‘Living The American Dream’ (1)

Hello J.A of USA, and welcome to USA ! I wish you luck in your new adventure here in America. Gusto ko lang i-share sa iyo ang karanasan ko rito sa America . There are lots of good opportunities in this country but it’s up to you to find the American Dream. Like what my former Caucasian caregiver told me, "I am Living The American Dream." Hindi ako matalino pero ako ay hard worker at malakas ang tiwala sa Maykapal. Ako ay lumaki sa probinsiya at magsasaka lamang ang hanapbuhay ng aking pamilya. Sa madaling salita, kami ay mahirap. After graduation ng high school, nakiusap ang older sister ko sa amo n'ya kung puwede ba akong mag-working student as katulong. At sa awa ng Diyos ako ay pinag-aral at nakatapos ng midwifery course. But a few months after my graduation, my employer died in a car accident. It was sad kasi paaaralin pa sana n'ya ako for college. Well I guess ganoon talaga ang buhay. A few years later, nakarating ako sa New Jersey as katulong. Pero hindi naman maganda ang naging sitwasyon doon at pinauwi ako ng employer ko sa Pilipinas. It was really painful for me kasi akala ko hindi na ako makababalik sa Amerika. But thinking about it now, I am so thankful na ginawa ng employer ko ‘yun kasi maganda ang naging kapalit; with lots of trials but I made it.

In other words nakabalik ako sa Amerika thru marriage, but pagbalik ko sa Amerika doon ko na-realize na I have to do something kasi maliit lang ang suweldo ng asawa ko. At that time nahirapan akong maghanap ng trabaho kasi wala pa akong experience. I ended up working sa labor agency. It was very hard because it was not the same job everyday at napakaliit ng suweldo. Hindi lang yun, at times I could not tolerate working in the factory kasi in most of the factories where I worked, there was no heater, mamamatay ako sa lamig. My biggest concern at that time was how I can help my family back home with my very little salary. So after 3 months of working through an agency with different jobs everyday, I decided to go to school to become a Hospital Nursing Assistant. Sa awa ng Diyos ako ay nakatapos, at sa kagustuhan ko na makapagtrabaho kaagad, I accepted the first job that I was offered kahit malayo. Then the problem was the transportation, so I asked my husband to teach me how to drive. Tinuruan niya ako sa parking lot after work at nighttime, and after a week of practice, I decided to drive even without a license… without my husband's knowledge. Super lamig talaga at hindi ko kaya na mag-antay ng bus for 45 minutes to 1 hour sa kalye. And when I came home that day, my husband was very upset. I thought he was going to kill me. The next day we went to the licensing department to get a book for me to study, but I decided to take the test that day -- and I failed. I went back the next day even though my husband disagreed with my decision. He told me I needed to study the book first but I told him there is nothing to lose if I do it again, and guess what, I passed! After 2 days, I decided to take the actual driving test, and as usual my husband won't let me because he knew I am not ready. He’s right; I am not yet ready especially for parallel parking, hindi ko magawa nang tama every time we practiced it. But I am eager to have a driver’s license, so I told my husband, I will take the test. At least I will have an idea what to do the next time. My husband kept telling me that I am just wasting my time but then sa awa ng Diyos…I passed! I did perfect in parallel parking, my husband could not believe it and neither could I. I guess kailangan dito sa America lakas ng loob. When I was working as a nursing assistant, I was inspired by my co-workers who are working and going to school at the same time to become nurses. I thought of doing the same thing but at first, I was not confident kasi kararating ko lang sa America . Natatakot ako sa English ko. But then I told myself if they can do it, I can do it too, so nag-enroll ako. It was hard because I had to work full-time, I have bills to pay. I was working at nighttime; my pre-requisite was in the evening. After school, instead of going home, I stayed in the parking lot to save money for gas. I slept in the car before going to work, it was hard. When the program started I was so lucky that there was an opening for an evening position. I go to school in the morning and go to work in the evening. Again it was very, very hard, sometimes I only sleep 2-3 hours because I had to get up very early at 4 o'clock in the morning, sometimes earlier because of the traffic. My school schedule is Monday to Friday from 8 in the morning to 2:30 in the afternoon, and my work starts at 3pm. After school, I need to run from our classroom to my car, to drive fast but carefully because I don't want to be late for work. But in the middle of my program, my husband and I had marital problems due to stress and we seldom see each other. At that time he was working at night from 10 at night to 6 or 7 in the morning. (itutuloy) - GMANews.TV Jana of Seattle Basahin ang kwento ni J.A. of USA: Pangarap ko matupad sana sa America Kamusta mga Kapuso! Sana’y hindi kayo magsawa sa pagtangkilik sa ating pitak na ito. Habang may mga kababayan tayo sa abroad - pati ang kanilang mga kabiyak, anak, ina, ama o sinuman na kabahagi ng kanilang buhay - na nais magpaabot ng kanilang saloobin mananatili po ang inyong Kwentong Kapuso. Katulad ng dati, hindi kami magsasawa na basahin ang inyong mga kuwento - maigsi man o mahaba. Kahit na ang laman nito ay naglalabas ng sama ng loob, nagbibigay ng inspirasyon, gustong magpayo, magsumbong, magpatawa o kahit nagpapalipas lang ng oras. Kaya hihintayin namin ang inyong mga email na maaari ninyo itong ipadala sa Pinoyabroad@gmanews.tv Sa mga kababayan namin saan mang dako ng mundo, saludo po kami sa inyo. Mabuhay kayo mga masigasig naming Kapuso sa abroad!