Between banana and coffee plantations – An interview with Carmen Morales Bealcazar 

Carmen Morales Bealcazar, 58, bears the name of her birthplace Morales, a small village in Colombia. Shortly after her birth, the twelve-member family moved to the city of Cali, about two and a half hours away. At the age of 24, Carmen visited her sister in Switzerland, got married, and decided to stay. 

What was the biggest challenge for you in Switzerland?  

Initially, I had difficulties learning German. My then-husband learned Spanish to communicate with me. By the time we returned from our one-month trip to Japan, he already knew the language. During that time, I worked in a «Taverna Catalana», where most people spoke Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian. And when I started working as a household help two and a half years later, my employers were from England, America, or Sweden, so we communicated only in English. Therefore, I took every opportunity to attend German courses.  

How did you become a household help?  

I worked as a cleaning assistant from time to time. Initially, for a cleaning company, then for private individuals. Then, for the next 17 years, I worked in a retirement home, where I spent time in the kitchen, doing the laundry, and cleaning the rooms. That was a difficult time for me because I’m a quiet person and like things to be peaceful. I knew that working as a household help, where I could do my tasks independently, suited me better. Thanks to a recommendation from my daughter’s mother-in-law, I finally found employment with a family in a private household. 

How many employers do you have?  

I have five employers via quitt. Another two employers handle the payroll themselves.  

What is your relationship like with your employers? 

They are all very nice and friendly to me, which makes me really happy. It doesn’t matter to me how much work is waiting for me in the apartment. As long as people are friendly and uncomplicated, I enjoy going to work and I’m in a good mood. I even sing (laughs). 

Is there anything you don’t like to do? 

I have been cooking since I was seven years old, because we were ten children and supported each other. The younger children stayed at home to help with the cooking while the older ones went to school or work. Later, when I was working in Switzerland, my husband took over the cooking for me, and I knew I had won the lottery (laughs). 

Is there anything you would change about your job? 

I think the effort involved in cleaning an apartment is underestimated. Cleaning a 4.5-room apartment in three hours is simply impossible if you want to do your job properly. Sometimes, there are children playing while I’m there; then there are toys everywhere that need to be tidied up first. In addition, the garbage has to be disposed of, the compost emptied and washed, and the laundry ironed and folded – and that’s not all. All these tasks take time. That’s why I’m no longer willing to work for free, even if it’s just for a trial day. Many cleaning companies still profit from people in this way, and that’s not fair. 

How do you spend your day off? 

I love spending time with my grandchildren. On weekends, we paint together or play games. We also like to dance and sing, and I try to keep up (laughs). 

Where do you go on vacation? 

Once a year, I travel to Colombia to soak up the sun and recharge my batteries. I grew up in Cali, a city in the mountains between banana and coffee plantations. The weather here is like spring; it’s pleasantly warm during the day and the evenings tend to be milder. This allows the population to harvest two to three times a year. 

What are your plans for the future? 

I dream of a small piece of land in Colombia. There, I would grow my own tomatoes and onions, fresh food free of pesticides. And then I would live a quiet, happy life with my three dogs – my children, as I call them.