I saw this Facebook post while scrolling through my newsfeed today. It spoke to me on so many levels. Who wouldn't want to stay and teach our future generations? Who would want to work and live alone, away from their family? No one. We didn't decide to leave the country overnight or on a whim. It was years of weighing the pros and cons and praying for the Lord's will.
Just like what was mentioned in this post, I also had to wake up at 3am (the earliest) to prepare for work. I had to leave the house before 5A.M. or I'd be late for my 6:30A.M. class. When I taught in Mandaluyong, I was on the morning shift and had classes for 6 hours with a 20-minute recess (break). We go home around 1P.M. I get home between 2 and 3 in the afternoon, depending on how heavy the traffic is. If I didn't have lunch at school, I would eat as soon as I arrived home. Then, I'd teach University students from Japan online from 3PM to 5PM. After that, I'd have dinner, then teach my students from China from 6PM to 10PM. After all my classes, I'd write lesson plans and make instructional materials for the next day. I'd prepare for bed, then wake up at 3am to either check papers and essays or prepare lessons for my part-time jobs.
I didn't have much time for myself or my family. I'd say no to invites from friends and would try to schedule a meet-up with them on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. This is not very often since I also accept online English tutorials even on weekends. I was so exhausted. For 11 years, this was my routine. I could already feel my body's complaints. So, instead of continuing to be strong and resilient, I chose to be wise.
And, I am so glad I did. Life is so much better outside the Philippines. Living in Japan makes me wish our teachers lived a better life, so we don't need to be away from our families to at least have a comfortable life.
So, yes, we love the Philippines, but our country didn't love us enough for us to stay.
