Power

This morning I waltz into my favourite fish ball noodle stall only to hear the helper, an Indonesian maid, screaming "saya perempuan!" She said this twice and then the owner, who was staring at her, banged the table and scream "perempuan apa besar!". He almost hit her. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at the two of them. I backed off from ordering. I didn't think it would be appropriate to interupt and say "mai fan noodle please!"

This incident reaffirm my thoughts that maids bring out the worse in someone. This fishball noodle man is very polite, soft and always smiling when he takes my order. Sometimes we had some slight chit chat and he's a really nice person. I cannot imagine him smacking a fly, much less a maid. Something must have happened to cause him to bang table and screamed at the maid. I'm not implying the maid is right or wrong - it's the fact that having the power to lord over another human being bring out the worse in a person.

Be wary of this point when you are looking for a maid or if you are an employer.