• 01华人保姆的困境与挑战

    ◉ 生存困境

    在美国，华人保姆面临着文化、语言和社会环境的多重阻碍。由于文化背景、语言差异以及社会环境等多重因素的影响，她们在融入当地社会和应对法律问题时往往感到力不从心。同时，法律的缺陷使她们的生活和工作更加困难。美国相关法律的不完善和执行的不严格，也为她们的工作和生活带来了诸多不便。

    2016年7月13日深夜，美国明尼苏达州伍德伯里的一条街道上，一个身影在夜色中若隐若现，摇摇晃晃，为这条寂静的街道增添了一抹诡异气息。那是一位年近六旬的华人妇女，她的身体上布满了伤痕，尤其是那双臃肿的眼睛，与健全的那只形成了鲜明对比。当她独自一人在大街上步履蹒跚时，被路过的巡逻警发现并带回了警局进行调查。经过翻译的协助，警方了解到，这位名叫韩郭玲的女性不仅无法说英语，还涉及到一个错综复杂的案件。

    01 The Dilemmas and Challenges of Chinese Nannies

    ◉ Survival Dilemmas

    In the United States, Chinese nannies face multiple obstacles related to culture, language, and social environment. Due to the influence of cultural background, language differences, and social environment, they often feel overwhelmed when integrating into local society and dealing with legal issues. At the same time, legal deficiencies make their lives and work even more difficult. The imperfections and lax enforcement of relevant U.S. laws also bring many inconveniences to their work and lives.

    Late at night on July 13, 2016, on a street in Woodbury, Minnesota, a figure appeared and disappeared in the darkness, swaying unsteadily, adding an eerie atmosphere to the quiet street. It was a Chinese woman nearing sixty years old, her body covered in scars, especially her swollen eyes, a stark contrast to her healthy one. As she staggered alone on the street, she was discovered by a passing patrol officer and taken to the police station for investigation. With the help of a translator, the police learned that the woman, named Han Guoling, not only could not speak English, but was also involved in a complex case.

    那么韩郭玲身上的伤痕究竟从何而来？为何她来到美国后却无法说英语？她的生活背后又隐藏着怎样的故事？

    ◉ 韩郭玲个案

    韩郭玲来自福建渔村，生活艰辛，孤身赴美，成为涉外家政保姆，却遭遇语言障碍和非法居留的威胁。韩郭玲，一个来自福建东山岛小渔村的女性，她的生活与海洋紧密相连。小时候，一家人以捕鱼为生，日子虽然清苦，但还能勉强维持。然而，在韩郭玲18岁那年，父亲因重病倒下，家庭的重担瞬间压在了她的肩上。面对困境，韩郭玲不得不离开家乡，前往上海寻找生活的出路。

    来到上海后，韩郭玲深感缺乏文化的困境，使得她在找工作时屡屡碰壁。在这个繁华的都市中，她似乎找不到属于自己的位置，不得不身兼数职以维持生计。无论是饭店服务员还是后厨清洗，只要能找到一份工作，对她而言便是莫大的慰藉。尽管生活艰辛且收入微薄，但她从未放弃过努力。转眼间数十年过去，如今的韩郭玲已年过半百，组建了家庭并育有子女。她依然保持着那份坚韧不拔的精神，为了给孩子们一个更好的未来，她仍在不懈地奋斗着。如今的韩郭玲，已从昔日的艰辛中走出，成功转型为一名专职保姆。

    2015年年中，韩郭玲意外接到了前雇主黄丽丽的来电。黄丽丽邀请她前往美国，继续在她家中担任保姆一职，并许诺了高达八千元的美金月薪。这无疑为韩郭玲带来了巨大的经济诱惑，家中当时的困境也让她迫切需要这笔收入。经过深思熟虑后，韩郭玲最终决定接受黄丽丽的提议。目前，国内将此类行为统称为“涉外家政”业务，这一服务在我国各大发达城市均已广泛开展。

    So where did Han Guoling's scars come from? Why couldn't she speak English after arriving in the United States? What stories lie hidden behind her life?

    ◉ Han Guoling's Case

    Han Guoling comes from a fishing village in Fujian. Life was hard for her. She went to the United States alone to work as a domestic helper, but faced language barriers and the threat of illegal residency. Han Guoling, a woman from a small fishing village on Dongshan Island in Fujian, had her life closely connected to the sea. As a child, her family made a living by fishing; life was hard, but they managed to survive. However, when Han Guoling was 18, her father fell seriously ill, and the burden of the family suddenly fell on her shoulders. Faced with this predicament, Han Guoling had no choice but to leave her hometown and go to Shanghai to find a way to make a living.

    After arriving in Shanghai, Han Guoling deeply felt the disadvantage of her lack of education, which caused her to repeatedly encounter setbacks in her job search. In this bustling metropolis, she seemed unable to find her place and had to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet. Whether it was working as a restaurant server or a kitchen helper, finding any job was a great comfort to her. Despite the hardships and meager income, she never gave up. Decades have passed in the blink of an eye, and Han Guoling is now over fifty, with a family and children. She still maintains that indomitable spirit, relentlessly striving for a better future for her children. Today, Han Guoling has emerged from her past hardships and successfully transitioned into a full-time nanny.

    In mid-2015, Han Guoling unexpectedly received a call from her former employer, Huang Lili. Huang Lili invited her to come to the United States to continue working as a nanny in her home, promising a monthly salary of up to eight thousand US dollars. This was undoubtedly a huge financial temptation for Han Guoling, and her family's financial difficulties at the time made this income urgently needed. After careful consideration, Han Guoling finally decided to accept Huang Lili's offer. Currently, such activities are collectively referred to as "international domestic service" in China, and this service is widely available in major developed cities across the country.

    然而，目前这种涉外家政业务尚不成熟，主要因为家政公司仅能协助办理旅游签证。一旦旅游签证到期，涉外保姆在国外将面临非法居留的困境，这不仅可能导致社会福利的缺失，更严重的是，人身安全将无法得到保障。

    ◉ 案件情节与发展

    韩郭玲在黄丽丽家中遭受身心虐待，最终在警方与律师协助下获得法律胜利。黄丽丽所居住的豪宅位置，显示了黄家的雄厚财力。韩郭玲初次踏入这样的居所，仿佛置身于梦幻之中。然而，旅游签证很快到期，黄丽丽却扣留了她的护照，并展现出不同的态度，称美国犯罪率高，对华人存在广泛歧视，并警告一旦有关部门发现韩郭玲的非法居留，将面临严厉惩罚。面对黄丽丽的威胁，韩郭玲深感无助，因为她不仅离家千里，更缺乏语言交流能力。在黄丽丽的控制下，她每天过着提心吊胆的生活，稍有不慎便会受到无休止的辱骂。

    However, this type of international domestic service business is currently immature, mainly because domestic service companies can only assist with obtaining tourist visas. Once the tourist visa expires, the international domestic helper will face the predicament of illegal residence abroad, which may not only lead to a lack of social welfare but, more seriously, jeopardize her personal safety.

    ◉ Case Details and Development Han Guoling suffered physical and mental abuse in Huang Lili's home, but ultimately won a legal victory with the assistance of the police and lawyers. The location of Huang Lili's luxurious mansion demonstrated the Huang family's immense wealth. Han Guoling's first visit to such a residence felt like a dream. However, her tourist visa soon expired, and Huang Lili confiscated her passport, displaying a different attitude, claiming that the crime rate in the United States was high and that there was widespread discrimination against Chinese people, and warning that if the relevant authorities discovered Han Guoling's illegal residence, she would face severe punishment. Faced with Huang Lili's threats, Han Guoling felt helpless, not only because she was thousands of miles from home but also because she lacked the language skills to communicate. Under Huang Lili's control, she lived in constant fear, and the slightest mistake would result in endless insults.

    在黄家，韩郭玲不仅要应对繁重的家务，还要照顾五口人的生活。韩郭玲，一位已经57岁高龄的老人，在这样的环境下承受着巨大的身心压力。黄丽丽对韩郭玲的苛刻程度逐渐升级，甚至动手并剥夺她的饮食权利。更令人发指的是，黄丽丽甚至让女儿骑坐在韩郭玲身上，强迫她跪在地上绕屋子爬行。

    2016年7月13日的深夜，黄丽丽再次对韩郭玲实施了暴力行为。韩郭玲趁黄家人睡熟之际，悄然从黄家逃离，并最终在警方与律师的协助下，获得法庭的胜利。美国法庭对黄丽丽进行了一审宣判：判处其有期徒刑一年，并责令支付拖欠韩郭玲的工资报酬，共计3万美元。

    ◉ 行业与启示

    In the Huang family home, Han Guoling not only had to cope with heavy housework but also care for five people. Han Guoling, a 57-year-old woman, endured immense physical and mental stress in this environment. Huang Lili's harsh treatment of Han Guoling escalated, even resorting to physical violence and depriving her of food. Even more appalling, Huang Lili forced her daughter to ride on Han Guoling's back, compelling her to crawl on the floor around the house.

    On the night of July 13, 2016, Huang Lili again subjected Han Guoling to violence. Taking advantage of the Huang family's sleep, Han Guoling quietly escaped from the Huang family home and, with the assistance of the police and lawyers, ultimately won a court case. The US court issued a first-instance verdict against Huang Lili: sentencing her to one year in prison and ordering her to pay Han Guoling $30,000 in unpaid wages.

    ◉ Industry and Lessons Learned

    涉外家政尚不成熟，需谨慎。提醒在招聘中的潜在陷阱，强调提高自身能力的重要性。从事“涉外家政”工作需要支付签证费用，且该费用由雇主和雇员共同承担，比例为前三后七。在招聘网站上，诱人的广告语引人注意，然而这为犯罪团伙提供了可乘之机。这也提醒我们，涉足任何新领域之前，充分的市场调查和行业了解至关重要，以保障自身利益不受损害。同时，不要轻信所谓的“熟人”介绍，保持警惕，确保自己的安全。在这个充满竞争与机遇的时代，提升自己的能力和实力才是关键，这样才能在任何地方都能展现出自己的价值。

    The international domestic service industry is still immature and requires caution. It highlights potential pitfalls in recruitment and emphasizes the importance of improving one's own capabilities. Working in "international domestic service" requires paying visa fees, which are shared between the employer and employee, with a 30/70 split. While enticing advertisements on recruitment websites are eye-catching, they provide opportunities for criminal gangs. This reminds us that thorough market research and industry understanding are crucial before venturing into any new field to protect our interests. Furthermore, do not blindly trust introductions from so-called "acquaintances," remain vigilant, and ensure your safety. In this era of competition and opportunity, enhancing one's skills and capabilities is key to demonstrating value anywhere.