shock to the system!!
 

As some of you know we have spanish kids (learning english) who attend a local language school stay with us in the summer - part of the 'experience' is that they live with an english family for the 2/3 weeks, partly to speak english 'as it is spoke', and partly to experience an 'english' lifestyle.

We're not terribly 'english' any more, but we do speak english in the house, and sometimes eat 'english' food such as cottage pie (and curry!). I make an effort to do something typically english at least once during their stay.

We have 4 lads aged 11/12 with us at the moment - they arrived on Sunday, 2 from Madrid, 2 from Xativa. From experience we know that kids from Madrid have the reputation of being 'pijo' (snobs) among the other kids, and one little boy did seem to be (literally) looking down his nose at dinner on Sunday!

Because there are 8 of us & no dishwasher, we decided that all the kids (including my older dd - the younger one helps set the table) would take a turn drying the dishes every night, which comes down to about once a week each.

We start oldest to youngest, and little 'nose in the air' is the oldest so went first last night. From my position in the naya I could hear dh trying to show him what to do & then eventually managing to get him 'chatting'.

dh do you help like this at home?

sb (spanish boy) no

dh do you help your mother at all?

sb no

dh do you tidy your own room at home? (a school rule is that they have to make their own bed & keep their room tidy)

sb no

dh so your mother works all day & then does everything for you at home?

sb no......we have maid...........she cook, clean, wash clothes, everything...we do nothing

sort of explains why he didn't quite know what to do when I said 'help yourself' at breakfast, and he just sat there waiting to be served....................he couldn't even manage to open a cereal packet and pour it into a bowl!

dh asked him if he might help a bit when he got home.....he said 'no - I don't like......it is maid's job' . Dh told him that we have to do a lot of things we don't like in our lives - sb said 'not in my life!'

this boy is getting such a culture shock coming to us!

Re: shock to the system!!
 

My god Lynnxa - does the maid have to wipe his arse as well - you know i cant believe in this day and age that this still goes on - just lets pity the poor person who eventually has to marry this very unreal little boy because they may not be able to afford a maid themselves - of course silly me mummy and daddy will probably pay for it for him - awww bless he doesnt have to worry then does he - what a sad little life some people have - i enjoy having my arm up the u-bend nothing more exillerating ..........dam wheres the maid :lol:
Love Sam

Re: shock to the system!!
 

sounds like my ex husband and his mum!

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sounds like my OH!

Re: shock to the system!!
 

I think he's fully justified.

Infact, him and your lads should've retired to the terrace with some chocolate cigars and a glass of finest Vimto following their meal.

Certainly not washing and drying dishes in the kitchen.

All that stuff is women's work.

Re: shock to the system!!
 

:p:rofl::p:eek:

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of course I don't agree with what he said....

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course you don't;)

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hopefully she taught him that before he came................


mind you, there was a funny smell at the breakfast table this morning:eek:

Re: shock to the system!!
 

I would love to but since my OH doesn't cook, clean or do the washing I cant really can I?

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doesn't or can't??


send her here for a 'holiday'.........she'll soon learn!!

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Bet she wont, young girls today, just don't want to learn.

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but remember I told you...........I love a challenge!

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God what a twit he sounds! I made sure that I taught both my boys to cook, clean , iron etc. Probably due to the fact that their daddy can't cook or iron:frown:

Someone, someday will thank me for my efforts I am sure!;):thumbup:

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She is all yours!

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I'm rather hoping his mum will thank me

I heard him having a moan on the phone last night..............they know I speak 'a bit' of spanish, but not that I actually teach it, so he probably thinks I didn't understand him:sneaky:

Re: shock to the system!!
 

spare room available from September;)

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It's the downside of having an inflatable partner Matt. They should've told you that when you bought it.

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only if she comes with her own generator, surely;):rofl:

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:eek::rofl::rofl:

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I know someone who has a 7 year old son, and she has to wipe his arse for him.:ohmy::lol:

Re: shock to the system!!
 

I don't think it's the child's fault at all.

I think it's bad parenting and we see it in many cultures and societies.....sad really.

Just my two cents worth.....

Re: shock to the system!!
 

Well if I was absolutely minted I would NEVER do the dishes. In fact we´re not minted and we´ve never washed a dish in our lives - a dishwasher has always been a must.

Knowing how to wash up, clean, iron, etc doesn´t make you any better than the people who have enough money to not have to do it.

So get off your high horses and stop looking down your nose at him!

Re: shock to the system!!
 

[QUOTE=keithwalters;5066512]Well if I was absolutely minted I would NEVER do the dishes. In fact we´re not minted and we´ve never washed a dish in our lives - a dishwasher has always been a must.

Knowing how to wash up, clean, iron, etc doesn´t make you any better than the people who have enough money to not have to do it.

So get off your high horses and stop looking down your nose at him![/QUOTE]

Sorry Keith

Didn't realise that I was riding so high.:) Simply putting forward my case for improving the domesticity of the males of this world...only us ladies would understand that though!!!;)
Just for the record, I too have a dishwasher, but I think you were missing the point rather. It's the ability and willingness of a person to 'muck in' when needed that was being questioned surely?
Of course, it does also have something to do with how a child is brought up too.

Re: shock to the system!!
 

If a male child is brought up to do the work of a woman, then one can only expect him to turn out batting for the other side.

It's science.

FACT!

You lot just want more friends to go shopping with:mad:

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TOSH and POPPYCOCK!!:p

Re: shock to the system!!
 

[QUOTE=Cornish maid;5066543]But I thought he was mucking in? Apparantly he did the dishes on the first night.

Just because he has never done the dishes before doesn´t mean people have the right to criticize him and call him a 'twit'. Poor kid.

It´s an attitude that bugs me - people who cook, clean toilets, iron, etc who think that they are better than those who don´t. Get real.

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Poppy what!?!??

You women are obsessed and scared of it. It's what makes us men (our Poppycocks!).

That's why you're all trying to 'turn' us!

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[QUOTE=keithwalters;5066570]:rofl: Nice signature Keith;)

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I agree with you, and think it's very sad too

one day he may have to actually look after himself.....and he won't know where to start

Re: shock to the system!!
 

[QUOTE=keithwalters;5066570]No, the critcism was based on his attitude with the other answers he gave... perhaps I was a little harsh in using twit, but he obviously expects a maid to do everything for him. All well and good if he is living with his parents, who presumably can afford a maid, but what happens when he goes into the big wide world? That's why parents try to give their children some help in life skills surely??

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Yeah, because learning how to wash dishes and clean floors takes years to learn. Think of all that time he´s going to waste in University when he could be studying toilet cleaners and making himself into a worthwhile human being.

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No, not at all, Keith.:)

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I personally think he is scum for not helping! Spoiled little rich kid! Frigging maids!

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So, if I am reading your post correctly, what you are saying is that basic life skills are a waste of time and all that is really important is a University degree?

Re: shock to the system!!
 

Well when you have a Uni Degree you can charge for quotes and thats very important :blink:

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your in soooo much trouble now!

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Why?

I think Mitzy made a very good point!

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One that will come back and poke me in the bum!

Re: shock to the system!!
 

What are you saying about Keith?