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Tuesday, September 22, 2020

How To Thrive and Survive Life Abroad - Book Review on The Overseas Fabulous Pinay

My family and my closest friends are aware that me and my husband have plans to go abroad since the time we got married. Actually, hubby was given the opportunity to file his papers years back and was given the go signal to fix his documents before we tied the knot but he declined. He would always declined. His reason was because he didn't want to leave me and wants to settle with me (ahem 😆) . We got married at 2015 and started a little family of our own and now decided to file for a chance abroad but it ended up disapproved. I thought then, maybe going abroad wasn't just meant for him but maybe it's for me. I actually like the idea of going abroad so I can make our family prosper but I am so anxious to death and I have so many fears on how and what to do. 


So it was with great opportunity that I got this book, The Overseas Fabulous Pinay by Donna Avellana Kunzler. When I started reading the first few pages, I'm getting goosebumps and it's making me excited to plan for my own venture already. I answered the very first checklist on the book to see if I am well equipped with the things I need to survive life abroad if ever I move out. Only the last option on the checklist (which is, if I can drive) might be the only challenge for me. I don't know how to drive so I told myself that I am seriously signing up in a driving school before this year ends. 

On to the next pages, I liked how the author shared her personal learnings and experiences on how she thrived abroad. The book is so packed with practical tips while being confident in living life in a different country. 

Some things I also liked about the book: 

  • First for the covers and the pages, I like how very cute and dainty the pages are. I even imagined that I am that one on the cover, braving another country fearlessly. I like the pink and yellow pastel motif. Seriously, it's so pretty, pretty cute!
  • OMG those foot notes. This is not just for Pinays but for everyone who wants to get some guidance and tips on living abroad. Very relatable!
  • I like how the author gives real, legit tips that can be used when faced with the same situation like herself.
  • Full of practical guide on what to do and how to survive. She wrote the guide like it's very easy to follow. 
  • She noted all the things that needs to be prioritized once you're in there. You wouldn't want to spend money, time and energy into useless things once you started out on a different place, right? You may also lack funds so this tip is pretty crucial.
  • How to make friends in a foreign land! Who would want to be all alone in a different country? Would you want to sing Celine's version of all by myself? 😅
  • Most of all, she provided some tips on how to beat homesickness. For me, this is the worst one has to overcome when living abroad, especially if you have kids left behind. That's just heartbreaking! 
I got so many takeaways with this book. This is something that you may want to read if you're planning your future in a faraway land and don't know where to start. Well, start with getting this book and I tell you, this will got you all covered! 

Also, this book won the Globe award in the 2020 Nonfiction Book Awards by the Nonfiction Authors Association and was honored as a finalist in the Best Interior Design Category in the 2020 International Book Awards. How cool is that! 👏

So if you're also planning to move out, be it working abroad or just plainly staying there, get some practical tips from Donna herself. Get your copy of the book then and follow her socials.


Much Love, Mommy ❤


17 comments :

  1. waah thank you sa pagshare nito. I plan kasi talaga ng mag abroad after I graduate. Ang cute ng illustrations, will definitely check this out<3

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  2. Na curious ako sa book, how I wish I was able to read this book before I work abroad a couple of years ago. this book will help a lot of our kababayans especially those first timers! being away from home is a challenge, this book will serve as a guide! highly recommended..

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  3. This is a good book for OFW especially sa mga magsisimula pa lang. Ako I have plans on working abroad. This might be helpful

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  4. A good book to start your journey. I hope I can read that and start my journey abroad with the family.Travelling with the family is my goal. I'm afraid to travel alone hihi. Thank s for this info..

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  5. Thank you for sharing this! I think her tip about knowing how to drive is really important if one wants to live abroad! Good luck with learning how to drive! :) and thanks for sharing this book! It’s so interesting. I’ve always wanted to try to live/work abroad (kahit for a few years lang) haha 😆

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  6. Ang cute nung cover. Never pa pumasok sa plano ko sa buhay ang mag-abroad, dahil hindi ko yata kayang mamuhay mag-isa sa malayong lugar na di kasama pamilya ko. Pero may mga times na naisip ko paano kung nag-abroad ako, kumusta kaya buhay namin ngayon. :)

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  7. A handbook on how to thrive abroad? That is interesting, and will check what's in it too.

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  8. I encourage my kids to go abroad when they can and if doors open, so they can have multi cultural experiences. Interested in this one, looks like a good read.

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  9. I think this book is a nice read. It sometimes crosses my mind how it's like to live abroad, in a first world country where there are abundant opportunities. With the country's current situation, leaving seems really tempting.

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  10. akala ko this book is parang chiclit.. hindi pala.. pero alamo minsan napapaisip ako if sana natuloy ako somewhere around the time na i had to do a year abroad to graduate kaso ewan ko ba.. di tinadhana.. ayun nga napapaisip ako na siguro mas maganda buhay ko or something.. hay... nakakadepress lang lalo..

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  11. Super interested in reading this book as well. I am itching to move out of the philippines the second i can, but I’m still not confident if I’m ready. It’s kind scary to be starting a life on your own abroad. Maybe i can get some useful stuff from here.

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  12. So many takeaways! This is very much helpful for my sister who's living alone at a foreign land. I will share this blog to her. :)

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  13. Is there also tips or anecdotes on what to do if you get your wallet stolen abroad or something? This looks like a great read if we wanna ready ourselves for the next bout ng travel but I sometimes can't read anything about abroad right now cause it kinda makes me sad...

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  14. OFWS and local travelers can really take a lot from this book. I have been away for a year in Japan and I wish I had this book to read. Love that some of her own experiences are fairly similar to mine :)

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  15. I really want to read that book. My dream is to migrate sa New Zealand, I applied for a position in a NZ company para sana dun na kami but sadly I got rejected, but I won't giveup, apply ulit ako. But for now, hanap ako san ba makakabili ng book na yan 😊

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  16. I was an OFW for 2 years lang when I was still single. Honestly, it was really a memorable experienced! Now that I have my own family, my dream of moving to another country faded and seems impossible since we have business here and all settled. Starting over becomes risky but I sometimes imagine of having a fresh start in a country with 4 seasons =)

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  17. Ugh this got me curious about the book tuloy! Pareha po tayo momsh maraming fears about going abroad pero unlike you di talaga sumagi sa isip ko ang mag abroad because gaya nga ng sabi ko, takot ako hahahaha And now with two kids, I def dont want it. Kahit nga hubby ko gusto nya and I am really saying no. Thanks for this momsh. 😘

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