CANADIAN DREAM Part I: HOW I STARTED!

It was well planned. My daughters and I were one day on bed talking about my plans. I was about to fly to the Middle East back then. Our anxiety were so high that while we talk of me leaving, there were tears on our cheeks knowing we won't see each other for a long time. Long time was 10 months for an OFW woking for the government in Saudi Arabia.

Each time I go home every 10 months for the period of 3 years (actually 10 months on the 1st year, 8months then 3 months on the 2nd and 1 year 3 months on my last year), slowly, we have forgotten our plan. No reminiscing, no mentioning, plan became a plan.

2011, after my first year in Saudi Arabia when a replacement by a citizen, also known as 'Saudization' was implemented to hospitals under the Ministry of Health and since then, nurses from different countries were terminated from work every now and then. They were forced to go back home without any benefits given my the government. April 2013, 5 nurses from the ICU department (totaling to more than 80 since 2011) were served a notice of termination, this time my name included. My reaction was blant. As if nothing serious happened. I was expecting it to happen, maybe sooner, maybe later. It came sooner and I was awaken! I suddenly thought of my Canadian dream! Where did it go? 

Time have flown so fast that when December came, I made a firm decision not to sign any contract at all (contract was offered by another agency but for the same hospital) and go home instead. I prayed for that tough decision! I though of it, I planned for it, I was determined and hopeful things will fall into its proper places. I was firm and I knew I made the right decision when I finally stepped on the plane for my exit from Saudi Arabia. 

Starting anew in the Philippines isn't easy. Although equipped with knowledge and experiences, 2 loopholes are ahead of me: my age (40 is the cut off of agencies for the Middle East) and I became choosy with offers, especially from those in KSA and other GCC countries. But I don't have a choice. After having rested for a month, I started job hunting again. There were vacancies! A lot! But in a place I vowed not to step on in again! Saudi Arabia has lots of vacancies for nurses so I turned down offers thinking I have a better place to go to other than KSA. Then came Ministry of Health-Oman. Tried my luck and passed both the exams and the interview. I started filling my brains with the thought that I will leave again in six (6) months but something happened in Oman that applications became an "express". The waiting period of 6-8months became 4 weeks! Visa was issued but I refused the second time. What gave me the courage to refuse such a job was the offer made in Canada for me to do Live in caregiving to Annabelle's (my sister) present employer. To go to Canada with a willing sponsor is a blessing. Not all people would want to do sponsorship especially that they're not relatives. This one is the break I waited for. This is an answer to a prayer!