working ABROAD is TOUGH!
By chuyins123
@chuyins123 (2112)
Philippines
May 26, 2011 1:57am CST
The first quarter of this year was so tough and there has been some changes in my plans...
I planned to stay in this company at least 2 years, but now I am thinking of leaving and look for another job. Another opportunity, and my friends call it "GREENER PASTURE"... These past few weeks I've been discerning whether or not I should leave this company.
Then my sister called, she said she's gonna help me get out of the country and work abroad. I got excited! Then, I talked to my friend who worked in Dubai, and is now bound for travel to Saudi Arabia. He said, it's a pretty tough decision to make. He said, you'd be totally alone, no friends, no family, no one there with you to talk to. It's a total new world for you. And you can't just go home that easy, specially if you have signed a working contract for 2 or 3 years...
I was thinking of the possibilities, and it's probable that I could actually get to work abroad. But then it bothers me to imagine having a family, away from me. It's pretty hard, because I want to be a father to my children in the future... Plus, I am not sure how I'd be doing with my career there. It's a risk. The possibility of earning much would be pretty probable, but it has a great deal of cost. Opportunity cost.
And now, I am processing my papers but I am still in doubt. Some of my friends says go, some says stay.
Real big confusion.
Any views? lotters?
1 person likes this
10 responses
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
26 May 11
Working abroad needs a lot of guts and determination. Since it's your goal to save for your future family, then you go.
For single guys, it's not that hard because you have no children and wife to think of. Your parents could i guess, very well take care of themselves now.
I know, chuyins that you will not be alone there. God will always be with you just as He is with you now. Pray to HIM for discernment.
1 person likes this
@chuyins123 (2112)
• Philippines
27 May 11
@SimplyD - Ah yes, GOD will always be with me. But it's also true, I need a lot of guts and determination.
@visavis - yeah, that's the reason why I don't want to get married before I could leave this country. Because I am afraid that my decision will be greatly affected by the "own family factor"... Simplyd has a point on singles.... But it's still not easy...
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
27 May 11
Working abroad is your chance of finding your future wife, consequently beautiful children chuyins! Haven't you noticed, Filipinos married to foreigners have beautiful children. The combination is so remarkable and nice.
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
26 May 11
Yeah working abroad is so taugh that's my present sscenarion for almost 17 years working abroad most of those are sacrificing far from family, the culture and food, climate and working condition. But no choice I have to for my family and my children education which only way because local work is not enough... see you around
@chuyins123 (2112)
• Philippines
27 May 11
Yeah, the need for financial support. It somehow compels us to risk and come out of the comfort zone just to provide for our family's needs... I admire you for having such strong determination and a great deal of guts to really venture on working abroad. I wish I could do the same. :)
@AmbiePam (85417)
• United States
26 May 11
I don't know that I could sign a long term contract that took me to a different country than where my family was. So it is the Middle East you are going to? That would be another strike in my view. Of course I'm American and we are particularly wary of that region due to the whole 'about half of that region hates Americans'. It just seems an unsafe place to be.
@chuyins123 (2112)
• Philippines
27 May 11
Ah, yes. Well, I wanted to go to the US but it seems like 10X more difficult to apply there than in the Middle East. Yeah, it's too hard to be working away from your family. My present scenario is not already tough, I am miles away from my family. I am working here in this big city, while my mom and my younger siblings are there in our province... And if anything comes up, I just can't go home immediately, considering the cost, the arrangements to be done, and of course the job at stake.... And it would be a lot more difficult if it's outside my country....
@gaiza12 (4884)
• Philippines
26 May 11
Working abroad is really a tough decision. My bf is working abroad and he really misses his family now. He has been there for 1 year and 2 months, even if he has open communication with his parents there are still times that he would look for them and would ask them to go online so they can talk. We all know that there are already a lot of communication materials now a days. But even so, is won't take away the loneliness he feels there. I know you have a reason for going abroad. And I know that reason is for your own good as well as you family's. Just think of the positive outcomes if you go abroad. You will meet new friends eventually when you are there. Good luck on your choice.
@chuyins123 (2112)
• Philippines
26 May 11
Yeah, I have been working here in this city for over two years now. It's already hard for me to be away from home. And I just can't go home if I want to. I am thinking, how much more difficult it is if I work abroad. It's no longer my country, not much people to talk to with the same dialect or language that I know. Ah that would be a pretty lonely situation...
But looking at the brighter side of the story, I could earn well there. I could send my kids to good universities and schools in the future. I could help my family and help those in need. But isn't money not everything there is in life...????
I am praying and asking GOD for guidance....
@chuyins123 (2112)
• Philippines
27 May 11
Yes, it's one of the wisest thing to do now. Pray for guidance.
@penrockerchic (1903)
• Philippines
26 May 11
That's always a pretty tough decision to make. I don't want to be biased or anything, but in my case I would still prefer to work here in my own country. The pay at my company is not that good but I can say that I get by with it. It's really tough to be working your butt of and feel your money just slip through your fingertips in just a few days or so. But the thing is, I'm quite happy with where I am now. You see, when you go abroad, you'd stay there for a long time with just strangers and a few new friends to celebrate special occasions in your life. Sometimes, you don't even get to celebrate some holidays you've been accustomed to celebrating throughout the year. One of the main disadvantages I see as well is that when you start to go abroad and start earning that much money, you would find yourself wanting to go back there and never really settle down in your home country to be with family. You would have that possibility of looking for another contract once your contract expires because you can never see yourself earning lesser than what you're earning there. Soon, you might be a stranger to your friends and family and that's one thing I don't want to risk. Anyway, good luck on your decision. Try to think about it more. Think long term.
@chuyins123 (2112)
• Philippines
27 May 11
Wow, another side of the coin. You've presented a much greater cons in here. The only pro is the money you will earn abroad. Hmmmm... this one is a good material for my decision making.
Pretty tough but all so true.
@rhizziel2301 (169)
• Philippines
26 May 11
Hi chuyins, good opportunity for you I also wants to work abroad to find a better job there... yes, its pretty hard to work in other country because we away to our family but you need to sacrifice for them for the good future of your family but on your situation if you have a good job in your country and you have a high salary and you feel that you have enough income for your family if i were you i would stay on your job but if you want a good future for your family then go... before you decide think many times which is the best for your family... good luck :)
1 person likes this
@chuyins123 (2112)
• Philippines
26 May 11
Yeah, the reason why I don't want to go is my family. I would surely miss them. But the reason that I would want to go is also for my family.
I will weigh things out more before I would decide whether to go abroad or stay here.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
28 May 11
I know that I would never want to work where I wouldn't be able to see my family on a regular basis. The reason that it wouldn't work for me is because of the fact that my family is all very close to each other and I see my mother and my brother and sister several times a week. To have to go for weeks and even months without being able to see them, I think that I would absolutely fall apart because I depend on them so much.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
27 May 11
Why don't you try it out fr a while- it is really hard to work abroad, away from everything familiar..I was an OFW too, before- I only came home once or twice in a year.. But I did manage to give my family a good life. And it's not that sad since i was working with my fellowmen in the cargo ship too. 
@Bannybanzie (1397)
• Philippines
27 May 11
Well, the first question is why do you have to leave your company? Is it due to low salary or what? I think if you have enough salary (I said enough, not much but not less), then there's no reason to leave. When you go abroad, it will definitely be very very hard and so depressing and sad. Just like your friend said, no one will be there beside you and you cannot just go back.
You just need to accept the consequences of each decision you make. Everything has pros and cons. You may have bigger salary but you also must sacrifice. Life has always been like that. We cannot have everything, but we must choose our priority and learn to live with it.
Know what really your priority is, what matters for you - is it money or being with family and friends through thick and thin? You'll decide. But must decide right. There's no turning back. Once you make a step forward, you cannot take a step backward. Just remember that no one can change what has happened. So what past do you want to make that you'll remember for the rest of your life? :)
@ckciasigurl (2081)
• Italy
26 May 11
hi chuyins yes going to abroad is so TOUGH you need to decide for your self if you are going or not i just want to share my experience iv tried working in abroad yes my family is there i have some cousin but i don't have friends that's my problem no friends i go home after work me and my lap top are always together my lap top make me happy my parents are in different house because they have a job also. Honestly i didn't enjoy when i was there yes i am happy because i have a money but money cannot buy my happiness i have difficulty of finding a friend maybe because i just miss my friends here in my country, but if you are doing this for your future maybe you can try it going to abroad.
@chuyins123 (2112)
• Philippines
27 May 11
Ah yes, that's one thing FRIENDS.
Almost all of my college friends are moving here in the city to try and work in here. I quite enjoyed the company of my friends here in the city, and it's one thing that I would keep on looking for abroad, which would be to no avail of course.
My friends, belongs to the place I called, comfortzone. Which makes it even hard for me to risk and get out of the country. Real tough...
