Beverly - From Pulido 🇵🇭 to California 🇺🇸 (2024)

Beverly's recommendation to navigate life in the US 🇺🇸 as a Filipina 🇵🇭

Although I’ve visited other countries, the Philippines has been my lifelong home. Thus, moving into another country was exciting, nerve-wrecking, and filled with emotions! Whether you’ve dreamt of it or it’s where fate led you, it will feel like a whole new world! In my case, it was more the latter. Nonetheless, here I am, determined to make the most of this chapter.

Moving is undeniably challenging, but we are all brave to take that step into a new adventure in life. It wasn’t an easy decision for me either. I was in my fourth year of college pursuing a bachelor’s degree, when, after a two-year wait, my visa was finally approved! My fiance and I waited a long time, so even though it was scary to drop out of school when I was so close to graduating and leaving my family behind, I still went to the interview, passed it, packed my bags, and took that flight!

Upon setting foot in the US, it finally sunk in that I was no longer in my comfort zone. Despite feeling somewhat adrift, I was fortunate to have my fiance (now husband) beside me. His assistance in navigating life in the US helped me a lot as he was born and raised in the US. I am really grateful for all his help and guidance, but reality is, he can only do so much. The culture shock, having no relatives or friends around, and the substantial adjustment I had to make still got me as everything is different! I had to explore and figure some things out on my own, like how to send money back home, how to send gifts for special occasions or even “just because”, or how am I gonna stay connected with loved ones in case the internet wasn’t available.

Fortunately, I received a lot of help from other Filipinos here in the US, which inspired me to pay it forward and assist others in any way I can, even going out of my way. Now that I’ve settled into life here in the US and familiarized myself with the ropes, I am looking forward to helping others, whether it’s guiding immigrants through paperwork, recommending useful apps, selecting the best services of your needs, and much more! Whether you’re still thinking of moving, in the midst of the process, or feeling a bit bewildered in the US, I am here to lend a helping hand!

My favorite apps

1. Facebook - My number one would be Facebook as we can do a lot on it, may it be interacting with others, giving people updates about our life via posts, calling and messaging loved ones, and many more!
2. Google Maps - This is one of the must-have apps when you travel or even for everyday use. It is reliable and helpful when you are navigating or finding your way around a new place.
3. Fetch - I always try to save on groceries and this app offers great deals and savings. I get cash back from this app by uploading grocery and restaurant receipts, earn through referral, and find deals that lets me save a lot on groceries. They give points that you can redeem for rewards such as gift cards or donate into charities.
4. Duolingo - You can learn a new language by just using this app consistently. There are lots of Spanish speakers in the US so learning it will enable you to connect deeply with others. I’ve been using this app everyday for almost a year now and while mastering a new language isn’t effortless, I can say that I’ve gained substantial knowledge and continue to learn on this app.
5. USCIS Case Tracker - Oftentimes paperworks doesn’t end when we get to the US. Apps like this lets you track your pending applications in real-time, providing updates about any development or delay.
6. TapTap - We are into deals and savings! We always try to save as much as we can! This is by far my favorite money remittance because it has the highest exchange rate with no fee when sending to mobile wallets.
7. Gcash US - Yes! Gcash, the widely used mobile wallet app in the Philippines is now available in the US. Sending money to the Philippines, paying bills, and bank transfer will be so much easier now as it lets us make an account with our US number. I’ve registered and it only asked for my passport or a Philippine government issued ID to prove I am a Filipino.
8. Yelp - For someone like me that is new to a place, Yelp can be incredibly useful as it provides a platform for discovering businesses, shops, services, and restaurants. It lets you find local favorites, may it be restaurants or salons. People leave useful reviews and recommendations that will help you make informed decisions on where to go. This is where I’ve found my favorite salon, wax technician, and favorite seafood restaurant!
9. Instacart - One of my favorite and most used apps. It is a grocery delivery and pickup service where we can order different products from different participating local grocery stores. You can purchase not just groceries but household essentials, makeup, equipment, and even alcohol. It provides a convenient and efficient way for users like me to shop without needing to go out, especially when I didn’t know how to drive at first and my husband was in the office.
10. DMV Written Test - Passing a written exam is required for everyone that wants to have a US driver’s license, even if you already have a driver’s license from another country. I passed on my first take because this app helped me a lot. Reviewing helps refresh your memory on important traffic laws and road signs.
11. RetailMeNot - If you are into finding good deals and saving money like me, you would love this app too! This app provides a wide range of digital coupons, promo codes, and deals from various restaurants, retailers, and shops that you can redeem in-stores or online.
12. Klook - Almost everything you need for your travel will be here. When I got to the US, my husband and I planned several trips for me to explore and learn more about this new country. Klook was a big help on discovering activities, planning and booking the tickets, and saving through exclusive deals and coupons.
13. Amazon - Amazon app provides me a convenient way to shop for a wide range of products. It is a widely used ecommerce platform in the US. They also have a Gift Registry on the app where the user can make a registry for an occasion, add products on their “wishlist”, send the links to their family and friends to find and purchase gifts for that special occasion. Gifting is convenient and easy! It will be perfect especially for someone like us that has relatives form different states in the US that wants to send gifts but cannot travel.

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