'd rather work with the older boys because it has been so long since she cared for a baby.
Her english name is Cici and she'll be coming Monday thru Friday from 9-2. I'll be here most of the time that she is here. Is that weird, I wonder? I'll be homeschooling the boys from 9-12 and during that time she'll care for Connor. After lunch, I'll shut myself away to study until 2 and she'll have all three boys. She knows the arrangement and is ok with it. She also said she'd be glad to help me learn the ropes of Nanjing, so to speak. It will be very helpful to have her go with us on outings. She's 40-ish, which isn't much older than me, I suddenly realize. She has a 15 year old son and is taking night classes, so this job works out perfectly for her. I kept asking Mariannette if she was ok with this, after all she's the one who arranged for the interview, etc. She said it was fine, and she's suppose to go back on Saturday to interview another nanny.
I tried to approach the topic of salary. Before I went to the meeting, I figured up what I thought would be a fair price and that was 14rmb/hour. That is less than $2 an hour. I knew this was a little more than the going rate, but I also have three busy boys and I thought she deserved more than usual. When I mentioned this price, Julie and the other guy said "That's really too much." We never did settle on a salary and decided to wait to see how things work out before we discuss it. Ok, if that's how they do things here. At least I know I won't be paying more than what I was willing to (does that sentence even makes sense?) She can read English, and understand slow and simple English. Hopefully we can help each other learn our respective languages.
Tomorrow morning the whole family is going in for physicals. As part of the work visa process, we have to have blood drawn. Ack, this is going to be such a huge ordeal. I don't even know if it will be physically possible to get blood from Zack, he's so strong now. I know this will thoroughly traumatize all three of them. Well, the reward is that we're going to the "Splash Park" tomorrow afternoon. That should be fun and interesting, so see what a Chinese water park is like :)
I've hired a nanny. I feel weird about it, like I can't imagine myself actually employing a nanny (
hopeness, don't take any of this personally. I totally respect the profession of nanny!) Mariannette (the Anthropology professor's wife, and the only other mom in the group) set up the nanny interviews through Map Magazine. Julie, an English editor for Map, text messaged the address to Mariannette and she simply showed that to the taxi driver. It was very simple to find the office. Once we got in and seated in a conference room, we chatted with Julie and another English editor whose name I can't recall. Anyway, these are both young Americans living and working in Nanjing. They were super nice and helped us translate with the nanny when she arrived. She was a little late, so we had time to chat and get to know each other. I really enjoyed just talking with them. I miss being able to meet and get to know new people. It turns out that Map magazine sponsors ex-pat events on a regular basis, so we should get to meet people that way too.We were under the impression that several women would be showing up to be interviewed for the two nanny positions. However, only one woman came. At first, I thought she wouldn't be too keen on working for me. She even said that she didn't know if she could handle three boys and that she wasn't the type of person who could play sports very well. I told her that if I could handle them, she could :) I also assured her that she wouldn't have to play soccer with them, they could entertain themselves outside on the playground with no problem. Mariannette only has a 10 month old baby to be watched, so I thought that gig would be far more attractive than mine. I'm not sure what swayed her, but she said she'd rather work with the older boys because it has been so long since she cared for a baby.
Her english name is Cici and she'll be coming Monday thru Friday from 9-2. I'll be here most of the time that she is here. Is that weird, I wonder? I'll be homeschooling the boys from 9-12 and during that time she'll care for Connor. After lunch, I'll shut myself away to study until 2 and she'll have all three boys. She knows the arrangement and is ok with it. She also said she'd be glad to help me learn the ropes of Nanjing, so to speak. It will be very helpful to have her go with us on outings. She's 40-ish, which isn't much older than me, I suddenly realize. She has a 15 year old son and is taking night classes, so this job works out perfectly for her. I kept asking Mariannette if she was ok with this, after all she's the one who arranged for the interview, etc. She said it was fine, and she's suppose to go back on Saturday to interview another nanny.
I tried to approach the topic of salary. Before I went to the meeting, I figured up what I thought would be a fair price and that was 14rmb/hour. That is less than $2 an hour. I knew this was a little more than the going rate, but I also have three busy boys and I thought she deserved more than usual. When I mentioned this price, Julie and the other guy said "That's really too much." We never did settle on a salary and decided to wait to see how things work out before we discuss it. Ok, if that's how they do things here. At least I know I won't be paying more than what I was willing to (does that sentence even makes sense?) She can read English, and understand slow and simple English. Hopefully we can help each other learn our respective languages.
Tomorrow morning the whole family is going in for physicals. As part of the work visa process, we have to have blood drawn. Ack, this is going to be such a huge ordeal. I don't even know if it will be physically possible to get blood from Zack, he's so strong now. I know this will thoroughly traumatize all three of them. Well, the reward is that we're going to the "Splash Park" tomorrow afternoon. That should be fun and interesting, so see what a Chinese water park is like :)
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no subject
Date: 2006-08-10 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-13 01:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 12:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-10 03:52 pm (UTC)Praying for your family as you encounter this order tomorrow!
no subject
Date: 2006-08-10 03:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 12:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-10 04:09 pm (UTC)I'm glad you were able to hire a nanny so easily. I hope she works out really well for you. I hope the boys like her. Good luck!
I'll be waiting to hear how the physicals/blood work goes. I know Zack can do it. He's braver than he knows. Maybe a blessing beforehand would help him feel calmer and more confident.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 03:50 pm (UTC)I think you will probably appreciate the extra pair of hands. The job she is doing for you sounds a bit more like a mother's helper, since you will be around.
I'm sure it will all work out! Have faith.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 12:32 pm (UTC)