I'm from Cebu in the Philippines, but I've been working as a hotel receptionist in Auckland, New Zealand, for four years. Most of my family is still back home, so staying in touch is a big part of my life.
The people I'm closest to are my parents and my grandmother, Lola Nena, who's eighty-three, and my younger brother, who's at university in Manila. The main way we stay in contact is a family video call every Sunday. Because of the time difference, it's Sunday evening for me and Sunday afternoon for them, which works quite well. We all join from different places, so my screen is split into four little boxes. My mother usually holds the phone up so my grandmother can see me, and she always asks if I'm eating properly. My brother tends to join late and from his bed. On top of that, we have a family group chat where we send photos and voice messages during the week, so I feel I know what's happening day to day.
This matters to me enormously. The most important reason is my grandmother. She's getting frail, and I know I might not have many more years with her, so seeing her face every week means a lot. Also, being abroad can be lonely, and hearing my parents' voices really grounds me. It reminds me why I'm working so hard, because I send part of my salary home. And finally, I want to stay part of family decisions rather than being someone who just hears news later. The calls make me feel I still belong at home.