Why I Left the Philippines? Why I Left Dubai? (Part I)

              I have been working in the Philippines for over ten years but ever since I started to earn a living, a higher salary pay was never my priority. During 2009, the pressure to go abroad doubled. I am contented with my job back then but there was something missing and I want take a bigger risk – A life outside the country.

                So I stopped teaching in October 2010 to give way to another path, a work in Dubai. I went home and stayed in Mindanao for over three and a half months, without work, without pressure, without salary. I was never been helpless throughout my life and I am always forever thankful for my family who supported me at that time of nothingness (hehehe!).

                On January 2011, I left this country for the first time and anticipating never to return sooner than anyone expected. The morning of my Cebu-Hongkong-Dubai flight was nerve wrecking. First international flight and I am doing it all alone. I know I can make it through but I am the kind of person who easily get anxious and nervous if I am beyond my comfort zone.

                I never ate breakfast on that day yet I vomited five times before I leave the house. Good thing my best friend and my father were there to give me strength. It was only that morning that I packed all my things and I got an “award” from my father for being so damn lousy.

                When I was in the airport, nobody advised me that I have to pay a HUGE SUM OF TAX! I end up having P800 left on my wallet. Damn! I was the only person who goes out of the country with less than a thousand in my wallet!

                At immigration, I was interviewed TWICE! But they could not find any fault as all my papers were fully prepared and I have a reputable job here in the Philippines. I don’t need to elaborate my lies (nyahahah!), but honestly they know I will be looking for a job outside the country even though I reasoned out for a quick vacation only (they know better than that!).

                I exhaled when I was inside the Cathay Pacific! The first hurdle in my journey was unchallenging (except for the P800 pocket money! Lol! Which I will need to face later).  After an hour, I arrived at Hongkong Airport and good heavens! Nobody understood me.

                I asked an airport personnel for my connecting flight to Dubai but she could not understand me and we resorted to pointing games! What a crap! The Airport was huge! I have to maze through a lot of entryways and keep on going down to take a train to the next building! (Whew! A train inside the airport! When can we have that in the Philippines? lol)

                When I was in the final inspection point, the security personnel will not let me passed through. He was yammering on something but I could not understand what he was saying. He was pointing down at my pants and I thought it was my cellphone. I took it out in my pocket but he was murmuring again. I dig deeper into my pants and found my keys. I immediately put it on the tray beside my phone and ready to slide it on the conveyor.

                I thought that will satisfy him but his annoyance is clear now. I get nervous as I know how strict the policy in Hongkong. I was looking around desperately trying to asked for help who could understand him. Fortunately, a Pinoy was next in line and whispered that maybe he wants me to take out my jacket.

                 I hurriedly took it off afraid that I will be aggravating the situation and the line was already piling up! I was about to step out when that security personnel was even angrier and already in the midst of shouting! For heaven’s sake! I know he was saying an English word but I don’t understand him! He was pointing again downwards and reprimanding me! I got rattled and it took me minutes to figure it out. And then it hit me, he was asking for my BELT!!! I was in deep amusement taking it off and just held of my laugh for such incident!

                After that he let me passed through! (AT LAST!!) but I promised to myself never to try Hongkong again. It was a nightmare to begin with.

                For the next ten hours, I was inside the plane, twisting and turning in my seat. I don’t know what to do anymore aside from sleeping and eating. Finally I arrived at Dubai after that boring flight, my older brother already brief me of what to do. I directly went for an eye scan, a requirement for every first timer in Dubai. It is for the government to have a record and control for those who are coming to the country.

                The only problem I encountered was when they asked me to open my eyes wider; I could not do so as I have a chinito look (nyahahahha!). Outside the terminal my older brother and his gf met me and had a quick coffee near his place.

                During our ride home, I looked at the columns of the building and I honestly felt and said to my self  “I felt home! This is where I am supposed to be!” but then again I was wrong…