3 myths about working abroad that deserve some busting

When I ride buses, I usually read something on my phone or put on earphones.

But on this particular ride, I can’t help but pay attention.

The lady beside me was telling a relevant story.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.

But her voice was loud enough for the whole bus to hear

In our culture, it’s ok to talk inside buses.

Not many would confront people to request silence.

So I listened.

To this unnamed woman wearing a facemask

As she babbles to another passenger about her most recent job interview

From conversation snippets, I felt her excitement about this job.

Because it’s the first one she will have after working in a different country for so many years

“Where did you work before?" the other lady asked in our local language.

“Dubai,” the masked lady said. “For more than ten years.”

“What did you do over there?”

“I was a fashion consultant for luxury items.”

“What was it like?”

And she started narrating about her experience...

One particular statement caught my attention.

She hoped that in this next job, she would be able to work with kind people.

She had enough of people who put her under too much pressure.

And her co-passenger asked, “I thought life was good in Dubai?”

But the lady said, “Not as good as other people think.”

At this point, my thoughts wandered.

What she said got me thinking.

Aren't there still a lot of misconceptions or myths in our culture about working abroad?

Here are a few of them:

• Myth - While you work in a different country, you float in abundant money.

• Truth - The high cost of living offset the high salary. Not all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have high-paying jobs that produce excessive cash flow.

• Myth - When you work in a different country, you experience a smooth and easy life.

• Truth - Although you might enjoy smooth processes and efficient public services like transportation, you still deal with external challenges, including people who can make your life difficult and rough.

• Myth - You can’t use the profession you’re qualified for, and/or you’re forced to take jobs that don't match your educational attainment.

• Truth - Although this used to be true for some of our fellow OFWs and perhaps still true for some others, our experience is slowly changing. It's not impossible to encounter OFWs who can practice their professions even from abroad.

Which of these myths or truths did you recognize?

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P.S. I continue to collect inspiring stories and insights from accountants/auditors living and working in different countries.

If this is you and you have a story to tell, comment here or send me a message.

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