Abstract:

This ethnography provides a look into the lives of a community of Thai domestic workers in Hong Kong. Thai domestic helpers perform their duties in their employers’ homes from Monday through Saturday and, as foreign domestic helpers, are required to live in. Many of them take time off on Sunday to Kowloon City, often known as ‘Little Thailand,’ rather than stay with their employers. By eating Thai food, celebrating Thai festivals, and purchasing Thai items throughout the holidays, the Thai community in Kowloon City is strengthened and connections are made with the Thai immigrants who arrived in Hong Kong earlier. This study uses participant observation to explore the networks of Thai domestic helpers during Sunday, with the goal of discovering deeply the contributions these individuals’ ethnic networks make to the Thai community in Kowloon City.