![\"cleaning_mop.bmp\"](\"http:\/\/www.stevepeer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/12\/cleaning_mop.bmp\")
Let\u2019s get one thing straight: I hate cleaning. I always have and always will.<\/p>\nLet\u2019s get one thing straight: I hate cleaning. I always have and always will.<\/p>\n
That said, there is some sort of satisfaction in taking something utterly filthy and making it sparkle. I have this same feeling when I build something. With a hammer, a circular saw, a tape measure and a pencil I am completely at home. Creating something out of raw materials is gratifying. Being able to see a finished product, your own creation, is nothing short of a rush.<\/p>\n
When I was young I would complain to my mother about cleaning chores or making my bed. Her standard response was, \u201cWhen you have your own house you can do whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remembered this decree and lived by it for many years. I never made the bed. Why? Because it would only get messy again the next night. And the night after that. Vacuuming? Dirt added a little texture to the carpet and provided extra traction. For many years I was, for lack of a better term, pig-like. I had clean clothes, I showered, but my housekeeping skills were lacking.<\/p>\n
Since arriving in China I have wanted to hire one of the numerous cleaning ladies to tidy my pad. My wife has always put a kybosh on the plan. \u201cI will clean for you,\u201d she replied. This rarely happened. When it did it was usually a Sunday afternoon while I was attempting to nap. The small set of rooms would resonant with clanging and banging as she mopped. Her small frame is full of compassion and love, but not grace.<\/p>\n
With the schedules were are currently working, and the general state of the apartment, she relented and suggested we find some outside help. I was secretly pleased and whispered, \u201cExcellent,\u201d to myself much like Monty Burns of Simpsons fame.<\/p>\n
While I rocked to Internet radio, two polyester-clad women swept, scrubbed, washed, tidied, dusted and mopped. The rate had been set at 10 Yuan per hour ($1.25 US). My wife had arranged for two cleaners for 90 minutes. The pair worked two hours, which should give you an approximate description of the state of our rooms.<\/p>\n
I paid them 30 Yuan each instead of the 20 Yuan their time would have dictated. Sixty Yuan (less than 10 US Dollars) was fine with me. When you earn several thousand Yuan a month, 60 isn\u2019t missed much. I handed over their money with two hands, as is Chinese custom. One said to the other in Chinese, \u201cHe gave us 30!\u201d They were all smiles. I thanked them and they carried away my bags of trash, broken shoes and electronics, and plastic bottles.<\/p>\n
While the apartment is now clean, I will state emphatically and publically, I will never<\/strong> make the bed. This is me \u201cliving the dream\u201d regarding my mother\u2019s \u201cWhen you have your own house,\u201d statement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I was young I would complain to my mother about cleaning chores or making my bed. Her standard response was, \u201cWhen you have your own house you can do whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":561,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[28,45,5],"tags":[469,843],"class_list":["post-562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-china","category-humour","category-life","tag-make-the-bed","tag-slob"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n