Long Distance Affair

Naghihimutok yung kaibigan ko today… about her so called "friends"…like her, expats din. But di tulad nya these Pinays are married to either Britons, Canadian, Swiss, etc. etc…. And hers, the reason for being in a foreign land it's because her husband (100% Ilonggo) happens to get a project and got relocated. I think this is their 5th foreign home. 


They are the epitome of a simple and happy family. Nothing grand but as an outsider you will feel the love for each other and if you are not satisfied with your life at kaibigan mo sila, maiisip mong ma-inggit sa kanila.

Hinga-han nya ako in the same way na sya rin ang unang naiisip ko kausapin kapag tinotopak ako or kapag nabubwisit ako sa mga officemates ko. Yes alam nya rin lahat ng himutok at inis ko day in day out. Ibang story ito of course, and I will most likely write about it any day soon.

We were chatting kanina, first asking how things are..family and all. Tapos bigla syang nawala. After like 20 minutes nag-buzz sya saying phone call daw kase. Maya maya ayan na naman, “sorry phone call ulit.”

Miss Friendship kase sya. Yan ang nick name ko sa kanya. Lahat kinakaibigan, walang pinipili. Kahit pa obvious na ginagamit lang sya, she just can’t say no. So ayun, sya ang tawagan ng mga Misis in distress. At ako, naman ang binabalingan nya pag di na sya makahinga. Joke ko tuloy sa kanya;

“Merong help line ba dyan sa bahay mo? Dial a friend? SOS?”

Sagot nya,”Baliw ka, natuturete na nga ako, kung alam lang nila kung anu-ano pinagsasabi nila sa isat’-isa. At alam ko lahat yun. Ang pa-plastic nila!”

Sabi ko naman.. “Hello, I am sure ikaw din topic nila pag wala ka…ahahahaha”

“I know! "

Nag-suggest ako, “Bat hindi ka mag-lagay ng answering machine.. “Sorry I am busy right now, will get back to you as soon as I find time. Or mag caller ID ka, wag mo sagutin mga tao na hindi mo type.”

This is just a very small part of our so very many conversations. And each waking day in a foreign land becomes easier and bearable when you know you have someone online 24/7. Yes I work abroad too and I think I must write about this “expat” thing one day. The bigotry in the concept and how people in today’s society label themselves to create a big gap, distinction and what-have-you only to show that one is superior over the other.

I live alone and don’t exert any effort in having new friends. I am happy with the handful that I already got, wherever they are. But I must admit maraming masaya at nakakalokang kwento ang aking mga “kabayan”. I am proud to be Filipino at ngayon ko lang nare-realize na kakaiba talaga ang Pinoy lalo na sa abroad. We have this way na tanging atin lang, tatak Pinoy ba.

Like my friend simpleng tao rin lang ako, walang matayog na pangarap. All I want is to be able to give my kids a comfortable life and send them to a good school. Work in the Philippines was fine but as always there are reasons for leaving, and this is another story to write about =).

I am ending this introduction to my world and if one will ask me about the agenda, there’s nothing much, it’s just my mind is overflowing with thoughts and sometimes it is nice to just share.