2015/5/7 / Janmarie / Technician / Pilipinas 菲律賓 / Wala
A Closer Look
( Taiwan… a destined road for Overseas Filipino Workers )
Racial Discrimination. Ito agad ang kauna – unahang pumasok sa isip ko noong una akong nagbalak na mag apply patungong Taiwan. I have no idea, as in zero at all, and maybe because it’s my first time to work overseas. Marami akong doubts and what if’s..
What if.. di ko kayanin makipagsapalaran or mas tamang sabihin na makipagsabayan sa kultura ng ibang lahi. What if hindi ako makatagal or matapos ang kontrata. Papaano na ang mga nagastos at mga nautang. But then mas nangibabaw ang kagustuhan kong mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang aking pamilya.
At hindi nga nagtagal dumating na ang takdang araw ng pag alis ko sa Lupang Sinilangan.
Unang apak ko pa lang sa lupa ng Taiwan iba na ang pakiramdam ko. Kung pwede nga lang bumalik na ko ulit sa loob ng eroplano pabalik ng ‘Pinas. Parang sa atin lang sa EDSA na pwede mong habulin ang bus at sumakay ulit pag mali ang nababaan. But then again, there is no way back home. This is it. This is really is it. Nandito na ko sa Taiwan at wala na kong magagawa kundi mag move forward. Tumingin ako sa paligid ko at nasabi ko sa sarili ko “ KAYA MO YAN “, kung nakaya ng iba makakaya mo rin.
That was my transition and very big decision in life. At dun na nagsimula ang lahat.. ang Journey ko dito sa Taiwan. Habang lumilipas ang araw lumilinaw sakin ang lahat na hindi naman pala ganun kahirap. Ang mga kinatatakutan ko ay unti – unting nawala nang masimulan ko nang makasalamuha ang mga mahal nating Taiwan People. Aaminin ko noong una medyo aloof ako but then siguro nasa ugali na nating mga Pinoy na madali tayong mag adjust at maka adopt to survive in a foreign land. I observed and truly Taiwan People is amazing. They are kind and accommodating. They reach us out even though sometimes there is a miscommunication in language, but inspite with this, we understand each other by action and most importantly by heart. Also we thank you for the Google Translator, that was a very big help and commonly used everyday. They are jolly and easy to get along with. Just smile and smile and you’ll see from the bottom of their heart that they want to knew us better.
Language Barrier. It was difficult from the start. Pero may kasabihan nga tayo “ Pag gusto may paraan, Pag ayaw may dahilan “. At tayong mga Pinoy gagawa at gagawa ng paraan just to express ourselves to them. And also vise versa to them, They are very much willing to listen and also teach us some basic Mandarin words. We exchange talks everyday until we got our message to each other.
That is the good side of two different people with different languages but still communicating and understand each other.But then again, there’s always a good and a little bit bad side because sometimes tayong mga Pinoy sa sobrang kumportable na natin sa kanila, hindi na natin iniisip kung maganda o tama ba ang salita na binabahagi natin sa kanila. We learned from them and also they learned from us. So what ever na maibahagi natin sa kanila dala natin ang lahing Pinoy.
Minsan habang nasa elevator ako, I encountered two Taiwan boy said “ BALIW “. Napalingon ako at nalungkot. I knew that they were joking, making fun at the new word they learned but? Is it right that the first word we learned from us is that word?. I was wondering. Hindi yata tama, parang may mali, hindi pala parang, may mali talaga. So sana, sa kababayan kong Pinoy turuan natin sila ng tamang salita. Yung tatak Pinoy talaga. Nakilala tayo sa pagiging hospitable and courteous. So wag nating balewalain at baguhin ang imahe natin. Iayos natin ang bawat salita na lumalabas sa bibig natin dahil we are pride of our country. Sana hindi tayo makilala sa ganung aspeto ng pagka Pilipino.
But still, CHEER UP!!! And saludo pa rin ako sa lahing Pinoy at sa mga Taiwan People because we hang out together, and explore Taiwan with our friends here. Go Go Go!!!
Food Trips. Pagkain, Pagkain, Pagkain. Yan tayong mga Pinoy eh, hindi na yata mawawala sa sistema natin ang magexperimento and tuklasin kung anong bago pagdating sa usaping yan. There are lots and lots of food to buy. Very delicious and with the cheaper price. Nandyan ang Night Market downtown, Shabu – Shabu, the eat – all- you can, that was so sulit and affordable. Isama na natin ang Pien Tang, ha ha!!
But remember you cannot eat all of those without chopsticks. Yes, I still remember the first time I used that two sticks I don’t know how to hold even though I am super hungry na. I have to practice first and ate my food very slowly. Ha Ha!!. That is one of my memorable experience here in Taiwan.
Fashion. When it comes to fashion, Taiwan clothes is always on trend. From head to toe, so many choices, so many dress in style.Fashionable pants found in “ Ipayan “. That’s the place Filipino always visits. Only “ ipay ( 100 nt$ ) “ you can buy shoes and blouse on the go!!
Winter clothes is one of my favorite here,, the famous winter jackets with feather on hood, scarfs on the neck with various styles on neck, that was amazing!. Samahan pa natin ng sari - saring boots even up to the knee. Fantastic!! All of that is fit for taking pictures,, that was awesome!!
Places. Sino ba naman ang hindi dadaan at magpapalamig sa Big City in Hsinchu, Nanliao, Zoo, Salt Mountain in tainan at marami pang iba. Aaminin ko marami pa kong di napupuntahan at gustong puntahan dito sa Taiwan. I stay here for year and 3 months and I am ready to explore more. Like a caption on shirt, this land is like the answer for dreams of an OFW like me, I LOVE TAIWAN.
My second HOME..
