I read The Expat: Powerful Life Lessons from Living, Working, and Traveling Around the World by Jovelle Fernandez, M.D., Ph.D., on the premise that it is an invitation to become the real best version of myself. It has exceeded my expectations. More than being an autobiography about a Filipina doctor’s international career, it was also a call to become a kinder individual.
I read it in one sitting even when I have never worked overseas because the author had a lively and engaging writing style that invited me into her life. She was able to inject humor into some serious topics such as leadership in a male-dominated society and experiencing potential sexual harassment in a liberal city. She was able to incorporate family values and lessons on keeping one’s faith alive without sounding preachy and overbearing. It was a pleasure to read and appreciate this book not just as a whole, but for being both an informative and inspirational autobiography and an educational book.
The author introduced the book as something which could be universally appreciated. It does not have to be read by those who worked abroad alone. It can provide life lessons to everybody, which sounded like a daunting task. The author has successfully fulfilled this by keeping her writing simple yet powerful. She let her own stories and insights speak for themselves. True to her velvet hammer nature, the author can speak volumes and deliver a point without trying too hard.
This book is about going beyond your own comfort zone. I surely enjoyed her life story, as well as her valuable lessons. It is a love letter to the resilience of the Filipino. It provides hope and wisdom without the fluff. It is a trip around the world, while emphasizing the real meaning of home and self-worth.
The Expat by Jovelle Fernandez, M.D., Ph.D., is available on https://central.com.ph/ and on Shopee.