Ready(?)

We used to hold a 'despedida' party whenever a colleague of ours decided to go home for good. This was in the early part of our stay here and the situations then were better than today. Some can be said to be lucky as they were able to established a good business or were still able to land a good job despite their age.

This time it's different. I can't remember now when was the last time we held a 'despedida' party for somebody. Not that nobody now was leaving but the situation does not warrant any celebration. There are those who will be leaving or have to go because of illness or sometimes because of family problems. It feels very sad when you see some colleagues who have to go because of illnesses. All our lives we dream of spending the fruit of our sacrifice of being away from our families, longing that someday we will go home for good and stay with our families with enough savings to keep us moving.

Most of us here are waiting for the moment, but you will feel that nobody is raring to go. We have been here really for almost or more than half of our lives. One of my colleagues told me that when he first left the Philippines her daughter was five years old. Now he told me her grand-daughter with her daughter is now five years old. Most of his children have now finished their education, but still he said he doesn't feel it is time to go. It's difficult to live in the Philippines and as much as possible and as long as we are able and are allowed to work here we just keep on going and just enjoy a vacation every year.

I hope when the time comes, it is either the situation in the Philippines improve or we can have even just enough to make a living together with our families.