Land of Opportunity!

[Kent]

... in response to Re: Re: Land of Opportunity!/midnightgir..., posted by midnightgirl on May 19, 2001

Hello,

I see you are having a few problems here in Minnesota. I do not know where Norwood is but I think I know the area you are talking about. I have some friends from there around there in Austion, Lyle, St.Ansger, and Stacyville.

We actually exchanged a few messages a while back if I remeber correctly. Around the the time you went to the Mall of Amercica. Myra has just turned in Packet number three and we are hopfully will only have a couple of months left before she gets here.

Anyway I hope things start getting better. I am still looking for a few Filipino friends for Myra to help her feel more comfortable when she gets here so if anyone is interested please let me know.  Other Fil/Amer couples in my area would be great. I live in Rosemount MN.

Take Care,
Kent

[midnightgirl]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Land of Opportunity!/midnigh..., posted by Kent on May 21, 2001

Hello Kent,

Thanks for the message. Yeah , you right, i really had a few problems with my co-workers especially the one who worked there longer. I'd almost been givin' up but because i had to work, i have to stay , learn to fight back with them that is the best way that they could not knock me down. Sometimes when somebody pissed me off, i could no longer hold but to cry and expressed it to my husband what i felt in my job that the people there were so b$tch and crazy and when i learn to get along with the  other people and be close to them ,some, they get jealous too and made gossip about me. It is hard to deal with this kind of people. It's really hard too when you live in a countryside since the opportunity is lesser rather than in a big cities.

Good luck for you and Myra. Hope to hear you back when Myra is already here.

[Kent]

... in response to Nice to hear you...., posted by midnightgirl on May 21, 2001

midnightgirl,

Just hit them with a 2x4 to the skull.  We call it an attitude adjustment, just kidding everyone.

I am glad that you decided to stand up to them. They usually target the peaple that are easily intimidated. They love to dish it out but hate being on the receiving end of things. The more it gets to you the more they will do it. Just ignore them if you can. Most peaple out grow this type of behavior in high school, but some peaple never grow up.

Sorry you had to see this part of our culture so soon.
I will let you know when Myra gets here.

Take care,
Kent

[cc]

... in response to Land of Opportunity!, posted by midnightgirl on May 18, 2001

Dear Midnight Girl, it is not America that s^cks, it is your job and your coworkers who s^ck - so you need to change that - it's not like it is the only jobe there is in Minnesota! Don't imitate your coworkers behavior and language (in the name of "being brave and standing up for yourself"...) - otherwise your husband will wonder why he went all the way to the Philippines to marry a sweet Filipina and got a swearing meat packer instead ;-)

Your home Country will always be special to you! I have been to the US for 15 years, but I still miss my home Country, my culture, language, friends and family. these things will never change - and they shouldn't! I travel there every year, sometimes twice a year...

But you will find that there are many good sides about living in the US too (otherwise, why would I be here, why would you?) and yes, America is still a Country of amazing opportunities and with time, you will come to recognize them! Good luck and "hang in there"!!!

[midnightgirl]

... in response to Re: Land of Opportunity!, posted by cc on May 19, 2001

Thanks.....and my husband is wondering why i got a swearing meat packer now and i told him that is what from our work, you see if i would be acting innocent there they would put you down and might give up , he can't blame me anyway.

[Zebson]

... in response to Re: Land of Opportunity!, posted by cc on May 19, 2001

cc; Good post....And I liked the, "and got a swearing meat packer instead" part.

Zeb

[Zebson]

... in response to Land of Opportunity!, posted by midnightgirl on May 18, 2001

Hmmmm....Don't give up and become like everyone else there where you work. You are unique, good and no less a person because of other's words or ways. When we are young we are much more vulnerable and easily influenced. But, don't think that is the way all America and all Americans are please... There are many nice people and many good places to work in this great country. Remember life is a learning journey. Yes, it can indeed be cruel but that is how character is developed now. You learn who you are by seeing others and becoming a better human being realizing there are many petty and small things people say and do. Don't conform to them or their ways, althought it's seems so hard. Perhaps you could also try something new for work as Hum suggested. There maybe other opportunities out there....Sounds like you may just be depressed now, and that's ok it happens. Hang in there and don't let these people drag you down...There are many good things in life to be thankful for.

Zeb

[humabdos]

... in response to Land of Opportunity!, posted by midnightgirl on May 18, 2001

The land of milk and honey?  Well a meat packing plant ain't the nicest place to meet folks I guess. I would recommend getting a new job as soon as you can! You might not make as much money but you will surely be better off. Do you have any filipina friends around your home? Humabdos

[Mdnightgirl]

... in response to Re: Land of Opportunity! What happend to..., posted by humabdos on May 18, 2001

Hi,

Thanks for the adviced. Yeah , i am planning to search another job but as of now i can't since i am still new here in America and i don't drive yet, i had a permit license and started lately my practice and it is my husband who teached me. And also when you live in a countryside it is hard to find a job like clerical unlike in a big cities because they give priority the white people. I've been applying before for white collar job  but there was no result. Mostly filipina here worked in Industry or Nursing Home but i can't worked in Nursing home because of lifting old people and that i can't do that. In the big cities there were a lot of opportunities and there is no discrimination.

[Dave H2O]

... in response to Re: Land of Opportunity! What happend to..., posted by humabdos on May 18, 2001

Humabdos,

I have to agree with your psot. I used to go on rescue calls to factories, that were more like sweat shops. They were not what we would picture a well run factory to be. Most were filled with Latin or Hatian workers. The emergency exits were all locked, it was very hot with no air conditioning, poor ventilation, few breaks, low pay, supervisors (usually women from the same country) that yelled, threatened and hit people. It was no wonder people were always fighting or getting sick. I always felt like I was stepping into a third world country the moment I walked in the door.

Midnightgirl,

Please don't think that all of America is like this. From what I understand, the meat packing industry is very stressful. My friend used to slaughter pigs at a packing company. He was a senior man after 3 months because the turn over was so great. He lasted another month or two. Poultry processing is one of the countries most dangerous industries. The incidents of illness and injury are twice that of coal mining and construction. Injuries to meat packers is 10 times the national average. Combine that with poor working conditions and animal corpses...it is no wonder everyone is in a bad mood. Like Humabdos said, maybe it is time to find a new job. Even if it pays less.

Dave H.

[midnightgirl]

... in response to Time For a Change, posted by Dave H2O on May 19, 2001

Hi,

I was not talking about the company/industry but the people who worked there. I have a great job and it is easy though . I am working in QPP(Quality Pork Processors) which an affiliate in Hormel which is also located in HOrmel plant but i guess Hormel owns this too since everything is for Hormel. The employees in Hormel comes to the plant and checked all meat and even all the machines it's the Hormel made the improvement. This plant has a good ventilation and they always think about safety precautions of the workers there. Yeah , you're right it is stressful because were working 8 hours-9 hours sometimes we worked Saturday. In my department it was very cold, i am always wearing thick clothes with uniform then three socks. And also this is a big industry.

[Dave H2O]

... in response to Re: Time For a Change, posted by midnightgirl on May 19, 2001

Hi Midnightgirl,

I am happy that the job is not the problem and that you are happy with your work. However, being a Filipina, you might have a different perspective on things. I should probably say a GREAT perspective. What you consider a great and easy job, might be felt to be difficult by the standards of Western or American workers. At hospitals where I have worked, many American, Hispanic and Caribbean nurses complained about how difficult the work was. They said that they were overworked and underpaid. Most of the Filipina nurses were telling me how easy things were, compared to the Philippines. When the Filipinas finished with their patients, they would help all of the other nurses who couldn't seem to get their work done. Usually because they were too busy taking breaks and gossiping. I am now involved in the process of bringing 35+ Filipino/a nurses to the US. There is a great nursing shortage in the US. Hospitals know that the Filippinas are well trained and in general, the most dedicated workers. Massive recruiting efforts of Philippine nurses throughout the US, are now underway.

I am glad that the company treats you well. I believe the main reason for that is fact that OSHA has been strongly regulating meat packing industry in recent years. For years, it was known for low wages, poor working and safety conditions, union busting, and limited workmen's compensation.

Please don't change to be like the other people. Then you just become one of them...waiting for the next innocent girl to attack and destroy.

Dave H.

[midnightgirl]

... in response to Don't Change!, posted by Dave H2O on May 19, 2001

Hi again,

I believed that all filipinos who worked abroad are hardworking and dedicated to their jobs. In the Philippines the jobs there were easy too but they don't paid good so i can't blame why they came abroad just to work in order to improve their lifestyle and help their families as well.

Now i 've learned here that i don't need to be innocent because if i do they would put you down but as a filipino i still have a pride being a conservative who knows what is right or wrong. In my family, when we said bad words my father used to slap our mouth not to say it again, i had a very strict father. I remember when my oldest sister went on date with a filipino and went home around 9PM , he was so mad almost slap my sister's face but i was the one that was hit by the slap of my father but my father now seems changed because all his children were got married.

Again thanks i appreciate it.

[The Mog]

... in response to Re: Don't Change!, posted by midnightgirl on May 19, 2001

Yup, some of us Americans really got the potty mouth, no doubt. You can see kids, not even teens yet, around my city hanging out, smoking cigarettes and using  "F" this and  "F" that words like they grew up with them.
And in many cases they did.
I'm very thankful that my parents taught me good manners. And by the looks of it, American youths manners and respect have been deteriorating drastically.
I feel sort of ashamed of us Americans, when the polite Philippine people come here and are exposed to this kind of stuff. But welcome to America huh?