Unfortunately, Lisa realized that she wouldn't get that much spare time to herself. She wouldn't be able to go into the village every day. She might not even be able to go once a month. She was expected to be at the house twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. She was expected to care for the children entirely.
Lisa didn't want to starve, nor did she want to upset the host family by asking for food. Instead, she looked for an alternative. She noticed that the apple tree in the garden was full of delicious apples. She also noticed that several of the apples had fallen onto the ground. Some were rotting back into the land, but there were others that were still fresh. She asked the host family if she was able to eat one. She expected to be told she was only allowed on occasion, as a treat. Instead, they allowed her to enjoy as many as she pleased. The host family did not enjoy apples. It made Lisa wonder why they had an apple tree in the yard at all. She didn't complain though. She simply enjoyed the apples she was allowed to have.
She often tried to see the brighter side of the situation she was stuck in. She had eaten almost no meat since she arrived. She was eating apples every day. She rode into the village to the grandmothers' house twice a day. Her skin was smooth and her body was slim. She looked like a supermodel. She also felt healthy, even though she was worn out most of the time. She would laugh to herself and recite “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” She had to find pleasure in the little things. Her initial euphoria phase had long worn out. She felt like a prisoner, trapped in a cell. Only in prison, she wouldn't have to care after four screaming children. She also wouldn't be judged every time she moved by ungrateful and unappreciative “parents.” Lisa felt like she was slowly going crazy. She needed to find someone to talk to.
11
The next day, Lisa sat at the family table in the kitchen, along with the family. It was breakfast time. As per usual, she was given two slices of the bread from yesterday and a glass of tea. This was her breakfast every morning. She watched as the family ate their breakfast. They had more than simple bread to start their days off with. They had baguettes, fresh from the oven. With them, there was a chocolate paste to spread over the dough. They had an assortment of fresh fruits that looked delicious and sweet. There was yogurt to go along with the fruits. The family also had cakes on the table and an assortment of other sweets. This was the typical family breakfast. Lisa always watched as they shovelled the food into their mouths, uncaring of whether or not she enjoyed her own food. This massive table was always filled with food, but Lisa sat in the corner and simply watched. This particular morning, she felt like the bread wasn't enough. She was grateful for the food, but it lacked any real flavor. She didn't dare ask for the chocolate paste for her own bread, instead, deciding on butter.
“May I have some butter, please?” she asked, looking over to Clara.
“Here you are.” Clara responded, sliding the butter across the table. Lisa looked at Clara and noticed how angrily Clara was now staring at her. It was as though she just asked to eat the entire kitchen. Or worse, had taken the food without previous consent. All she did was ask for the butter for her bread. Nothing more. She never asked for more. Her needs were simple. Now, Clara was watching as Lisa spread the butter across her stale bread. Lisa felt like every move she made was under evaluation. Clara was controlling every move Lisa made and every bite she took of the stale bread. Lisa sighed, but under her breath. This was not what she had agreed to when she came to live here. She thought she would be a member of the family. Or that she would at least be respected as a human being. Instead, this host family was treating her like a slave. She was expected to watch the kids and eat stale food. She wasn't allowed to complain. She wasn't allowed time to herself. She was a live in babysitter to a rich and successful dentist. She was a maid in this three-story mansion with the garden that could have been seen in magazines. She was trapped in what felt like a never ending nightmare. All she wanted was to learn about this culture and experience a life that was different from the one she left behind.
Another time, Lisa came in late for lunch. She was exhausted after riding the bicycle for 15 miles into the next village. She had to go into the village, but she had got lost on her way back. One wrong turn and suddenly she had no idea where she was anymore. It was a nightmare.
“Where have you been?” The children barked as she got into the house.
“Why are you late?” They continued shouting. Lisa was too tired to explain herself, so she tried to dismiss it by explaining she went the wrong direction. She added that she didn't know the village very well, so it was still hard for her to get around.
“You're not allowed to be late.” Nick barked. Lisa looked over at him.
“Remember that. You're our slave. We decide everything about your life.” He yelled. She didn't argue him. He was impossible to reason with and entirely spoiled.
Lisa had no right to a private life. The children all raised their tenure at her. They bombarded her at all hours. They accused her of being a leech. They yelled and shouted. They demanded that she play with them. Or demanded that she cook for them. They never asked politely or suggested play time. They believed they were entitled to everything. Lisa knew that was the way their parents had raised them. Even if she wanted to help them understand manners, she had no choice but to put up with their abusive behavior.
One time, Lisa was playing with the children. Suddenly, Nick started shouting that he was going to take away everything she had.
“These are my belongings.” Lisa argued, taking back the item that Nick was holding away from her.
“No. You're in my house. That means that everything you have is mine. Everything belongs to me. It's my house.” He repeated. Lisa didn't know how to react to this awful statement. Nick was always saying things like that.
12
Once in a while, on weekends, Clara would have a girls night. She had a few of her friends over. They drank champagne and talked about everything. During these nights, Clara didn't want to be bothered by the children at all. She wanted privacy.
“I don't want to see you,” she would yell at her children from inside the sauna.
Sometimes, Lisa thought that champagne and girls' nights were the only important things in life for Clara, the mother of four children. Lisa could not help but listen to the chatter. They were discussing their clothes and their travels.
Now when Clara ignored her children, they went straight to Lisa. They were often sad or disappointed that their mother was being so rude.
It turned out to be very difficult to clearly limit the time working with the children. Lisa could not tell them “no” like their parents did.
All week, she worked exclusively for the family. But she had one day a week that both of the parents were home. During that one day, she wanted to have her time to herself. Of course, the children were accustomed to Lisa and wanted attention from her that they did not get from their busy parents. On her days off, she would be awoken by the children wanting to play. Or, asking Lisa to make them breakfast.
Lisa had to admit she had a heart for the children. She wanted to tell them to go away and leave her alone, but she knew how busy their parents were making money for the family. All they wanted was attention. So, she couldn't send them away. So she played with them or cooked for them, even on her days off. But, she was exhausted by these demanding children too.