How I domesticated myself
My roommates and I have started sharing food and eating dinner together yesterday evening, and we made an agreement that everyday we would alternate in washing dishes. After eating a dinner of pork chops (which I feel very guilty about), fried fish (which I didn’t eat), and menudo (a dish that has tomato sauce in it), I remembered that tonight is my turn to do the dishes.
Washing the dishes has always been my least favorite household chore. There’s just something about seeing leftover food swirling around the sink that makes me feel like throwing up. Of course, I couldn’t very well tell that to my roommates lest I be mistaken for a stupid conyo bitch who can’t bring herself to touch a speck of dirt for fear of contamination or loss of poise or whatever. With a resigned sigh, I collected everyones’ plates and made my way to the sink.
For the first time ever, I was able to appreciate the fact that I have household helpers to do the dishwashing at home for me. Washing dishes isn’t exactly a traumatizing experience that left me with a phobia for kitchen sinks, but it’s not exactly the kind of activity I would want to spend more than half an hour on. I’m not so sure why it took me so long. It was probably because of my inexperience. For some reason, I kept washing the same dish over and over again because washing it once wouldn’t make it squeaky-clean and shiny. I think it had something to do with the menudo. Why, oh why, did my turn have to come on a day when we ate something with tomato sauce? Do you have any idea how difficult it is to remove tomato sauce from a plate??? Do you? Do you!?!?!?
Eventually I got the dishes done, but then I also had to clean up a tomato sauce-streaked kitchen counter and remove some of the burnt food stuck to the bottom of the pan. I think the pan was the worst part. First I tried scraping the black stuff off with a knife. But when the knife wouldn’t remove the tiny little particles that clung stubbornly onto the pan, I had to use my nails. It wasn’t very pleasant, since my nails kept making this annoying screeching sound whenever I would scratch at the metal. Grr. I suddenly had an awful vision of myself, twenty years from now, washing the dishes after dinner while my hubby and my dear little children are having the time of their lives in front of the TV. Everyday, until the day I die, I would be cooking, cleaning, and washing dishes. Is that what I’m getting my college degree for? To be my future family’s scullery maid? Is burnt food the real reason why women keep their nails long? I sratched at the pan furiously and made a mental note to never marry someone who would let me do all the household work.
An eternity later, I finally completed my chore. My back hurt from bending for so long and I probably made my posture more terrible than it already is. My hands felt rough and dry, and the scraping made me break one of my nails. But there was something about the clean dishes on the dish dryer and the clean, white kitchen counter winking at me that made me feel as though I accomplished something. 
However, it’s still a relief to know that someone else will be doing the dishes for the rest of the week. Whew. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an essay to write.
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19 Responses to “How I domesticated myself”
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I feel for you girl. Washing the dishes sure aren’t my thing…Nuh-uh. I always get away with it by offering to cook instead. At least that means you get to dirty the dishes instead of cleaning th stinky dishes…The ugly part is after washing the dishes when your hands begin to stink and feel oily…God, not my hands, the only thing that God made beautiful….:P
There’s the dishwasher but that’s not often used in the Philippines. And you can use rubber gloves while washing the dishes if you don’t want your hands to smell after the washing. After doing all that, apply Vitamin E lotion to your hands so they don’t dry out.
You girls should wear gloves when you do the dishes…that’s what I do and so my hands don’t exactly get affected by oily dishes and being in water for so long
some conyo people are more down to earth than you think. Just because they’re conyo doesn’t mean that they’re incapable of doing household tasks. I know some conyo people who enjoy it.
I never minded doing the dishes when i was a kid cuz it meant that i got to play in the soapy water. Nowadays though i don’t like doing themb ut i don’t hate the task either. I only hate it when the food gets into the drain and you have to clear it out. it’s so squooshy and gross feeling.
I like doing dishes for some twisted reason
I find it calming hehe. Sometimes you have to let the pans/dishes soak in water for awhile so that it’s easier to clean (all the stuck bits loosen). And hey, you better not be envisioning a future like that! I’d kick my husband and children’s ass if they made me do all the household chores!!
Sounds like you need some rubber gloves and a pan scraper.
Can we also use sand to take out those gunk underneath the pans?
well, not scullery maid.
It just depends on what kind of a wife you wanna be, you know. You could be a working woman even with kids but it’s a lot tougher.
Like everything else…balance is always the key. Time management is in order, I suppose.
I think she was referring to the “leftover food on the sink” when she made the conyo comment. Seeing those squishy things on the drain reminds me of vomit.
I’ll do all the cleaning, dear. You are a queen and you should be treated like one. I’ll be your servant.
Hehehe, you poor thing. Dishes are hard to get used to if you’ve never had to do them before. There’s a certain technique you pick up after a few times, so don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it eventually.
It would probably help your stomach if you scraped all the bits of uneaten food off the plate and into the bin. If you get the plate as scrap-free as possible before you start washing, you can avoid problems like nausea and a clogged drainpipe.
Dishes can be fun. Pretend you’re in kindergarten again and playing around the water trough. 
Wear floaties if you have to or buy a rubber duckie to keep you company by the sink.
well, I guess the best solution is just use paper or styro plates. No hassles!
Yuck, dishes
*L* I make Ray do them all.. I cook, I take out most of the trash (if it is not too heavy).. and he does the dishes! and all the dirty work like cleaning the toilet! *L* 
I could never do that! I gag way too much!
I know, but it was the only food available and I was hugnry. =P I felt very guilty about it though.
and you are the king!
Lauren, hon, you gotta soak the dishes first.
Fucks sake man you pussywhipped loser.