In this episode, Anna and Razel unpack the infamous "local experience" catch-22. How do you get local experience if no one will hire you without it?! From trying a retail job for the first time, delivering local papers, catalogues and flyers, cooking and fundraising for school community sausage sizzles and bake sales, to helping distribute meals to seniors in the community, we reflect on the stepping-stone gigs that gave us our very first Aussie references (and plenty of core memories).

In this episode:

• 💼 The catch-22 of "local experience" and how migrants navigate it
• 🌭 The strategic power of volunteering and casual gigs
• 🎲 A round of Resume Redact—guessing our weirdest job duties out of context
• 💬 The hidden lessons and resilience behind every survival job

What was your very first or oddest job when you moved to Australia? Slide into our DMs on Instagram or drop a comment below, we’d love to share your stories in an upcoming episode!

Disclaimer:

Just a quick heads-up before we dive in: the stories and opinions we share on Adobo Yarn are based purely on our own personal experiences and lighthearted reflections. We’re not career advisors or legal experts, so if you’re looking for formal migration or employment advice, definitely reach out to qualified professionals. Now, let’s get into the yarn!

Adobo Yarn is our story as Filipinos, navigating the migrant life in Australia. Here, we share stories that resonate. Middle-age (Gen X) wisdom, meno episodes, parenting hacks, unfiltered conversations, hilarious experiences, anecdotes and recipes that brought us comfort when we needed it. From raising babies to now young adults, and navigating the labyrinth that is Australia. Join the conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - Adobo Yarn Podcast

Follow Anna on Instagram Adobo Down Under

Follow Razel on Instagram In Season Today

Music: Bass and Claps by Anastacia Chubarova from Pixabay

In Episode 37 of Adobo Yarn, hosts Anna and Razel sit down with educator and founder Armak "Mak" Limitares to explore what it really takes to reinvent yourself across borders.

Mak spent years teaching English, Science and Math in Japan before relocating to Australia, landing in the midst of the global COVID lockdowns. Facing an unpredictable landscape arriving as an international student, Mak channeled his background in education into launching an online tutoring platform based in Sydney, turning an unprecedented disruption into a thriving business.

In this episode, we unpack:

• The reality of navigating relocation, lockdowns, and rebuilding a career from scratch in Australia.
• How teaching across three different countries (the Philippines, Japan, and Australia) shapes cross-cultural intelligence.
• The "migrant mindset"—how adaptability and resourcefulness drive entrepreneurship.

Whether you're a skilled migrant navigating a career transition, an educator looking to shift online, or anyone facing a pivot of your own, Mak’s story is a powerful reminder of how skills translate beyond borders.

Join the conversation and share how this episode resonates with you! Do you

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests on Adobo Yarn are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated organisations, employers, or educational institutions. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional financial, legal, or career advice. Mention of specific products, tutoring services, or business platforms does not constitute an endorsement.

Adobo Yarn is our story as Filipinos, navigating the migrant life in Australia. Here, we share stories that resonate. Middle-age (Gen X) wisdom, meno episodes, parenting hacks, unfiltered conversations, hilarious experiences, anecdotes and recipes that brought us comfort when we needed it. From raising babies to now young adults, and navigating the labyrinth that is Australia. Join the conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - Adobo Yarn Podcast

Follow Anna on Instagram Adobo Down Under

Follow Razel on Instagram In Season Today

Music: Bass and Claps by Anastacia Chubarova from Pixabay

We’re back! After a cozy winter hiatus, Anna and Razel return to the mic in time to celebrate Buwan ng Wika, and yes it is officially Spring down under!

In this comeback episode, we dive into the results of our Instagram poll to celebrate the Filipino words that are uniquely ours. The untranslatable, emotion-packed phrases that carry the weight of home. As migrants living in Australia, language takes on a whole new meaning. We share what happens when our "Filipino radar" goes off in a crowded Woolies aisle or at a concert, the art of the subtle "Filipino nod," and whether we actually walk up to strangers to say "Kamusta, kabayan!"

Join us as we reflect on language as the culture we carry with us, and why hearing familiar words hits differently when you're thousands of miles away. And you'll hear Anna's version of her ancestral Batangueno accent!

In this episode, we talk about:

• Uniquely Filipino Words: Decoding fan favorites from our IG poll and a Tourism PH UK post (how do you explain gigil to an Aussie co-worker?).
• The Migrant Ear: Overhearing Tagalog in public and the comfort of finding kababayans in unexpected places.
• Culture in Conversation: Why preserving our native language keeps us rooted, even as we build a life abroad.

Join the conversation! What's your favourite Filipino word, or better yet, let us know what Filipino word makes you feel closest to home? And leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode!

Disclaimer:

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of any employers, organisations, or affiliated institutions. Content provided on Adobo Yarn is for entertainment and informational purposes only.

Adobo Yarn is our story as Filipinos, navigating the migrant life in Australia. Here, we share stories that resonate. Middle-age (Gen X) wisdom, meno episodes, parenting hacks, unfiltered conversations, hilarious experiences, anecdotes and recipes that brought us comfort when we needed it. From raising babies to now young adults, and navigating the labyrinth that is Australia. Join the conversation!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - Adobo Yarn Podcast

Follow Anna on Instagram Adobo Down Under

Follow Razel on Instagram In Season Today

Music: Bass and Claps by Anastacia Chubarova from Pixabay