Interview with OFWs: On Working Abroad

I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. In fact, I was raised by a wonderful single parent yet financially-challenged lady, my mom. Ever since then, surviving in this crazy world has always been a challenge. My mom had tried working as a secretary, promo girl, dressmaker, cook and I’ll-ask-her-later-cuz-i-forgot-kind-of jobs. Now that I have come of age and my mom is not getting any younger, I feel like it is now my turn to give her a happy and fulfilling life that she deserves. Don’t ask me about my dad, he has always been out of the picture. He’s like a catch-me-if-you-can type of dad. No, I am not Leonardo DeCaprio’s son. How I wish!

Anyway, I believe that working abroad will not only widen my horizon but will also potentially improve my career life. But just like any first-timers, I have fears on what’s in store for me out there. What will be the challenges that I’m going to encounter? So I made a little interview and my interviewees were the OFW blogger-friends that I met here in the so-called blogosphere. I sincerely thank them for their cooperation. I really am grateful. So read on and learn from the veterans. ;p

Note: You will be seeing cute faces below however please be aware that this is not a dating site.^_-

Click on their names to go to their respective sites. :)


Reesie of Reesie.net, USA

Me: How long have you been working as an OFW?
Reesie: 4 long years.

Me: Wow! That’s quite long already. What’s the biggest challenge that you have encountered as an OFW?

Reesie: Communication and culture gap. Conversational english (US) is way different than the Formal English that was taught to us since kindergarten. It took me a while to learn their slang and colloquial language. Additionally, I had to listen very well to my boss and co-workers when they spoke considering that their accent was difficult to understand, at first. My bisaya accent was so prevalent back then. It took me a year to adjust, adapt, and immerse in their languange.
But one major challenge that is very hard to overcome is the loneliness. Being alone and away from your family and friends is frustrating and unbearable sometimes. The first six months were the worst ones. The only thing that can get me through each day is the taught that I am helping my family back home- that they have a decent life because of me-to say the least.



KJ of KrisJasper.com, UK

Me: How long have you been working as an OFW?
I moved here Feb 2003.


Me: What’s the biggest challenge that you have encountered as an OFW?
Hmmm.. luckily my agents had put me in a cool workplace (up to now) I was the only foreigner before so it was cool! The only challenge I guess is just becoz I have chinky eyes they always assume I can speak chinese. LOL!

If you're thinking if I miss Pinas! Oh yeah! definitely! But good that there's TFC, everytime I see these terrible politicians arguing with each other, that puts me off from "early retiring" in Pinas. lol!


Rye aka Flamindevil, Malaysia

Me: How long have you been working as an OFW?
I’ve been in KL since August 18, 2008. I’m turning 8 months old. Yippee

Me: What’s the biggest challenge that you have encountered as an OFW?
Being away from my family and friends has been the biggest challenge yet. There are only two things which can happen when you’re working abroad--- either you’ll survive or not. The first few weeks were hell. I missed my family and friends terribly. Being away from one’s comfort zone is not the easiest challenge that a person may encounter. Most of the times, I still have to prepare my food after a hard day’s work. Even if I’m dead tired, I have no choice.

What are the pros and cons being an OFW?
I learned to be independent here in KL. I believe I matured fast. I made bold decisions without consulting my parents. I learned and realized that one could really survive and make it if he wants to. ‘If I Can, I will because I’m good at it.’ However, there are still times when I get lonely as much as I dun wanna entertain the idea. It usually happens during birthdays and holidays. I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic of the times when I was in Manila . I sometimes feel deprived of familiar warmth and affection. I inevitably wish for people who could light up my need for familiar faces, familiar voices and tested bond.

Sherwin, Iraq

How long have you been working as an OFW?
Worked in Saudi Arabia for 3 years and another 3 years in Iraq.

What’s the biggest challenge that you have encountered as an OFW?

Working abroad was like searching a needle inside the dark room, clueless and totally blind. I don’t have any idea what path I’m walking through but aside from those, I have learned to stand on my own feet, making decisions without somebody’s influence and live my life everyday as exciting as riding on a bicycle for the first time. A doubtful skin is all I have (maybe it’s just the thought that I’m a Filipino) and the fact that I’m in a religious Muslim country where the perfect intensive authority is implemented. But then again, I was able to gain experience when it comes to my chosen profession.

There you have it. The very inspiring answers of our OFW blogger friends. Hmm... I'm just soo excited to work abroad.

What’s Eating You?

It’s been almost a week or a little over a week since my last post. Actually, I already have made two rough drafts for my next entries. And what’s taking me so long to publish them is that I have been a little ambivalent on which entry should I publish first. And until now, I have still yet to decide. Thus, to make a halt on the increasing gap between my last post and my next post, I hereby, publish this “mema”-entry. Note: I got the term from ChaosPilot’s blog entry entitled “MEMA”. (Derived from “May ma-“ like memasabi lang or memapost lang. hehe)

I got tagged by Bluguy. According to the rule, answer each question in just one word. I’ll try.

Where is your cellphone? locker

Are you currently in a relationship? No

What's the color of your hair? black

Describe your work. chatting

Describe your sister. supergirl

What's your favorite thing? cellphone

What's your dream last night? mystical

What's your favorite drink? milk-tea

What's your dream car? Porsche-Panamera

The room you’re in: office

Describe your shoes. leather

What's your greatest fear? falling

What do you want to be in ten years? rich

Who did you hang-out with this week-end? cousins

What are you not good at? breakdancing

One of your wish list items: Sports-car

Where you grew up? Cebu


Last thing you did: bloghopping

Your pet: dog

Your computer: laptop

Your life: gift

Your mood: dizzy

What are thinking about right now? future

Your favorite color: olive-green

Last time you laughed: a-while-ago

Last time you cried: last-week

What do you think about school? cool

Describe love: crazy

Describe the person who gave you this tag: cool

Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment. - Grenville Kleiser 1868-1953, American Author

“What’s eating you?”

My 12-year old cousin was asking me, “Kuya, what’s eating you?” I was a little startled with her question, so I was like, “Huh?” Then she said, “Dugay na man ko wa kita nimo… what’s eating you?” (I haven’t seen you for a while, what’s eating you?)

Instead of answering her, I ran to the nearest computer and I made a little research about it. I googled, “what’s eating you?” (Akalain mong mas marami pang alam na figure of speech yung bata, kesa sakin. Tsk tsk!)

I learned that, “What’s Eating You?” can be interpreted as:
* What’s consuming your time lately?
* What’s bugging you?
* What’s making you busy lately?

So, what’s eating me lately?

Basically, these are the things that's currently "eating" me aside from my regular job:

• Blogging and Bloghopping - I am having fun, aren't you?


• Pet Society / Facebook
  Do you have a facebook account? If you do, and if you’ve heard about Pet Society, then yes, that’s one of the online games that’s currently consuming my time. Feel free to add me up. Simply search Ray Bajan on facebook and add me up. Thank you.

• DOTA: Defense of the Ancients is a custom scenario for Warcraft III, based on the "Aeon of Strife" map for StarCraft The objective of the scenario is to destroy the opponents' "Ancient". The two teams' ancients are heavily guarded structures at opposing corners of the map. Players use powerful units known as heroes, and are assisted by allied heroes and AI-controlled fighters called "creeps". As in role-playing games, players level up their hero and use gold to buy equipment during the mission. Source: Wikipedia.com

• Reading Awake! Magazine: Awake! is a general-interest magazine published by the The WatchTower Organization. The title comes from Mark 13:33 and Luke 12:36. It is considered a companion magazine to The Watchtower which focuses mostly on Bible study and doctrine. Awake! has a wider scope than the Watchtower, publishing articles on science, nature and geography, usually with a religious slant.


• Chatting with friends online. Most of these online friends are young OFW's. I have always dreamed of working abroad that's why almost every once in a while I give these guys a buzz on YM and ask them about how is it like living and working abroad.

On my next post, I will be featuring some young OFW with a glimpse of their stories.