Living away from home just two and half hours away is hard already, but living a thousand miles away from home is a lot harder, especially living there for one year in a new environment, with new people, new rules, a new culture, and customs. It may be a good experience for them to be able to nurture their skills and learn new things; they also had the chance to visit new places, create friends, try new food and drinks, learn the culture of other races. and to be able to live independently. Though no one can deny how melancholic it is when homesickness strikes. There are people, places, drinks, and food that one will surely miss, especially when it is difficult to acquire while one is craving for it.
It wasn’t easy for Ellena Bunoan, as almost everything was new to her; the adjustments she needed to make, keeping up with the fast-paced service, the pressure and expectation from her chefs, the tiredness, the feeling of being alone and knowing how hard it is to be away from your comfort zone where she need to do everything by herself just made her want to give up.
However, as much as she wanted to go home, she was fighting the urge and try to make the most out of it, it was after all a new experience to her, going home early should never be an option. It was all thanks to her family especially her mother, her friends in the Philippines, her new found friends in the United States, her dogs, her hunger for knowledge and most especially The Lord Almighty, who gave her the strength, determination and motivation to finish her International On-The-Job Training. Now she is just a month away from graduating from her 4 year course – hopefully, with flying colors.
Written by Ma. Ellena Magdalena Bunoan
