January 2006 entered my life with a lot of uncertainties. I do not know whether I would be leaving for the overseas job that was offered to me. Basically, I have set a time table that if by the second week of January, I will not have my US visa yet, I would write my employer that they get another surgeon to replace. I might not be meant for the job. The call from the US Embassy on January 6 changed it all. With the release of my visa, I have to go into a hurried pace. Of slowly endorsing all what is to be left behind including financial responsibilities. Well, I must say, I am in deep debt because of wanton and irresponsible use of my credits cards. And really now, this overseas job is real shot in the arm.
Kosrae State in Micronesia is not really what is in my mind. Although I am already familiar with missionary places, it is not what I expected. Sometimes, advertisements in the internet may be so misleading that one gets to have a wrong impression of the place you are getting into. But I could see a lot of potentials in place; it is just a matter of tapping the necessary legislation and a mindset for change. If the people of Kosrae set its vision to a more laudable and economically viable island then it could also like Singapore – an island which is now very prosperous. But that is wishful thinking now. It would be up for the new government in Kosrae to look into possibilities of change. Change for the better and change for the future of its citizenry. We feel as expatriates, we are merely spectators of how this Island State is being governed. But in truth, we are also affected with the changes that come with it.
From a busy life to a laid back life:
Kosrae State in Micronesia is not really what is in my mind. Although I am already familiar with missionary places, it is not what I expected. Sometimes, advertisements in the internet may be so misleading that one gets to have a wrong impression of the place you are getting into. But I could see a lot of potentials in place; it is just a matter of tapping the necessary legislation and a mindset for change. If the people of Kosrae set its vision to a more laudable and economically viable island then it could also like Singapore – an island which is now very prosperous. But that is wishful thinking now. It would be up for the new government in Kosrae to look into possibilities of change. Change for the better and change for the future of its citizenry. We feel as expatriates, we are merely spectators of how this Island State is being governed. But in truth, we are also affected with the changes that come with it.
From a busy life to a laid back life:
I may say that living in Kosrae has also given me time for growth and adjustment. Although a lot of people say that as we age, then growth stops. But physical growth I am not referring to. To live in Kosrae is to go back to the life I used to know - the simple life that I used to have before I became a doctor. As a professional individual, my life is a hustle and bustle. My job is a 24-hour job everyday and I change coats from being a legislator to occupational health practitioner, to an academician, to a distinguished plenary speaker and even to being a student. Some people even ask how I get my strength shuttling from one work to another. But that how it is in the past paced life in the Philippines.
From a pampered life back to the independent life:
Kosrae is practically the opposite. It is presents an idyllic rustic rural life – very much different from the life I left behind. If my life in the Philippines is a pampered life where the niceties are just about the corner, my life in Kosrae needs a lot adjustment for a great deal. I have gone back to cooking my own food. I have gone back washing my own clothes. I have gone back to ironing them after being dried. But no this is one thing I loathe – to iron my clothes. So what I did was to change my wardrobe. I bought and had some clothes sewn back in the Philippines. These clothes belong to the wash and wear type. And lastly I had gone back to cleaning the house.
I was given a house to live-in with the basic needs. With almost a year over, it is still basic. Well, I think this 2007, I would be trying to make certain changes within the house interior. I just hope I have the knock to do it this time.
Learning more independence:
I hired a driver to take me around from my house to my place of work when I had my new car. In Kosrae, I learned to drive. The first time I was all out alone driving, I have created a procession of cars following me. It did not occur to me that I was driving so slow that all other cars can not pass through me because we are within the town limits. I just can laugh whenever I recall this. I bought a reconditioned car from Japan, a Honda Odyssey van. Many are asking why I bought a car as big as my car right now because I live alone. My answer is I don’t know. But I love this car. And the seller said this is the car for me. I could just burst out in laughter when confronted with this reasoning.
Buying the car means, I have to tighten my budget. Of course it has added burden to my monthly expenses as I have to spend for gasoline. Remember that I still have a Revo car in the Philippines. I have yet to complete payment for that. But as I have said the answer here is financial restructuring.
Financial Management:
I must thank my eldest sister for acting as my financial manager. If not with her, my finances would still be in disarray. With her careful planning and management, I would be out of the doldrums in three to four months from now. The year 2006 solidified family ties and bond. This is what the Filipino family really is: Tight, caring, loving and solid.
Emotional Ties that Bind:
Before the end of the year of 2005, we were faced with an emotional difficulty that almost crushed our filial ties down. We were faced with a dilemma whether to breakdown and get destroyed in the process. But years of being together as a family and going through hardships and difficulties solidified us together. So that challenge to our filial bond instead was turned into strength. The ending of the year 2006 brought back the family stronger. The common saying in the country “Sya’y umalis, sya’y dumating” was very apt for my sister’s family which we call our extended family too.
Search for Lasting and Enduring Relationships:
When I went back to the Philippines for my annual vacation for 7 weeks, I went out with a firm hold to look back and see the people near my heart that I left behind. But 7 weeks was not really that. I can not leave during the first two week because I don’t have a reliever yet. My reliever arrived on the 15th of December and it was only on the 16th that I was able to leave, only to be told later that my stay in the Philippines was cut short to 19 days. I have to be back in Kosrae because they have recalled back my reliever in his home base.
The short stay in the Philippines made me scramble for time. I tried hard to have quality time with my friends but it was so short a time. I have to be back. I have been searching for one who is so near my heart and almost all forms of contacts I tried so hard but to no avail. I already lost hope. But on the day of flight, my brother received a call from him and we were able to talk to each other and thresh things out. He was still lucky my brother was using my old prepaid SIM card. That’s how coincidence makes people come together. As they say, it is the psychological ties that really bind. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…………………….. That’s how really love works.
On many things more:
When we sail for the horizon out there, we set out our visions. We maybe alone in those visions. We maybe alone when planned those visions. But we must understand that as we set our sails, we can not just paddle alone. For the oar is too heavy we need someone to help us goad and goad further. When I set my eyes into the far horizon, I was so afraid I would all be alone out here. But no! I am thankful for having countrymen here who in one way or another has celebrated the life I had as an expatriate here in Kosrae. Without them, life can be so boring and less meaningful.
We may survive on our own. We may prosper on our own. But I believe it is our social responsibility to reach out to every one whoever they are.
CIAO!!!! KUDOS!!!!! C’est le vie!!!!
