I live in University Housing, with maid service 2-3 times a week. Change the sheets, mop the floor, clean the bathroom. with
Saw a rat in my kitchen last night. Life on the ground floor I guess. Went to the Bao An and they brought over a couple of sticky-pad rat traps. Nothing by morning. After morning classes, still nothing. Took a nap after lunch and still nothing. Woke at 4 and nothing. Going out at 5 to the store, I looked in and there was a rat stuck to the mat and struggling-the door was closed so I didn’t hear the squealing. I'm queasy about such stuff, but as I walked out in search of the Bao An the cleaning lady happened to be outside. She was aware of the issue. She walked in and scooped up the rat and mat.
By this time I could hear the rat's squeaking. She bought it outside and squatted on the ground near the fence. I wasn't sure what she was doing. I thought at first she was trying to release the rat back into the wild. I know this woman is a devout Buddhist because she's commented on some of the Buddhist stuff I have in my apartment when she's cleaning it. Another foreign teacher- very Alpha ride back on his bike at that moment, and I told him what had happened. After giving me a lecture about the poor construction of the plumbing and piping system, He walked over to check what she was doing.
I had said, “This is stupid to release the rat back into the wild.” He said, “Don't worry.The cats will get it.”
But when he came back from watching her, he said, “No she's killing it humanely.”
After she had finished and left, I went to the back to find her to thank her. I found her behind the building with a shovel digging a hole, presumably for the recently demised rat.
I offered her some cash-xiao fei-for having taking carre of the problem. She refused to accept it, with an”It’s my job” excuse.
Still, I feel indebted to her for helping and also a bit guilty that she did the dirty work of finally disposing of the rat. So tomorrow I hope to present her with one of the two sets of Tan prayer beads I have (and which she has commented on before). Hopefully she”ll accept this small token of appreciation.