A Phenomenological study on the experiences of “parachute kids” from living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to the Philippines

Abstract

The study investigates the experiences of “Parachute kids” as they shift from living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to the Philippines, and how this has affected their identity. This study also aims to determine the coping mechanisms to the effects of parachuting that these individuals have undergone. Filipino “parachute kids” from Saudi Arabia usually have a hard time transitioning from the culture of the place where they used to live to another culture that is, although familiar to them, is still strange in the sense that they have not lived it yet. The sudden shift in the geographical and cultural space has affected the quality of transition of these Filipino students, which could affect their behavior in the long run. Fifteen parachute kids took part in several in-depth interviews with the researcher about their experiences in living in the Philippines, and how they adjust to their new surroundings. The study revealed four main themes in which the different experiences of the Parachute kids revolved around. Cultural identity, migration, process of transition, and difficulties experienced were the main themes that surfaced during the interviews. These reflective accounts, coupled with literary sources, have revealed the essence of the experiences of these Parachute kids as they live in a foreign land.