New Life in Kiwi Land

With more than seven thousand islands, the Philippines is no doubt one of the best places to explore in the world. From its people, the rich culture, to hundreds of flora and fauna, white sand beaches, hidden falls, mountains, and year-round festivals, there's a lot this archipelago can offer than meets the eye.

But the Philippines is no utopia. Hidden behind every remarkable quality are pressing issues that affect the nation and its people. Poverty, hunger, lack of education, poor health programs, crimes, drug syndicates, and even threats of terrorism are just some of the most distressing problems the country is facing at present.

Despite it all, the Philippines never loses potential, though it is still behind some neighbouring countries in terms of progress. With this said, more and more filipinos choose to go overseas, with the hopes of gaining a finer life and better provide for their families.

One of the millions of Filipinos who chose to live abroad and start a new life is a good friend of mine. She used to work with me here in the news, but she resigned and searched for greener pastures. Rachelle, with her husband Gelo, moved to New Zealand January this year.

I talked to Rachelle to know her reasons for migration, and the life she now lives as a wife, student, and a Filipino migrant on the other side of the globe.

(Fun Fact: New Zealand is known for two monikers, the Land of the Long White Cloud, and Middle Earth, as it is where the movie 'The Lord of the Rings' was filmed.)

Hi, Rachelle! How have you been? We weren't able to see each other before you left, so imagine how shocked I am when I learned about you migrating to New Zealand. To start with, why did you choose to leave the country and live in New Zealand?

I left for New Zealand with a heavy heart, but with a solid mind. My decision may seem abrupt, but I knew that this is what I really want. I'm looking for a better life, and when the opportunity came, I grabbed it and made the best of it. Gelo thought the same, and I'm really happy that we've made this decision together.

There are other countries you may have gone, but you opted for New Zealand. Why?

R: Before going to New Zealand, Gelo and I were living at Singapore. It was okay, but we knew there's something better than what we have in Singapore, so we looked for somewhere else to go. Gelo have cousins who were now living in New Zealand. They were able to settle down and gained citizenship after attending school there. Plus, visa processing for New Zealand is easier compared to Australia and UK. Those were the factors that we considered in making our decision.

So when you got to New Zealand, you weren't given citizenship right away.

Yes. I applied for a student visa, while my husband got a working visa. But the process wasn't easy. New Zealand doesn't immediately issue a partnership visa. Interestingly, their immigration is concern about the emotional status of their applicants, so when approved, they allow international students to bring their spouse or children with them. However, it still depends on the situation. I think we just got lucky. Sometimes, people have to invest money, skills, and other qualifications to prove that they're capable of living there. Luckily, my husband is a civil engineer and there are job openings for someone with his skills.

Nonetheless, approved visas are not golden tickets to acquire residency. First, one must be qualified as a skilled migrant. We need to earn a specific number of points until we're eligible as residents. Points are earned through work, and since my husband's the one working, he'll be able to apply residency for the both of us this year. Citizenship, on the other hand, can be earned after six years.

You're living there for almost seven months now. How is it going for you and your husband? What adjustments did you make and challenges you encountered to cope with the new lifestyle?

Everything's going great for us so far. It's really beautiful here. The air is fresh, and there are no heavy traffic jams. We have a car but my husband cannot drive me to and from school all the time since he's working, so I have to take the bus. Trips have schedules, thus, I need to follow their timetable, or else I'll be late.

Lifestyle-wise, they say the cost of living here is more expensive than in Europe. Our rent amounts to $250 per week, which is not cheap. But Gelo and I are doing fine, financially speaking. We're practical spenders, so his salary is enough to get us by. Although we still make sure to go out on dates every weekend to try new restaurants and some local cuisine.

To help Gelo with the finance, I found a part-time job here. All I need to do is visit Margarette thrice a week for 2 hours a day. She's an elderly who used to live in a retirement village, and my job is to make sure she goes out for a while, get some fresh air, and join some activities. Her daughter paid me $25 per hour which was really too much given the work I am required. At first I thought she would not like me, but after some time, we became very close. It's such an amazing experience because she became a friend of mine and what I do didn't felt like work at all. She always listened to my rants about school, and she taught me to read more because we love to read books together while sipping our cup of tea. Unfortunately, Margarette passed away due to a heart attack last April. She was really dear to me and I felt like I lost a family.

One thing that I'm really having a hard time adjusting to is the weather. The temperature here's around 2-12 degrees, and I'm not a big fan of winter! I've experienced winter in Japan for 3 months when I went on vacation with my mother, and I knew right then that I cannot stand the cold. I told myself I would never live in a place with this season, but look where I am now. Haha. Anyways, I just look on the bright side and excite myself about spring.

How do you feel about their people? Do you think they're discriminating other races?

In my experience, Kiwis have always been friendly. They often smile and like to greet people around. I find them accommodating, too.

With regards to discrimination, I don't think they discriminate migrants like us.

That's good to know. You are now a married woman. Congratulations! How do you find married life so far?

I'm really happy to have married Gelo. I see that he's genuine and responsible. I know in my heart that he will always to do the best for me, as I will to him.

I'm also proud to say that being married taught me how to cook. I always prepare food for my husband when he goes to work.

With the chores, laundry is never a problem because we have an automatic washer. Gelo also helps me around the house, so there's really no hard labor needed.

Nice work on that. Moving on, New Zealand is a really beautiful place. Have you been able to travel around despite your and Gelo's busy schedule?

Yes! New Zealand is never short of beautiful destinations, and I'm glad that we're able to visit some of them. We've been to Castlepoint in Masterton, Totara Reserve, Victoria Esplanade, and Kuirau Park in Rotorua.

This is the lighthouse in Castlepoint, Masterton. Its 160 km away from our place but took us a 2-hour drive.

These beautiful roses are in Victoria Esplanade. This is a garden here in Palmerston, North. It's really beautiful here in the summer.

We went camping last summer in Totara Reserve. We were looking for the cave with glowing worms, and it was really a sight to behold. Too bad the picture wasn't able to give it some justice.

This in Kuirahu Park in Rotorua. It's known for the boiling mud, and the place smells of sulfur.

Meanwhile, these photos were taken in Mt. Ruapehu, Tauranga, Waikato River and Blue and Green Lake.

The places are breath-taking! IG- worthy and perfect for #travelgoals. Haha. Let's now talk about you going to school. What course are you taking? And can you please share some of your experiences in studying in a foreign land.

I'm currently taking Postgraduate Diploma of International Studies at IPU New Zealand Tertiary Institute. The course is only for a year, and I am required to finish 5 papers at the end of the term. Presently, I'm working on my research entitled 'Online Reviews of Skincare Products: Factors that Affect Consumer’s Purchasing Decision'.

Before I got in to IPU, I had to take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) by the British Council. IPU was offering a 3,000- dollars scholarship if an examinee got the ceiling score they require. I passed the exam and got the scholarship, but should not fail on my subjects or I will have to pay a penalty.

At school, everything is different than in the Philippines. I've had a hard time adjusting at first because I came in one week later the classes started. I wasn't able to make friends easily because most of my classmates were from Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and Vietnam. Also, they've already formed groups according to ethnicity. I tried to join an Indian group but it wasn't easy for they don't like to speak in english too much. Language barrier was obviously one thing that I had to adjust with.

Their teaching style was far different than in the Philippines. Classes are only held twice a week. Lessons and assignments were done via email. They were also really strict in implementing the APA style. There are applications that help our lecturers check our assignments for plagiarism.

We are also required to do presentations for every class. I guess it's their way to help us boost our confidence.

My favorite part of the school is the library. They have an extensive collection of titles from textbooks to fiction novels, biographies, and other reading materials. They allow students to borrow books as long as we want to. I'm really excited to finish school so I can find a decent job and help Gelo with our finance.

You seem to have everything going the way you planned it. Still, Do you have any regrets for leaving the country and your family behind?

My heart will always be in the Philippines. But sometimes, we have to let go of the things we love to move forward. I'm honestly happy with the life I have now. Of course I miss my family and friends, the food, the weather, and the beauty of the country, but I chose this and I have no regrets. Gelo and I are thankful everyday that we were given this opportunity, and we will do our best to make the most out of it.

Lastly, what advice can you give to those who are planning to migrate and settle down abroad?

My advice is to research well about immigration rules, and the lifestyle they would likely have in the country they're planning to go. Saving money is really important, too. Some countries require their applicants to show a certain amount to make sure that they are capable of living there even if they don't have work yet.

Most importantly, they have to be firm and a hundred percent sure about their decision. Migration is never easy, thus, they have to be ready to face the challenges that comes along with it.

People think that living abroad is the best option for having a better life. It may be for some, like Rachelle, but not everyone wouldn't be as lucky. Many Filipinos have been unfortunate, with some resorting to illegal immigration, or worst, abused. Migrating to another land is exciting, yes, and it may seem easy, yet it requires a lot of guts, money, time, and effort. There'll be huge adjustments and changes in the way, nevertheless, an assured heart and a strong-willed mind will help you get want you really want.

Rachelle's story is an inspiration to never settle for anything less. Dream big, and with enough determination and confidence within yourself, you can achieve it.

I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to my friend Rachelle Ann Santillan- Lacona for taking the time to share her wonderful experiences abroad. I am honestly happy that you are living the life you always wanted to have. I wish you and Gelo all the best. I'm glad that you are where you are now. I hope to see you again, soon. ️<3