Career Mom Speaks

Did I Say Something Wrong?

2011-12-29T17:04:00.000-08:00

How do you deal with insecure bosses?

Actually, I've stopped counting how many times I've experienced bosses who seemed to have personal issues. Their supposed issues are manifested in such a way that can really get into someone's nerves.

If you're the subordinate and you have this kind of boss, how on earth would you handle the situations and not get yourself on the chopping block?

If you need to hold on to your job, this can be quite a dilemma. Either you tolerate the boss, act blind and deaf so you can go on with your employed life or you can start looking for another job. The downside of putting up with the boss, however, is that the stress can take a toll on your health. Do you have the patience? Do you have the skills to manage up?

Politics play an important role in the workplace. No matter how good you are in your job, you still need to do some politicking to get them to notice your efforts. Some people leverage on politics to move pass the deserving ones. How unfortunate, isn't it?

What I'm saying is, you need to play your cards right. Being assertive can be a double-edged sword. Think about it.

A Month Shy of 2012: Some Thoughts

2011-10-31T23:54:00.000-07:00

No, this blog is not dead yet.

I've been busy for the past months with work and some personal stuff. A lot of things definitely had happened and frankly, I don't know where to begin my story.

To keep it simple, I'll start with the "now".

First, I have to congratulate myself for staying in this job longer than 5 months. I was tempted to move out several times because I was unhappy with the way things are going. But I have made a pact with myself to give this one a chance. Another chance. No job is perfect and no boss is perfect either.

Second, if things are right on schedule, this might be my last Christmas at home. And having said that, I decided to break my own rule of not putting up decors during Christmas. I am no Mr. Scrooge. It's just that Christmas is so commercialized and somehow, lost its meaning.

The thought of leaving makes me feel homesick already.

Third, I'm glad to have rekindled friendships this year. I've met up with friends whom I haven't seen for years and when we got together, the connection was still there. How cool is that?

There's a whole gamut of laundry list I want to put in writing but words escaped me.

How To Deal With Job Burnout

2011-07-13T02:09:00.000-07:00

Job burnout is inevitable especially if you're the type who often overextends himself in the workplace. The bleak economy and the scarcity of jobs nowadays are huge stressors which is why most people find themselves in this challenging situation.

But there are ways to reduce and manage stress. Here are some tips I've culled in the net and hopefully, apply the same to my daily grind:

1. Take a pro-active approach at work.

There is fierce competition in the workplace and every single person I know would do everything in their capacity to keep their jobs. The fear of losing one's job is a major cause of distress and that fear may drive them to accept more tasks than they can handle. While it's true that they get to keep their jobs but unfortunately, at the expense of their physical and emotional well-being.

Question is, how long can your body and mind tolerate such abuse?

One critical issue here is to address the problems to your superior. Don't wait for the situation to get out of hand.

2. Go on a vacation.

A little R&R goes a long way. Don't wait for the stress to drain your energy up to the last drop. Take a quick vacation and replenish your batteries.

3. Review your job description with your boss.

This can be quite tricky. Just make sure that when you talk to your boss about your expanding responsibilities (which apparently are not part of your original job description), you don't sound as though you're whining. Instead, show your boss how you've been performing over and beyond your job description.

In a nutshell, it's all about dealing with the source of stress head on. Because if you let it take its own course, burnout will eventually takes its toll on your health.

The Talkers

2011-05-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of Robert Greene. In fact, The 48 Laws of Power is one of my favorite reads.

A recent experience made me re-think how I appear to other people. Then I remembered one law that says, "Think as you like but behave like the others".

If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness

.

Mindless chatter turns me off. Really.

In a world of sheep, however, behaving like one of the herd can backfire. People would play on your alleged gullibility. But unbeknownst to them, the act is all part of the game.

The Year That Was

2010-12-23T20:48:00.000-08:00

This has been a very challenging year for me. Nonetheless, I am thankful. My loved ones stood beside me no matter what.

I am looking forward to the new year and a new job, too. I'm going back to a MNC. My short job stints with the local ones never really worked. Plenty of times this year, I have doubted myself, my skills and that's enough.

Here's a toast to 2011!

How Do You Explain Short Job Stints?

2010-11-17T01:57:00.000-08:00

This year, I had three jobs and working on my fourth. Admittedly, it is difficult to explain to the interviewer the fast job turnover in a span of 12 months.

The first one was understandable because the project was terminated by the client. At that point, I had made a decision to stay with the industry I have built my career on for the last 10 years. The second and third jobs were, for the lack of a better word, would qualify as career mistakes. Of course, had I known that I wasn't a "fit" in those jobs, I wouldn't have dared jump ship.

Second item: corporate culture. Talking about the corporate culture of the organization during the interview process is far different from what it actually is when you're on-board. I am partially to blame because I didn't listen to my peers who have cautioned me on how the environment would be in those companies. Plus, back then I regarded their advices as rumors. They're just rumors, plain and simple. And I don't usually engage myself in such gossips. Well, in hindsight, they weren't and they were right all along.

My attitude towards these kind of newsworthy rumormongering is that I verify first. But sometimes, the process of verification can be very painful and worst, at the expense of my career.

So, how did I explain my short stints?

I had to be honest. I told the hiring managers that I wasn't the right fit.

Initially, my explanations were vague because I really didn't want to elaborate. However, avoiding the issue would create more doubts about my real intentions to get the job. I cited specific scenarios which I believe would justify my reasons for leaving the company.

Have they bought my explanation aka honesty?

I really do not know the answer. At least for now.

There were other issues that came up such as salary and other fringe benefits but the bottomline is, am I the right fit? And if I am, would I take a pay cut in exchange for the long term benefit?

I need time to think.

Ditching The Job

2010-10-27T05:17:00.000-07:00

Not once but twice, I've dreamt about my bosses. And every time that happens, I usually shrug it off. But in hindsight, I am beginning to feel and realize that my dreams are telling me something.

Not once but plenty of times, I've asked myself how long would I be working for someone. Could this be it?

I've been running my business, albeit part-time, for almost two years now. There are highs and lows, of course. But the good part is, I was and still am able to sustain it.

However, this is not about my business.

Sometimes when you are at your lowest point, you start to doubt yourself. I wouldn't really want to look at it that way. Perhaps, it is more on what I want to do with my life.

Now, the question haunts me.

The Fickle-Minded Co-worker

2010-10-17T23:11:00.001-07:00

How do you handle fickle-minded folks in the workplace?

I usually avoid working with these types because they end up wasting my time. But how about the inevitable? What if you have no choice?

I am a patient person. Probably, a lot more patient than the girl next door. But there are times when being patient is no longer the right thing to do. I wouldn't call myself the queen of dissent either but when that happens, the patience barometer has finally reached its apex.

Now, to channel all these not-so-good vibes, I try to change my perspective. As the old adage goes, this too shall pass. Question is, can I wait?

I want to wait this one out. Honestly. It's been a dizzying roller coaster ride for my career this year. And I want to make this one right. Fickle-minded or not, I'll stay.

On My Own. Alone. Driving.

2010-09-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

I've been a commuter all my life. Driving my own car improves my mobility alright but it's stressing me out a bit. Now, I can't sleep in the car on my way home unlike those days when I take cab.Plus, I have to face one of my weaknesses and that is my direction-impaired self. And most importantly, I have to really brush up my parking skills. Taking a refresher course might be a good idea but I'd rather have someone I know teach me personally.

Yesterday, for example, I forgot which parking lot I parked my car! In my neck of the woods, all open parking areas look the same. It was raining last night and that made matters worse. Anyway, I soon figured out that I was at the wrong side of the street. Some side streets were not well-lit and it was probably one reason I got lost. Yeah.

This is day 2 and I have to leave early because of the color coding scheme. Another bummer.

I have to quit whining now and be thankful for the company car.

The Outsider Boss

2010-07-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

There is a reason why the boss is the boss. It doesn't matter whether he came from another industry or a seasoned professional in his field of expertise. His job is more on strategic planning and that includes hiring the right people to do the work for him. Simple, isn't it? In a perfect world, it is.

Let's say the boss is an "outsider", meaning he has zero knowledge about the business. The smart-alecky people in the office would undermine his capabilities one way or the other. These group of know-it-all think that they are a lot better than the boss technically-speaking. But, the boss does not need to know the nitty gritty of the everyone else's job. He is there to lead, to manage and to leverage on other people's skills to be able to carry on his role as the boss.

Now, why am I saying this? I've had bosses who were literally outsiders and were able to deliver. I also had the same breed of bosses who messed up the entire organization.

Moral of the story: Adapt. Change your perspective. Put yourself in the boss's shoes.

If things don't work out, better leave the company and save your sanity.

The Highs And Lows Of Firing And Hiring

2010-06-27T00:08:00.001-07:00

It's been a month since I've last updated this blog. I've been very busy trying to hold on to my present job while looking for a new job. So many things had happened but to cut the long story short, I was fired, resigned before the effective date of my termination and got a new job two weeks after I got the dreaded letter from HR.

This was by far, the lowest point in my career. I doubted my skills and my capabilities only to find out that no matter what I do, it is still not enough. Why? Because I am not like them.

When I went on board, I've been putting our fires and that went on for months. The company was and it still is, in total disarray. Resolving the multitude of issues cannot be done overnight.

The environment is the exact opposite of what I've been used to. There's a lot of bureaucracy inside. The image it portrays to the public is deceiving for it's mostly prestige.

It'll be tough to instigate professionalism with that kind of environment. And fear is what drives people to do their jobs. Fear is the motivating factor.

In a few days, I'll be leaving a team of demoralized people. People who cannot afford to quit their jobs because they have loans in the company - name it: car loan, salary loan, etc.; they say that their rates have become too expensive which makes it hard to look for another job (salary rates can be justified as long as you have the qualifications which is really not an issue, if you ask me) and work-related legal issues.

It was a huge blow to my ego to be sacked just like that. But that's one of life's lessons.

Moral of the story: it's not enough to be a performer in the corporate world. You also have to know how to play with the office politics and make it work to your advantage in order to survive. Most importantly, the rules of the game varies, so it is best to be always on the offensive.

Stress: What It Does To Your Body

2010-05-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

I know. Stress is part of our lives. You can't do away with it. You have to live with it and manage it and not the other way around.

But what is too much stress?

1. If it makes you sick.

2. If it encroaches your personal time and you can't do anything about it.

3. When everyone clocks out, your day has just started.

4. You start to ignore personal hygiene because you're too busy with, what else, work.

5. You lost your sense of humor.

I can name some more but you get the drift. There was a time when I let stress bog me down. It's draining and no amount of rest can make me feel good.

Part of me thinks that maybe, just maybe, I am adjusting to the culture. But, I was wrong. This is the culture and the culture is eating me alive.

Of course, I can't allow this to go on and on. So, what I did was to go with the flow and multitask like never before. It was, for the lack of better word, insane. It took a toll on my body, my face (breakouts like there was no tomorrow) and my personal relationship. My plan wasn't 100% working because I can only do so much in 8 hours which is really 11-12 hours in reality.

My dermatologist is my new BFF and my boyfriend exercised the highest level of tolerance I can imagine.

I don't think this is worth it. Maybe I should move... again.

Do You Envision Yourself To Be A CEO?

2010-05-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

I never imagined to be one but what if?

As I move up the corporate ladder, I often ask myself, what do I really want out of this corporate jungle thing. Will I continue to slave myself and make the owners wealthier. Do I enjoy servitude? Do I like sales, talking to people and all the shebang that goes with being a career woman?

I pause and ask myself. But sometimes, I can't even answer my own question.

I'm already in my mid-30s, the kids are in their teens, work has been good to me, so far. But there is something missing which I can't quite put my finger on.

Anyway, I replied, "yes". Why not? It's the penultimate of the ultimate.

Just thinking about it makes me cringe, it makes me feel old. In fact, in this blog I was regarded as someone who is in her 40s already. Maybe I speak/write like a 40-something. But how does a 40 something sound like? Tell me.

In A Perfect World, Carrying Out Shared Goals Is A No-Brainer

2010-04-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

In the corporate world, politics and attitude are just as important as skills.

There was an article I've read in the Harvard Business Review citing an excellent performer who was eventually fired because he couldn't work with his boss. Tension was evident right from the onset of their professional relationship. Since neither had a clear understanding of each others quirks, the company suffered. The boss was also let go, as a result.

The transition from being an independent contributor to a manager is similar to growing pains. The success of your direct reports determines the direction of your career. No matter how good you are as an individual contributor, it becomes irrelevant if your team cannot deliver as expected.

Who Wants Change?

2010-03-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

When you need to institute changes in the company, prepare to become unpopular.

As they say time and again, only change is constant. It's true. But sometimes, people don't like change especially if they've become comfortable with the status quo. Now, what do you do when faced with this dilemma? Management wants you to reposition your team and you know for a fact that this group of people have gone through a lot of changes in the past to the point of being called guinea pigs of the company.

Rumor has it that people were demoralized as a result of the frequent restructuring of the organization. The fact of the matter is, the company is trying to find the right formula to make things more efficient. Apparently, despite the changes, it seems that it is not working. Was the team to blame? Or perhaps, the company was too ambitious with their goals given their current resources?

I discovered that people, not all of them though, do not want changes at this point in time. In fact, when I offered a supposed "potential" a new assignment to lead a project, he showed disinterest. He even cried because he didn't want to leave the team. And after a heated debate the following day with his team leader, they (as a unit) did not like the idea citing camaraderie, low morale, etc.

The bottom line is, these people have reached complacency and any move to rock the status quo will only result to resistance from those who were involved in the changes in the past.

So what do I do?

I will continue to be open to suggestions and if they have a good case, I'll support them. However, this is a business and the owners decide on what's best for the company as a whole.

Maybe it was a futile exercise talking to them in the first place. But had I not opened the floor for discussion, I wouldn't have known. So I guess, it was a good exchange of thoughts after all.

Why Should I Promote You?

2010-03-05T15:50:00.000-08:00

Just because one person has spent 10 or so years in the company doesn't automatically mean that he or she is promotion material.

Promotion should be first and foremost, based on merit. Further, the person should have the competency to take more challenges and must have the leadership skills to make the team more efficient in carrying out their duties.

One of my team leaders recommended that two staff in his group are ready to take on a more senior position in the company. He said the promotion long overdue. Now, I ask myself: are these people ready to take more responsibilities? I know for a fact that they've been in the position for like, forever. But again, that doesn't mean anything if their performance is below average. Are they the type who feel entitled because of seniority? I hope not.

Is Seniority Directly Proportional To Competency?

2010-02-21T01:52:00.000-08:00

When people think that you are too young to be in the position you are in, what do you do?

1. Assert yourself that you possess the qualities which is the primary reason why you are hired for the position.

2. Act like professional. Dress like a professional. Speak like a professional. It doesn't matter which industry you belong to. The most important thing is that they regard you as someone who is an authority on the subject (read: you know what you are doing).

3. Since you're the new guy / gal in town, you don't have to be chummy to everyone. It's true that you have to establish rapport with your team but remember this, do not overdo it. You don't have to befriend your staff.

4. When people try to impress you with their seniority, accept it as face value and shut up. It's pointless riding their game of one upmanship. Prove to them (through your actions) that you are worth it. You are knowledgeable about your work.

5. You don't have to be a tyrant to prove to the seniors that you are far better than them, you know yourself and you know you can deliver the goods. Stick to that.

Museums and Exhibits In Manhattan: Check These Out !

2010-02-10T11:20:00.000-08:00

I love museums and exhibits. Be it works of art, relics from the past or science and technology, I simply adore them. The Smithsonian in D.C. would be the grandest for me. But for the time being, here are my latest finds.

Bodies: The Exhibition
Ah, the wonders of science. It was difficult to eat anything that is "meat" after seeing this exhibit. But on the whole, the exhibit is great and very informative. There are doctors in frocks (I presume they're real ones and not curators) inside the exhibit ready to take any questions from the guests. Location: Lower Manhattan. And since you're in the area, you can also check out the World Trade Center Memorial which is a few blocks from the seaport.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
This exhibit features the largest Titanic artifact collection and never before seen treasures. It's a journey to 1912 - the year when the "unsinkable" sank. At the entrance, you will be given a boarding pass. The name indicated on the ticket is the name of the actual passenger who went on board the Titanic. Now, at the end of the exhibit, you have to find out whether your "passenger" survived the tragedy or perished in the sea.

My ticket says passenger, Helene Ragnhild Ostby. She was 22 and hailed from Rhode Island. Her story?

Helene and her father Engelhart went to Europe every year to keep up with the latest trends in the jewelry business in which Engelhart worked. In 1912, they also included a tour in North Africa.

Passenger fact: Helene and her father always traveled on White Star Line ships. They looked forward to comparing Titanic to the other shops in the fleet.

The description above is taken from the ticket a.k.a. boarding pass given to me by the staff at the entrance. Miss Ostby survived the Titanic.

Location: Times Square

Schedules and ticket prices are available at their websites.

Sorry, cameras weren't allowed inside the exhibit. So, no photos to share.

The Manager With No Leadership Experience

2010-01-02T00:31:00.000-08:00

"How would you lead a team if you don't have any experience in managing people?"

This question has been hurled at me many times in the past. Management positions that entail managing a group of people more often, was the deal breaker. That is what managers are for, right? Right. Well, I hated that question. You see I've been a running a one-man-team for years and it has been quite a challenge to justify my lack of management skills. The hard part was there wasn't any opportunity to develop it anyway. But that didn't stop me from trying. I know I'll get a break somehow. There's got to be somebody out there who will take a chance on me - on my skills and experience. And as luck would have had it, it came true.

Now, going back to my earlier question, how do I do it or how will I do it?

Having had no hands-on experience, I admit that I'm nervous. This time, it's no longer about me entirely but rather, it's about people, my team, and helping them achieve success in their jobs.

I thought about my own work ethic and I would like to see the same in my team. I also thought about my previous "mentors" i.e. the slave drivers, the micro-managers and those who allowed me to work independently and exercise entrepreneurship in my department. These people taught me a lot of things.

I'm not sure if reading Jack Welch again would help me but it won't hurt revisiting his book.

Lastly, there's my future boss. I have worked with him in the past albeit, indirectly. I know I'll learn a lot from him as well. There's going to be some adjustments and I know that things will run smoothly once I settle down.

Cheers to 2010!

What To Do With Christmas Bonuses? Yes, Plural With The -es

2009-12-25T09:51:00.001-08:00

In some industry, employees are fortunate enough to receive bonuses this Holiday Season. People have been saving more because of the recession which started in 2007. But despite the unfavorable economic landscape, one can't help but celebrate and that includes spending money on gifts.

I love giving gifts and I love receiving gifts more! The part I dislike most is choosing the gift. Shopping eats up a lot of my time so instead of tiring myself in search for the perfect gift, I just give them cash or gift certificates. This, in my opinion, is the practical way of gifting.

Now, going back to gifts, the bonus kind you receive from a year of hard work. What do you do with the excess money? Two things: save and pay off debts.

I save a big chunk of the money I receive and pay down my credit card debts. While it's tempting to splurge more during the holidays, I have learned that the urge shall pass. There will be other sales in the future and since retail hasn't been doing well in the recession, the promos will be all year round. There's no need to rush in buying stuff. And as for paying off loans and debts, if I have more than enough money saved, I pay a hefty amount on my credit card.

I'd rather enjoy life's simple pleasures than be cash-starved after the holidays. This has been a common trend among my peers. I'd love the idea of wealth but not the one-day rich kind. I've been there and I know how it's like. Well, enough said. I hope you enjoy the Holidays and your bonus or bonuses!

Dealing With A Bait and Switch Boss

2009-12-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

If you happen to work for a bait and switch type of boss, what do you do? Do you defer to everything the boss says to keep your job? Or would you rather leave and look for another boss, someone who is fair and treats you with respect.

Despite the bleak economic climate, there are options. While it's true that the chances of switching jobs nowadays is entirely dependent on the industry or the field you are in, it pays to have a good set of friends, acquaintances and former co-workers to help you out when you decide to leave your job, regardless of the reason/s.

My most important rules are to maintain communication with previous co-workers and network with a lot of recruiters in LinkedIn. In my career as an insurance professional, job hopping is not that difficult. Most jobs in the insurance industry are not posted online rather people are sourced via referrals and headhunters.

It's been over three years since I quit the industry to explore opportunities in the outsourcing field. There are a lot of things I learned especially on the technology side. If people in the local market are dreaming of a paperless office, this is it. It is possible. The downside is that there will be lesser jobs available because most of the tasks are automated. That's the ugly trade off, unfortunately.

Other than the learning part, there are also dead ends. The opportunities are limited if you're a specialist. Difficult if you're a stubborn specialist like myself who wouldn't accept other projects that are not insurance related. Well, let's just say that I have other plans and the day job is just a job because I have other sources of income. But if we turn the tables around and put me in a situation wherein I'm completely at the mercy of my day job, then that's a different story altogether. I will accept any project offered to me in a heartbeat.

And as for the bait and switch boss, there are a lot of them. The tricky part is adopting to their style. Sometimes, they like you. And on other days, they'll say nasty things about you, about other people and the whole world in general, to put down your morale and of course, to get rid of you. In my opinion, these types are not the best in confrontation. They prefer skirting the issues and furtively drop the bomb when you've gotten comfortable with them.

When faced with this type of employer or boss, take extra caution, always be on your guard and if possible, look for another job.

Opportunity Is Like A Thief In The Night, It Will Grab You When You're Most Vulnerable

2009-12-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

When thoughts run dry, do you force yourself to write?

In the past, I try to post as often as I can. But I've been terribly busy the past few months and I have somehow, neglected my blog. I still write though. Every single day, in fact. But it's part of my gig thus, it's work.

Anyway, a lot of things have been going on lately. I moved into a new apartment (perhaps, the end of Generation B?) and I took care of my sick dad. I thought I'll end the year broke but I was wrong. I didn't win the lottery or something like that. I wish I did. But seriously, it's much more than that.

Let's just say I'm off to starting the new year with a bang. A really big bang. I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for making it happen.

After A Year Of Freelancing

2009-11-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

When you're a full time freelancer, there is no such thing as vacation. When you don't work, you don't get paid. And if you plan to take a day or a week off, there's no such thing as paid vacation either. A working vacation, more often, is the solution to cope up with the deadlines.

Freelancing doesn't give you the usual benefits a regular employee is entitled to. So, health insurance, child care subsidies and the like are non-existent. Also, since being a freelancer requires you to work on a per contract basis, you have to continually search for new clients.

These, by far, are some of the downsides of freelancing. It's really not that bad if you have a set of rules (authored by yourself, of course) to guide you through any job. It's true that you have to have a schedule and stick to it. And just like any job, quality of work and networking are important.

I've been freelancing for a year a now with a full time job to boot. It was a great opportunity to begin with because what I do on the side is something I am passionate about. The hours can be tough but it taught me to be value my time more. Procrastination has no place in this kind of set up.

I haven't really given myself a timeline to do freelancing. I'm still enjoying it. Plus the perks are something I couldn't find elsewhere. It helped me on the financial side, too. Overall, it's been a productive year.

Generation B: Generation Boomerang

2009-11-03T19:47:00.000-08:00

It looks like my folks would never ever have an empty nest. My brothers and myself included, are boomerang kids.

Boomerang kids or boomeranging is going back to your parents home and living with them again. Reasons vary and the length of period a child spends to cohabitate with their parents varies as well. In some cases, children don't leave the nest at all.

But why do children, mostly Gen X and Gen Y's, go back?

There are many reasons and each situation is different. Some are purely economic e.g. loss of a job, bankruptcy, inability to support oneself due to debts or student loans, it's more cost effective to live with the parents and more. I could probably add emotional such as the need for constant moral support. But I'm on the fence about the latter because one can have the moral and emotional support he or she needs without having to move in with the parents.

Boomeranging is a sticky situation to be in. One, you have lost your privacy and two, you have to abide by the rules of your parents. Not really to abide per se, but more like compromising your principles versus theirs especially when it comes to child rearing.

Another issue is the money. The big issue, in fact. Moving back to the nest for economic reasons means you're strapped for cash. Inasmuch as you want to contribute, you are unable to do so because you don't have enough money to begin with. If you're worse off e.g. you lost your job or your credit card debts are up to your eyeballs, you may end up asking your parents to lend you some cash, too.

In the Philippine setting, I see a lot of kids living with their folks even if they're all grown up. And it's normal I suppose because extended families are tolerated by the society. Parents who willingly accept their boomeranging kids are not in any way, mollycoddling nor encouraging the kids to be dependent on them. I think parents only want to help out their kids as much as they can.

Having all the kids, plus the grandkids (if any) all in one roof may put a financial strain on the parents and not to mention the all-day chaotic environment in the household. That said, it is important for the children to share on the expenses while they're living with their parents. Plus, the parents are already in their retirement age. It will be unfair to burden them with additional money problems.

I don't want to be a boomerang kid forever. It was never my intention, anyway. And it's tough to be one. I say, set yourself a goal that after "x" year/s, you'll be moving out and living independently.

Pinoy Life In Hong Kong

2009-10-26T02:15:00.000-07:00

What is it with Pinoys and the habit of congregating in one place? A public place such as footbridges, covered walkways and the like. Parks are fine but footbridges?

I was surprised to see a lot of my "kababayans" converting these walking paths to a place where they can hang out with other fellow Pinoys. In short, the footbridges became a makeshift "tambayan". They were busy chatting with one another and I was shocked to see one lady eating rice and possibly pork adobo in a paper plate. The exact place was the footbridge in IFC Mall Hong Kong. It was a breezy Sunday afternoon.

I was tempted to take a photo of the interesting scene in front of me but I decided to forego of the thought. Seeing them in groups talking and laughing together also reminded me of Lucky Plaza in Singapore. There, many Pinoys gather and congregate during their off days.

When I got back to the hotel, I thought of the Philippines and I thought of the children of these women who were left behind. These women, most of whom are mothers, chose to work abroad and take care of other people's children so that their own children back home will have a better life.

But how much does a domestic helper earn in Hong Kong?

From my limited readings about OFW life in Hong Kong, their wages amount to PHP25,000 a month including meal allowance. This is the set minimum wage for domestic helpers. If they send half of their earnings to their families in the Philippines, they're left with practically a pittance. The cost of living in Hong Kong is expensive. And if you want to eat a clean and decent meal, you have to spend HKD20 at the least. I'm not sure if the daily meal allowance given to domestic helpers reaches HKD20. I hope it does.

Working overseas is definitely not a bed of roses. People back home think that once you earn $$$, you become filthy rich. What they don't understand is that the OFWs also spend $$$ overseas to survive. They don't convert in PHP because the food, the goods, the fares and everything else are not in PHP anyway. Thus, nothing much is left with them. It's sad but they have to do it in order to survive and send money back home.