5 things living abroad taught me

I have been living overseas since 2012, but where I am at is still geographically close to my home country by travel time standard (I presently reside in Singapore which is reachable by a 3-hr plane ride from Manila - the Philippine capital). This distance allows me to go home quite often as compared to those living in far-flung countries.

I won't project that I am an OFW-veteran, but at least I have learned quite a lot to pen this post, and hopefully help those new overseas.

Here are my 5 takeaway lessons from 6 years of living away from my home country:

1. "Rooted-ness" to where you come from is most felt when you are overseas. My time abroad made me think hard of what I am missing day-to-day in the local scene. While I remain thankful for the social comforts provided by my host country, I still look forward to Manila chaos, very Pinoy humor, and deep-seated ties formed with my ex-Pinoy colleagues. These cannot be easily duplicated overseas.

So if ever you have plans of migrating to another country, make the most of the time you have home. You will long for it once you make the move, and you will be constantly reminded that Filipino blood still runs through your veins. And when you have finally set foot onto a foreign land, surround yourself with organic Filipino communities to help you easily get through homesickness.

2. Working overseas does not automatically equate to financial liberation. While it is true that many foreign companies pay way better than local ones, the overseas market remains bullish in attempts to increase everyone's spending. So if you are not careful in handling your finances, you will consistently fall victim to purchase items that go on sale every so often. And you will end up buying things that you will hardly use and have no space for.

Further, the "high" pay is commensurate to living standards in your host country. So for many, no pay seems "high" enough for sound long-term investments and savings. I know of people living and working overseas for close to 10 years who cannot even afford their own air ticket to get back home, while others easily gave in to pressures of purchasing small-ticket items (i.e. shoes on sale), but such would eventually add up to quite a sum which could have been better off spent somewhere else.

Back home, many of my contemporaries have been thriving financially. They are those who upgraded their skill sets, set up a business, and pursued excellence in their field of work. So the bottom line, whether or not you remain within the Philippine boundaries, financial liberation is totally dependent on modest spending and strong financial literacy.

3. Family is all that matters. I never longed for sustained family reunions till I'm away. It's true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I would constantly look forward to video calls with my parents, brothers, and nephews. I am even the self-appointed admin in our online group chats - something we never had when we were living under 1 roof.

My elder brother also migrated to another country in 2011, and I followed suit 1 year later. So I take every chance I get to keep my family in constant contact despite the distance.

4. Blend in fast naturally. My host country is multicultural, and this global environment taught me to blend in and get acculturated fast. Yes, small talks matter. I've learned how to initiate dialogues about food, weather, coffee, and what not with my Singaporean colleagues. I cannot be limited to all things Filipino, and these exchanges led me to widen my worldview.

5. Have a long-term/exit plan. While Singapore is an ideal place to grow and beef up one's portfolio, the country offers no stability and permanence long-term for non-Citizens/permanent residents. Employment-wise, I have been on 3 contractual jobs, and am currently renting a pad (since we cannot buy a property due to our foreign status). This means long-term planning is shaky and non-definitive.

So should you decide to leave the Philippine shorelines, make sure you have a personal long-term plan that can fit circumstances in your country of choice. Otherwise, you may need to get back home for good, or seek greener pastures somewhere else.