My 'Ai-Ya' Lady

When I lived in Hong Kong years ago, like many working people, I always had a servant. During the period when I was working very hard, even two. I remember one in particular, who would, while going about her duties, occasionally let escape a sigh, a faint whisper: 'Ai-ya!', quite unconsciously, without any preamble and for no apparent reason. It was as if she was just taking another breath.

While she was dusting, ironing or preparing a meal, or sitting down having a little break, a tiny, barely audible 'Ai-Ya!' would come out to remind me she was around. I used to wonder whether she felt okay, whether sh!e was tired, of her work, the routine, the life making a home for others and neglecting her own ...

Then later I discovered that she sighed thus, also when she was given an unexpected little present from me, or when I asked after her family, or when I invited her to a restaurant, instead of she making me a meal, just for a change for her, she would then sign noisily 'Ai-Ya!' also. I understood then, that it's the manifestation between complaining and accepting, the desire and limitation, hopes and helplessness, the pleasure and the pain ... synthesis of sentiments and feelings, human condition wrapped in a single word.

I was reassured and even quite happy after that. So much so that I began to utter the same word sometimes unconsciously. Even now perhaps I do it more often than I realize.

I miss not living any more in my beloved Hong Kong, and miss the servant who made my life so much more comfortable, and my home in good order, clean, tidy, everything in it's right place. I also miss her, not the servant but the person, the companion, almost a family member, and the way she says 'Ai-Ya!' as if she was putting punctuations to certain things needing doing, done, or pending. Giving beginnings and conclusions all with the same word.

Perhaps it simply serves as memories for me, of that certain period of my life. The achievements and disappointments, laughters and tears, happiness and heartbreaks, and all those 'Ai-ya!' moments ...

Tags:ai-ya,servant,laughter,tears

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