That one thing that made my pandemic days less lonely

There was a point during my first year of working in a different country that I felt super down.

A year is the longest I’ve ever been away from home

I struggled still to integrate myself in a new environment

Where work habits, preferences, and practices somewhat differ from what I’m used to

I was tempted then to give up and leave, thinking that if I did, my problems would stop.

But there’s something I brought with me that changed my mind

My former teams, colleagues, and friends sent me a “pabaon.

In our culture, a “pabaon” (rough translation: send-off gift) is something you give to someone who’s leaving or who’s about to embark on a new journey or milestone.

It can be a physical thing, but also, it can be letters.

I got my first set of pabaon back in college from my school publication mates.

The pabaon consists of congratulatory messages for my graduation

The next pabaon came near the final days of my review for the CPA exams.

Younger colleagues sent good luck letters to our batch.

My third set of pabaon was when I left for my Singapore secondment.

And lastly, I got my last set of pabaon when I finally left our local firm to start an adventure in Belgium.

I brought all these letters with me, and I read them during low points in my life.

Most of them were just short letters

But they remind me a lot of who I am and who I aspire to be…

As always, it’s the little things that make a difference.

They were the lightest stuff in my luggage.

But imagine how these super-light letters can lift a heavy weight.

If you’re someone who’s in the habit of sending “pabaon”, I hope you continue doing it.

You never know how such a small gesture can make a difference in someone’s life.

***

P.S. These short emails are also my way of giving a "pabaon". I would have preferred handwritten letters (I'm traditional in that regard), but I understand that distance and time separate us. I hope that one day, this can also make a difference in your life. And if you wish to spread these emails, I really don't mind.

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