<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We recently had a chat with Christine Burias, an ICU Nurse at the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz University Hospital. She graduated Cum Laude from the Ago Medical and Educational Center in Legazpi City, Philippines.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tell us about yourself.</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I am from Bulan Sorsogon in the Bicol Region (Philippines). You could say that I am a simple person with a big dream. It’s been my principle in life that if you want something, then you must work hard for it, and to never stop despite the obstacles.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tell us about your career path.</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I graduated back in 2008 and passed the Nursing Board during the same year. Once I’ve had enough experience, I decided in 2012 to go abroad. I was fortunate enough to get accepted within the year as an ICU nurse at a private hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Once my contract expired after two years, I applied once more and was fortunate to have been accepted at King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz University Hospital. I have been working there since then. </span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What do you do outside of working as an ICU Nurse?</span></h2>
<div class="wp-block-image size-medium wp-image-4327"><figure class="alignleft size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="681" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Christine-Tbilisi-1024x681.jpg" alt="ICU Nurse Christine Burias" class="wp-image-9518" title="Reports Can Be Used in Any GCC Country, Anytime" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Christine-Tbilisi-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Christine-Tbilisi-300x200.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Christine-Tbilisi-768x511.jpg 768w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Christine-Tbilisi-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Christine-Tbilisi-1200x798.jpg 1200w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Christine-Tbilisi-1980x1317.jpg 1980w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Christine-Tbilisi.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Christine ticking off one item in her bucket list.</figcaption></figure></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I like to paint and play guitars. When I have the chance, I like to bake and cook Filipino food. It’s no problem cooking that as the ingredients are readily available here. We have a local market that’s comparable to Divisoria. I also love to travel, which is an indulgence that I could now do because I earn more as an OFW. I have been to Japan, Singapore, Dubai, and just recently went to Tbilisi in Georgia. One of my bucket list is to see snow, and Georgia has a <a href="http://touringbuddy.com/visa-requirements-philippine-passport-holders-georgia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visa upon arrival</a> for Filipinos. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I would like to go back to Japan, particularly in Osaka and Kyoto, since I found my first visit to have been not enough.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Would you say that you are enjoying the expatriate life?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I wouldn’t have lasted if I didn’t enjoy it. I also like the fact that it’s helping me become a professionally and culturally competent health care practitioner by working in a diverse and ever changing healthcare system. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People say that Saudi is a hard place to live in, but I found the opposite to be true. It will just depend on your employer, as well as how you blend in with people of other cultures. Crab mentality is real, though, but it would be up to you to be strong.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What are your future plans?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I’m thinking of moving to the USA as I have a relative there. I would need to study and pass the IELTS first, and I plan on doing that in the next two years.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What are your tips for your fellow OFWs?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Homesickness would not be an issue if you have been independent even if you are living in your home country. I would also advise them to be strong, be ready for the unknown things and remember to be flexible at any time. Change is constant in this world. Always Pray.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How was your experience with TrueProfile.io?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I am satisfied with TrueProfile.io’s service because their interface is user friendly, easy to follow, and any queries were answered quickly.</span></p>
<div class="wp-block-image size-medium wp-image-4328"><figure class="alignright size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/unnamed-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="ICU Nurse Christine Burias" class="wp-image-9519" title="Reports Can Be Used in Any GCC Country, Anytime" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/unnamed-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/unnamed-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/unnamed-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/unnamed-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/unnamed-1-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/unnamed-1-1980x1485.jpg 1980w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/unnamed-1.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Christine with her colleagues</figcaption></figure></div>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Would you recommend TrueProfile.io to your colleagues?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND TrueProfile.io to my colleagues because reports can be used in any GCC country, anytime! And all it takes is one click.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">And finally, if given the chance, would you be an OFW all over again?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yes, I would definitely love to be an OFW again. </span></p>
<h4>Verify your documents now with TrueProfile.io to expand your possibilities!</h4>
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<p><em>Edited for clarity</em></p>
<p>All photos courtesy of Christine Burias</p>