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!

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
Love Sam

sounds like my ex husband and his mum!

sounds like my OH!

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.

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

course you don't

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


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

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

doesn't or can't??


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

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

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

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

Someone, someday will thank me for my efforts I am sure!

She is all yours!