You have settled down and unpacked in Canada, your new home, and you’re ready to start a life of growth and adventure in this huge North American country, but you’ve noticed that apart from its different sights, sounds, and smells, The Great White North also has a culture that needs your respect and attention.
While British culture may seem alien to a newly arrived overseas Filipino worker (OFW) like you, you may be surprised to learn that British people are more similar than you think. From their highly contextual communication style to their use of humour to deliver tough news, British people interact in a way that’s familiar to Filipinos.
If you want to start a career abroad and outside of the United States, then working in one of the many careers in demand in Canada might be for you. Today, Canada continues to open paths to permanent residency for foreign professionals. If you play your cards right and land one of the most in-demand jobs in Canada, you may be on your way to joining the over 900,000 Filipinos in the country, thus starting a new life for you and your family.
Landing a job in one of the most in-demand jobs in the United Kingdom can help you get a Skilled Worker Visa and start your career in the UK. In fact, some Filipinos have already taken this route, with Pinoy professionals ranking second in the top five nationalities granted Skilled Worker Visas as of March 2021.
Before you pack your bags and move to the United States, it’ll be good to do your research so you can get to know American culture. Getting familiar with the culture even before you reach your new country will help with your adjustment. It will also help you understand why people in America act and think the way they do, and it will help you spot similarities and points of connection between your home culture and American culture as well as differences that you may want to incorporate in your own way of life.
Culture shock, meaning that uneasiness you feel in a new country—or even a new office, school, or community—is completely normal. It is part of your adjustment phase, and it hits people in different ways. To prepare you for your time abroad, or if you are already coping with culture shock, it is important to know its phases so you can come up with a healthy response to each stage’s challenges as they come along.