How I went to Canada?

another article imported from my blogs

I am here in Canada for more than 4 months now. How I became a caregiver?

In Nov 2006, I went to Morocco. I worked as a teacher/tutor. Then, in 2008, I met a friend online. Yes, online. She told me that she knew a website where you can apply as a caregiver in Canada. In February and July 2009, I have found employers for me but I wasn't emotionally ready then. Then my friend online asked me if I knew someone who's a nurse in Morocco. (As far as I know, there were only 3 caregivers from Morocco who went to Canada directly. One came here in 2006, my nurse friend in January 2010 and me in August 2010). The first one who came here, I think, found her job thru a Canadian agency. The nurse friend I recommended to my online friend waited her visa for almost 6 months (She was denied actually but this online friend of mine helped her to have her visa approved). When my friend flew to Canada last January, I told myself, I should have been me.. lol.. but enough of that.. I am not a nurse and I was not ready.. So, I think, it's not my time to go YET. Three days after my friend left, I was attacked by jealousy. lol! So, I decided to pass my resume to my online friend. Then, a week after, I had 2 interviews from employers in Canada. There were 5 employers who liked my resume but these two had interviewed me earlier. After another week, 2 contracts arrived but I chose the first one (even the 2nd offer was higher than the first. hehe). It is unfair to the first employer.

3 weeks after I signed the contract, my LMO arrived. LMO stands for Labour Market Opinion. The document tells you if your employer passes the needed requirement to hire a foreign worker. My employer then sent me the LMO (I need to pass the original document to the embassy). When I had my LMO with me, I phoned the embassy to schedule my interview. They scheduled me 2 weeks after. Unexpected things happened during my interview.

April 26, 2010 was my schedule to go to the Canadian embassy in Rabat. I nervously brought all the documents with me. I was really hoping that everything would turn well according to what I was expecting. Guess what, not only it turned out well but the VO (Visa Officer) handed me the medical form. They will only give it to you if you have complete requirements and if you passed the interview. Yey, I was so happy. And my nervousness was gone when the VO interviewed me. She was very accommodating. We laughed every now and then because there were questions I answered unthinkably that made her agree (it's not about the caregiving job but about her experiences and how she loves Philippines. She worked there foir 2 years before so she knew soo much about my country). And since she worked in the Philippines, she is aware of Recto papers. She'd scanned all my documents if they are real (of course they are) and after the interview, she told me to wait for my visa after 2 weeks after I finish my medical examination. I just said yes, even I didn't believe that I'll have my visa after such a short time.

Too bad for me, I didn't have my money to have my medical exam. I wasn't prepared financially so I had my medical after 10 days I was interviewed (I based my application to my nurse friend. She had her medical after a month I think). I thought, I would wait longer (my friend waited for almost 6 months) for my visa to be approved but after 13 days (9 working days), I got my visa. It was pretty quick and still couldn't believed it. I had my medical in May 6 and got my visa in May 20 (they called me May 19 that my visa was already approved). I was thinking, if I had my medical examinations right away (after my interview), I would have gotten my visa earlier. But yeah, it was very fast. I was/am soooooooo lucky..

Thanks Lord!

Oh yeah, I don't have caregiver certificate. I studied First Aid and CPR training in Morocco. It helped me quickened  my application as well as all the necessary documents that were with me (original and photocopy). Also my former employer supported me with my application.

This article is a scheduled post and as of this posting, I am in Mexico with my employers for our Christmas vacation.

You just earned my respect

another article imported from my blogs. 


"You just earned my respect!" This was the statement of my employer when I talked to her about my duration of work with her.

At first, I was nervous to ask her upfront about my long hours of work. In my contract, I only need to work 8hours a day but with my employers kind of job, I work 11-12hours per day. I was paid minimum with my working hours but only for 40hrs/week. I wasn't planning to ask her about my time because, I am enjoying my job and I am already earning triple of what I was earning in Morocco but I still took a risk. I was afraid, she's gonna say no for it. Anyway, what I was thinking is, if she says no, I'll still do my job and if she says yes, it's favorable for me. I am not gonna lose anything so I tried speaking with her.

I never imagined it would be harder than I thought to say those words face-to-face. I have been only working with her family for a month and a half and it's like really not a good idea to talk to her about paying me more salary than what I was receiving. It was Friday night and I was supposed to meet a friend in the afternoon (it was my first Friday to work until 7:30pm. The past Fridays, I only work until 3pm) and it was postponed because I need to stay with the kids. That night, I approached my employer. I first asked her if she could lessen my working hours but it was impossible because of their (she and her husband) position in their company. Then, she asked me if I wanted to work for only 8hours and she'll hire someone to work the remaining hours or to work my usual time and she'll pay for them. I chose the 2nd one of course.

After that, we talked about anything. About personal lives, my plans when I get my open work visa and permanent residency (because, she had already hired someone from the Philippines to work for her when I leave after 2 or 3 years. Since it takes time to hire in the Philippines, she wanted to start now so by the time the open work visa arrives, she won't have a hard time hiring for my replacement). She said some words that really made me proud of myself. Some of those are "You stay what you are now and you'll be successful someday" and "you are the smartest nanny in this neighborhood".

She told me that she notices how educated I am. She said that other caregivers or nannies talk to each other about their employers and their problems at work. They never try to fix problems with their employers yet then they complain.

Before I went to my room that night, she told me that, "You know what Raquel, I may not like the idea of paying you more but at the end of the day, you just earned my respect!"

I was sooo happy that night that I was looking forward to my extra babysitting with her kids the next day (Saturday) where I was paid more per hour.

Monday came and I was hardworking than I was the past days. I don't want my employer to be disappointed of me so I am extra careful with all the things I do. It was Tuesday when she gave my pay cheque (the day we talked was payday). In there, she already adjusted my gross salary. I was expecting her to apply my new salary for the next payday. Only one thing I noticed, I am paying more taxes for my income (hundred bucks more of what I was paying before. I was only paying 48 before and now, it's 141$). Anyway, I couldn't complained about that because I am sure, I am gonna use those amount I paid for taxes when I become resident or citizen of this country.

I have learned important lessons during our conversation:

1. If you have problems with anyone, you should try talking it to the concern person. If you don't try to fix it with her/him, things will become complicated. Never talk about it to other people because problems usually occur if stories are passed from one person to another.

2. Apply professionalism in every work you do. Whether you are in a big company or in a small one. You'll be noticed and be rewarded.

3. Communication is important. if you are shy to say it in person, do it in paper. I was planning to write everything but I wanted to see her reactions (lol)

4. Know your rights. It is important that you know laws in the country where you are working.

5. Talk to people who are knowledgeable enough to advice you. These are the people who will give you honest opinions. Or read before you complain so you know what you are talking about. When I speak with my employer, I brought my contract and readings about Canadian labor law but I never used them. I was just preparing them to put in front of her if she says no.

6. Wait for the right time to talk to the concern person. That matters a lot because if she's in the mood, she will grant your request but if she's not, she will say no or worst, you'll be fired. I am lucky, everything falls into places.

I soo love my employer! And by the way, I am not that bad. I am working 12hours a day (7:30am-7:30pm) but I only asked her to pay me 11hours.

Online job offers abroad, totoo nga ba?

Marami sa ating mga kababayan na nasa Pilipinas ang gusto makarating ng ibang bansa nang sa gayon ay makatulong din sa kanilang pamilya. Sa laki ng placement fee sa ilang agencies sa Pilipinas, nakikipagsapalaran ang ilan sa online job offers.

 Isa na dito ang malapit sa akin na sinuwerte umano sa kanyang pag-apply sa ibang bansa sapagkat ni singko ay wala syang nilabas noon. Si Kelly, 22 palang sya noon nang syang mahire bilang tutor sa bansang kanyang napuntahan. Akala nya noon, isang biro lang ang tawag na kanyang natanggap na sya'y magpasa ng updated resume kung gusto nyang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Maliban sa udyok ng kanyang isipan na "ito na ang hinihintay mong opportunity. Marami ang gusto mag-abroad at di nabigyan ng pagkakataon, samantalang ikaw, lumalapit na, pakakawalan mo pa ba?", nais din nyang patunayan kung ang caller nga ba nya'y hindi manloloko. 

Pagkatapos ng dalawang linggo, si Kelly ay nasa NAIA na papuntang ibang bansa. Parang panaginip lang ang lahat sa bilis ng pangyayari. Dahil nga sa online job ito, alam nyang marami ang pwedeng tumuligsa sa kanyang desisyon kaya naman hindi nya ito sinabi sa kanyang mga mahal sa buhay hangga't di nya nasigurado na ito ay totoo nga. Pagkatapos nya humingi ng 3 signs mula sa Itaas, nabuo ang kanyang desisyon. Napakaswerte nya dahil ipinadala kaagad ang kanyang unang buwang sahod pati ang kanyang 2-way ticket.

Sa ngayon. sya'y 26 na. Nagtatrabaho na sya bilang caregiver sa Canada at ang taong tumulong din sa kanya ay nakilala din nya sa internet. Di ka ba naniniwala? Dapat maniwala ka dahil sya mismo ang may-ari ng blogs na ito. :)

Isa na siguro ako sa maswerteng OFW na di dumaan sa butas ng karayom para makarating ng ibang bansa. Ang ilan sa sekreto ko, maingat sa pakikipag usap sa kahit kanino at di agad agad nagtitiwala lalo na kapag may perang involve. Higit sa lahat, magtiwala sa nasa Itaas dahil hindi ka Nya pababayaan kapag ika'y humingi ng tulong sa kanya.