A lot of Filipinos aspire to immigrate to developed countries but many are not aware of just how hard life can be once they get there. However, a Brisbane-based Filipino nurse’s now-viral Facebook about the struggles he had to face as an immigrant in Australia is dispelling the notion that life in a foreign land is all roses.
Writing on his birthday, Jao Jundam, 25, said that people often think he was “lucky” because he was living in Brisbane, but reveals that life was so hard at one point that he was forced to work as a cleaner.
“They think everything was smooth and easy when I moved here,” he said in his post, which has been shared almost 47,000 times. “Of course, most of my posts are about me traveling the world, achieving goals in my acads & career, eating the best food the world can serve and smiling widely in front of the camera.”
“Little did they know that before I have started traveling the world, I have to walk for 1 hour in the freezing cold winter morning of Canberra just to work and sell fish in Belconnen market,” he said.
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“Little did they know that before I have achieved my goals in finishing my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and landing a stable nursing job, I have to fail multiple times in Uni due to the culture shock I have experienced upon studying in Australia… Little did they know that before I have eaten the yummiest food in the world, I have to be mindful of the number of meals I have to consume in a day,” he continued.
“Having the life that you want doesn’t just happen because of luck. Becoming the person you aim to [be] does not happen just by dreaming about it. Dreams will remain just dreams if you do not act upon it. Turn your dreams into goals, turn your goals into a plan. Execute your plan and see where it takes you, either way, you experience; either way, you learn; either way, you grow.”
In a Facebook interview with Coconuts Manila, Jundam said he moved to Australia because nurses in the Philippines get paid as little as PHP12,000 (US$236) per month.
“That’s only a fortnight income for RNs (registered nurses) in Australia, and could even further increase with experience and position. But don’t get me wrong, I love serving our countrymen. In fact, when I was still studying nursing in the Philippines, I really tried my best to include myself in medical missions,” he said. “But you know, when reality hits you and shows you how hard it is really to live in the Philippines while working as an RN, you would choose practicality [over] your passion.”
Jundam moved to Canberra, but had to study for a bachelor’s degree all over again because his qualifications did not meet Australian standards.
“The moment I landed in Canberra, I just became so sad,” he recalled. “There were many challenges and one of them is trying to adapt to the culture of the people I’m living with. Their system of education is also very different from ours, there are more essays [in exams] and plagiarism is a big deal… Another challenge is finding a job. I remember printing more than 10 resumes then I will go to the market to distribute them to all establishments. Haha!”
After graduation, Jundam decided to try his luck in Brisbane and live with his relatives, but a steady job as a nurse proved to be equally elusive there.
“Even if I was a registered nurse, I still couldn’t find an RN job! Haha! But I didn’t want to be a burden to my relatives so I accepted any job that I could get. So I was a cleaner for a cleaning company while [I] applied to all nursing jobs.”
Jundam juggled work as a part-time cleaner with a temp nursing job. Getting a full-time gig was tough, though, so Jundam held on to his cleaning job for two years. Finally, he recently snagged a permanent position in a Brisbane hospital, one that will allow him to work as a full-time nurse starting in August.
Jundam tells other Filipinos who want to immigrate to prepare themselves for the emotional and physical toll of studying and working abroad.
“It would take buckets of tears, sweat, and even blood to live in a country that is different from ours,” he said. “The longing for the people you left in the Philippines will always be there no matter how many times you go home for holidays. But all of the struggles and sacrifices you’ve made will mold you into a better version of yourself: someone who’s stronger and smarter, a better fighter. [I]t will be hard, but it will be worth it.”
Have you heard of similar immigrant stories? Tell us by leaving a comment below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.
