Every weekend «faxina» – An interview with Alana Morais Paes

Alana Morais Paes, 27, moved from Fortaleza, Brazil, to Switzerland with her mother when she was 16. While her mother returned two years ago, Alana met her husband here and decided to stay. Today, they live in Zurich with their two children.

What was the biggest challenge for you in Switzerland?

At the beginning, I was very homesick. I often cried because I missed my hometown so much. But over time, I got used to this change, and shortly after, I met my husband. He also migrated from Brazil to Switzerland when he was 13 years old. Today, I can’t imagine leaving Switzerland.

How did you become a domestic help?

When I came to Switzerland, I was 16 years old and therefore still required to attend school. That’s why I was supposed to attend an integration school here. But all the classes were already full. After two years of waiting, I turned eighteen and no longer had to go to school. To avoid sitting around at home, I decided to work as a domestic help.

Do you have other jobs?

Yes, I also work as a nail designer. When I started at the age of nine, it was still a matter of practice. But now I’m quite good at it and do it professionally at home. Up until two months ago, I also worked at McDonald’s and at a gas station as a cashier. That was too much, especially with the children.

Have you also worked for a cleaning company?

Yes, at Batmaid. Unfortunately, the work there was very stressful and my salary was very low at 19 Swiss francs an hour. So I decided to get directly employed. My employers – I still know them from Batmaid – now use quitt and pay me 26 to 28 Swiss francs per hour.

What is your relationship like with your employers?

Good! Cleanliness is very important to us Brazilians. Accordingly, we clean often. On weekends, we always have «faxina», where the whole household is thoroughly cleaned. Although I don’t see my employers that often, they know that I do my job well and trust me. I have keys to all apartments.

What does a typical workday look like?

I work as a cleaning assistant every Thursday and Friday, for two to three hours each. Sometimes it’s four to five hours. After work, I pick up my children from school, help them shower, and cook for us. Then we do their homework.

Is there anything you don’t like to do?

Ironing. With one employer, I also do the laundry. But luckily, I only have to fold it afterward (laughs).

What music do you listen to at work?

I like to listen to Brazilian music, such as Forró or Brazilian rap.

Who cleans at your home?

Me. My husband doesn’t do anything (laughs), which I can understand. After all, he works full-time.

How do you spend your day off?

I prefer to spend it with my family. We often go for walks. If I can, I also lie down for a bit and relax. Otherwise, I like to try out new restaurants. I really like Thai cuisine because, with its many spices, it’s close to Brazilian cuisine.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to get my driver’s license. That would be a great relief in everyday life with my children. Although I haven’t started driving lessons yet, I’m studying for the theory test and simultaneously taking a German course, as the exam will be in German. It’s quite a challenge; since my husband is also Brazilian, we only speak Portuguese at home.

What are your plans for retirement?

To return to Brazil one day. But I always want to keep one foot in Switzerland. On one hand, I miss the sea and the warmth, but on the other hand, the quality of life here is simply better. My children probably wouldn’t go to Brazil forever either, because they grew up here. But they always look forward to going on vacation to Fortaleza.