Crafting in Spanish class – An interview with Rosi Lorena Moreno Delgado

Rosi Lorena Moreno Delgado, 36, gave up her job as a self-employed shoe saleswoman in Venezuela a year and a half ago and moved to Switzerland with her two daughters to be with her husband. Here, she works as a cleaning assistant and nanny.

How did you become a household help?

I couldn’t speak German, nor did I have a diploma. That’s a big disadvantage in the Swiss job market. Starting as a nanny wasn’t easy either. However, I just gave it a try. «I can do this», I said to myself. After all, I have children of my own. Besides, we women work in the household our whole lives anyway. Through my aunt, who works in a daycare, I met my first employer. After a trial day, we realized it was a good fit.

Have you ever worked illegally?

No, never. Having a legal employment was important to me from the beginning. Fortunately, my employer shared the same opinion. She searched the internet for a possible solution and came across quitt. I’m very happy. Since then, quitt has been my condition: «You want me to work with you? Fine, but only through quitt» (laughs).

What does a typical workday look like?

I work about 30 hours a week for five different employers. So every day is a bit different. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, for example, I’m with a family of five. I start cleaning at 8 a.m. When I’m done, I cook, and we have lunch with the children; sometimes their friends join us. In the afternoon, I accompany them to their classes: soccer, swimming, and ballet. When we return at 5:30 p.m., I head home. Sometimes, I prepare dinner before I leave.

What do your employers particularly appreciate about you?

The way I interact with their children: lovingly but firmly. I show them affection, give them kisses and hugs. We often play together, go to the park, and goof around. Nevertheless, we are very respectful of each other. My employers always ask how I do it. It’s simple: I tell them what I like and what I don’t like. If they don’t behave well, I become stricter, and more serious. That way, they know my boundaries.

Is there anything you don’t like to do?

Look, I don’t shy away from any task: I make pizza, accompany the children to their classes, help them get a bath… Once, one of the children had head lice, and of course, I didn’t mind combing them out; that’s normal. But ironing, I hate that! It’s the one thing I don’t do.

Do you have a cleaning trick?

I focus on efficiency. I ask my employers if the bed needs to be remade. If so, I remove the bed linen first and throw it in the washing machine so it dries in time. Then I head for the bathroom because that’s the room that takes up the most time. Once the bathroom is clean, the whole apartment feels clean.

Who cleans at your home?

My husband (laughs). Yes, really! He supports me a lot. We both work all day. When we come home, we support each other. I prepare dinner, and he does the dishes.

What do you do after work?

Take time for my family. At the dinner table, I ask my children and my husband how they’re doing and how their day was. That’s the most important thing to me. Sometimes, I’m so tired that all I want to do afterward is take a shower and go to bed.

How do you spend your day off?

I love listening to music: Latin American music, pop, and anything else that’s cheerful. When it’s warmer outside, we also go for a walk or a bike ride. But my favorite thing to do is watch a movie at home and relax.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to take a German course because good German skills are a prerequisite for training in childcare. It’s a pity that this diploma matters that much. After all, it’s just a piece of paper and says nothing about how well you deal with children. However, if it means I can get a higher salary, I’m willing to do it.