Interview with C*- Kuala Lumpur

C* is a Filipino female domestic worker in Subang Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia), a suburban town in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan area. She has worked in Malaysia for 15 years, the entire time with a single Chinese Malaysian household. In her current work place, she has her personal room that is adjacent to the kitchen of the household where she has lovingly placed pictures of her daughter (18) and son (25) on the wall. I interviewed her in the kitchen while she is cooking. She seems eager to tell me stories of her Sunday adventures in central Kuala Lumpur so the interview proceeded without much hesitations but instead with much excitement. Most of the conversation proceeded in Malaysian English, with much slang and Malay words in between, showing her familiarity and kinship with the Malaysian culture. The following are retrospective notes on the interview where the questions are noted in italics and slightly translated into mainstream English.

How long have you worked in Kuala Lumpur?
Oh! About 15 years. M (employer's daughter) is already 15 years old. I was here when she was four months old.

Wow! That's a long time. So I need to ask you some questions your days off on Sundays. Do you mind?
No. Not at all, ask ahead.

Do you still get every Sunday? Like you used to?
Yeah, I do. Every Sunday.

But the other two helps in the house? Do they get Sundays off?
No, they don't. They are still under the 2 year contract so they won't get Sundays off. They still have to pay back the agency for the money they owe them for coming here so they won't get it till later. That is only if the employer allows them. My contract was over a long time ago and 'mum' (term they call the employer) allowed me to have Sundays off in the beginning.

Oh.... so back to you. Do you like your Sundays off? What do you do?
Of course! I look forward SOOOO much to my Sunday off. It's the ONLY day I get to go out to RELAAAX and to forget about work.

So what do you do?
I go to St. John's and then to Kota Raya ... 'makan-makan' (to eat around.... malay expression) and then to Angkasa (dance club)

Wow, all the way to St. John's? That's so far. How do you get there?
I take the bus. At 7:30 we take the bus from here , about 45 minutes and then we attend first mass at 8:30 to 9:30. Breakfast at "One Cafe" and then to Kota Raya to shop and chit chat at the Filipino shop and then to dance.

Why so far? Why don't you go to a church here? There are so many catholic churches closer to this area and there are alot of Filipinos around in this area too right?
Yeah, but we like St.John's. Some friends live in Ampang (City Center) and all over so its hard to meet around here. It's not as fun too.

So most Filipinos go to St. John's?
All Filipinos go there. You'll see when you get there, lots of Filipinos.

What do you do there?
We go to church and then we eat and chit-chat.

Do you eat Filipino food?
Yea. People sell Filipino food there.

Where do they get the food from? Do they cook it at home?
Yeah. They bring it and sell it there. Tables and chairs and everything.

Tables and chairs? How do they bring it there? Do they own a car?
No, some of the Filipinos have married Malaysian men , Indian or Chinese men and they would come to sell Filipino food on Sundays. They sell clothes and other things too like VCDs and toys. Lots of Filipino things.

Really? Wow. With so many Filipinos would there be a problem with the toilet facilities in the church?
Yeah. So many people. They take a long time changing in the toilets too so people have to line up for a long time. There's only like three toilets for alot of people and after mass, people want to go to the toilet and they have to line up a long time.

Is that inconvenient?
Yeah. Some people will go to Kota Raya (a nearby shoppping complex to the church) to change but alot of people at St. John's and the church people complaint sometimes. But if you go to Kota Raya, you will have to pay 30 cents to get in but its much cleaner.

Oh. But does that mean that you don't stay in St. John's all day?
No no. We move on to Kota Raya for lunch. There's air-condition :)

So how long do people stay around St. John's?
They stay from 8:30 to 11:30 and then people leave.

So for a day out, how much do you spend, on a typical Sunday?
Around RM 20. Depending on where you eat. If you go to McDonalds, it would be more because the meal is already RM 12.

I see. Do you go to the McDonalds alot?
Yeah. Sometimes. But it is expensive

So you don't bring your

Oh I see. Thanks C*. This is all very helpful for me to prepare my Field Day research. I'll keep you updated. Maybe I'll see you there on Sunday.
You are welcome. Call me if you need more information.


C*also explained to me in detail why she had two mobile phones with her at all times. She has a Phillipine registered mobile phone, with Phillipine phone number on roaming and another mobile phone with her Malaysian number. The pricing of text messages to family members differ depending on incoming and outgoing messages. I surveyed a few other Filipino domestic workers and found all of them with two mobile phones.