THE Filipinos’ need or want to go abroad for a greener pasture, hence a better future for the family, has been trickled down from the generation of our parents down to this current generation of young professionals.
People in their 20s now may have different reasons for wanting to work abroad but always the common reason is the need to help with the family financially and to quench the thirst for adventure. Millennials are often known for their appetite for adventure hence the jumping from one job to another -- or in this case working in a country where they know no one.
Last Tuesday, we invited Harvey Lanticse, who used to work in the Middle East under an Events Management company for four years, right after college, before deciding to go back home. We also had, during the streaming of the online Twenty Something, Charmaine Amor Acacio, working as an au pair in Germany for two years now.
“We always have that huge appetite for risk na we feel that we can do everything. But we need to take risk responsibly. Kailangan gyud nato i-manage atong expectation. I think the common disappointment gyud sa mga bata is they thought immediately, what they studied back home, related ana ang trabaho makuha nila overseas. And that’s really not the case at all. Swerte gyud ka if you land on a job na related sa imong gi-studyhan,” shared Harvey when asked of managing expectations before deciding to work abroad.
He added that working abroad has been a humbling and challenging experience for him. Because he is in a country that celebrates shopping and great brands abound, it took him a great amount of discipline to manage his money more responsibly. He said he is only glad to have Filipino workmates who are much older and more mature with handling money reminding him to save and be more mindful of how he spends his money. Harvey adds that there is a change in perspective when an OFW is earning for his children and spouse in the Philippines as compared to him, a single man in his 20s, who mainly works for career development and experience.
But the career development he is looking for abroad, he really got there. When he came to the Middle East, his experience of events management was little to none. He was in some sort of culture shock to see how extravagant and expensive people in other parts of the world hold events. He learned to manage events and interact with different types of people more professionally. To put it simply, his four years abroad, despite the homesickness and having to fend for himself while he was sick, was worth it in terms of the career development he is looking for.
Harvey decided to go back home in Davao City to work locally after his contract in the Middle East expired. It had been his dream even in college to work in the country and it was just a career bonus to have been given the opportunity to work abroad.
It was also the same appetite for adventure Harvey had that brought Charmaine to Germany. After completing a project for an organization in Mindanao, she said she wanted to challenge herself and search online how she can land a job abroad. She came across a website where she can apply to be an au pair and took the opportunity.
The road was not smooth for Charmaine at all. Knowing no one in Europe, she took the risk and was just grateful to have met an Asian-European family in Germany who are very understanding and patient with her. When she came, she was greeted by a three-year-old and five-year-old kids who were nothing but friendly and playful towards her. Despite her host family being friendly towards her, Charmaine said she also needed to do some adjustments to the culture of the country in general. There were also misconceptions about working abroad in your 20s that she tried to answer and share her first-hand experience about.
“We thought when we go abroad in our 20s life would be easy. It’s like in the movies. But when I arrived here, it was also hard because you have to budget, not just your time. You have to adjust with the culture. You also have to budget your money based on the cost of living here,” shared Charmaine. She added she needed to learn German language just to make her stay there more convenient and to connect with people as well.
Once, she experienced “asian hate” aboard a bus with a drunk man who angrily and repeatedly told Charmaine that Asians took the jobs in Germany that was supposed to be for them locals. He did this for a good 15 minutes. There was no other person of color in the bus so Charmaine was sure the hate words were directed to her. For her safety, she transferred to a seat near the driver and pretended not to hear the drunk man.
This and many other things Harvey and Charmaine had to go through working overseas. It’s not always struggles and challenges. There are also beautiful and rewarding days. But both Charmaine and Harvey try to give a heads up to people their age, or even younger, that working abroad does not require financial preparation but also emotional and mental on top of everything.