Tag: expat life

Filipino Expat in Mexico City: My Greatest Learning and Regret

Travel and Positivity Buzz

Hello Mexico City! Welcome party for me (complete with sparklers) hosted by my Mexico team.

My transfer to Mexico City at the start of the new year has been a year in the making. I worked for a global company in Manila when this role was brought up to me around September 2021 (around the time of my Mom’s passing) which is still under the same global company but in different location and legal entity. At that time, I didn’t give much thought on applying for the role since I was mourning then until the different regional heads encouraged me to apply. When I finally hurdled the interviews and accepted the offer on January 2022 (I initially rejected the offer back in December 2021), everything went downhill from there right after I got my temporary resident visa, when Mexico HR bungled what was supposed to be a relatively simple task of having the job contract authenticated/verified by the Philippine Embassy in Mexico as a requirement of Philippine government before they would allow its citizen to work abroad. Long story short, my initial visa expired before securing the exit clearance from the Philippine government so I have to re-apply again before I could proceed with the process for the exit clearance.

Shopping and dining options

When I finally got to Mexico City, my travails (with Mexico HR) continued. Though the company has external vendors to assist me with the legal documents that I need to complete before I can get onboarded by the company (ie immigration lawyers for my residence card application, consultants for my tax ID application, relocation specialist for my hotel accommodation and apartment hunting, etc.), I didn’t get any support from Mexico HR. Not even when I asked who can help me with the document that I need for one of my applications. In other words, I was able to complete all the legal documents that are required for onboarding with no help at all from Mexico HR. To add insult to injury, after completing all the onboarding requirements, Mexico HR told me that they cannot onboard me unless I get offboarded first by Manila. It’s not even a conundrum of chicken or egg, it was plain incompetence at its finest.

Sights and sounds

So for over a year, Mexico HR has put me through untold stress and anxiety. There was a point in the last quarter of 2022 where out of frustration, I almost gave up before I could even fly out. The only thing that was holding me from telling my global seniors that I’m not going anymore was that I don’t want to harbor “what ifs” in my life. It still looks like a good opportunity then (being the first Filipino and Asian from the company’s Asia Pacific franchise to be offered a role in Mexico) and letting go would make me wonder what I have missed out. But I should have read the signs then, when Mexico HR put me through hell again when they told me that the housing allowance is gross of tax (meaning I won’t get the full amount) contrary to my understanding when they made the relocation offer. This happened the night before I was scheduled to sign the lease contract for the only apartment that I liked (after viewing more than half a dozen apartment units). It felt like getting assaulted multiple times and the stress and anxiety I was put through was something I was totally unprepared for. The saving grace was that my onboarding contract (which was all in Spanish) has explicitly provided that the amount that I should receive is net of tax, coz if it wasn’t, I would have probably served my two-week notice and booked my flight home.

Old town vs new town

If Mexico HR is the super villain in this story, there were superheroes as well. There’s this angel of an expat from Hungary (same global company) who has been helping me even before I flew out of Manila. He went thru similar unpleasant experience with Mexico HR before, that’s why he has been helping me every step of the way. I can’t imagine how I could have survived my first few weeks here in Mexico City without his help. I even said that he should be doing HR work coz he’s more competent that all of them combined. There’s also my Mexican team, who are all super nice and reminds me of my Manila team of yesteryears which I had the opportunity to mold and develop (where some of my former staff have reached greater heights in their respective careers). Now I have the same opportunity to bring out the best in them and achieve their full potential and hopefully when the time comes, make a difference in their careers.

Mexicans love their breads and pastries

All these drama with HR unfolded amidst the backdrop of Mexico City. Unlike Mexico HR, the city is hard not to love. So no matter how much I despise HR for what they have put me through, I won’t deny the fact that I’m loving the city. The city is vibrant, green, full of life and culture. I haven’t been around much (aside from the HR fiasco, I’m bogged down with work and the stress that comes with the new role which my years with the company have prepared me for) but gauging from what I have seen, heard, felt, tasted, and experienced so far, this is a place I can consider home. People are nice, food is great, sights and sounds are delightful and cost of living is affordable (except eating out or ordering in, which is very expensive compared to Manila). I know that Mexico (as a country) has more to offer (I haven’t seen their famous beaches and “magic towns” yet) so once I started exploring both the country and the city, that will provide me with more material to blog about later.

My new apartment (I thought I won’t be able to fill up the walk-in closet lol)

So what’s my greatest learning and regret so far? My regret was that I didn’t escalate the lack of ownership and accountability on the part of Mexico HR in all their dealings with me early on. They may have been accustomed to their incompetence for years that it probably is the norm for them, oblivious to how the same impacts people’s lives (imagine if I have my own family that I have uprooted and brought here only to find out that I’ll be having issues with both onboarding and relocation benefits where I’ll end up being unemployed and/or having expenses outside of budget because I won’t get the full amount that I was told I’ll be receiving). My greatest learning (so far, aside from translating and reading my contract knowing that the devil is in the details) is that you can never go wrong with kindness. The reason why I’m still living and breathing inspite of the difficulties and the challenges of being new to the country and adjusting not only to the general environment but also to the work environment is the help I’m getting from my team. I don’t think I would have gotten their support and earned their trust if not for the kindness that I have shown so far. Someone told me to be more tough with them, but that has been done before (by their previous manager) and that didn’t work. I’ll be just pushing them away if I do that, that’s why cultural sensitivity is important and kindness is universal. Knowing such cultural nuances as avoiding embarrassing a Mexican in front of others, always have greetings in emails before getting down to business, greeting someone when you bump unto them or when in calls or meetings, making an effort to speak their language no matter how limited your Spanish vocabulary is (in my case, it also helps that my accent is spot on), all these little things will go a long way in endearing yourself to them. All these translate to being kind and respectful. So I have to strip and do away with some of my western influences (particularly those that they would find rude) and continue to adapt to my new environment and in the process, rediscovering my old, unadulterated, provincial self before I have evolved into this “boss” man (from a mildly derogatory meaning of the word) courtesy of the old work environment I was in.

My newfound friends (United Colors of Mexico)

When asked how do I find Mexico so far, my usual response is I’m loving the city but not the work. Maybe because I’m still trying to navigate my way around the work environment (and that covers navigating around people and organizational culture) and get familiar with and have appreciation of the lay of the land which does not give me as much a chance of winning as the next guy. But I’m still keeping an open mind and we’ll see whether I continue to be a Filipino expat in Mexico City or a Filipino on his way home.

Goodbye or Hello Philippines?

Morocco: A Peek Into My Expat Past Life – Part 1 of 2

Travel Buzz

My first camel ride (Morocco)

This month marks another milestone for the blog. We are celebrating its first year anniversary (yey). Yes readers, it’s been a year already since that fateful morning when I woke up and got up inspired to write again. After getting my own domain and writing a few articles, I launched it in June by messaging friends about it. Never have I imagined that it will now have a global reach, my articles being read in 37 countries and territories (as of this writing) in 5 continents. The latest continent to join us is Africa, so I thought why not feature this beautiful continent as an anniversary special.

Global footprint of columbusbee.blog almost a year since the first article was published (Hey, it’s me)

Africa has a special place in my heart. I have lived in this continent for a short while in two of its most spectacular destinations: Morocco and South Africa. The former I lived as an expat while the latter was a short-term assignment. For this 2-part special, I’ll let you in my past life as an expat in Morocco, where I worked and lived in Casablanca (Morocco’s business, commercial, and cultural capital). I’ll feature South Africa in future articles.

Hassan II Mosque, the 2nd largest mosque in Africa (Casablanca)

I was young in my 20’s, restless, and ambitious when I decided to take the first job opportunity abroad. I always wondered then how it is living in another country so when that opportunity came along, I decided to take it. Little did I know that it will open my eyes to a bigger and much different world than where I live in. That experience heightened my travel senses, even though I have already been travelling but mostly in nearby destinations (such as Hongkong and Singapore).

Casablanca Park

So I packed my bags, bade my folks goodbye, and started a new life outside of my dear Philippines, leaving family and friends behind. It was tough, believe me, but the adventurous and explorer in me made me forget about the possibility of getting homesick. I was looking forward to see what’s out there, what’s in store for me when I tackle that new managerial role, the new life that awaits me and the kind of life that I’ll be living, and new friendships and acquaintances that will develop. My feelings then were more of excitement than fear of the unknown. It was my first, so I was both nervous and excited at the same time (don’t we all feel that way during our “firsts”).

Weekend winter stroll with the pigeons (Casablanca)

I settled in Casablanca towards the tail-end of winter so it was still very cold (7-9 degrees celsius) by my own tropical standard. I have not lived in a place that cold before, so it took a few days to adjust, particularly in the mornings, when it can get even colder and more difficult to get up and hit the shower. But it was perfect. That kind of cold didn’t really bother me much, coz it’s more conducive for my asthma. I could sleep all day during weekends with that weather, like a bear hibernating (lol). I’d rather be under a moderately cold climate than in a hot and humid place.

Celebrating Christmas with Filipino and Moroccan friends (Casablanca)

I have only heard of Casablanca, the movie, but since I also haven’t seen it, I really have no idea what’s in this city. Casablanca, turns out, is a nice and livable city. My apartment is walking distance to her newest skyscraper then that houses a mall, supermarket, and offices. Some of the streets and avenues are lined up with palm trees and there’s a park close by teeming with families during weekends. Mode of transportation is thru cabs, where you share a cab with total strangers (think of it like Grab share). Tea houses or kiosks abound, where you get fresh and hot Moroccan mint tea, which is perfect during cold season. Souks and bazaars are also nearby, where you will be overwhelmed with all kinds of stuff like gold, jewelry, leather, spices, dried fruits and nuts, and whatnot. Then my favorite spot, the Corniche. It’s the esplanade that exudes that Miami vibe, a place to stroll and enjoy the cool sea breeze, with rows of restos to choose from offering local and international cuisines, not to mention some of my favorite fastfood. This is where most of the hotels are in and a mall with cinemas.

With my new puppy Bruno (Tibetan Spaniel)

So yeah, I was pleased. Casablanca is different but somehow close to home. I wasn’t really missing out on anything. It also helped that the locals are very welcoming and friendly and solicitous to foreigners which reminds me of home. Moroccans are predominantly Arabs and they are very gentle people. I haven’t witnessed any form of violence. The worst you can see is a traffic altercation where you’ll hear raised voices and hand gestures but no one throws the first punch. I also sense that they appreciate Asians more than any other foreigners. Every time I’m out to either go to the weekend market or do my grocery, I would always hear total strangers saying hi or hello or “my friend, how are you?” I sometimes get that star or celebrity complex when every time I enter an empty tea or ice cream house, locals start to trickle in and soon gets crowded, like I’m a magnet for customers (no kidding). Well it doesn’t really bother me, on the contrary, I’m flattered with the attention. It feels nice sometimes to be appreciated, particularly in a place where you are starting a new life and loneliness is your (and any other expat’s) worst enemy.

Moroccan kids playing with Bruno

Aside from loneliness, another struggle is the language barrier. Arabic is the mother tongue, while French is the language of business. Moroccans speak and write both, but only a few speak English. So I learned some basic Arabic and French words just to get by, like asking how much for an item or giving the cab driver directions. Or for greetings and just to say thank you. At work, it’s not really a problem coz I have a Moroccan secretary who writes and speaks English and acts as my translator especially during meetings with the local regulators. On hindsight, it was actually fun learning new words, which proved useful for my future travel life.

(Left) My best friend as a pup; (right) as a young adult

Getting homesick after a few months is probably normal (unless you’re really having so much fun all the time that you are already feeling at home in your new environment). So it was no surprise that a couple of months after settling in, I decided to get a puppy. His name was Bruno, a Tibetan spaniel. A few months after I got him, I would walk him at night during weekdays when I get home from work and on weekends would take him to the park. He would get excited every time I would put his harness on, so excited that he would pee before we even get to the door. The attention I’m getting outside has doubled, with Bruno now as the bigger star.

Playing billiards with friends

There were also new stuff that I tried in this past life. I went to the wet market which I haven’t done in the Philippines. I learned how to determine if raw fish is fresh or where to get pork in a country that shies away from it. I learned how to haggle, an art which I have mastered years later. I also learned how to cook where my first few attempts were epic fails. I’m a foodie at heart, so I love eating out more than cooking. I’m more of a connoisseur than a sommelier. One thing I like to do is to go to the fish market and order fish and chips. This is not your typical fish and chips like those in London. This is more like in the Nordics where fresh catch is cooked and served. I was also introduced to Moroccan food and spices, where my favorite is tagine (or tajine). It’s a savory and aromatic dish (similar to a curry) that brings out the best in Moroccan spices. Chicken, fish, or lamb, I love tagine regardless of protein. I started to appreciate wine (I’m not really much of a drinker back home) just because of the cold season. I learned how to play billiards and discovered how much I enjoyed it and I was actually good at it. So I didn’t just learn new words. I actually was living a different life.

(Left): Enjoying the Moroccan coastline; (right) who wanna go fishing with me?

The wanderlust in me also took me to different parts of the country. During long weekends and holidays, I would hie off to places with friends to explore and discover the different faces of Morocco. This country is blessed with a diverse topography, so extreme that the south would have the dry desert sands while the north is covered with snow. No wonder this is a favorite location shoot of some of the memorable Hollywood movies, among which are Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), The Mummy (1999), Alexander (2004), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Sex and the City 2 (2010), Inception (2010), American Sniper (2014), and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015). Hollywood movie studios even have satellite sets in the country. The first city I’ve visited is Tangier where at least a couple of the movies I’ve mentioned were shot. It is a coastal city and the jumping off point for those who would take a ferry to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to get to Malaga, the southern province of Spain. From Casablanca, we took the midnight train to Tangier where you’ll reach the northern city in the morning. You can spend the day roaming the cobbled streets or alleys or go to the souks and bazaars where a lot of western goods (mostly European) are available. Or just simply enjoy the coastline.

(Left) Entrance to a cave that looks like Morocco map; (right) walking the streets of Tangier

Other parts of the country worth seeing are Agadir, where the snow capped Atlas mountains provide a postcard perfect backdrop or if you really want to experience snow, you can go to Ifrane, This is where I first experienced snow, and I felt like a kid again in winter wonderland. But my fave is Essaouira. For me it’s an exotic place, a port and resort city that used to be a Portuguese fort. I was surprised to see so many tourists, given that it’s not really a familiar or known tourist destination. But I understand why it can become a major tourist spot. Imagine this, a port full of seagulls feeding on any scraps left by fishermen. A formidable and imposing fortress lined up with canons. A medina filled with shops that sell everything that you can buy from souks and bazaars around the country. I can sit all day just people watching while sipping my Moroccan mint tea. Or gaze into the sea while having the fresh catch of the day. For me it’s a hidden gem that’s just waiting to be discovered.

My first snow. Feeling like a kid again at winter wonderland (Ifrane)

My adventure was not only limited within the country. Because of its close proximity to Europe, it was while living in Morocco that I had my first Europe tour. I applied and got my first Schengen visa (valid for a year) which only took a few days even if it was processed in Rabat (capital of Morocco) where most of the embassies and consulates are (unlike in the Philippines where it would take weeks just to set an appointment with the embassy). Flights are short haul rather than long haul, so it’s less tiring and a lot of time saved. Upon returning to Casablanca from the tour, I thought I could already die. I haven’t only fulfilled my dream of living and working abroad, but also seeing Europe. But then again, my first taste of Europe has only expanded my horizon, It made me a lot more curious and thirst for more. Then the rest is history. I could say that it was my life in Morocco that awakened the wanderlust in me.

From top, left (clockwise): Agadir city view from the top of an ancient ruin; Moroccan family in the same ruin; medina of Essaouira; Essaouira coastline and Portuguese fortress

So there you have it my dear readers. A trip down memory lane. An expat life worth reliving as a way to celebrate a milestone. A past life that set the tone on how I lived (and continue to live) my travel life from there on. A first taste of Africa, a continent that continues to amaze me up to this day. A country like Morocco, so diverse and exotic, with stunning landscapes, yet humbled by its gentle people. A second home. A destination like no other. A fitting tribute to travel and to life itself.

Happy 1st anniversary. Cheers.

Up next: Homecoming