Who remembers using WORDSTAR and LOTUS 123? Yes it has been FOREVER since I wrote anything. In the years past, I've left my beloved Philippine Islands and moved to the United States. Since then Odesk merged with E-lance and is now UPWORK.
I still remember the days when I still slaved the phones as a tech support representative for AT&T Bellsouth and ATT legacy for Convergys and Sykes. I still reminiscence of my cute English Trainer Shurl when I did IP relay for stellar in Cubao right beside where T-Mobile outsourced the US customer support. For some time I remember working for Humana for APAC in Araneta Center beside the now extinct help desk for Blackberry RIM. Even my credit card AMEX was being serviced by Hunduja now HTMT in Quezon City.
Working late nights on the phone I would often tell my callers that I would drop over and fix their PC or internet connection while having coffee with them if i could. It was a nice idea although most of my customers had no idea that I was working in the Philippines for something like $2.5 dollars an hour back then. I even shared tears over the phone when a lady got cut off from her Amex credit account.
Don't get me wrong, despite the pay it was good learning experience for me. Most of my fellow Chicagoans and Chicago suburbanites today have no idea how much work was outsourced to the third world. Most Americans are at their wits end wondering where all the jobs have gone to.
Working for ATT legacy I remember having to go through the multiple body frisks implemented by Sykes security in Gilmore because the same facility at that time served Yahoo and Transunion. I love the memory that all I had to do to get to work was take a quick bike ride to the LRT station in Pureza and ride the train through three stations and that my Sykes Desk was three stations away.
Because of my considerable experience as an outsourced worker in the Philippines, I am rather wary of how much personal information is being worked back home. My former coworkers would have access to my personal information. I have T-Mobile as my phone carrier, I had Humana and BCBS as my health insurance provider, trans-union still grades my credit score, I have Comcast as my ISP. Almost every aspect of my life here in Chicago is somehow linked to the worker bees in the Philippines who work relentlessly to complete their tasks and their thankless jobs.
America has treated me well. Arriving here I helped out baby brother set up their Home health agency. MY passion has always been in I.T., writing, and Photography. Finally here I am in the US having coffee to help fix their computers! Working as a break-fix contractor for Dell Laptops and workstations I got to call home multiple times to order parts through their agents based in Pampanga.
Should I be worried about security? Considering that my last employment was fixing ATMs (cash machines), I should. Working late nights in Chicago and burbs fixing Chicago Patrolman's Credit Union's machines alongside TCF atm's at Jewels takes a lot of nerves considering I didn't feel exercising my second amendment rights to carry a concealed firearm.
What I am more concerned though is the security of my private information. Should I fear the fact that my information is worked off shore? Or should I be even more alarmed at how the NSA has almost direct access to my info as revealed by Edward Snowden whom I consider a whistle blower and true Patriot.
I'm rambling and like any Pinoy I'd would like to say sorry. It's just how Pinoys are. We blurt out sorry even if we don't mean it as if it was a reflex to the point where most Americans find the gesture insincere, moot and umapologetic.
I am currently getting on the RideSharing economy driving for Lyft and maybe UBER if they ever approve my application.
I can't blame UBER though. I filed an application almost four years ago but never had enough money to buy a car until recently.
I recently provided a Lyft line (car pool ride) to a google docs sales employee and another lady who's firm heavily relied on UPWORK. The brief social interaction encouraged by Lyft's community centeredness has inspired me to write once more.
This post is a mere annoucement that I will be launching a new blog concerning my experiences meeting people I meet while driving for Lyft. Short Character studies on folks I meet while I'm on my ride.
In the meantime I am giving away coupons for free rides and Power Ride Bonuses for drivers. Link below. I will also provide a link for my new blog: Tales of a Lyfter when get to publish it.
So here is $50 worth coupons for rides: www.lyft.com/invite/Josue13527
Anyone wants to get on the Lyft Line as a driver use this for your bonus:
https://www.lyft.com/drivers/JOSUE13257
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