Of Family and Friends

A migrant's life can be very exciting indeed!

When me, my wife and our daughter made that bold move of moving to a land I called "the ends of the earth," we were not as scared as the others because my wife's siblings are there and they have already been established in Auckland (having been in NZ for about 7 years already). They just bought their own house, got a car and a van for transport, have stable jobs, and have a strong network of friends.

And indeed, Joy and Jerry (my wife's brother) have helped us a lot to make our stay not at all traumatic. We felt at home immediately. And indeed if you have a support system as strong as that, you won't really be scared. Our first two months in Auckland was full of excitement, adventure, and everything new (even how you cross the street in Queens St, is exciting).

It was made more exciting when we transferred to our newly rented house. We were like newly married couples starting our new life, in a very new environment. We look at the rooms which looked even more spacious because there was nothing in it (not even a bed or a dresser or a side table). It was good that my sister in law gave us the necessary things to start with, otherwise we would have taken our meals with our bare hands (now isn't that exciting).

So, here we are, barely able to adjust to the new life in Auckland, with our new jobs, and our new house. I am not certain if I was excited because there were so many things to buy, or because we have no idea where we would get the money to buy it. Our preacher this morning told us that we have a great inheritance, but we must move to claim it and enjoy our possessions. We are rich, or so he says. But I cannot seem to reconcile that with the nothingness that our empty house aptly symbolizes.. That emptiness is even greater in our pockets and bank accounts. Rich, duh.

So I was neither emotionally nor psychologically, not even philosophically ready when one of our newfound friends called us up. I was never prepared for the excitement of my life, when a member of our homegroup called and offered with so much humility, "I'm moving to a new flat and I won't be bringing most of my things. Why don't you come and take the things you need, like washing machine, bed, lounge, even the TV." 

Just like that! And with my voice quivering with shame and excitement I asked the most stupid question one can ask in a situation such as that…"How much?" And even before I have finished, I already regretted I've even uttered them. What a way to respond to such generosity! But then again, I really don't know how to respond to situations like that. 

Indeed, a migrant's life can be so exciting. But it is made much more exciting by those people who are always there to offer a helping hand. And then I realize, yes, we are rich, indeed, because we have them - our family and friends.

The Migrants’ Migraine - Part I

We have given up so many things back home, even the comfort of being with our family and loved ones, just to be here and be lured by the “greener pasture” presented to us as the so-called great shortage of skilled workers in the place. I know this is too early to doubt that our decisions were driven not so much by the hopelessness of our country’s situation but by the overflowing opportunities that only New Zealand can offer. Either way, I believe that this would not have been a cause for alarm had there not been a programme called “Work to Residence” visa.

The WTR, as it is, would probably be one of those examples or templates of a successful program that a growing country like New Zealand needs. But the headache starts when the period given to find a job is only 6 months. These pains that migrants have to suffer become even more intense and disabling when companies or employers, even government agencies do not recognize the WTR as a permit to work. It is a painful condition, when after being given a permit to work given by the government who sells the place (and it is doing a very good job on it), a migrant is not accepted because he does not have a Permanent Resident Visa nor a NZ citizenship. And he cannot be given a Permanent Resident Visa because he cannot get a job offer.

It is ironical that the root word of the word “migraine” comes from the Greek “hemicrania,” as does the Old English term “megrim,” which literally means “only half the head.”

I am sure the analogy ends there, that only half of the government is actually “bringing in” the much-needed skilled workers, while the other half is in reality driving them away. But as I am a holder of a 6-month WTR myself, although I got a job on my second week in Auckland, others are not that lucky (as if landing a job in NZ is really  a matter of luck), and even my job is not related to my skill category. 

At the end of the day, I realize that after having given up so much back home, one has to swallow that humility pill; do things that we could not imagine ourselves doing back home, if only to find that elusive blessing called a “job offer.” I pray that even after all these bouts of painful realities, we Filipinos would not forget that there is something in us that we can be proud of - the ability to thrive in the most difficult times. Even a migraine we can take, because we believe that opportunities abound, in a place called New Zealand.

And this is where I learned that lesson of Complete Trust in Him who gives me everything I need. With Paul I say, in Philippians 4:12-13

“…when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength.”

Happy Notes for 2007

Welcome 2007!!!

Let us greet the new year with music in our hearts, and with happy notes in our minds. What a beautiful world this would be if we look at life with gladness in our souls! But then again, music should be the expression of what is deep within us, devoid of masks and pretenses, or of pride and prejudices.

Happy New Year! 

 (click here to listen to Diana Krall)