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Showing posts from August 23, 2015

The Migrant Worker

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LEAVEBEHIND The Migrant Worker (Live for a Reason) TV series picture not mine Karla, a Filipino migrant worker, left her home country to forget a past that broke her spirit.  In Dubai where she will work as an Engineer, she will learn about the sacrifices of other Filipino migrant workers that will lead her to discovering her real purpose in life. Karla when growing up didn’t think that she will leave her family to work overseas.  She has hesitations of working abroad because of bad fates of some Filipinos and also because of the bad examples that she’s seen from her Auntie.  Her Auntie has been working in Italy for many years.  She has no idea what she’s doing there.  She only knows that monthly they will receive a “balikbayan” box (migrant worker box) loaded of chocolate bars from her Aunt.  Her Auntie also visits them every two years but Karla doesn’t like her around because Karla feels that her Aunt is controlling their lives as if she’s a King.  Karla

Nightmares

One afternoon, my colleague Thomas-Thomas approached me. Shiela, I didn’t know you can speak Cantonese.  Since when? What are you talking about? I heard you and the cleaning lady talking to each other.  Lei Ho Ma, Ho Ho And then? I only heard up to that.    I see.  You know Thomas-Thomas, after I said  Lei Le  and she responded in FULL Cantonese, I didn’t understand any single word. Contest Chair, my Fellow Toastmasters and guests, do you find it challenging to communicate using your second language? It was 8 years ago when I received an offer from a company in Bermuda, an English speaking Island.  They were hiring me as an Accountant.  While I was reading the contract, my academic report cards were flashing through my mind. Math, Algebra, Calculus, Financial Accounting, straight A’s. English, Grammar, Literature, Speech, straight C’s. I don’t like English and it doesn’t like me to.  Even though I know it will be difficult for me to communicate in Bermuda, I