In 2019, Nina Unlay graduated with a master's degree in journalism and landed a job as an entry-level business reporter in London, making $36,000 a year. This was a significant achievement for her, as journalists in her hometown of Manila, Philippines, earn an average annual salary of only $7,000. Despite the lower salary in London, where the median gross annual salary for a full-time employee is about $45,400, Nina was thrilled to have the opportunity to work in her dream city.

A Journey from London to the Heart of Manila

Living the Dream in London

Nina lived in a warehouse conversion with five other Londoners. Their living room was spacious enough to fit a DJ and a hundred dancing people, and their rooftop overlooked Victoria Park. She paid $1,075 a month in rent for her room. In London, she made great friends who were also journalists in flux. They spent their free days having picnics and discovering new parks, and their nights barhopping around East and North London. Nina was in love with the city and enjoyed every moment of her life there. She never felt alone and cherished every morning stroll through Broadway Market, every new café she discovered in Hackney, and every afternoon spent people-watching along the pathways by Regent's Canal.Despite the cost of living in London being 150% higher than in Manila, the salary bump at her new job was enough to greatly improve her quality of living. She had reliable transportation, good air quality, and high healthcare standards. Many of the places she enjoyed, such as markets, museums, and parks, were free to visit. However, she did miss certain things about living in the Philippines, like the reliable presence of the sun, quick getaways to white-sand beaches, and the cheap and delicious food.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Decision to Return

In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, Nina had to make a difficult decision. Just a few days later, she packed her things and was on a flight back to Manila. She knew she needed to be with her family during this challenging time. During the two years she spent in London, she started having an irrational fear that if planes lost the ability to fly, she would never go home again. The pandemic made this fear more real and forced her to choose between building a life around her favorite city or her favorite people.

Back in Manila: A New Chapter

After returning to Manila, Nina shifted to a career working at an advertising and communication agency. She moved into a new apartment and found the person she plans to marry. Her fiancé is a Filipino-American who was born in Virginia and moved to the Philippines when he was 5. Sometimes they consider moving to the US and getting citizenship for Nina. They talk about the possibility of having children and how this might give them better options for their future. But whenever they think about retiring, it is always in the Philippines, in their warm, crowded Manila, in the presence of the people they love most.In Metro Manila, Nina never feels alone. The people here are the city's best part. They make Manila what it is - an imperfect place held up by tape, with good food and people who know how to make the best of a crappy hand. She tries to enjoy the bright sun here, especially when compared to the gray and foggy skies in London. She is grateful to be home and have her loved ones close.