寻找中国好保姆

寻找中国好保姆

LOOKING FOR A MANDARIN MARY POPPINS

Text by Lena Gidwani Photo by Corbis Translation by Grace

Lena Gidwani is a mother of a son and daughter, resident in Guangzhou for 13 years, self-confessed networker, magazine editor and an avid writer.She can often be seen conducting interviews around the city while her trusty ayi lends a hand around the home and with the children.

Lena Gidwan是自由网络工作者、杂志编辑和作家。她在广州居住了13年，深受信任的阿姨帮她料理家务，照看一对儿女。

When 8-year-old's Jane and Michael Banks advertised for a nanny in the 1964 fi lm Mary Poppins, they asked for a witty, fairly pretty, rosy-cheeked, treat-giving type.How supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Nowadays, families are more likely to put more essential qualities like honesty at the top of their requirements when hiring the right person to look after their offspring.Mary Poppins sure chose the wrong era to dabble in childcare.

Living in the Middle Kingdom comes with a number of lifestyle changes for an expat family, and one of them is most likely hiring an ayi.Literally translated into English from Mandarin as “aunt,” they are prevalent and wear several hats; housekeeper, cook, launderer, personal shopper and so on.However, it's a running joke that fi nding a good husband is easier that fi nding a good ayi, and I'll vouch for that in a heartbeat.

Start by making a detailed list of what essential qualities you desire, traits to be avoided, what chores you want her to do and to what extent you want her to take control, the number of hours you feel you will need her for and how much you're willing to pay for all of this.Are you looking for a part-timer or a live-in? Do you want someone from your city, or a migrant from another province? This affects salary, holiday allowances, the

meals that they make for you and even the dialects that they speak.Most ayis don't speak English, and those who do charge more.To keep initial costs down and to invariably help the children pick up the language quickly, having a rudimentary grasp of Chinese will help.After all, there's only so long you can depend on hand gestures; imagine trying to ask your ayi if she's seen your feminine wash.Awkward.

No matter you approach a third party like an agency, take the route of asking trusted friends for referrals, or search through online message boards and WeChat groups, in due time, you'll be able to line up a few interviews.If you have the time, carry out a background and health check.Lastly, never assume that everything is clear and understood; specify everything either through a written contract or a verbal agreement that is witnessed by a third party, and of course, keep a copy of their hukou or identity card.

Clearly, the search for a good ayi requires some serious effort.And this is what makes living in China so heart wrenchingly wonderful; the challenge of fi nding someone that can help you assimilate to life all whilst sharing the domestic burden.In the words of my wise mother, if you let them become part of your world, they will in turn let you become part of theirs.And of course, keep your house spanking clean…

在电影《欢乐满人间》中， 8岁的珍和迈克对保姆的要求是美丽诙谐，会找乐子。如今，各个家庭更看重保姆的基本素质，诸如诚实可靠。

对于在华居住的外国家庭，他们尤其需要找个阿姨。阿姨身兼数职，既是管家、厨子、洗衣工、采购员，也是护士、房屋管理员等等。中国阿姨会给你的生活带来极大便利，但事实上，找个好阿姨难过找个好丈夫。

首先，你要列出一份详细的要求，包括阿姨的工作范畴、劳动报酬、是否住家、是否全职、语言能力等等，因为这些很可能会影响到你每天晚餐吃得开不开心。建议雇主掌握基本的汉语，这样既能有效沟通，又能降低雇佣成本。

接下来,你可以通过中介、朋友、上网或者在微信群中找阿姨。在适当的时候，便与阿姨面谈，也可以对阿姨进行背景核查和健康检查。最后，必须签订书面合同或是在第三方在场的情况下进行口头约定。别忘了保留阿姨的户口本或身份证复印件。

找阿姨的过程可能令我们精疲力竭，却又妙不可言。如果你让她成为自己生活的一部分，那么你也会成为她生活的一部分。