What is the most important advice to give an OFW before they leave the Philippines?

Each year about a million Filipinos leave their home country to work across the world to support their families back home. What advice would help someone cope in this situiation? What is the most important thing for someone to know before going abroad on such a journey?What is the most important advice to give an OFW before they leave the Philippines?
Know your priorities. You will feel alone, homesick and who knows what crazy things you might do out there, just remember your priorities and stick to it. It can be pretty lonely in the first few months.





Working overseas is easy nowadays because of information technology, we can easily communicate with our loved ones that are back home.





For me, I think the most important things to do are:





Get a cellphone, you can use an international roaming sim (get a prepaid! and load up as much as you can - incoming texts are free anyway) for the meantime then you can switch to a foreign sim once you know which provider to use.





Look for the best call card to call the Philippines





Open a bank account - its easier and cheaper to remit money through banks. Plus your money is safer there.





Learn The local language of the country where you are headed.








And please dont bring the Filipino habits there:


Always be on time


Dont get yourself involved in office politics, because in my experience foreign employers look at you work performance and NOT rumors/gossips/office politics.





Work hard! show those foreign pips how GOOD a Filipino worker can be.





Remember , when you are in a foreign country only do things that will uplift/improve the image/perception of our country.What is the most important advice to give an OFW before they leave the Philippines?
Mabuhay ka kaibigan!
The first few months can be tough..... suggest finding fellow OFW's that have been there a while to help show you the ropes
Check out this sites:





http://forum.ofw-connect.com/OFW_Advice_鈥?/a>
For the guys, if you are planning to go to the middle east, be sure not to shave your beard or you'll get your butt in trouble. Literally :)
DTA!!





Don't Trust Anybody!!
magdasal ka... magtyaga ka at mahirap ang buhay sa ibang bansa!!!
check your contract and job , is it legal and existing employment


some company renegade or different existing contract when you arrive on destination, beware on job offering on middle east countries, those peole are not fair and legal toward their employment contract.
1. Do it legally.


2. Have some spare money.


3. Do not give your passport and other important documents to your employers.


4. Check if there are Filipinos in your area of destination.


5. Prepare your mind mentally, homesick is hard to overcome.


6. Go home when you feel you are being maltreated.


7. Pray
Be prepared for the loneliness and the hard work and the racism
i help by giving information like below. with knowledge, fear will be not that great. which cause lost of focus in goal.





it's like starting a new life from the beginning, expect you'll feel lost-no sense of direction to where you are going through, hopeless-no friends or family to help, weak-you will use a lot of energy in adjusting to the new environment.


you're begin to feel insecure because of lack of expression-different language, different lifestyle, customs and traditions. depending on your level of education. the speed of your adjustment to your environment.
Dont Let Anyone Step On Your Dignity!!!





Make sure you know police contacts or some helpful ';kaba2yan';..





and Be Responsible.