All of us dream of going back home for good. But have you ever thought about the things you will miss after your OFW days and how to cope with it?
Monthly pay check
Most of us will not miss the work but we will surely miss the anticipation for the month to end and queuing at the ATM machine to withdraw our monthly pay. We get excited because our salary is usually earmarked to pay for and finish our monthly amortization, the amount it would add to our retirement fund and the many things we could buy with the money.
To deal with missing our monthly wages, we have to bank on the idea that profit is always better than wages. Profit is proportionate to the effort you put into that business you have always dreamed of putting up. It may not be as much as your monthly pay at first, but just thinking that there is the likelihood and possibility of growth in business, it will make you do more. You would have to wait for the end of the month for money to come along.
If you are not cut out for business, then you have to make sure that your nest egg is really healthy to support your preferred lifestyle after your OFW days.
Plane rides
No matter how tiring and uncomfortable is the plane ride from KSA to Phils, it is still exciting that every now and then, we ride the plane. The preparation that goes with it, booking the flight, buying pasalubong and packing our things, including all the hassles that go with it, it is just so OFWy. The other good thing is, we don’t worry about the cost of the ticket, it’s part of the perks. Off-season and peak season, we can go home or go elsewhere.
To deal with missing plane rides, we could be on the lookout for Piso fare if we really want to ride the plane without hurting our pocket. Or travel locally and rediscover the beauty of own own country.
Friends/Colleagues
Some of our colleagues turn to be our friends, some even since our first day of work. We spent more than eight hours a day for several years with them. How can we not miss them when we go back home for good? They have been very much part of our life for the past so and so years and they continue to do so.
When many of our family members are far from us, friends somehow fill the gap. We share with them our deepest thoughts and aspirations, our frustrations and disappointment and even secrets. They are like our family.
Nothing can replace the personal and face to face conversations that was part of our every day at work. But as OFWs, we all know that sooner or later, we would part ways with many of them.
To deal with missing our friends/colleagues, thanks to technology, video call is just a tap away. Exchange messages with them every now and then and update one another with each other’s activities.
Routine
We know the drill, from the moment the alarm clock has sound off. Even if your brain is still sleeping, your body knows what to do.
When we go back home as a new retiree or a business owner, a new routine will be created. Every day will be different.
You don’t have to deal with missing your routine because you could keep up with all of this!
As they say, you cannot have the best of both worlds. This is especially true for OFWs whose families are in the Philippines. It is always a dilemma of being away from our family and providing a better future for them.
After OFW days, after being used to living in another country, comes the adjustment and settling down in the Philippines.
But nothing beats the feeling of being with our family again. You just know it’s home. Even if your children have their own lives themselves and are no longer dependent on you.
When we stop being and OFW, we would own our time. We will get our life back. No bosses to please. We could pursue what we love to do.
Love what you do, until you can do what you love. Love where you are, until you can be where you love to be. Love the people you are with, until you can be with the people you love most. This is the way we find happiness, opportunity and peace.
markandangel
Hi, I'm Cecille. I have been an OFW in KSA for 13 long years. I have been there, done that. I'd say I was lucky because for most of those years, my family was with me. I'd like to share in this blog what makes those years worthwhile, the lessons I learned and bits and pieces of info that may pique your interest as bagong bayani.