After sending home our "babysitter" today, I just had to shake my head in amazement. Let me share with you a little bit about her.
She goes by Ping-Ping - everyone here has a nickname that everyone calls them except teachers at school. (Savannah has a hard time remembering her nickname and usually calls her "Bang-Bang".) I can't even remember her given name. She is a member of our ward and is just a darling girl, always has a smile on her face.
When we first met Ping-Ping, she was living with her aunt who is the relief society president of our ward. Her sister and brother also live with her aunt and have for the past 6 years as her mother has been out of the country, working as a maid in Saudi Arabia, for that long. They occaisionally chat by phone with her. These type of separations are sadly so common here. Many, many Filipinos go abroad to work, leaving even infant children to live with relatives.
Just a month or so ago, Ping-Ping moved in with one of their neighbors to work as a nanny to two children. She takes care of them in the evening once she gets home from school. She also wakes up early before school to cook their family breakfast. As for caring for herself, she has been washing her own clothes (by hand) and doing much of the family cooking for years.
We had started having Ping-Ping babysit for us on Saturdays before she moved, and we're so thankful she still wants to come (and can). I can't believe that she doesn't try to have a break on Saturday, but around here, it's usually a 6-day work week and her day off is probably Sunday. And I think she likes coming almost as much as the children enjoy playing with her.
Ping-Ping, upon entering our home, immediately begins cleaning anything and everything in sight. She sits on the floor and plays games with the children. She dances and sings and laughs with them. And like I said, she just is always smiling, such a cheerful person. Everything you could hope for in a babysitter.
What is so amazing to me is that Ping-Ping is only 15 years old (she turns 16 this week). Outwardly, she is a typical teenager - funloving, energetic -- but like so many Filipinos, she has an amazing work ethic, sense of responsibility, and finds so much joy in a life that others might be startled at. I just can't say enough good about her.
Ping-Ping is in her last year of high school (they graduate after 10 years of school here). She would like to attend college and study Engineering. College is out of the question here for so many when the cost far exceeds what most people could ever afford to make, so I hope her case is different.
I thought about putting off writing this because I'd like to have a picture of Ping-Ping with the kids, but I guess I'll just add that later. Here's wishing Ping-Ping a Happy 16th Birthday!
She goes by Ping-Ping - everyone here has a nickname that everyone calls them except teachers at school. (Savannah has a hard time remembering her nickname and usually calls her "Bang-Bang".) I can't even remember her given name. She is a member of our ward and is just a darling girl, always has a smile on her face.
When we first met Ping-Ping, she was living with her aunt who is the relief society president of our ward. Her sister and brother also live with her aunt and have for the past 6 years as her mother has been out of the country, working as a maid in Saudi Arabia, for that long. They occaisionally chat by phone with her. These type of separations are sadly so common here. Many, many Filipinos go abroad to work, leaving even infant children to live with relatives.
Just a month or so ago, Ping-Ping moved in with one of their neighbors to work as a nanny to two children. She takes care of them in the evening once she gets home from school. She also wakes up early before school to cook their family breakfast. As for caring for herself, she has been washing her own clothes (by hand) and doing much of the family cooking for years.
We had started having Ping-Ping babysit for us on Saturdays before she moved, and we're so thankful she still wants to come (and can). I can't believe that she doesn't try to have a break on Saturday, but around here, it's usually a 6-day work week and her day off is probably Sunday. And I think she likes coming almost as much as the children enjoy playing with her.
Ping-Ping, upon entering our home, immediately begins cleaning anything and everything in sight. She sits on the floor and plays games with the children. She dances and sings and laughs with them. And like I said, she just is always smiling, such a cheerful person. Everything you could hope for in a babysitter.
What is so amazing to me is that Ping-Ping is only 15 years old (she turns 16 this week). Outwardly, she is a typical teenager - funloving, energetic -- but like so many Filipinos, she has an amazing work ethic, sense of responsibility, and finds so much joy in a life that others might be startled at. I just can't say enough good about her.
Ping-Ping is in her last year of high school (they graduate after 10 years of school here). She would like to attend college and study Engineering. College is out of the question here for so many when the cost far exceeds what most people could ever afford to make, so I hope her case is different.
I thought about putting off writing this because I'd like to have a picture of Ping-Ping with the kids, but I guess I'll just add that later. Here's wishing Ping-Ping a Happy 16th Birthday!
1 comment:
It sounds like you have found a gold mine. I loved it when I found a good baby sitter that would play with the kids. It makes all the difference. The family says hi. Linda hopes that you will send her another invite because she didn't access the lst one soon enough and now it won't work. Love you mom.
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