Coffe, Sheets & Labor

I have always been told that labor is inexpensive in HK so people will just pay for things to be done. Yesterday I was thinking of all the jobs that people do that are considered inexpensive labor in HK. First - the women sitting in the plazas are called amahs aka the maids - the ones that are usually in the plazas are the foreign domestic help who have come to HK for better pay - according to Lonely planet starting around HK$3300/mo. After the exchange that is about $440/mo. Anyways - evidently they gather on their day off which is coincidentally Sunday.

Now to further this thought process, the way of living here is something I could get very used to and will be hard to give up. First, I am in a serviced apartment which means it gets cleaned 3x a week. By cleaned I mean swept, vaccuumed, sheets and towels changed. Now what I did not expect was that when my place was cleaned on Tuesday my one dish in the sink was cleaned and the dishes I had in the drying rack were put away -- now that is what I call service & being spoiled -- it is borderline awkward but I am sure I will get used to it.

I am sure you are wondering how coffee ties into this posting and the answer is Andee. Andee is a wonderfula and sweet woman at work who is litterally the coffee & beverage lady. She comes in about 9:15 in the morning and takes everyones orders (which she already knows), she brings you what you would like in the same mugs/glasses everyday. For instance, I was told that when she is on vacation she writes down what everyone likes, when the like it, when they want it refilled and what mug/glass it goes in. Now that again is a service I will get used to. I was also told that her selection ranges from juices to coffee to tea to hot chocolate and probably anything else you can think of. Yesterday I was also told that she has fresh cookies and will bring you a selection anytime you would like. I am sure that will happen sometime but I am going to try to refrain. So I am not sure what her real title or job description is, but I think it is generally running the basics around the office - ie - making sure paper towel dispensers are full and that everyone has beverages and snacks all day long. When we get back from lunch there is usually a fresh water pitcher in our room adn she stops by shortly thereafter for more drink "orders" for lack of a better word.