Randy Johnson

Name: Randy Johnson
Age: 48
Location: Manila, Philippines
Hometown: North Vancouver
Job: country chairman and general manager, Chevron Philippines Inc.

I moved here because my wife and I had been interested in a foreign assignment for some time. When this opportunity came up in December 2003, we jumped at it.

The first thing I did was spend Christmas on the exotic island of Boracay. New Year’s Eve in Manila was a bizarre night. The fireworks started at about 7 p.m. and went on well past midnight. At any one time we could see hundreds of separate fireworks displays from our suite.

The biggest shock was, without a doubt, the extent of the poverty.

The best thing about being here is being able to travel extensively through Asia Pacific and see so many different countries and cultures. It’s unforgettable. Also, the lifestyle: The cost of labour is so inexpensive that we have many helpers around the house. All of our time is our own to do what we please. I am sure there will be a significant adjustment period when we repatriate.

The biggest challenge has been the business environment. The workplace moves much slower than I was used to. The level of corruption and political instability is very high. As I write this, a curfew has just ended that was a result of a failed coup attempt at the Peninsula Hotel by renegade soldiers, disgruntled by corruption in the government.

What I miss most is boarding and skiing.

The people are very kind, very hospitable and very eager to help. The people that I work with are exceptional.

The standard of living is very privileged for us, but most of the population has a very low standard of living. That has been difficult to adjust to. I knew there would be poverty but did not know the extent until I travelled around the country.

The food is sometimes hard to appreciate. Balut, which is an 18-day-old duck egg, and durian, surely the world’s smelliest fruit, are classic examples.

If I had to do it over again, I would have started the international component of my career earlier. n