You have a good job, your employer is nice and reasonable, and pay is good. You are treated well, which makes you love your job even more. Everything seems to be going well, except that you are overseas and your family is in the Philippines.
Homesickness is one of the many problems OFWs face. Despite earning bigger, most, if not all OFWs experience feeling homesick, with some even deciding to go back home because they miss their family. Unfortunately, you have to make sacrifices in order to provide a better and secure future for your family.
Here’s the challenge: how will you address homesickness?
It’s not easy to address, but these tips will help:
1. Establish a schedule where you can talk to your family.
The good thing about living today is that communicating with people from anywhere around the world is easier. You can always use Skype, Viber, WeChat, or FaceTime to talk to your loved ones back home and see their faces.
Therefore, establish a schedule where you can set up video or phone conferencing. It is advisable to do this at night time where the family is complete. Ask your family how their days went and listen to them as they share the things that happened to them. This way, you can still keep communication lines open with your family.
2. Call anytime.
Aside from the scheduled video calls, make an effort to call or send a message to members of your family anytime within the day. Let them know that you think of them and how much you miss them. Ask them how their day is going so far. This assures your family that you are still there and just a phone call away.
3. Watch Pinoy shows during your downtime.
You deserve a break. You’ve been working so hard for the past week, so don’t hesitate to lie down on your bed and watch Filipino shows during downtime. Seeing Filipino actors on your screen will make you miss home even more, but at least you are not alone. It gives you a little piece of how life is back home and a good way to de-stress as well.
4. Meet up with the Filipino community.
Have you seen the Aga-Claudine-John Lloyd movie, Dubai? It’s a great way of showing the closeness and bayanihan spirit of the Filipinos.
If you don’t like the idea of being alone, then you should know that there is a Filipino community waiting for you. For instance, many Filipinos in Hong Kong gather every Sunday for their day-off. Take this opportunity to relax, de-stress, and meet fellow kababayans. This will make you cure homesickness.
Don’t worry. All of the sacrifices will be worth it, especially if your priority is a better life and secure future for your family. Hang in there.