Hussein King Jordan of Baguio City left the Philippines in 2009 to work as office clerk/document controller for a pipe manufacturing company in Qatar. He decided to work abroad because aside from the need to support his family financially, he also wants a totally different working environment.

Finding a job abroad comes easy for Hussein. A college classmate referred him to his Qatari employer. The foreign employer likes his qualifications and since he is urgently needed, they immediately sent him a business visa (instead of a working visa) and a plane ticket so he can go to Qatar as soon as possible. He arrived in Qatar on February 15, 2009 and was given a working visa three months after.

Hussein soon learned that working abroad is a great challenge. It was winter season when Hussein arrived in Qatar so he experienced the cold weather but when summer season arrives, he finds the extreme heat so terrible. In his workplace, he was surprised to find that his job was totally complicated.

He also finds his immediate boss, which is a Filipino difficult to work with. He felt that he was not treated right in his work that he considered giving up and just go back to the Philippines. But as he is already in Qatar, Hussein knows that giving up would do no good so he just decided to face the challenges. It was a wise decision because he soon overcomes all of the difficulties and was able to adjust to his new workplace in time. He was later transferred to a new department and is now working as an Accounts Assistant.

It is also in Qatar that Hussein finds a new religion. From being a Christian, he embraced the Islam religion after staying for almost year in Middle East. According to Hussein, he is happy and proud to be a Muslim and sends his praise to Allah for the guidance that he has received.

But of course, he still misses the Philippines; he misses the food and the beautiful sceneries here such as the smell of pine trees in his hometown, Baguio city. He also miss his friends and especially his son and wife.

This is Hussein’s message to all OFWs around the world: Know your priorities in working outside the Philippines. Take care of yourselves because we are not allowed to get sick Love your families as well. Those who are married should not forget their partner in the Philippines. Avoid things that would lead to self destruction or family separation. Always keep your feet on the ground. Help each other, remove crab mentality and always seek guidance from one God/Allah.