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The phone rang one morning. A male voice was on the line. He was laughing to say, “ kumapit sila sa patalim. (holding on a razor‘s edge)”

Sila are the nurses registered as one in their home country, for one reason and another they decided to be here. Sila in reality involve not just one specific nationality as what the caller had in his mind. The truth is in this country, sila includes other nationalities like Chinese, Thai, Fijian, Japanese. Samoan and etc. if that is what he needs to know.

The money involved is quite a big amount and according to many accounts with it was sweat and tears yet they raised it just to be here. Sometime in the past, the Nursing Council requirement was not as high and many were just blessed to come at such a time. If one was lucky enough to have a nurse spouse coming that time and who sponsored the other half; is that enough reason to laugh?

I used to sit in front of my office’ desktop to prepare the slideshow for my lectures. My thoughts flew back and forth as I clicked the windows between the New Zealand website and the topics for my presentation. Where I was could be the best place that a nurse in my country could be. The basic pay was standardized, subsistence allowance, laundry and hazard pay were given each month. Travel expenses were provided not to mention the productivity and loyalty bonus that we get. The office was air conditioned, rank and title was attached to your name to boost the ego for self esteem. The office uniform was honourable with the high stiletto to match with it. Why?

The country is warm and beautiful, the family support is comforting and reassuring. Friends are fun to be with and shopping could be great. Restaurants, malls, pubs, discos, bars they are everywhere. Some do have their own businesses and professions flourishing but everyone you meet them here. What could have gone wrong?

Deep within the minds and hearts of everyone, we master the answer. Even those who are laughing share the same hopes and aspirations even if they want it only for their own selves or families. It is sad to see the same kind of people with the same colour trying to destroy each other’s dream, sad to realize that for every word and action shown everything simply echoes something hidden within.

Even back where I was, I have already pictured what I was about to do. Parker pens I may never have to use, when I will be pulling pads instead. Everyone has our pride and vanities, these weaknesses I was ready to tame, I know where I am going to labour is my aim. When we talk of weaknesses, principle can be one’s strength. There will always be a time when one has to grow and become independent, a time when one needs to prove you can perform a role well. Each one of us has our own obligations in life, surely that is what we are here to accomplish.

The job of a caregiver is truly back breaking. Yet it is rewarding to know that today you have managed to make one lonely elderly smile. So many times I hear the workload is alright. The challenge can be more on your co-staff when discrimination and indifference becomes the issue and you get persecuted for even the most minor deficiencies instead of being assisted to learn better and ease the task. Peculiar to the culture is how we compete and rival within our own group yet as a people we stand strong against our opponent. If just for this I am still proud to be of my race.

If I am an elderly, I will surely be happy to have a doctor, dentist, physiotherapist, pharmacist, medical technologist , nurse and whatever care for me. Although they are not registered as such in this country, when I am down on the floor, chances are in my carer’s head is a medical opinion as well as a medical option to suggest. That is if one can look beyond the skin to see the beauty and feel the warmth of the soul within.