My Home Sweet Home
Leaving your family to start a new chapter in life is a brave and life-changing decision. I decided to start working abroad because I wanted to give my family a better future. My mother had done the same for us too. One of the biggest challenges I had, when actually living and working abroad, was learning to feel at home in a completely unfamiliar culture. Of course, I had ups and downs, sleepless nights, and struggles during that time in my life. I worked in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong and dreamed that one day my family and I would be back living together somehow.
On my second stint in Japan, after living abroad for many years, I was given the opportunity to bring my family here and considered the possibility of all of us living together in Japan.
Once again, there were many challenges and we eventually found a school for my children and settled into life together, as a family, for the first time in 10 years.
In the beginning it was really hard for them to adjust to their new environment especially with the language barrier. I felt heartbroken watching my youngest child not wanting to go to school because he would say: “I have no friends”, while my eldest son tried his best to be courageous and make friends. At home, I would always ask them about their day at school, and the only thing they would tell me was that they were happier at home because we were together and that only our family brought comfort to them and nothing more. “I want to go home” they would tell me every day. It was not easy for them to really feel at home, to feel safe, to feel comfortable and to feel at peace, in their new “country” that they had just moved to.
After six months of having the same routine from home to school, finally, I could see the sparkle return in their eyes. They started using the Japanese language and I was in admiration of them and their skills. Over time, I saw their confidence grow, and I felt so grateful for this. Eventually, our days became more straightforward and easier. I watched them going to school every day, cheerful and filled with their old spirit. They started to love learning the Japanese language more and more importantly, they became comfortable with it. Comfort is something that we truly need in our lives. It is what brings us home.
As a foreigner living overseas, it is inevitable that we will miss many moments that we shared back home in the Philippines. I remember, we would always gather with family and relatives and have meals together. Family is considered to be the foundation of social life for most of us Filipinos. People are usually very warm and friendly. They enjoy having conversations and socializing with people around them. We are often expressive and sentimental, while maintaining a light-hearted demeanor. Filipinos are also known to be very family oriented. There is usually no distinction between extended family and close family friends. Once you get along with them, before long, you are introduced in this way. The key is to keep a happy, easy-going disposition and a good sense of humor and they will love having you around. These are the things which make me miss home.
So, even though we are here in Japan, we can still bring aspects of our 'home' here. Cooking and food are of course the easiest way to do this. Our traditional recipes are not just of food that is eaten to satisfy us, but they are also our unique way of recalling wonderful memories. These memories are evoked by the reaction of our palates as we taste everything. Memories start to come rushing back. We immediately remember the people, the laughter, the places, the warmth of the sun, and the smell of coffee and “pandesal” (special Filipino bread for breakfast) in the morning. Oh, what a lovely sensation! There are many traditional dishes that define the Philippines and our Filipino culture.
Some dishes that I would like to share are the popular ones like lechon (roasted pig), longganisa (pinoy pork sausage), and chicken or pork adobo braised in garlic, vinegar, oil and soy sauce. From the ubiquitous adobo to the cringe-worthy balut, Filipino cuisine is varied and exceptionally delicious. “Kain na tayo” is what you will always hear whenever you have meals together. During gatherings, as we enjoy every taste of the food, we also take a trip down memory lane.
It is always lovely to reminisce about old memories. It humbles you because it brings you back to where you come from.
Due to the pandemic, we tend to go back to the good old days more often in our hearts and minds. This pandemic has made us make many changes to our lives. With everything being so uncertain, we are having to live our lives differently and we are all realizing how important and how precious everything is. The value of our past, all the wonderful memories, as if we had taken everything for granted and forgotten to show our true gratitude. Let us cherish the present because it is a gift.
I still look forward to going back to my home sweet home, the Philippines one day. It is really a lovely country and a place that of course is close to my heart. I would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to visit there in the future. Let us make beautiful memories together! Mabuhay!!
