Saturday, December 15, 2007
Homesickness Comes
Much could be told or written about all the wonderful places worldwide. A lifetime is not enough to discover this wonderful world. Although, I decided to stay in the Philippines
They prefer to rest instead. Then they work again until dawn. There’s even no more time to write letters or emails any more. They get up early next day to do the same activities. They fail to appear on dates or appointments even if schedules were already set. On the last minute before going out on a free day, guests arrive who need to be served. All these and more make it difficult for Filipinos abroad to find time for themselves.
I might be a little bit out off time, but Christmas time should let us remember and remind “those heroes somewhere out there”. Being there is something like being in a garden of roses. Everybody is free to pick up flowers, but surely everybody will not find that easy because the roses are on top of the thorns. Being abroad is even more complicated than that.
Much has already been written about homesickness of mind and heart. And, with this kind of work, health counts much. From the start, one must always be in top form, not only lively but also elegantly.
Wearing three kinds of jackets daily can be a must, Staying abroad for Filipinos is really not heaven on earth. And then, homesickness comes…
Homesickness usually attacks, when Filipinos abroad receive unpleasant notices from home, as many say, “Problema at magpadala ka ng pera” (”Problems with money”). The beloved ones overseas even try to save a little amount for airfares just in case they need to come to their families in the Philippines (especially for Christmas). They always consider the difficulty and complication in sending money home.
Nervousness leads to homesickness. We learned that one of the boys doesn’t like to go to school any more. Homesickness comes when misunderstandings between husband and wife arise. Homesickness comes abroad, when one is so hungry he couldn’t simply chew something because the boss is around!
It’s very known that many Filipinos abroad are also reading these websites “Live in the Philippines”. I like to salute to them. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
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# 1 Mady said:
Hello Klaus,
I miss my family and friends and simple life back in Davao Del Norte. I haven’t been back for a long time… Specially December for Christmas and New Year is my favorite celebration more than my birthday. Funny though, I miss the way Filipinos celebrate holidays including our Fiesta. I miss the Filipinos warmth, pakikisama and have fun till you drop culture. The way people back there enjoy even just simply talking setting outside the house or sitting outside with friends singing and playing guitar or having karaoke to relax. I miss Philippines so muchhh… specially this time of year. In fact this whole week it is bugging me again, missing Pinas as a whole (the place and people as a whole thing).
I can relate with this topic a lot….
# 2 Klaus said:
Hi Mady, thanks for dropping by. One can indeed feel your sadness by reading your lines. I don’t know where you are located now, but in our Philippine Community Berlin, where we active members, a lot has been done to “delete Pinoy homesickness”. Of course, there is no better place then home… I wish you a Merry Xmas.
# 3 Mady said:
Hi Klaus,
.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Your very right, there is no place like home
# 4 jj said:
hi klaus,
i think it’s not only filipinos abroad but also filipinos who have to endure sub-human working conditions here. even without homesickness, the number of hours spent at work and the little pay people get here is enough to send one to an early grave. think of the doctors who are on-call 24/7, think of the child-laborers who have to sell sampaguita or cigarettes until the early morning, think of the maids who have to get up at 4am just to cook their amo’s breakfast, think of the SM employees who have to work 101m-9pm where they have to stand for most of the time… it’s easy to assume that people here can cope with the stress… it’s a veneer Filipinos paint on themselves wherein they make light of stressful situations, find solace with their co-workers, eat 6x a day… but at the end of the day, they too are tired, burned out and long for better opportunities and benefits.
# 5 Klaus said:
Hi JJ, thanks for dropping by. Of course you are right, no doubts. While writing this piece I thought more about those people like Mady and million others. Anyway thanks for your comment. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.