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Filipino in Andorra: My Pinoy Life
I have been living in Escaldes, Engordany, Principado de Andorra for 22 years now. I moved here when I was only 8 years old, along with my sisters and my parents. It was my mother who moved here first, and after a while she brought us in one by one.
Andorra is a very small country located between the Pyrenees Mountains, which separate France and Spain. The country is called the Principality of Andorra, and is composed of seven parishes: Andorra La Vella, Les Escaldes, Sant Julia de Loria, La Massana, Ordino, Encamp and Canillo. The capital is Andorra La Vella, and they have their official flower which is the “Grandalla.” The official language is Catalan. We do not have presidents and kings, but we have a governor and his 28 official advisors. The population is around 80,000 people. Filipinos are probably 2% of all inhabitants.
Andorra is best known as a country of many mountains. If you look to the left and to the right you will only see mountains. But if it were not for the mountains, tourists probably would not come. Andorra is famous among neighboring countries due to its thermal waters and ski slopes. It is place full of stories, different cultures and winter sports. When the big snowfall comes, the landscape becomes completely white.
Here, the weather is always changing. From September to October is autumn, when we get abundant rains. During the winter season of November to February, the landscape is covered in snow and turns almost completely white. From March to May is spring when flowers begin to open up and you realize that summer is coming soon. Summer is my favorite of the four seasons.
There are lots of beautiful places in Andorra. For people who like to go walking in the mountains, there are many charming places and viewpoints where you can see the best views of the country. La Vall d’Incles is a good example. There you can take a leisurely trek and enjoy an amazing scenery. You will also find lakes where you can fish, or even swim if you don’t mind the cold. We have many hiking trails in Ordino and even in Grau Roig – two of the most beautiful parishes in Andorra.
We have a chapel that is located in Canillo, which is called The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Meritxell (the country’s patron. I believe it was restored in the 17th century and was destroyed in 1972. Then a sanctuary adjacent to a church chapel was built by the architect Ricard Bofill.
Filipino in Andorra: My Pinoy Life
My Life
We have a quiet life here. The best thing about it is that I have my family with me. That’s what’s makes me enjoy living in a foreign country. I love spending time with my family. On days off, my husband, daughter, and I go visiting parks and places we have yet to discover. I also love reading scary books and romance and enjoy a good meal – whether Japanese, Italian or Mediterranean food.
There is a spa resort in Escaldes – Engordany called “Caldea.” It is the only place where you can enjoy the hot springs, and I love it! In fact, there are plenty of places to see and love in Andorra. If I have any cause for complaints, it’s that living in a country surrounded by mountains can sometimes feel a little claustrophobic.
My Community
There are about 800 Filipinos residing in Andorra. We make up about 2% of the population. We have a Filipino community organization called FILAND and the current president is also Batangueño. We always celebrate national holidays like Christmas, and often organize raffles and activities aimed at helping those who are in need back home. Our last project was for the victims of typhoon Yolanda. Admittedly, I am a bit hesitant to join the activities, as my Tagalog is not as polished as I would like. Anyhow, I have my husband and I understand each other in a unique way by speaking a mixture of Tagalog and Spanish.
Filipinos have a good image in Andorra because they see us as hardworking people, confident, responsible and highly responsive to the needs of our employees. The only difficulty we have is the language – since the official language here is Catalan and not Spanish.
My personal culture
I have a mixture of different cultures in me. I love learning Filipino culture because I didn’t have an opportunity to be immersed in it. I like the freedom in this country, but I also like the education of youth in the Philippines. I don’t define myself as Filipino or Andorranian. I guess, I’m ‘undefined.’
When I return to my home country, I love people-watching, especially their reactions, their words, their ways of dealing with adults and even how they treat you when you walk into a store and smile even when things go bad. It is completely different from here. It is complicated to implement that mindset here since cultures are quite opposite.
My Message
Being an OFW is not easy. The sacrifice of leaving your family behind not is in vain, however, as we did this for them to have a better future. We were born with the blood of a fighter! So let us fight for those dreams!
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