How I formed a Barkada with Americans I haven’t even Met
I formed a “Barkada” with Americans abroad without even meeting them physically – without even stepping outside the Philippines.
friends - the most famous barkada
Ten years since high school, things have changed. Friends come and go. Most of them are gone — gone to a better place — abroad.
“No future in the Philippines,” they said.
We can’t blame them. We have our own lives now. We need to pick a better future for ourselves, our family. We need a better place to settle down.
Most people I know are in abroad now, some are left here; scattered. Different city, different places, different lives.
Once in a while, it’s so reminiscing to talk to them. Bumping to an old friend in a bar, mall or street – it’s feels good.
“How are you!?”
“Long time no see!”
“Two kids now!? Wow!”
“How bout you? Still single?”
“Nope, I’m still together with [put name here]”
archies - the second most famous barkada
So how about your friends abroad? Unless they take a vacation, you’ll never see them anywhere. But “barkadas” last forever. No matter how far we are now, we’ll always be tighty-tighty with our barkadas.
Oh it feels so nice to talk to them! Some of them are married, some are still living the “sex and the city” single life, some are pregnant, some have little toddlers invading the houses.
Thank God for technology, we have dozens of ways to catch up with them now. And free too!
Skype – the easiest, most popular way to communicate. Built in with webcam and mic features, it’s all you really need. They can show you their room, kids and shopping stuff in the background.
But we understand life is so busy abroad. They can’t be home all the time. They’re at work all the time. So here’s the solution.
Facetime – it requires us to have an iPod touch/iPhone/iPad or a mac laptop. But if we can afford it, Facetime is worth it! We webchat our buddies while on their lunch break at work. They introduce us to their American co-workers.We get to know their co-workers, we get to know their workplace like our very own.
Best friends - Aawwww
I “groupchat” with my friend and her co-workers once a week during their lunchbreak. It’s fun! You should try it. Don’t get too intimidated by their English speaking co-workers, Americans are very friendly! I work in a call center, I have no problem chatting with them (the only perk of a life-sucking job of a call center agent).
It’s been two years now. I didn’t realize I gained a new set of barkada through facetime. I don’t see them physically, but I talk to them for hours. They tell me all the problems they have, the marital fights they go through; the divorce, the bankruptcy — everything!
I don’t limit my chatting time with them during lunch breaks anymore. My American friends would call me anytime. Literally, anytime! During their days off, dinner or even shopping time! They would show through the iPhone camera which dress to pick, which outfit suit them the most, which gifts to pick.
I would even tutor their kids though Facetime! Their grade schoolers would just call me anytime and ask me to help them with homework. Such cute kids.
I didn’t realize it, but I’m there throughout the parties. Every event, “get togethers,” gatherings — they would open facetime and they’d all take time chatting with me. It’s fun! Even the blowing of the birthday cake, the camera is aimed at everybody like I was there with them.
Technology? I feel blessed to be born in this era. Even thousands of miles apart, technology made it super-freakin easy to spend time with friends. Even thousands of miles apart, it’s like I’m there.
Thank you, facetime. RIP Steve Jobs.
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