I made a mistake the other day. I left out the bill for my kids' school when my maid was here. Each month I make a point of having it put away when she comes.
Why? I'm freaking embarrassed by it. While my boys go to a mid-level private school, it still costs a small fortune. I pay more to their school each month than my maid makes. Significantly more.
Since I know her general rate, I did the math. In one months she makes a little more than what I pay for 1 kid. In what world is that fair?
And you know what, I don't know what I can do about it. We already pay her a very competitive rate for twice a week and I can't afford to pay her anymore. Just keeping up our middle class lifestyle is taking a lot of money. I feel like the school alone is sucking us dry.
This is why I laugh at all the reports of Brazil's increasing middle class. There is such a large range that it may as well be 3 or 4 different classes.
I know she isn't in this "new" middle class, she has said that she has some friends who are. These friends now have the month to put some pretty plaster up on the outside of their place to cover the bricks.
I do think that Brazil deserves a pat on the back for the process that they have made. Even I can see adifference in the small chunk of time I've lived here. But this need for progress is far from over! I only hope they can keep up the pace.
