This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
My heart breaks when I see my fellow workers being scolded in public by their employers. They cannot ask for help because their phone has been confiscated. They give me that Do not talk to me look, because they are not allowed to talk to others. There are so many of them here, domestic workers that suffer.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
He told me, go back to your country. He doesn’t want to see me. Later he brings a knife, he says to me he wants to die, you kill me, I kill you, death is good. I talked very softly to the old man. Please give me this knife. I took it but he was angry. I was so scared. Eventually I called for police. But police keep my passport and work permit, telling me to go back to Myanmar or go back to my agency. There is so much sadness in my heart. How do I support my daddy? Many months I have worked as a maid, but the agency cut all my pay. I cannot afford to go back.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
I never have a whole Sunday off to go church, unwind with friends. I must first do my work before I leave the house. I should be happy, some of my friends are not allowed to have a day off. Freedom for a domestic worker is limited, if it exists at all. Everyone loves freedom, but a lot of people don’t understand the meaning. They let other people suffer, just so they have more freedom themselves. The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom is courage.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
So many women want to forget about their life because life is rarely easy. I try to make my life lovely by thinking I don’t want to be poor. So every day I think about a good life. This is my system. This is how I cope. Everybody has so many problems. You cry, or you try. Don’t cry forever.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
My first employer was good, but I did not feel safe working there, as the old grandfather I took care of touched me inappropriately. The problem was, when I first came to this new country they cut my salary for seven months. And every time I wanted to change employers, I had to pay two more months of salary. But I did not have much of a choice. At the time I had no handphone, no day off. And my family is very poor, so I needed to take any job my agent offered me.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
We were working non-stop. The only moment we could rest was sleeping time. If I made mistakes, my employer always asked the questions and gave the answers himself, not letting me defend myself. I was physically tired but just as much mentally. The kids were sometimes fine but sometimes, they kicked me or punched me. I felt miserable. After a full day of work but I would have additional physical pain due to what the kids were doing to me.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
My beginning in Hong Kong was very difficult. I had to adjust to so many things. I had to learn so much. The day I arrived at my employer’s house, I was very excited but also nervous. Very soon, I got disappointed. In the one year and two months that I worked there, I did not get a single day off. I could not visit a single place.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
Working here is not easy, because we must clean all the time. And the children are so spoiled. We must do what they want. Sometimes, they shout, they kick our legs, slap our face, but we cannot say anything because they are the children of our employers. I was very timid and I needed to control my emotions to prevent homesickness.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
When I first came to this country I felt dizzy and hungry while waiting at the airport for someone to fetch me. I was so nervous. After that, I bought a coffee, and I was in shock; it was so small but it cost so much. During my stay at my employer’s house, I did not have enough rest and food. They kept my phone, and there was no way for me to communicate with my family. When I ate, the daughter of my family told me I ate too much while I was only eating bread and worked very hard.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
If only I could turn back the time, to when I first started to get headaches, and could not sleep well. To when I first noticed my stomach bloating, even though my appetite had disappeared. This was the time that I should have told my employer I needed to see a doctor. But I ignored my body. It is all my own fault, I was only thinking of others, I never thought about myself. I had never thought I was already so sick. Now I am already at the last chapter of my life. Thank you for being my friend. Until we meet again.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
For those in difficult circumstances I say do not walk away from God, have faith in him. My religion has helped me a lot in overcoming my problems in my personal life. No woman would want to experience what I did, but my journey was worth it in the end, as I came out stronger. There was a purpose behind the pain.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
I am the hero of this story. My husband cheated on me thrice after I left to work in a foreign country. It was difficult to even start to process this, especially since I was far away from him, across an ocean. The people I work for do not understand our struggles, the pain of leaving our kids behind, becoming a stranger to them, not being able to be by their side for years when they need a mother to care for them, especially when they are sick. Through these struggles I have been able to prove to myself that I am strong. In spite of being alone in this foreign land, I was able to survive and conquer my fears. My family are far away in the Philippines, they do not know about my troubles. They never knew that I was once on the edge of giving up, of losing hope.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
I am thankful to God that I now work with a good family. I previously worked as a caregiver to an elderly lady. At first I thought I was blessed, I was working with a christian family. He is a Pastor. I loved my work even though it was tiring and I did not have my own room. I was disappointed that they treated us as a slave. We cannot eat their food even grapes it seems they are counting. They gave us rotten fruit. After the husband started to touch me inappropriately I looked for another family.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
I work in a local Hawker centre. I am a proud, breadwinner who loves his family. Recently I collapsed with a stroke. My employer was quite supportive, however, insurance could not cover my care because a stroke is a stress related condition not a work related injury. Physiotherapy is the only way to regain use of my paralysed body. I know my stress is work related, because all I do is work. My monthly wage including as much overtime as possible is $700. Every day I lied to my family that life was good, so as not to worry them. Eventually the physical and emotional stress led to this stroke.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
I am person who really not say been through alot but i would like to say going through times where i got scolded and punished by my parents, i really hope that a have a 2nd personality to cope with me through those times. I have stolen from my family a number of times, some might say i am young.. well i have to agree but now thinking back , Hey! I just wanted to be noticed. I was the oldest out of 3 children, and i was always told since i am the oldest i have to set an example. But now i know, i am me, not an example, i want to try and find the path i want to go and strive towards it, I am not the oldest I am me.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
To me, the people around me are constantly telling me I'm blessed to have such good friends, and am blessed with such a good family. Im grateful for all of that, but i think that what people dont know is that i feel lonely sometimes. Even with so many people around me, I'm always overthinking about things and making myself unhappy. It is not that i crave for more, I just feel that sometimes i dont appreciate the people by my side as much.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
I am male, I am a brother, I am happy, I am confused, I am searching for something, I have Faith, I am a dreamer, I am stressed, I have lied.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
I am from China, currently studying in SG. I am 19 years old now and I celebrated 3 birthday here (which means that I live in SG about 3 years already)
I realize that time flies and I always feel a bit sad because I do not really like Singapore since it is not what I think it is before I come here, the accent, the environment (a small city). However, I don't hate this city cuz it is very safe and clean. I have signed a contract with poly which requires me to work in SG for 3 years after graduation, this really make me unhappy since I want to spend that 3 years in other countries, I want to explore more. I have friends here, closed friends, but I don't know why I feel lonely quite often, my first sem's GPA is quite low so I am stressed now... but I believe effort never lies, gonna try my best in this sem.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
I Have high IQ but low EQ. I think I may be happier the other way round.
This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of the Human Archive Project
For 2 years I had the deepest infatuation for her, poured my heart and soul into her, but she didn't like me at all. After 2 years, she told me she told me the opposite. But by then, I left her and I was gone. Ironically, both of us were shattered. But, I still miss her.