5 Hour Energy - My hero! Wow!
I'm now in the Philippines where we are conducting training, and 5-hour ENERGY is really helping me get through the grueling long days. Here is the amazing thing about this: NO SUGAR, 4 CALORIES, Caffeine of 1 cup of coffee, Amino Acids, Vitamin B, etc.
Here's a commerical. Somebody apply to distribute this in stressful Hong Kong please! You'll become rich!
The Philippines Overseas Employment Agency implements mandatory insurance SCHEME
We are deeply frustrated by the lack of communication from the Philippines Government and their lack of integrity regarding the implementation of this law. However, the arrival of your Helper will be based upon compliance of this law. They are holding a gun to our heads. Buy their insurance or they won’t let the applicants come to Hong Kong.
All new customers need to be aware that there will be a $1000 surcharge added to your agency fee to pay for this unnecessary insurance.
WE are attempting to get a quote on a cheaper price for the insurance, but there seems to be some price-fixing involved because all the approved companies are charging the exact same amount. The South China Morning Post carried a front page article about this change a few days ago.
We urge you to call the Consulate General of the Philippines and speak to the acting Labor Attache to protest this new insurance. Here are the phone numbers, and email addresses.
We apologize for this inconvenience.
Sincerely,
Allan and Ione Smith
Arrow Employment Services
The first week of training (Nov 2010) is almost finished
Nothing EVER goes the way we planned it, BUT everything turns out well.
We were expecting 40 ladies this week, but the floods and landslides in northern Luzon washed out the roads all transportation from the north ground to a halt. We hope they will find their way to next week'ss training.
In the Philippines everything is connected to and effected by corruption. They don't have a good north south rail link on Luzon, because the government wants to "supervise the project". Finances for a railroad line would be coming from the World Bank and other outside organizations, who know better than to give millions of dollars to Filipino government officials. They will fund the project only if, outside contractors like Chinese, Japanese or American companies can bid and control the project. They will not put the project and the money in local hands. They are willing to build and give the Philippines a good railroad,, but they are not willing to line the pockets of government officials. So, the government officials have turned down the gift saying it is an "affront to Filipino dignity". Who suffers? The ordinary people, and the businesses trying to operate here.
The group of ladies this week have been quite good and receptive. Some of them are already employed and we have a full slate of interviews for Saturday.
What's Important to Arrow?
Your helper is frightened (HK Tour Bus Incident)
Among the Filipinos there seem to be two main emotions: fear that someone will take revenge on them or blame them; and shame over their government's handling of the situation.
Many of our employers have already sat down and talked with their helper about the situation. If you have not yet done so, please take a few minutes to assure them that you don't blame them for this incident. They are worried that you will blame them or even terminate them over this issue.
Filipinos also feel a profound sense of shame over the way this was handled. They are so proud of their new president who is beginning to fight corruption, but this incident has exposed them, has shone a bright light on the ineptitude of the government on many levels. They would have preferred to correct things quietly without the whole world knowing, but now the secret is out: The Philippines is broken by decades of corrupt leaders. Very little works as it should, including the police force.
I hope you will pray for the Philippines. Their new president is a man of integrity who is beginning to tackle these problems. There are more and more Christians in places of responsibility, determined to make a positive impact. The people of the Philippines want our forgiveness, and our support as they try to overcome many years of poor governance. Pray for the Philippines!
Homesickness
Ione found a good article on homesickness. We need to include a session on homesickness in our post-arrival briefing to helpers. Below is the sidebar of tips they gave for dealing with homesickness:
TIPS FOR HOMESICKNESS
1. Stay engaged. Take part in college activities or even freshman camps to forget about homesick feelings and make new friends.
2. Establish a personal routine. "If you are someone who goes to bed early and everyone's staying up late, it's OK to go to bed early," says psychologist Josh Klapow.
3. Do something to feel closer to home. Write a letter, look at a family photo.
4. Talk to someone. Seek out people who either understand what you're going through or have similar feelings. Pity parties in this case aren't a bad thing, says Klapow. "It's sort of like a grief support group."
5. Time flies. Think that time is actually pretty short to make time go by faster.
Employers make a difference!
The helper was really touched by her employer's kindness, and I was amazed by the synergy that can happen when an employer is concerned about their helper's relationship with God. Another helper shared that her employer gives her money for transportation and lunch every Sunday, because they want her to attend church! Wow!
We believe that a vibrant relationship with God makes us better people and better workers. It's great when employers also share this belief and put their faith into action.
Caring maid a millionaire (Hong Kong Standard)
Thursday, July 22, 2010 A devoted Filipina maid has had a S$6 million (HK$33.9 million) windfall from her late employer in Singapore after more than 20 years of service. "I am the luckiest maid in Singapore, with or without the money," the 47-year-old single woman, Christine, told The Straits Times yesterday, while asking that her full name be kept secret. She was left cash and a luxury apartment near the Orchard Road shopping belt by Quek Kai Miew, a doctor and philanthropist who died last year at 66. The maid, who also took care of Quek's late mother, was told she would be a beneficiary when her employer drew up her will in 2008.
"There were no secrets between us," Christine said. "I was not surprised at all when she told me how much I was going to get." But she was devastated when Quek died as the two had been inseparable, and she moved in temporarily with the doctor's nephew for solace. "It was heartbreaking as I saw more years with Dr Quek than with my own mother," she said. "I would break down every time I thought about her. I could not be by myself. I was always beside her." Christine, who is applying for permanent residency in Singapore, said wealth has not changed her. "I am still who I was before," she said. "I cannot behave differently because I have money now. "Even my Filipino maid friends here still treat me the same." AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE |
The Trouble With Passports
The Philippine Government has recently changed their regulations regarding the issuing of new passports and renewal of existing passport. As usual, when the Philippine government changes something, chaos is the result. We currently have some good ladies waiting in our "Inactive File" because they don't have their passports yet. The ones on the website are those with passports. We will bringing "profiles out of storage" and posting them as they send us their passports. If you are not in a hurry and want to see some of the "inactive ladies" please ask and we'll show them to you.
Helper Financing
Lately we've had some ladies backing out at the last minute because they have "no money" to pay their fees in the Philippines. Most of our ladies come from backgrounds of extreme poverty, so finding money to pay their fees to our partner agency in the Philippines is always a struggle. Hong Kong employers worry about helpers having loans, but the truth is that over 90% (my guess) of those who arrives in HK as domestic helpers (no matter where they are from), have borrowed money to get here. So for the first few months of their employment they will be paying off a loan. The Hong Kong governments' "unrealistic" position is that the Hong Kong employer should pay the full cost of employing a helper from overseas, but few employers are willing to do so. Indonesians often pay $20,000 to come to HK. Are you willing to fund their job at that rate? In reality, a helper who pays nothing, often treats the job as a free trip to Hong Kong, and if the going gets "tough" - she can always quit and go home.
What can we do? Arrow works hard to keep fees for our applicants low. I don't believe there is any agency who has done as much as we have to reduce the burden on their applicants. At our current level of charges we are only just breaking even (which is not great from a business standpoint), but it is a great help to our applicants. On my last trip I was introduced to two banks in the Philippines who give loans to OFWs at reasonable rates. They are willing to work with our applicants and we hope this will resolve last minute "I don't have any money" - back outs.
What can you do? Be realistic. Understand that when your helper arrives she probably has to pay back a loan to someone or some bank. Feel free to ask her about her payment schedule, and be understanding if you find that she has run out of money in the middle of the month. When you feel confident to do so, talk to her about her money management, budgeting etc. She has hopes and dreams, but often lacks the practical money management to reach her dreams. Advice and guidance from you might be the key to lifting her family permanently out of poverty. Don't just give her a job, share your wisdom with her also. It takes more than a job to lift a family out of poverty. Thanks for your understanding.
Time for little emperors to wise up (from the HKStandard)
Our Arrow staff noted this editorial in the Hong Kong Standard. What are your children learning about life from watching your example: how you treat your helper, how you let the children treat the helper. Here is an excerpt:
In Hong Kong, we no longer see children carrying their younger brothers or sisters on their backs. We see domestic helpers carrying school bags for their young masters and mistresses.Few parents physically punish their children, but we often see children do so to their domestic helpers.Parents today receive higher education and know very well that they should listen to their children. But so many children will not listen to their parents.How do we make our children more competitive?I believe it is not by asking them to attend tutorials or so-called extra-curricular activities. We should teach them courtesy, respect and gratitude. To say "please" and "thank you," be more respectful, listen and be thankful. Simply by doing these things, they will already be much better than a lot of other people.
The Help
I recently finished listening to the audio version of The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It is the story of black women working as helpers for white families in Mississippi during the 1960's. The story is told from the perspectives of 3 different women and is an insightful look at race relations and helper-employer relations in the South.
The audio version is fantastic (read by 3 different women), and, if you can handle the accents, I highly recommend it.
Near the end of the story, one of the characters, Momma, is talking with her grown daughter about how their current helper is not as good as the lady who used to work for them. The mother tells her daughter "They say it's like true love - good help - you only get one in a lifetime."
If you are one of those blessed with "good help", I hope you'll treasure and appreciate them. Allan
Don't let your helpers SPOIL your family! (Pastor Jorge)
Both Bolen and I grew up having domestic helpers in our family. When we began to raise our own family and have children, we decided to hire our own helpers. There was even a time when we needed two helpers to work in our growing household. We have 5 children; the first four were one year and two years apart. As of the present, we have a helper "Nits" staying with our children in Manila.
When I (Jorge) was growing up, my mother often reminded me and my younger brothers not to take having a domestic helper for granted. She observed that whenever our helper performed well, we tended to be lax on maintaining clealiness and tidiness at home. When we got home from school, we threw our bags anywhere, our socks, shoes, uniform and anything we have on our bodies. The house soon becomes a tangled mess.
Later in life, I find myself admonishing our children on the same matter. I must admit it, having a domestic helper in your home tempts you to relax and let good habits like "clean up after yourself" drop by the wayside. Their presence spoils you; or rather, you tend to spoil yourself knowing that someone will clean the mess for you.
This is not something that occurs only in modern life. The ancient book of Genesis says that Potiphar, an Egyptian military commander had a skillful servant named Joseph in his home, and as a result: did not concern himself with any of the affairs of his household except for the food he wanted to eat.
As we serve among domestic helpers in Hong Kong, this is one matter that we commonly hear our church attendees complain about - their employers unconsciously, slowly become more and more messy, dropping everything as soon as they enter the house. Once they helped to maintain a clean and tidy home for the family, now they just dump everything and leave the helper to do it all. When I listen to this kind of story told, I cannot keep myself from having a tinge of guilt because it reminds me of how I used to treat our helpers.
There are some very good reasons to fight this drift downward into sloppy living:
- Lack of discipline in your personal life will spill over into your professional life. If you are a "slob" at home, sooner or later you'll become lazy or "cut corners" in your work too.
- Self discipline is essential to success. If you allow your children to become little "princes and princesses", they will not develop the self-discipline and habits that will turn them into successful adults.
- If we do our part, our home will become a more comfortable and pleasant place for our family. Our helper won't we overworked, and will be able to contribute to the lives of the children (playing or teaching English) rather than picking up our dirty socks, and backpacks.
For our own sakes, and the sake of our children, let's not let our helpers turn us into helpless, undisciplined people. We need to do our part to make our homes clean, tidy comfortable and happy!
Pastor Jorge
Fantastic Employers!
I often tell new customers "we don't claim to have the best helpers in all of Hong Kong, because there are so many fine ladies working here. However, we are absolutely sure that we have the BEST EMPLOYERS in all of Hong Kong."
In the last month, my confidence was again validated by two of our Arrow customers. Both of these customers have Arrow ladies working for them. Within a couple weeks of each other, both of the helpers lost their husbands.
In the first case, the employer was planning on releasing her helper, because the family's situation had changed and they no longer need a helper. The employer told her helper 2 months ahead of time and asked Arrow to please find a good employer for her helper. We did! When the helper's husband suddenly died, the employer told the helper "Don't worry, we'll keep you working for us until you return from the Philippines, so you won't have any problem changing to the new employer." The helper went home, buried her husband, returned to Hong Kong, and has reported to her new employer. The new employer was equally gracious saying "Take all the time you need to deal with your affairs in the Philippines. We'll wait."
Another helper's husband passed away this week, and her employer called Arrow to see if we would check on her. He said "My home is open to you. I welcome you to go to my home to visit her." So we sent our church pastor to visit and pray with her. The employer has personally paid for and purchased a round trip ticket for her to go home and deal with the situation. We took her to the Philippine Consulate to get her paperwork for leaving Hong Kong, and she'll leave this weekend.
These employers are truly humane, being and acting as humans were meant to be and act. This should be the norm for all of us. I'm grateful for these employers, and I hope I can follow their kind and gracious example. I am proud to be connected to such fantastic people. May God richly bless them!
Airline Chaos
We have a number of helpers scheduled to arrive this week, and we are running into great difficulty getting them here on time. Their employers are angry because the flights are being rescheduled, and we are scrambling to get the helpers to HK on time. Who is to blame? I'm not big on blame, but we are doing everything we can to get helpers here as scheduled.
The week after Easter (it turns out) is the high season. Summer vacation in the Philippines begins in April. Helpers from HK who went home over the holiday are all returning to work. The airlines are taking advantage of the situation to raise their prices!
Airlines change ticket prices constantly based on demand. If a ticket has not been issued, even though you have a booking, they can raise the price on you at will. That is what is happening now. The airlines are doubling or tripling the price of tickets. We had ladies booked to fly, but the tickets have not been issued, because the helpers need to have what is called an OEC certificate before they are allowed to fly. If the Manila agency issues the tickets and the lady doesn't receive her OEC, then she can't fly, and the agency will have to pay a hefty penalty to change the ticket (penalties now are so stiff, that it is better to throw the ticket away and buy a new one.)
The Manila agency, that schedules our flights, has a budget of around HK$865 per ticket. The price has suddenly jumped to more than $2000 for a one way ticket. Some of our customers are understanding, others are saying "But you said they should arrive on this date and that is when we want them."
So we are faced with the awkward choice of either losing a lot of money or making the employer wait for a week. What a mess!
As we look at the future, we may have to move to a two-tier pricing, where we charge a higher fee to guarantee that a woman can arrive within 10 weeks; and our normal fee if the customer is willing to wait for 12 weeks. This would allow us to book and issue tickets for the helpers early on, when the prices are guaranteed to be affordable. Customers who want their helpers to arrive sooner, would be asked to pay a higher fee, so we would be protected against airline fare hikes.
What do you think? We would welcome your suggestions and feedback.
Filipinos and Money
The comedian Jack Benny was famous for his stinginess and love of money. In one famous skit, a robber points a gun at Jack and says "Your money or your life!" Jack puts his hand to his face and doesn't say anything. The robber again demands "Buddy, I said 'your money or your life'. Jack Benny answered him "I'm thinking!", i.e., he was deciding whether he loved his money or his life more, and it was a hard decision!
Hong Kong people and Filipinos DIFFER GREATLY in the way they view and handle money. For Hong Kong people money is very important. When people ask me "What is the main religion of Hong Kong?" I have no problem answering "Money". We even have a "Choi San" 財神. Hong Kong people believe that money = security, so we want to have plenty of assets, lots of savings, good insurance coverage, etc.
To Filipinos money is NOT as important. Relationships with others is far more important than money, so they will gladly give up money to ensure good relationships. They are what we call "a soft touch", they cannot say "NO" to a relative or friend in need. And because of poverty, someone in your family circle is almost always in need. That is why they cannot and, for the most part, do not save. If they save, someone will most assuredly ask them for a loan, and then the money will be gone!
For these reasons, Filipinos like to buy things on installment plans, and they are willing to pay high interest rates to do so. Most of us believe it is better to save and pay cash, so we can avoid interest. For many Filipinos it is better to pay the interest and buy on time, because at least that way, they can acquire the new refrigerator they want, and honestly tell their family and friends "I'm sorry, I have no money."
Most Hong Kong employers are strongly AGAINST their helpers taking out loans in Hong Kong, but we seem to be fighting a losing battle for two reasons:
- The Filipino culture of helping friends & family makes it difficult for the Filipino to save.
- Interest rates and terms for loans are more favorable in Hong Kong than in the Philippines.
People hiring helpers from Arrow usually ask applicants "Why do you want to come to Hong Kong?" Most of them answer, "My family needs the money" or "I want to build a house" or "I want to start a small business." These are admirable goals, goals that take MONEY! Since they are unlikely to save to achieve that goal, HOW DO YOU THINK THEY WILL GET THERE? Borrow, of course! So they are either going to borrow in Hong Kong at low interest rates or from loan sharks in the Philippines at rates up to 30% per annum.
What should we do? I don't know, BUT I am a big believer in ACCEPTING REALITY, and starting from there to find solutions. Arrow is talking with the Development Bank of the Philippines to explore different possibilities for helping the families of OFWs. Perhaps you might start by talking to your helpers about the specifics of her financial plans. You might say something like "You told me when I hired you, that you want to build a house. Would you mind telling me a bit more about how you plan to do that?" If you understand their situation and their goals, you might avoid some misunderstandings and you might be able to give them some valuable advice. On the other hand, you may be thinking - "I'd rather not know. As long as it doesn't effect their work, then I don't care." That's okay too. Leave me a comment and let me know what you're thinking.
Allan Smith
Hang onto your teeth!
The following report is from the Apple Daily.
印尼女傭 Hayati Nur（ 25歲），被控於去年 12月 1日在秀茂坪曉麗苑一單位，以絲巾蒙面，趁 79歲女僱主鄧蕙冰睡覺時，劫去一條金頸鏈連兩個玉吊墜糾纏期間，女僱主兩隻門牙被打甩飛脫。被告又被控某日在同一單位內偷取兩張 Visa信用卡。
被告承認控罪，今日在區域法院被判監 40個月。法官判刑時形容，這是一宗嚴重搶劫案，被告行為極為貪心，更使用武力對付一名年長女士，令對方受傷。
Newborn care: Common-sense strategies for stressed-out parents from the Mayo Clinic
Round-the-clock newborn care can turn your life upside down. Use these practical strategies to handle the new stress in your life.
A newborn can bring a whirlwind of activity and excitement to your life — and plenty of stress and fatigue as well. Whether you're a first-time parent or a seasoned veteran, consider 10 practical strategies to keep stress under control.
1. Take care of yourself
Resist the urge to count caffeine as a major food group or a substitute for sleep. Instead, eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water and get some fresh air. Sleep when the baby sleeps — and work out a nighttime schedule with your partner that allows both of you to rest and care for the baby. Do something you enjoy every day, either with your baby or on your own. Good habits will help you maintain the energy you need to care for your newborn.
2. Establish visiting rules
Friends and loved ones may come out of the woodwork to admire your newborn. Let them know which days work best and how much time you have for a visit. Insist that visitors wash their hands before holding the baby, and ask anyone who's ill to stay home. Don't be afraid to set aside your social graces, either. Let trusted visitors care for the baby while you get some much needed rest.
3. Go with the flow
It's never too early to establish a routine — but let your newborn set the pace. Allow plenty of time each day for nursing sessions, naps and crying spells. Keep scheduled activities to a minimum. When you need to head out, give yourself extra time to pack your supplies and change the inevitable out-the-door dirty diaper.
4. Expect a roller coaster of emotions
You may go from adoring your baby and marveling at tiny fingers and toes to grieving your loss of independence and worrying about your ability to care for a newborn, all in the space of a single diaper change. Chances are, you and your partner are both tired and anxious as well. Talking about what's bothering you — such as a strained budget or difficulty soothing the baby — can help you stay connected. A shared laugh may help lighten the mood.
5. Relax your standards
Hide the broom and leave dust bunnies where they lie. Store clean clothes in the laundry basket until you need them — or in stacks on the floor, for that matter. Clean the bathroom with a fresh diaper wipe. Serve cold cereal and peanut butter toast for dinner when you're too tired to prepare a more traditional meal.
6. Get out of the house
If you're going stir-crazy with a fussy newborn, take the baby out for a walk. If you can, let someone you trust take over for a while.
7. Accept a helping hand
When friends and loved ones offer to help, take them up on it. Suggest holding the baby, folding the laundry, running a few errands — whatever would help you the most.
8. Nurture other relationships
Your newborn needs your love and attention, but you won't let your baby down by spending time with others. If you have other children, set aside one-on-one time with each of them. Schedule dates with your partner. Meet a friend for lunch or a movie.
9. Keep your perspective
The newborn days won't last long. Step back and appreciate the moment, even amid the chaos.
10. Know when to seek additional help
Parenting is a challenge, even on a good day. If you're depressed or you're having trouble adjusting to life with a newborn, consult your health care provider or a mental health professional. Learning to handle the new stress in your life can help you enjoy the riches parenting has to offer.
Why is it so hard to bless others?
Recently we had a customer terminate their helper because the employer had lost her job. When they brought the helper in, the husband told me that his wife had lost their job so they had to let the helper go. I asked them if they would please put this in writing and they refused. If they had been willing to tell Immigration these simple facts, the helper could have stayed and almost immediately gone to work for another family. Instead she now has gone back to the Philippines and her prospects at age 40 are significantly diminished. Let's assume the lady was a "ma ma day" helper, not too good and not too bad. So what? Why not help her? Why not help a family in need of a helper now? What is so difficult about picking up the pen and writing one or two sentences to bless another person? With the economic downturn we have had a number of employers lose their jobs, but most of them WILL NOT put it in writing, as if this will curse them forever. Can someone explain this to me? The Bible says that when we bless, we GET BLESSED. By withholding blessing we are cursing ourselves. It seems that some people are operating under a different "economy". I hope someone can explain this mindset to me.
Photos from Arrow's Kitchen
Here are pictures of the Arrow kitchen and the delicious food our trainees have been preparing.