Tragic Ending

The last statement I presented above still leaves me numb and stupefied - a woman jumping out of the building to escape ... and an OFW ending up in the freezer as her final coffin. These are slices of real-life stories and broken dreams of living in the Middle East.

Why does finding a job abroad ... at times end up tragic? Being an immigrant myself in America ... this is part and parcel of a pattern of Pinoys weaving a standard narrative when asked how life is going ... in a foreign land.

They usually weave lies to assure his family that everything is going smoothly as expected ... and as planned. They are not truthful about sharing their sob stories ... and they are not brave enough to describe their first day of work - was a little short of hell.  They don't tell their family that yes ... she has a problem ... and her employer treats her like dirt.

They inform their loved ones positively that everything is a bed of roses ... and they try to convince them that their employer treats them like family.  They made up stories that her job and the money especially were a luxurious ease.  Everything was pleasant and hunky-dory ... she couldn't ask for more. Who are they trying to convince?  Themselves or their loved ones?

Their Facebook account chronicles only happy moments  ... and delightful experiences.  They send their family photos with an ear-to-ear smile ... with tall buildings at the backdrop - giving you the impression ... that she is indeed in good hands ... and that she made the right decision working abroad.

As I warned you before ... not everybody who has gone abroad - can claim that they are successful ... genuinely happy ... and are telling you the truth ... and nothing but. What happens now if their concocted stories were just a front ... a big facade to cover up failures ... broken dreams ... and a life taking an unexpected turn? What happens now if everything they did was to save face ... and they are just trying to avoid humiliation?

If their intention is to allay their family's fears (marami na ngang problems ... dadagdagan ko pa) ... pacify their pesky nerves ... and sugarcoat their experience as something pleasant -- it is a problem waiting to happen. They are doing a big disservice to themselves when they are not honest and candid about their real situation.

OFW needs to call a spade ... a spade. If there is trouble ... they should communicate these experiences with their family. They don't have to keep these emotions bottled up ... because the time will come they are going to explode. Remember the lady jumping off to her death?

They should share their problems and issues with friends and family. If the problem is something they can't handle ... anyone back home can always make suggestions for them to resign even if it is not suitable or inappropriate ... and go home before it is too late.

Remember the lady in the freezer?

It is kind of morbid ... but it really needs to be addressed.