2003 Year in Review

Masters & Servants

Outside the USA, Canada, and much of Europe (but not all), the world is made up mostly of servants and those who are served. On the rig here one guy asked me if I had anyone help clean or cook the food in my house in Morrison. I said, at the time, a lady came once a week for a few hours to clean which would cost me anywhere from $26 to $30 per visit. He told me that in India where he lives that same amount of money would get me 3 servants, 8 hours per day, every day of the month.

What started the discussion was a conversation we were having about lifestyles and how his sister and brother-in-law, also from India, had emigrated to the US, but were finding life hard. He claimed that they were both highly educated, had good jobs in the IT (information technology, i.e. "computers") industry and live in Austin, Texas. Although, they make good money they have to spend a lot to live and for child care and when they got home at night they have to continue to take care of meals and kids. He said they had no time for relaxation, ever. He was wondering, "what’s the point?"

My friend here on the rig has had an interesting life. His parents, also highly educated, were child bride and groom of an arranged marriage. They were married somewhere around the age of 7 or 8 and continued a normal childhood except they could only play with friends of the same sex. When they reached puberty they came together in the home of the boy’s parents. My friends mother was very young when she gave birth to him and when it came time for her husband to go off to school (away from the home) she was told to leave and accompany him and my friend was effectively raised by his paternal grandparents – who were also probably child wedded and probably the same age as what we would consider normal parents. Although this practice isn’t as common anymore in India he claims it still has its advantages particularly for young boys. For girls it is probably another story, but at least you know what you’re getting and not being married off to some old guy for political reasons. I asked about "love" and he said, "what do you mean?"

But, I digress. Servants get paid small money, but keep your house cleaned and kids occupied and prepare the meals while you go out to work and when you get home you can lounge around read the newspaper, watch TV or meditate, or do yoga, or whatever you think is important. You can wind down and lead a stress free existence. You can probably even yell at the servants and let off steam and thus preserve your relationship with your spouse and kids at a more tender level. I would guess the Bible has some instructions on how to treat servants.

I know that in Brazil and in Nigeria and Gabon you have local servants to keep house, cook, keep the yard up and also for security. This is important in poor countries because if you have money and everyone else doesn’t that sort of sets you up as a legitimate target for thieves. Although servants also become trusted members of the family this isn’t always the case and sometimes the armed servant just lets the crooks in for a percentage of the take. You can never be too sure.

Here in the Middle East most servants come from India or the Philippines. Citizens of these countries work hard, are extremely polite and for the most part are very trustworthy. They are unlikely to let anyone in to steal from you and the penalty for such subversion is pretty steep and there’s nowhere to run or hide. In the US we have this strange notion that if you aren’t industrious 24/7 you must be up to no good. I think that’s why we don’t have servants. But my friend still doesn’t understand why my wife and I should cook and clean and paint and mow and wash and all that other stuff that interferes with the good life. He figures he can set me up with a good Indian servant for about $200 per month ($300 tops) plus one plane ticket home per year. Sounds like a deal. Maybe better yet, retire, move to India and live the life of a raja for about the same.

by Marc Adami, Guest Columnist
February 12, 2003