Yesterday, I have tried riding in an abra. A taxi-boat cruising along the Dubai creek. Quite shaky due to the waves but somehow the ambiance gives you a glimpse of the old and new facade of the city.
My first week is over but still trying to cope up with homesickness. Nothing beats home. Sigh… My first few days in the office has been the usual stuff. Reading manuals, procedures, policies, etc. I got my network access and email address after four days. But the new laptop assigned to me has not arrived yet; for the mean time I am using a spare unit.
During noon break, I go back to the hotel to have my lunch. I usually cook my meal either in the morning or the night before. Sometimes, I just take cup noodles. Some meals I have tried cooking aside from adobo are menudo and beef steak. For breakfast, I go down to the hotel's coffee shop as part of the package. A buffet meal to start the day. I have also attended the mass last sunday and today for my soul's weekly meal.
This is independent living. You cook your food, eat the food you cook, then wash the dishes you used. Last thursday night, I washed my clothes and earlier today I had fun pressing them. Hmmm…
I stopped counting. Otherwise, I will be forced to provide a daily update. Anyway, I will try to publish a new post as often as I can.
Yesterday, I attended the Sunday mass. It was a mixture of different nationalities. Earlier, I have ironed my clothes. For lunch, I did my first formal cooking through a sumptous chicken adobo. For a very long time, I will be obliged to do these things again. Part of living independently. This weekend, I will be washing my clothes and I am still wondering how to use the washing machine in my kitchen. It is very much different from the simple washing machine we have back in PH.
Everyday is always a first encounter.
I met Zeigh, a former colleague from the sunny company. She is based here working in a sales and marketing company. Around past five, I met them (with her two friends) in a mall near the hotel where I am staying. We went to Jumairah where the famous seven-star hotel and Wild Wadi water resort is located. We took lots of pictures taken from their digital camera and I have some pictures too taken from my cellphone's camera. Unfortunately, I am not yet capable of downloading the pictures since I am still using an internet cafe for my doze of online connection.
We had our dinner at Pizza Hut inside a majestic mall. I forgot the name but I described it as majestic because it is like a small castle that looks like the Hogwarts school of Harry Potter. I was kinda surprized about the waiting number handed over to us from the counter. It beeps with matching LED lights when our order became available.
Last stop, we just strolled and sat in the sand along the open beach. There were a number of people including Pinoys who were taking a dip in the water even on the wee hours of the night. We headed home around past 12 midnight.
I was thankful for a very busy and fun day. Enough to fill-up my tough feelings from the previous day.
The plane touched down at around 4:30 am but I managed to get out of the airport at around 7 am. The hotel service staff who fetched me in the airport has spent almost two hours waiting. There were a lot of people of different nationalities at the immigration counter. This has somewhat caused the delay. Good thing is that I never encountered any problem with my papers.
Since I do not have the local currency, I immediately had my dollar exchanged to dirhams. The amount is enough to buy a local SIM card. I will be using the new number to keep in touch in PH instead of the roaming number.
I had my first breakfast at the hotel which is inclusive of my one month stay. I am staying at Winchester Hotel. Just click the link if you want to have an idea of this place. The rent is so expensive but it is part of my package; but I have to move to a new place after a month.
I went to the grocery before lunch time to buy something for my lunch. I got two cup noodles, milk, mango juice and banana. I also bought a dishwashing liquid but forgot to buy sponge. I will be going back to the grocery store later to get one plus a bottle of water perhaps.
This is it for now. The feeling is tough… very tough… I just keep on praying for more strength and comfort.
I will be leaving on the first bite of hours on Friday - October 12. That means, I have to be in the airport on Thursday night. The test of waiting has ended and a new chapter of my so-called life will commence in the next few days.
The offer to join the new company came around July. Followed by three weeks of waiting for my school authentication. Then another three weeks of waiting for CHED's and DFA's authentication. Another four weeks of waiting for the much-awaited visa. And finally, three days of haggling in POEA and OWWA.
More than four months have passed since the time I left the *sunny company. No regrets… The past four months gave me the chance to experience great pleasures with the people I love. Four months of waking-up and sleeping whenever I want to. Four months of being in control of my own schedule at my own pace. Four months of unlimited TV and internet hours. Four months of grand times.
I will definitely miss playing with Trek and Coleen. Yes, I did enjoy those days sitting down with them to play Slides n' Ladders, KiddiePoly, or simply tickling them to the last breath of their laughters. I had the chance to revisit Baguio, Corregidor, UPLB, Tagaytay, and as far as Lucena in Quezon. The family will still have the monthly grocery trips but this time without me.
Well … no matter what… I have to face this new challenge. No more turning back. This is a manifestation of God's great goodness. And I know, with Him in my side … everything will be in control. Best of luck … keep the faith.
*Borrowed from Ces - ("sunny company")
