Redditech's Blog

I dreamt of working in another country for as long as I could remember. Ideally it would have been a first world country like the US, Canada or the UK. As fate would have it, my first opportunity to work abroad came as an option to work for a Caricom agency in Barbados. It was overall I think a positive learning experience, although at the time of engagement the beauty of Barbados beaches and idlyic nature of life there was also rife with negative experiences as I learned the harsh lessons of incompatibility between independent thinking, innovation and bureaucracy within the public sector of the Caribbean.

I returned to Trinidad almost a year after my Barbados experience, determined to make the best of opportunities in my homeland till fate lent me the chance to work again abroad. I had this opportunity in a twisted sense through my current job as a Software Developer for Medullan, which took me to the city of Medford, MA just outside of Boston for 4 out of the last 12 months on 2 separate trips.

It was, to say the least, a very maturing, and eye opening experience as I dealt with both the joys and the pains of working within a 1st world country, coming from one classified as third world.
The obvious advantage of working within a 1st world country is of course the variety of novalties and essentials to purchase and things to do. By just being present in such an environment you experience the opportunity to explore your individualism to its fullest.
As a result, I personally discovered my liking of American theatre, and an affinity for particular US lines of clothing.
The not-so-obvious disadvantages are the enormous costs one bears to purchase goods, especially in states which have a large sales tax like New York. Budgeting is key to survival in this place where everyone is buying. The high cost of health care for those without insurance is also a huge negative, especially for those who come from “3rd world” countries where healthcare was free to all. The concept of paying $800US for 6 hours at a hospital emergency room visit where all that was done was a blood test is just ludicrous to one who’s experienced similar for free or under private care for about $50US in his home country.

I have yet to decide whether Trinidad life is for me, especially as I know there is so much more out there I have not yet seen in this world, so many cultures to experience, so much things to do and places to see. What I do know though, is that the grass may seem greener on the other side of the ocean, but it’s not all green.
Wherever I decide to settle, there will be challenges, obstacles and temptations to quit and return home, but at the same there will be positives untold as I continue to search for my spot in this huge place we call Earth.

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