my pen

All the pens I have ever used usually will last only for a week or two. Either I lose it (by mere carelessness or someone steals it) or the ink dries out even if  the ink is still full. If I buy the pricey & well-known branded pens, same thing happens. So I just go for the cheap ones.

However, this is the first time in history that I was able to fully used my pen’s ink.

See? Fully consumed.

I think I’m better now in keeping an eye on my things… or Pilot Pens just become better. 

free coffee

For the past few days, I was trying to minimize my spending for I haven’t saved enough as I should have. I started by not buying coffee from the vendo machine. Which by the way cost twice as much if I just bring my own coffee to work. But the Cappuccinoe Caramel from the machine tastes waaayyy better than any 3-in-1 coffees available from the grocery. So I finally gave in. Just for today. What’s 2 bucks anyway for a really great tasting coffee? I will earn it back anyway.

So I went to the machine and did not do anything yet but, the Cappuccino Carmel has red light, saying, “Take me cause somebody already put money inside but forgot to take any coffee.”

I pushed the button and wahlah! I got my coffee for free! Yay!

Ain’t life just sweet!?

Are You One of Them?

I met one lady here. It was her first time to work outside her country of origin. She went here thinking that she will be a private tutor (and earn a lot) as she was a teacher before. However, she ended up as a nanny for a special child. She knows nothing about medications, behaviour and how to take care of children with special needs. But there’s nothing she can do now. Instead of sobbing and thinking about going back home, she courageously decided to stay. Little by little she learned how to do her job and the family she’s working for loved her. There are times though that the child she has to attend to hits and kicks her. She just endured all the aches, pains and loneliness for this little sacrifice will (maybe) reap rewards for her family back home.

The same thing happened to another young lady I met. She was recruited from a small province. The recruiters promised her that she, like the previous story, will become a private tutor. However, in her documents, she agreed that she will fly using a domestic helper’s visa so she can leave the country faster. She signed not knowing she will really end up as a household help for a family of 16. Whew! After only 4 gruelling days of “hard” labor, she wanted so much to go back home. As of this time, my boss is trying his best to find her a better job and/or just sent her back home.

I think these incidents will never happen if only these 2 women (and many others I think) knew better. There are always people who will take advantage of others’ (mis)fortune for their own gain. So here are the things I think one should know and consider before working abroad.

1. Read
Read the Job title and job description. With those, you will know more or less what to expect your work will be. If you think you are qualified, then apply. However, If you think you do not meet the qualifications, never believe that someone can “fix” or make you into someone that you are not so that you will be qualified for the job. Using fake documents will just mess up your application and your reputation.
Read also the salary. Sometimes, ads and recruiters tell you will be given a high salary for an easy job. This is too good to be true. Either you will be given less than what they promise or they will give you more work. Each job has more or less basic pay in each country. Salary will also depend on your qualifications.
Read how long your contract will be. This will help you plan ahead for your future. Knowing this too will help you prepare yourself emotionally, psychologically and physically how long you will be away from your family.
Read also fine prints such as fees, breach of contract, work location, work hours, etc.
Read or search also if the recruiter is legitimate.

2. Ask
Never be too shy to ask questions that bother you or you don’t understand from what you read. Common questions you might want to know are;
• What company will I work for?
• How much is the salary?
• When will I receive my salary? Via ATM or cash?
• Where will I live?
• With whom will I live? Is it free?
• Is the transportation provided by the company/
• Do I have days off in a week?
• Is there vacation leave? Is it a paid vacation?
• Is there sick leave? Is it paid leave?
• How long are my vacations and leaves?
• Will they provide insurances and other benefits?

You can also ask politely, other applicants about what the recruiter tell them. The recruiter should give you the same answers to your queries.

3. Sign
Your signature is very important. Any documents you sign, means that you read and agrees on all that is in that document. Never ever sign without reading (and thinking 100 times) the contents. Sign only if you willingly and totally agree on every single word in that document. It is difficult to take back what you signed if you change your mind later on.

4. Give
Give only photocopies of your documents. Do not give original copies unless absolutely necessary and/or you have a “received copy” form that your documents are in the hands of the recruiter or agency. Also, make soft and hard copies of all of your documents for back up.
Give money only when they give you official receipt. Processing fees would range from 2 thousand -10 thousand pesos depending on what visa or documents the agency/recruiter will process. You can always ask where your money will go. Placement fees are not more than 1 month’s worth of your salary. This can be paid before you leave or via salary deduction. Medical examination fees are sometimes shouldered by your employer.

I think these will be helpful to you if you are thinking of working abroad. If you have other questions, these are some websites that can help you:
http://www.poea.gov.ph/
http://www.owwa.gov.ph/

Working abroad is not easy. And being in a scam makes it a lot worse. Be wise.

It is human nature to think wisely and act in an absurd fashion. -Anatole France

my new hobby

My patient introduced me to making key chains, mobile accessories and little trinkets. I think she has a shop where she sells these. I tried making one and she liked it. Now, she pays me for every item i sew. Sweet!

I can make more money with these hobby than my day job. :)

100 bucks richer

It really pays to be nice! :D

Not a Cent

Okay. So, I'm enjoying a lot of free stuff lately. From teeth whitening strips to hair products to coffee fixes. I'm just a consumer who doesn't want to spend much and there are marketing people who wants my opinion.
Currently, I'm using a shampoo for product enhancement. Researchers came to our house the other day, interviewed me and asked me to try the shampoo. They didn't tell me what brand it was but assured me it was already out in the market. They'll be back after 2 weeks and probably get some of my insights regarding their product.
Well, it's another bottle of shampoo that I did not pay for. :)

By the way, I smelled it and I'm guessing it's..toot... my old shampoo!

Best Things In Life Are Free... Really

Don't you just love it when you don't have to pay a single cent for something?! Wishing it will be like this for the rest of my life. Oh, im just wishing. It just MIGHT come true.

Thank you Victoria's Secret for my new undies. :)

Greener Grass

Someone once told me that the grass was much greener, on the other side..

Any young professional (like me!) would do anything within his reach to get to the greener, other side. Who wouldn't want greener pastures & brighter future?!

Many people here in the Philippines are doing everything -- selling their rice fields & livelihood to pay recruiters and international agencies, taking up 6 months to 2year caregiver courses, shifting from Medicine to nursing, engaging on on-line dating with foreigners -- just to get to, where else, abroad, the land flowing with milk & honey. Some would be willing to make radical changes in their careers (the childhood dream of becoming a doctor to becoming a senior carer on a foreign land, marrying someone you knew only on-line, leaving your family, friends & career). They believe that only on those foreign lands we are not familiar with, were we will always be second class citizens, that our dreams of good life will become a reality. And I, with the job offers from eastern & western coasts of America and a valid visa on hand, is having second thoughts of taking that big step to the other side. Anyone, except me I guess, would take that offer at any time. I don’t have any thing to leave here anyway. I practically don't have any reason to stay but have all the reasons to fly away and make my dreams (or is it my mom's??) become a reality. So, why still having second thoughts???

I am insanely in love with my native land even if politics here is somewhat synonymous to showbiz or even though life is pretty tough here. I would always opt to stay put & continue thriving for my bright future -- maybe not as bright(er) as the others but bright enough for licensed professionals like me.

I am afraid of change. I'm scared of having a completely different life. For 26 years , I only have left this country once. I’ve never felt so alone all my life til that day. My apprehension of going beyond my comfort zone (my life Pinoy style) is one reason keeping me here and not taking the job…or at least not yet!

I am happy & contented with my life, Pinoy style. I may be technically a licensed bum, but I live. I may be working only once a week (that means less pay), but I live. I may not be able to buy high end gears, but I live. I may not be able to spend much, but I live. And simply living makes me happy. SIMPLE LIVING makes me happy.

Years from now, situations will definitely change, concerns & priorities will be different. I might start living on my own, providing for my selfish needs (my own pad, my own car, gimmick here & there, etc), starting a family, etc. With the rate I'm going, I don't think I'll be able to live up to it. Sooner or later I have to face my fears and not content my self with a simple life. What I stand for right now (not taking the opportunity of working abroad) is illogical & impractical. Yah, I think so... but,

till further notice, I'm in between. From where I am standing, my grass is green.

*the first & last lines are the opening song of my fave cartoon, As Told by Ginger
*I just made few tweaks from this old post and the essence still hold true!

Saving the World

Ive been hanging around coffee shops for quite sometime now since I traded my 8-hour job to a part-time consultant type of profession. I have a lot of time for myself, maybe just to stay home, watch DVDs & whatever is in cable or 24/7 to stay online, chat with long lost friends. But as inflation rate is terribly going higher each day and the world is being called to conserve energy, a hundred-plus-frappuccino-for-here sounds more practical than staying home & consuming electricity for air conditioning, tv, dvd & personal computer. Add another appliance, say, microwave oven to pop those corns when the day goes really unexciting & munching is the best way to kill boredom.
Nowadays, everyone is advocating walking or cycling to work (to save gas), which I think is really good idea because its cheap or even cost less with additional health benefits despite the fact the criminality rate is high on the streets. Its all a matter of “defensive walking”. I, on the otherhand, also suggest that all of us spend days off and/or weekends in coffee shops. Enjoy a cup or two of coffee, which has antioxidants that delays aging, have unlimited heat free environment, airborne access to the world wide web, a socket for charging mobile phones & laptop, and a sweet conversation with a new acquaintance. It’s a good way to save money, energy and save the world too. Hahaha.

Value for Your Money

I roughly read something about Lucio Tan’s Daughter writing about him. It wasn’t about how rich & powerful they were or how great his father was as a business tyrant like what was always written about them.

She related how her life as a student when she was studying abroad. Before she entered college, she was determined not to be influenced by peer pressure (drugs, sex & cutting classes). She swore she’s going to study well & get good grades as she always did. but it soon took toil on her. She gave in. She figured, her father wont learn about it anyway as she was so far to check on. But somehow, her father learned about it. She expected grounding, hours of reprimanding & all. But her father just said that he never got the chance of really going to school & enjoy learning. He can give anything & everything to his daughter (now that they literally have everything)but not the value of getting an education & actually learning. He can give her anything she wants & needs but not knowledge. Well, he was right. Sure they can afford around the world trips, expensive bags, latest techie tools, education abroad but no one can really buy knowledge & wisdom.

I just hope that people see it the way he does. I guess my parents saw that too. We are surely not as rich as the Tan’s or any millionaire or billionaire for that matter. We just get by each day with a minimum wage earner parents. But they made sure we are sent to a good school where we can be educated and be equipped with what we need to survive life. Fortunately & unconsciously, we never took that for granted. We all got good grades, graduated on time, got awards even though we were sometimes carefree with our teenage life and got my parents frustrated & fearful of what we will become in the future. Everything went well. My ate worked for an NGO before she transferred working for the government. My younger sister recently graduated & now works for one of the biggest bank in the country. Im a licensed professional managing a Paediatric clinic and now discerning if I should further my career abroad.

We are not earning as much as Lucio Tan does (nor we wished to be like him), or have a house as big as an entire city or a million worth car, or a 6-8 digit bank account. But it just feels good that somehow we have something no one can take away from us, something priceless, something valuable & not even a Lucio Tan can buy.