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| I live like a princess... |
ANONG BUHAY MERON KA SA PILIPINAS NOON?
LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES. My life was fairly easy. I had everything I needed. My parents never required me to contribute with the family's expenses. If I have extra, I would give. Work was tiring as always but all was worth it because I loved what I was doing.
ANO ANG NAGTULAK SA’YO NA MANGIBANG BANSA?
REASON FOR LEAVING. Work became a routine. Reaching my goals was in slow motion so I had to change things.
PAANO KA NAPUNTA SA BANSANG PINAGTA-TRABAHUHAN MO NGAYON?
MOVING TO MYANMAR. I emailed my best friend, who is working in a local advertising agency, that I am growing tired of everything and I needed some change. He spoke to his boss and they hired me.
February: Online interview. March: Resignation. April: Working.
ANO ANG BUHAY MO SA KASALUKUYAN?
MYANMAR LIFE. At the moment, I'm a certified squatter with permit. lol I am staying with my best friend's (unbelievably kind-hearted) parents' hotel room and I must say I live like a princess here. 24/7 air-conditioning, room service, new bed sheets and towels everyday, free entrance in a walking distance club, home cooked meals, newly pressed clothes, hot water, gym, quiet lake, people opening doors for you and a driver. I have gained weight as a result. But next year I will be transferring to my own apartment and learn to be responsible for myself.
My life got simplified here. Due to the dial-up-like internet connection, I am unable to download my TV series. That's at least 10 episodes (2.5GB) per week. So all my time allotted for the internet became more sensible. I read books. Talk to people. Write. Play the guitar. Walk. Jog. Eat. Drink wine. Join a contest. Stare at the sky. Win a contest. Breathe. You know, normal stuff that we used to do pre-internet age.
I don't spend a lot here because there aren't any good malls or restaurants. If there were any, it's ridiculously far from the hotel and they close very early. So I usually just cook spam or hotdog when my tummy complains at midnight. But I do spend a disgustingly huge amount of money in Bangkok whenever I have my VISA renewal. Which is every 10 weeks. So, yeah I do spend but for clothes, magazines, books and gadgets that I need for my work.
And most especially, I get the fulfillment of helping my family back in the Philippines. (As long as I know that they are working as hard as I am, I'm cool with helping)
MAY PAGSISISI KA BA SA PAGIGING OFW?
REGRETS. There are days that I wanted to just go home because of work stress and frustrations but I always push myself to look at the big picture. When you want to change something, you have to be truly patient.
PAANO KA NAKAKA COPE-UP SA KALUNGKUTAN?
COPING WITH SADNESS. I admit that I get depressed but I just think of something else and use my energy for work and sideline projects. And of course, there's always a good DVD movie downstairs to get your mind off of things and a quiet lake to stare at while contemplating.
HANGGANG KELAN KA MAGIGING OFW?
OFW DEADLINE. I haven't decided yet. I still want to work in other countries like Bangkok, Egypt and Canada.
ANO ANG PLANO MO PAGNAG FOR GOOD KA NA SA PILIPINAS?
2011 HOMECOMING PLANS. I have scheduled my homecoming for each of my closest friends in high school, college and my former advertising agency. I would also like to visit Bantay Pawikan, a non-profit organization in Bataan that I have been helping since January of this year. And of course, eat a lot of food in newly opened restaurants because we don't have a lot to choose from here. We don't have fast food chains. Not even Starbucks.
ANO ANG PINAKA DI MALILIMUTANG KARANASAN MO NG
PAGIGING OFW?
UNFORGETTABLE OFW MOMENT.
Every encounter with a different race. It's exciting, challenging and
heart-wrenching all at the same time. It makes me feel alive.My list: Sri Lankan, Burmese, Thai, Singaporean, Uzbek, Australian, French, Pakistani, Indian, Ukrainian, American, Korean, Chinese and Dutch.
ANO ANG MAIPAPAYO MO SA KAPWA MO OFW?
A PIECE OF ADVICE. Maybe I am just young, oblivious and truly lucky that my parents raised me well but what I have learned from the day I finished college is that if you truly want to live life happily, don't ever make money as your goal. I believe that if you truly love what you are doing, money would come easy. Yes, you will get tired but fulfilled. Yes, you will encounter ridiculous trials that may seem unsolvable and unexplainable but at least you know what you are doing is something dear to your heart and whatever happens you will still have that stored energy from your passion to continue. Yes, you will miss home but keep in mind that you have that very rare opportunity to create another home, learn a whole new culture and contribute to the world. Yes, you will have to leave your family and friends behind but that's why there's Facebook, right? You know that you talk more on each other's wall than inside the house. Yes, you will sometimes lay on your bed staring at the ceiling wishing someone would knock on your door and surprise you with pizza and chips but... Okay I don't have a "but" for this so I'll just end it with...
The world is huge. We are all meant to explore it. We just need to put ourselves out there.
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| Karen, 22, Art Director, Myanmar |
