Second love in Hong kong

 

1.         I had lived with my husband for more than ten years without any quarrel, even though he could not support the family. His legs were crushed in a car accident. Jai vcu avec mon mari pendant plus de 10 ans sans aucune querelle, mme sil ne pouvait pas subvenir aux besoins de la famille. Ses jambes furent blesses lors dun accident de voiture.

 

2.         So I was the sole responsible for the familys income. My husband was crippled for life. But that did not diminish my love towards him. Javais alors la responsabilit de la famille. Mon mari tait (handicap) vie. Mais cela ne faisait pas dimininuer mon amour pour lui.

 

3.         On the contrary, I gave my sympathy for him. I provided him everything. Au contraitre, javais de la compassion pour lui. Je lui donnais tout.

 

4.         I was his brain and his legs. Our kids were our encouragement. So we were contented. JՎtais ses bras et ses jambes. Nos enfants nous encourageaient. Nous tions heureux.

 

5.         One day I found an ad in a newspaper, recruiting maids for Hong Kong. The salary was three thousand Hong Kong dollars, which was about ten thousand baht. Un jour, jai trouv une annonce dans le journal, qui recrutait des servantes. Le salaire tait de 300 dollars hongkongais, ce sui faisait environ 10 000 bath.

 

6.         I consulted my husband. He believed my judgment, and trusted his life with me. Fine, I trusted you. Jen ai parl mon mari. Il a cru en mon choix et avait confiance en se vie avec moi. "Daccord, je te fais confiance".

 

7.         And I never caused any bad image for the family. So he was confident in me.  Et je ne donnais aucune mauvaise image de la famille. Il avait toute confiance en moi.

 

8.         My brother raised me since I was one year old. Even though I was married, he was still concerned about me. Mon frre soccupait de moi depuis que javais un an. Mme si jՎtais marrie, il tait toujours mes cts.

 

9.         There were only two of us. Our parents were dead. When I consulted him about the Hong Kong job, he supported the idea and helped me loan money for a plane ticket. Il ny avait que nous deux. Nos parents taient morts. Quand je lui ai parl de ce travail Hong Kong, il ma soutenu et aid payer le billet davion.

 

10.       Be careful when you befriend with either a man or a woman. Dont be too carefree. You are far away from home. There are dangers out there. "Fait attention quand si tu devient ami avec un homme ou une femme. Ne soit pas trop  insouciante. Tu serra loin de nous. Il y a des dangers ls-bas .

 

11.       He advised me to always be a good. Please keep your good history. Il me conseillait de toujours tre bonne. "Je ten pris, (garde ta bonne histoire) ".

 

12.       When I arrived in Hong Kong, there was an agent picking me up and drove me to my masters house. Quand je suis arrive Hong Kong, un agent ma emmen la maison de mes matres.

 

13.       On the way, the agent asked me How old are you? Are you married? What did you do in Thailand? How long will you be here?. Sur la route, lagent ma demand : "Quel age avez-vous ? Etes-vous marie ? Que faisiez-vous en Taillande ? Combien de temps resterez-vous ? .

 

14.       I am 29. I am married and have three kids. I was a farmer and did other labors jobs.  Jai 29 ans, Je suis marie et jai 3 enfants. JՎtais agricultrice et jai fait dautres mtiers manuels .

15.       Why do you want to be a servant?  Pourquoi voulez-vous tre servante ?

 

16.       The salary in Hong Kong is much more than in Thailand. I hope to support my family this way.  Le salaire Hong Kong est plus lev quen Taillande .

 

17.       What does your husband do? He is crippled, so he does not work.  Que fais votre mari ? .  Il est (handicap), alors il ne peut pas travailler .

 

18.       I pity Thai women. You have more responsibilities than Hong Kong women. And how long do you intend to be here?  Je plains les femmes taillandaises. Vous tes plus responsables que les femmes hongkongaises. Et combien de temps pensez-vous rester ici ? .

 

19.       It is up to the situation. I will see then how long I can be here.  Ca dpend de la situation. Je verais combien de temps je pourrais rester .

 

20.       Unlike others, you are very straightforward. They said they would be here one or two years, but they went back after a few days. Contrairement aux autres, vous tes trs franche. Elles disent quelles resteront un ou deux ans et puis au bout de quelques jours, elles rentrent .

 

21.       If you have any problem, please give me a call. Here is my name card. Si vous avez le moindre problme, appellez-moi sil vous plait. Voici ma carte .

 

22.       His name was Ah-Seng. He asked my name, which was Hong, named by my language teacher. Son mon tait Ah-Seng. Il me demanda mon nom, Hong, ce nom mavait t donn par mon professeur de langue.

 

23.       When we arrived at the masters house, he helped me with the contract and left. I have to go now. Call me if you need anything, Hong. Quand nous sommes arrivs la maison de matre, il maida aux premiers contact puis parti.  Je dois partir maintenant. Appellez-moi si vous avez besoin de quoi que ce soit, Hong .

 

24.       After three months at work, I lost my patience because my master didnt give me any free days off, even on holidays. Aprs 3 mois de travail, jai perdu ma patience car mon patron ne me donnait aucun jour de cong, mme pendant les vacances.

 

25.       Moreover, the lady boss was very envious of the master. This was why I lost my patience.  De plus, La (patronne) tait trs jalouse du (patron). Cest pourquoi jai perdu ma patience.

 

26.       I did not want to stay here any longer. So I called my agent. He arrived at the house and did some inquiries. Je ne voulais plus rester. Alors jai appell mon agent. Il est arriv la maison et sinforma de la situation.

 

27.       The next morning, my master bought me a plane ticket home and called the agent to pick me up. Le lendemain matin, la patronne macheta un ticket davion pour rentrer chez moi, et appella lagent pour quil passe me prendre.

 

28.       In the agents car, I told himI dont want to go back to Thailand because I havent had any savings yet. How am I going to pay my debts?. Dans la voiture de lagent, je lui dit :  Je ne veux pas rentrer en taillande parce que je nai pas gagn assez dargent. Comment vais-je payer mes dettes ? .

 

29.       So we can go talk at my house, OK? It is up to you.  Nous pouvons aller discuter chez moi, ok ? .  Cest comme vous voulez .

 

30.       At his house, he let me take a bath until I am cool and fresh. Chez lui, il me laissa prendre un bain jusquՈ ce que je sois dtendue et rafrachie.

 

31.       Please find me any job. Yes, but if you get a job, you have to pay me one thousand dollars. OK  Sil vous plait, trouvez-moi un travail .  Oui, mais si je vous trouve un travail, vous devrez me payer 1000 dollars .  Ok .

 

32.       I arranged my bag to go to a hotel. Where will you go? The hotel here is expensive. Stay here and I will find you a job. Je prparais mon sac pour aller lhotel.  O irez-vous ? Les hotels sont trs chers. Restez ici et je vous trouverais du travail .

 

33.       He lived alone. He mostly ate outside. Ah-Seng was a good talker, calm, and clean. Il vivait seul. Il mangeait la plus part du temps lextrieur. Ah-Seng tait de bonne compagnie, calme et lgant.

 

34.       When I was at his home, I was quite scared. He noticed it. Dont be scared, Hong. Just think of this place as your own home. I guarantee your safety. Quand jՎtais chez lui, javais un peu peur. Il la remarqu.  Ne soyez pas effraye, Hong. Dites-vous simplement que cet endroit est votre maison. Jassure votre protection.

 

35.       But I was still worried. Before going to bed, he instructed meDont get out of the room before 8 A.M., no matter what. Mais jՎtais toujours anxieuse. Avant daller me coucher, il mindiquat  Ne sortez pas de la chambre avant 8 h demain matin, en aucun cas .

 

36.       At 8 A.M., I walked out to see him already at the dining table. A 8 heures le lendemain matin, je sortais et le vit dj assis la table manger.

 

37.       Finish your business and lets have breakfast. Then I will drive you to work. Yes.  finissez de vous occuper de vous et prenez donc un petit djeun. Puis je vous conduirais pour aller travailler .  Oui .

 

38.       After breakfast, I prepared my luggage for the new job. Dont take the luggage. He doesnt have a room for you. You will just stay here. Aprs le petit djeun, jai prpar mes bagages pour le nouveau travail.  Ne prenez pas vos affaires. Il na pas de chambre pour vous. Vous resterez simplement ici .

 

39.       We were at a bookshop. He introduced me to the owner and left. I will pick you up in the evening. Wait for me if I am late. Nous sommes alls dans une librairie. Il mintroduisit auprs du patron et parti.  Je viendrais vous chercher ce soir. Attendez-moi si je suis en retard .

 

40.       I worked as a bookbinder. It was a light and happy job for me. I went home with him every evening. Here is the key. Jai travaill dans la reliure. CՎtait un travail facile et agrable pour moi. Je rentrais tous les soirs avec lui.  Voici les cls .

 

41.       After I was at his house for one month, he gave me a small square-shape card. This is your salary three thousand three hundred dollars. Aprs que je sois reste un moi chez lui, il me donna une petite carte.  Voici votre salaire 3300 dollars .

 

42.       Will you send all the money home? Yes, all.  Allez-vous envoyer tout chez vous ? .  Oui, tout .

 

43.       After I got the money, I gave him one thousand and five hundred dollars. As was our deal, you found me a job, and I want to pay for the meals. Aprs quil mai donn largent, je lui donna 1500 dollars.  Comme convenu, vous mavez trouv du travail, je vous paie ma dette .

 

44.       No need. Please send it home. You also helped me with house works and laundry. We have to help each other, do not worry.  Pas besoin. Sil vous plait, envoyez le chez vous. Vous mavez aussi aid dans les travaux mnagers. Nous devons nous aider mutuellement, ne vous inquitez pas .

 

45.       I was very grateful for his kindness. He always respected me and never crossed the line. JՎtais trs reconnaissante de ses attentions. Il me respectait toujours et ne passait jamais la ligne.

 

46.       One day he showed me his family pictures and his bank book. The balance was 335,600 dollars. Un jour, il me montra ses photos de famille et son livre de compte. Le solde tait de 335 600 dollars.

 

47.       I moved from mainland China when I was ten. When they announced I could work here, I went to get a Hong Kong citizen card. So I have been working here happily, and I am still single.  Jai quitt la Chine quand javais 10 ans. Quand jai su que je pouvais travailler ici, Je suis venu pour avoir une carte didentit hongkongaise. Alors jai travaill avec beaucoup passion, et je suis toujours clibataire .

 

48.       I did not care much about his words because my heart was still with my crippled husband and the kids. I couldnt cheat them. Je nai pas fais trs attention ses phrases car mon cur portait toujours vers mon mari (handicap) et mes enfants. Je ne pouvais pas les abandonner.

 

49.       One day when I got back from work, I saw him talking with my old master. I was surprised. Un jour, en revenant du travail, je lai vu en train de parler avec mon ancienne patronne. JՎtais surprise.

 

50.       Hong stays here with me as a wife Excuse me. Wife.  Hong reste ici avec moi comme ma femme .  Excusez-moi .  Femme .

 

51.       Why was the old master here? And why did you tell her that I was your wife? It was not good for me.  Pourquoi mon ancienne patronne tais l ? Et pourquoi lui avez-vous dis que jՎtais votre femme ? Ce nՎtais pas bien pour moi .

 

52.       Your old boss wanted me to find her a new servant. I am not going.  Votre ancienne patronne voulais que je lui trouve une nouvelle servante .  Je nirais pas .

 

53.       Even if you want to, I wouldnt let you. I told her that you were my wife because I love you and want you to actually be my wife. And you will loose nothing staying with me.   Mme si vous le souhaitiez, je ne vous laisserais pas partir. Je lui  ai dit que vous tiez ma femme parce que je vous aime et je voudrais que vous soyez ma femme. Et vous ne perdrez rien en restant avec moi .

 

54.       But I have three kids and my husband is still alive. Never mind, I will support your family.  Mais jai trois enfants et mon mari est toujours en vie .  Ca ne fait rien, je moccuperais de votre famille .

 

55.       Please give me some time to decide. And I will let you know. It is up to you. I dont want to force you. I can wait for you until the day you are free.  Sil vous plait, laisser-moi du temps pour rflchir. Et je donnerais me rponse .  Cest vous de dcider. Je ne veux pas vous forcer. Je peux vous attendre jusquau jour o vous serez libre .

 

56.       A few days later, I received a letter from my brother that my husband was dead. And they had already taken care of the funeral. Quelques jours plus tard, jai reu une lettre de mon frre me disant que mon mari tait mort. Et quil sՎtait aussi occup des funrailles.

 

57.       I will be in Thailand for while and I will come back to work here.  Je vais aller un peu en Taillande et je reviendrais pour travailler ici .

 

58.       He gave me ten thousand dollars and asked for my love. I accepted and was his because I was no longer attached to my husband. Il me donna 10 000 dollards et me demanda mon amour. Jacceptais parce que je nՎtais plus attache mon mari.

 

59.       In the morning, he bought me a plane ticket. He told me not to bring many clothes because he was worried I will not be back to him. Le matin, il macheta un billet davion. Il me dit de ne pas prendre beaucoup daffaires parce quil tait inquiet que je ne revienne pas.

 

60.       I was in Thailand for thirteen days and told my brother that I will fly back to work. He agreed to raise the kids. I called Ah-Seng to pick me up at the airport. JՎtais en Taillande depuis 15 jours et jai dis mon frre que jallais rentrer travailler. Il tait daccord pour soccuper des enfants. Jai appell Ah-Sengh pour qui vienne me chercher laroport.

 

61.       At the airport, he was waiting for me. He embraced me without caring who were watching. Please stop, I am embarrassed. I am holding my wife. It is not against the law. A laroport, il mattendais. Il membrassa sans faire attention aux gens qui pouvais nous regarder.

 

62.       I have been living with him until now. He has always been kind. He supports my family every month. I seem to be a very lucky person Jai vcu avec lui jusquՈ aujourdhui. Il a toujours t gentil. Il entretient ma famille tous les mois.  Je crois que je suis une femme chanceuse .