#####For those who want to work abroad—anywhere—I’m sharing my experience, hoping you might pick up something useful. The expenses incurred by employers, agencies, and agents for each applicant are no joke. I truly believe that when an employer hires a domestic helper, they should also receive an orientation on how to manage them—whether the helper is a first-timer or an experienced OFW.
No matter how much orientation or training the applicants receive, if the employers themselves don’t read the contract or the guidelines, misunderstandings between both parties will never end—often leading to broken contracts or severe homesickness.
I have helped many fellow Filipinos find work with my own employer’s family, and thank God, they have all been successful. There were some challenges, but I never received a single riyal from their employers for my help. My only condition was that the employers treat their new workers the same way my own employer treats me. How you treat one another and how you handle the little things—viewing them as tests of your own resilience—is crucial, especially when misunderstandings arise on either side. Among the fellow domestic helpers I’ve met here, I’ve seen lapses on both the employer’s and the employee’s sides. That is precisely why an orientation for both parties is essential. God bless everyone! Also, please don’t treat working abroad as a mere "trial run"—only to end up suddenly returning home just because you’re homesick.
When I first started, I went through some very tough challenges: I didn’t know the work, they weren’t fluent in English, and I was constantly being given tasks as they trained me. Someone who isn’t used to hard work—or who was lazy back in the Philippines—will definitely struggle. But as for me, I was already accustomed to hard work. I struggled with our conversations, as well as with the food—some of which I wasn't yet accustomed to eating. However, within a month of working, I managed to get the hang of everything. I learned Arabic quickly because I was taking care of three small children and handling household chores. I also had an Indonesian colleague who served as a helper for the grandmother; communication was particularly difficult because our languages were so different. After three months, I could handle everything and speak Arabic. I had written down the names of every item in the kitchen and every part of the house in a notebook—noting the Arabic terms (transliterated into the Latin alphabet based on their pronunciation) alongside their Tagalog translations.
Back in 1998, there were no mobile phones; only a select few men owned them. It is only recently that women here have been permitted to use mobile phones. Coming here to work was not part of my plans—it was God’s will. Thank God, I found an employer—a "Good Samaritan"—with whom I have stayed from 1998 until today. At the time, the processing of my documents took less than a month; it was incredibly fast, and I was able to leave for abroad right away. If you think I earn a large salary—well, I don't! I started my salary of 700Saudi Riyal and increase after a decade passed.
I survived and live here 28 years and it's my second home. I'm writing this because some of the workers and employers have both lapses base in the new contract written on it. As of this time , we are experiencing the bombing Ang some ofws are scared. I hope everything will be okay. Prayer is the key 🙏🙏🙏
This is for today and more stories next time.
@olivia08