Vantage Point

I got a comment from Fiona on my previous entry entitled I wanna go home!!!. She asked: “why don’t you try Canada?” The answer is, I did try Canada in 1999, the fact that my brother lives there for almost 8 years now and it seems easy for me to be there.

But it easier said than done, when I filled up my personal assessment form (lapis pa nga ung ginamit ko para pwedeng baguhin), I almost qualify.

Strenght ko ay, (1) May kapatid ako doon, (2) I had (then) 10 years solid work experience and my working experience seems to fit the “Canadian” requirement. Now the sad part, my weaknesses, (1) my education (FYI: I barely reached 3rd year college), (2) my financial status seems not to fit their requirement (more or less quater of a million pesos of assets is required), (3) part of the financial ek-ek is the ROLF (Right of Landing Fee, which then amounting to PhP 37,500). What I did is to defer my application and try to earn some much needed money to fully equip me on my journey to Canada. I worked here in Saudi Arabia for a year & a half, and I guess I was a little bit lucky then.

Then came the final challenge, the second try. Also that year (2001), Nanay applied for a Tourist Visa, sabi ko timing, sabay na lang kami mag-aapply. Just before I accomplished my application for (which now lodging in my drawer back home), there was an announcement from the embassy na di na “qualified” ang hindi nakatapos ng 4 year course. That made my dream crumble, the Canadian dream remained a dream.

Good thing is nakarating si Nanay doon in 2001, in fact twice siyang nakarating doon second time was in 2003. But for me, baka bago ko ma-kompleto ang requirement ng Embassy ay lampas naman ako sa age requirement nila.

I think here is where my fate lies, it’s here that they see your capability and not any paper that proves nothing but you’ve suffered 4 years in school & you deserve a job. This may not be the land of milk & honey nor it is a greener pasture, but this the land of oil & sand that accepts me and willing to give me a chance.

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