The story of the Balikbayan can be as much of a story of success as a story of sorrow. For the time you spend away from your family, if you choose to build your life in the Philippines while working away in America, prosperity can come to your family on the exchange rate alone. For this one Filipino on the ship, his life is the Filipino American dream.
Also, I wrote this while we were entering a port where we're filling up. Strangely awesome.
***
So I'm on my way back to my cabin after taking pictures of the Strait of Gibraltar (more on that later), when I run into one of the utility guys standing outside the union room. We see and say hello to each other a lot, and we knew the other was Filipino. We wave hello, and then he inquires about how many credits I'm taking, how credits I would take back home (Maryland), but then we start comparing life here in the United States and in the Philippines.
I tell him how much my family spent on being on this cruise. (Just find out on your own or from someone else, I don't wanna talk about it...) I was expecting him to be amazed that I would go through with all of this, with the price tag and all. But he argues that the price was more than worth it. He pointed out that a seven day cruise, in the US, is about $2000. Considering that we were seeing the world, were taking credits that go toward the university, and had housing, food, and room cleaning covered (for the most part), he saw the money was going to expenses that we don't think about but spend a lot on back home.
I take about 12-16 credits per semester when I'm at home. Apparently, for Filipino schools nowadays, depending on where you're going and what you're doing, you take about nine, but at the same time the classes take away your entire day. In addition, Filipino college students also have to take mandatory ROTC. Also, a Computer Science degree would take five years instead of four. So really, there's a lot on their plate as well.
I gave him the estimate on tuition and housing for the University of Maryland. (I told him $16,000 instead of $18,000, forgetting tuition went up and additional fees). He told me that for that money, I could've paid to go to De La Salle or Atenao back in the Philippines, the two most prestigious private schools in the home country. Ironically, if I wasn't going to be on this boat, I would've tried to spend a semester at Atenao. My mouth dropped.
Such are the discrepancies between American and Filipino life and cost of living. We compared food expenses too- the Big Mac meal costs $3 in the Philippines? What? Granted, the drink size is half the size as America (8 oz vs 16 oz), but at the same time, that price point is ridiculously low for a full meal.
He then tells me about his father, who worked in the United States and is a dual citizen. Now that he is retired, he receives $1000 Social Security pension. He moved home to the Philippines, has dual citizenship, and essentially is living the life. For a fraction of his pension he is able to pay for a driver, maids, and other help around the house. Meanwhile it costs us maybe $50 to have our house cleaned per session. Welcome to America.
On his own salary alone, the utility man is able to maintain three maids to take of his house, kids, and sari-sari store back home. (For non-Filipinos, think of a tiny 7-11)Sure, his life on the MV Explorer cannot be easy, but for what he is able to maintain back home, I for certain would do the same.
He looks beyond me with concern, and spots his boss go up the staircase behind me. He scurries back to work, but not before giving me a fist bump. I'm left to ponder how I too can get maids cheaply...
(Norman)
Also, I wrote this while we were entering a port where we're filling up. Strangely awesome.
***
So I'm on my way back to my cabin after taking pictures of the Strait of Gibraltar (more on that later), when I run into one of the utility guys standing outside the union room. We see and say hello to each other a lot, and we knew the other was Filipino. We wave hello, and then he inquires about how many credits I'm taking, how credits I would take back home (Maryland), but then we start comparing life here in the United States and in the Philippines.
I tell him how much my family spent on being on this cruise. (Just find out on your own or from someone else, I don't wanna talk about it...) I was expecting him to be amazed that I would go through with all of this, with the price tag and all. But he argues that the price was more than worth it. He pointed out that a seven day cruise, in the US, is about $2000. Considering that we were seeing the world, were taking credits that go toward the university, and had housing, food, and room cleaning covered (for the most part), he saw the money was going to expenses that we don't think about but spend a lot on back home.
I take about 12-16 credits per semester when I'm at home. Apparently, for Filipino schools nowadays, depending on where you're going and what you're doing, you take about nine, but at the same time the classes take away your entire day. In addition, Filipino college students also have to take mandatory ROTC. Also, a Computer Science degree would take five years instead of four. So really, there's a lot on their plate as well.
I gave him the estimate on tuition and housing for the University of Maryland. (I told him $16,000 instead of $18,000, forgetting tuition went up and additional fees). He told me that for that money, I could've paid to go to De La Salle or Atenao back in the Philippines, the two most prestigious private schools in the home country. Ironically, if I wasn't going to be on this boat, I would've tried to spend a semester at Atenao. My mouth dropped.
Such are the discrepancies between American and Filipino life and cost of living. We compared food expenses too- the Big Mac meal costs $3 in the Philippines? What? Granted, the drink size is half the size as America (8 oz vs 16 oz), but at the same time, that price point is ridiculously low for a full meal.
He then tells me about his father, who worked in the United States and is a dual citizen. Now that he is retired, he receives $1000 Social Security pension. He moved home to the Philippines, has dual citizenship, and essentially is living the life. For a fraction of his pension he is able to pay for a driver, maids, and other help around the house. Meanwhile it costs us maybe $50 to have our house cleaned per session. Welcome to America.
On his own salary alone, the utility man is able to maintain three maids to take of his house, kids, and sari-sari store back home. (For non-Filipinos, think of a tiny 7-11)Sure, his life on the MV Explorer cannot be easy, but for what he is able to maintain back home, I for certain would do the same.
He looks beyond me with concern, and spots his boss go up the staircase behind me. He scurries back to work, but not before giving me a fist bump. I'm left to ponder how I too can get maids cheaply...
(Norman)
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