Jinky Oda works as a security personnel in San Francisco, California

Comedianne Jinky Oda is now working as a security personnel in San Francisco, California, nearly four years after she settled in the US.

Jinky appeared in a recent YouTube video with Rufa Mae Quinto and LJ Moreno, sharing how her first years in the United States went. 

“The whole year, culture shock because there were no people. ‘Where were they?’” she said in a mix of English and Filipino. “I didn’t even know my neighbors.”

“Culture shock for a while ‘cause there were no people, no one to talk to,” she added. “I had to adapt the culture. (I thought) ‘This is it.’”

According to Jinky, her first job in the US was an on-call caregiver to an elderly at a time. Later on, she worked in a facility as an activity director in a caregiving facility.

“It was hard. I only accepted one-on-one,” she said. “I had (six months) experience in facilities, when I had my papers. I used my being comedian to make the elders laugh.”

Afterwards, she continued being a “one-on-one” caregiver and met a local security guard.

“He was the one who helped me enter the security office field,” she said, adding that she underwent trainings, which were mostly done on video.

“Just a few trainings then I got my license ‘cause it’s needed,” she added.

According to Jinky, she prayed for a job that wouldn’t be too stressful and got it.

“True enough,” she said. “If I carry a gun, it would be stressful ‘cause you really have to be alert. The job of the security is different from policemen.”

Jinky has been staying in the US for nearly four years and although she didn’t instantly get used to it, the comedian said that's where she got her “breakthrough.”

“I had a car of my own for the first time here,” she said in Filipino.

She added that if she were to go back to the Philippines, it would just be for socializing with friends - nothing else.

“My son is here and everything. My job is good. This is my life so I need to accept it.”

Jinky was popularly known as Bale in the 1989 fantasy series “Okay Ka, Fairy Ko" that starred Vic Sotto and Alice Dixson. Her other shows include “Vampire Ang Daddy Ko” and “Daldalita,” among others. — Franchesca Viernes/LA, GMA News