"A piece of me in Myanmar"

A piece of me in Myanmar

‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’ It’s a famous line by Michael Scott from a sitcom TV series The Office. I’ve always lived by this quote. That’s maybe the reason that when my mother told me to work with her in Myanmar, I didn’t hesitate. I was terrified but it was a shot I couldn’t miss. It was a chance to help my mom lead our family to a better life. I spent six years teaching at an international school in Myanmar called Mandalay Chan Tar Academy. At first, I wasn't happy. It was difficult for me to get along with the Filipino teachers because of the age gap. I was the youngest in the group and most of them were married and in relationships. I felt so alone but my mother was always there giving me all the support and motivation I needed. During term break, we either went for visa run in Bangkok Thailand or explored the beautiful tourist destinations of Myanmar like Bagan, Inle Lake and many more. The longer I stayed in Myanmar, the more I discovered my passion and the more I understood the culture. In my 6 years living there, I fell in love with the country, found good friends and even met my partner in crime- my husband. I consider Myanmar my 2nd home. There’s a piece of me that never left Myanmar. I will be forever grateful for all the experiences that molded me into who I am today.

Every story has an ending. My Myanmar story came to an end when I decided to settle down. When I got married, I decided to always choose my son no matter what the situation is. I decided to prioritize his well being and to always be there for him. Yet I feel like there’s something missing. I miss a lot of things. Most of all, I miss my independent old self who could provide for herself.

I heard about online job. I tried to apply without any knowledge of this field. I tried countless times and I failed countless times. I got ideas on YouTube how to make a profile, how to get approval on upwork or how to answer basic questions during interviews. I realized that I should get a proper learning if I wanted to get a job online. I needed someone who can guide me. My colleague in Myanmar who has a sister that works as a freelancer told me about this FVA program.

I joined the course to get the learning and certification that I need. FVA has taught me a lot in a matter of weeks of learning like making a website. It provides me with everything I need in order to get an online job.