How To Overcome Homesickness

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Posted by admin | Posted in Challenges Abroad | Posted on 28-11-2011

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Being and OFW is a tough decision especially for those who will leave their families behind (spouse and children). The virus of homesickness is the top most enemy of an OFW once deployed abroad. Even single individuals are also attacked by this virus. The environment in the Philippines is extremely different from what you will find here abroad that makes an OFW long for that kind of environment they got used to their home country.

I may be a different case as I don't get this kind of feeling except for some time that I miss my Mom, I want to hug her and kiss her but I am a thousand miles away. However, for those who are really struggling of homesickness, please find below my recommendations which I did personally and kept me occupied which made my stay away from home a wonderful and worthwhile experience.

Engage in a sport or physical fitness activity.

I learned to play tennis. It was not that difficult as I used to play badminton during my childhood days. After a few sessions of tutorial, I was able to do it good. It is a very good form of exercise as your whole body moves running to hit the ball that would make you sweat all over burning all the fats and calories inside you. In addition, each time my racket hits the ball, I felt some kind of satisfaction as if throwing away the stress I got from work. And most of all, if you don't like your boss, you can imagine that the tennis ball is your boss' face that you slap with your tennis racket, what a relaxing therapy!

Check with OWWA or POLO what classes they are offering in your country of residency.

OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) or POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) are organizing different classes for OFWs to enrich and gain additional skills.

I joined a dance club who gives lessons on social dancing. This was really fun and interesting, it relieves your stress and make you escape from your daily troubles and routine. Social dancing is very artistic as it has it's own steps to learn and a standard body movement unlike the kind of dance in a disco where you move as you like and yet they call it a dance.  On top of it, dancing is also a good exercise to keep your body fit.

I learned Arabic language. I have been learning foreign languages back home just for fun, so why not Arabic since I am living and working in an arabic country. My progress has been very good, I was able to do basic conversation, read the arabic alphabet and street signages as well as write short sentences. Unfortunately, after the 3 month beginner's class, the intermediate class did not push through due to lack of students. However, my time was not wasted as it was spent worth my while and lots of fun.

I enrolled in a computer (hardware) class. I have been working with the computer since 1990 and very much well-versed with the microsoft office package but I had no idea what's happening in the back office. I registered myself in a computer assembly class where we were taught of the functionality of each piece of hardware inside the CPU casing. Each student was tasked to dismantle a fully operational computer and assemble it the way it was and install the operating system to make it functional as it was  used to be.

Feed your spirit and find a local church

Whatever your religion, check for a church within your vicinity. Remember, man does not live by bread alone, but from each word that comes out of the mouth of God. Getting closer to your Creator and getting involved in the church activities not only fills your emptiness being alone in a foreign country but also heals your soul.

The above has been proven not only effective but also productive with me as I was able to fill and spend my time worthily. I know that there are still more activities where we OFW's can spend and devote our time to keep us from being homesick, all you need to do is check around you what are the resources and opportunities available.

 

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Taking Medical Examination

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Posted by admin | Posted in Job Hunting and Getting Hired | Posted on 19-11-2011

It is a “must” that an applicant after being chosen should take the medical examination to ensure that he/she is fit to work. The recruitment agency has their own accredited medical clinics to whom they will send the applicants with a referral letter from them. If direct-hire, medical referral should be obtained directly from GAMCA or GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Approved Medical Clinics Association. All medical certification should be authenticated and attested by GAMCA to be honored in the GCC countries (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Bahrain).

Fees for these medical examination is averaging between Php 3,000.00 to Php 3,500.00 at the time of writing this post. This include urine and stool test, blood test, physical examination, xray, dental check, and ECG (Electrocardiogram Test). All of these test are included in the package. What I don’t understand is when I take all these test from a private clinic just for my normal routine check-up and all results are also given in black and white, the cost is only half of the price these medical clinics are charging to the overseas applicants.

In 2002, when I took my medical examination for the job in Qatar at SM Lazo in Malate, Manila, I was told that my ECG result showed that I have a heart problem and that I am unfit to work. They made me wait before telling me that I need to see the cardiologist for further examination and that I need to pay another Php 300.00 directly to the doctor. I didn’t have any other option but to comply since I wanted to get the job. The cardiologist examined me just by putting his stethoscope on my chest and back, in less than 5 minutes, he issued the result that it was ok. The doctor’s stethoscope is more reliable than the ECG test? Upon presentation of the cardiologist certification to SM Lazo, they processed my medical certificate and was released in a week’s time with “FIT TO WORK” result.

In 2003, I took my medical examination together with the other hired applicants from Mabini Medical Clinic in Malate, Manila which I never had any problem during the process. However, one of the other applicants was told that she should have one of her tooth treated. She was protesting to the dentist as she just had her dental treatment from her personal dentist a week ago. The dentist said that if she will not have a dental filling, her medical certificate will not be released and of course, she has to pay extra for the dental filling. So she gave in even though she knew that the cavity the dentist was referring to has been filled already. After a month, when we were all deployed in Dubai, the dental filling from Mabini Medical Clinic get damaged and she found out from a dentist in Dubai that the filling was only temporary.

I knew that this is just one of the many experiences of OFW from the medical clinics who are taking advantage to extort money from the OFWs before their job deployment.

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