Hong Kong street market paintings, Michael Sloan, 2011
Hey, nice to meet you. I’m Maria.
I moved to Hong Kong in 1994 because I was looking for better financial opportunities than I could find back home in the Philippines, especially since I had three kids to support.
I’ve been living in Hong Kong for 29 years now, and I’ve worked for the same employer the whole time. Before moving, I didn’t know much about Hong Kong, but the promise of higher salaries and better working conditions drew me here. I’ve heard that in the Middle East, domestic workers were badly treated, and I didn’t want to stay.
The start was tough, though, mainly because of the language barrier. My employers are Chinese and don’t speak much English, so communication was hard initially. Thankfully, the children in the house helped out as translators. Over the years, I’ve adapted and now feel pretty comfortable living here.
I enjoy being part of the vibrant Filipino community and joining the social groups for domestic workers. I’m involved in community activities and events organized by groups like Social Justice for Migrant Workers, which are pretty supportive. There are 45K people like me on a Facebook page and we share information for anyone who needs help. For example, if someone needs shelter, someone else will give them suggestions on where to go.
Hong Kong has mostly been a positive experience for me. Sure, there are cultural differences that can be challenging—some locals, especially older folks, can be a bit rude—but honestly, that happens back home in the Philippines too. Overall, I’m grateful for my long-term job and the good treatment from my employer. Despite a few bumps along the way, my experience here has been smooth.
- Maria
Hong Kong
Interviewer: Katie Fu
Editor: Flora
Translator: Yingying Dai
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