A cousin of mine just sent me a text message yesterday informing me that he was about to leave for Dubai this week. All he was waiting for was his passport and he’s ready to go.

I’m not exactly sure how to respond that’s why I haven’t texted him back. I know he’s going away to seek his fortune somewhere else but I can’t help but feel disappointed. He’s an accomplished engineer, a promising one too, and yet this country will never see him bloom and muster his craft. Nor will his family see him use the tools he’s acquired through his years of studying.

I’m saddened because like my cousin, most students here are starting to take the same course. Young learners go through 4-5 years of college, graduate, take an English proficiency exam, and immediately leave the country to seek greener pasture.

How will this country ever prosper if all the competent people it produces would rather work somewhere else than stay here?

On the other hand, how can expect these promising graduates to survive in this country if this country pays little respect or merit to them with meager salaries and poor benefits?

I just can’t help but be concerned because we have a little baby who would someday grow up and face the same dilemma.

Don’t get me wrong! I’m not judging those who would choose to seek their fortune elsewhere. I totally understand their choice. I’m just voicing out my concern because I would like our children to not have to make such sacrifices in order to put food on the table or dream of a better life.

I’m very particular with lighting when it comes to houses. It is one of the first things that I always notice whenever I enter a house or building. This is also one of the things that attracted me to this place.

You see, the house we’re staying in right now is very well illuminated. There are lots of light bulbs positioned in various areas to provide illumination for all sorts of function. There are 2 light bulbs in the kitchen to be used during cooking, 1 in the dining area where we eat, 3 in the living room (including a chandeliers) where we spend most of our waking time with Mateo. And during the day, the sun bathes most of the inside with natural light.

There’s virtually light everywhere. And that’s the good thing. The only bad side is the number of bulbs we need to replace when the lights all go out! Oh well! Guess you can’t have it all!