Filipinos Overseas
By sassymoon
@sassymoon (28)
New Zealand
January 19, 2007 1:40am CST
Where are you, are you alone or with your family. Are you abroad for work temporarily, or for good. Do you still want to go back eventually, or is your new country "home" for you. We are in New Zealand, and we are fortunate enough to have migrated with our small family. I don't know if my feelings will change, but I will probably want to go back to the Philippines several years later.
4 responses
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
19 Jan 07
Hi Sassymoon, welcome to NZ. I am in PN.
Migrants the world over, since the dawn of history bring new culture, knowledge, technologies, practices and networks to their host country.
It is but natural that first generation migrants have links to their home country. Their children start to make a live in the new country and then start to have a "disconnect" with the people in the home country while the parents still have links and want to go back.
By the time the third generation arrives, it becomes so much more difficult for that to happen.
For example we have a friend, Margaret, who is now 78 and still speaks with a British accent. She arrived in New Zealand when she was six but has no affinity for the UK at all. Her daughter Alice, actually dislikes many aspects of British life and attitudes.
So there you, are.. I hope you can go back if you still want to - after so many years. But would your children want to? Have fun Balikbayan.
@sassymoon (28)
• New Zealand
19 Jan 07
hello there! points well taken. those are also some issues that I know we will be facing when the time comes---especially that last bit you said re. would my child/ren want to go back to the Philippines after X years.
I was so naïve to think before we left that we could come back 'someday'. but of course things aren't that simple because by then we would have established roots here in nz as well.
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
20 Jan 07
True Sassymoon, my paternal great grandmother migrated to the US and so we have a huge branch of my father's family who live in the States. She herself, 92 now religiously returns to the 'Pinas each year. Some of her children who had grown up in the Phils travel with her often. Her US grandchildren however, not having real connections find much of the life in the Philippines irritating and would much rather do other things like travel to Europe for their holidays.
Our children must have loyalty and patriotism to our new homeland. I am not sure but imposing aspects of our culture on them may make things more difficult for them as our friends and relatives have experienced in America for four generations.
@trionyxx1 (139)
• Philippines
12 Feb 07
going abroad has always been an option that most filipinos aim for. it's like we have this urge to go out and see what's going on in other places. personally though, if ever i go abroad later, i hope to come back here again. there's just no place like home. here you don't have to worry about being discriminated against or looking out of place
@myjewel (268)
• Philippines
22 Jan 07
my friend is going gaga and she would really like to work in singapore but i don't like to support her idea in doing that. first of all is that i will miss her and i prefer that she stays in the country since i know she can do well in her local country.
@gmadarang05 (14)
• United States
24 Jan 07
Im here in california. i never really lived in the philippines, but i moved here from Guam in 2000. I really want to go back to the Philippines for vacation cause theres just so much to do over there! California isnt really home for me compared to the philippines. =)
