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I Have It Maid


I live with a host family and one of the perks is that there is a maid named Emi. She left home when she was 19 to work in the big city to pay for her education. Now after 6 years of cleaning, washing, and cooking, she is graduating as a teacher from my school. I enjoy talking with her and try to help her out when I can. For example, she washes and irons my clothes by hand. She wanted $10 for 40 articles of clothing, the going rate. I agreed of course, but slip in some extra from time to time.  Yes, I am a big spender adding a fiver. I won't tell you that she brings coffee to my room every morning too.

Last week, I gave Emi some ibuprofen for a headache. Yesterday, she asked me "does ibuprofen work for a backache? I said, "it works for all aches." She said "thank goodness because my back is killing me!"  "Why?" I asked. "Because of all the laundry I have been washing!" I wasn't sure how to take that so I just sipped my coffee.

Emi is heading home after graduation in search of a teaching job in her hometown (8 hours by bus, boat, and canoe from Cartagena.) I hope she gets a great job and never sees the likes of my laundry again.
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