I mentioned in my previous blogs about my sister working abroad. She is my only sibling and growing up, we had a tight bond not until she went abroad to work in 2011. Since then, we have kept celebrating Christmas and New Year and other important occasions incomplete.
She has been working in Qatar since I was in my first year in college. She had to fight terrible homesickness the first time she stepped foot in a foreign country. I remembered how she missed home so badly but she had to support our family's needs and her dream of going to another country.
At first, it felt weird not having to talk to her like we used to do. We have a different time zone. When I sleep, she wakes up, and vice versa. I know how much she had to endure working and being away from us.
She spoiled us with things and packages she bought in that foreign country - chocolates, t-shirts, shampoos, pieces of jewelry, and the like. She was able to support my studies until I graduated. She was able to have our home renovated. She has done so much for our family.
December of last year, my sister was scheduled to go home. Yeeeey! We traveled to the airport to meet her. We rented @higeeyuh and family's van. On our way, I couldn't help but feel excited about meeting her and spending the days ahead with her. With my cousin and her children, we waited for my sister at the airport.
When she arrived, we were all smiles. The nieces and nephews were on cloud nine too. Others were looking at us as we couldn't contain our excitement. She hugged each one of us and as I was looking at her, her eyes spoke of genuine happiness - happiness she could not utter. There was a sign of relief that at last, she'll be spending time with us.
It was her first time since 2011 to celebrate Christmas, Mama's birthday, and New Year with us. These are important occasions and having to celebrate them with her makes things even more memorable and meaningful. After 11 years, my family is complete! It was such a rare moment of celebration, happiness, and meaningful family time.
True enough, the following days were spent creating memories together. We took a dip on a beach, we had a fun Christmas and New Year's party, and we went to church together.
After two months, she went back to work. Being the introverted emotional sibling, I chose not to accompany her to the airport because I couldn't bear seeing her, once again, leaving us for work. My cousin volunteered to send her to the airport but before they left, I wrote a letter for my sister and placed it at the bottomest part of her luggage.
When she arrived in Qatar, there, she found out about the letter. And again, homesickness is not new to her and there, she has to battle with it.
Working in a foreign country is no less than a sacrifice someone has to endure. It takes a brave soul and a strong heart to be away with family. My sister had to miss important occasions with us. She had to celebrate her birthday and small wins alone and away from us. She had to take care of her health because whenever she got sick, we are not there by her side to look after her. It is our thoughts and prayers that will always keep her safe. Truly, working overseas is a sacrifice.
May we always appreciate the sacrifices and struggles our loved ones had to endure in order to give us a better and comfortable life.
This is all for today. Be well. Be safe.
Until the netswriting.