Life in a Suitcase

Isang araw, galing sa Egyptian Embassy sa Dubai, naisipan kong dumaan sa BurJuman (isa sa malalaking malls sa Dubai) para magkape habang hinihintay ‘yung release ng visa. Walking distance lang ‘yung BurJuman from Egyptian Embassy, ‘yun nga lang ang hirap tumawid sa kino-construct pa lang na metro station dun. One day lang ang release ng visa for Egypt, submit mo sa umaga, makukuha mo na sa hapon. So para hindi naman nakatulala dun sa loob ng embassy, kape-kape muna.

Habang nasa starbucks, nagbabasa ng newspaper at pinapatagal ‘yung kapeng iniinom ko kahit medyo malamig na, may dumaan na isang pinay. Nagkatinginan kami na parang magkakilala, sabay “hi”. Nag-order siya ng take-out pero dumaan ulit sa harap ko.

“Pwedeng maki-upo”
“Ok, lang, basta wag dito sa inuupuan ko na, haha”

Ooops..teka lang, kung anuman 'yung iniisip mong magiging ending nito, mali 'yun, hehe...

Hinihintay daw niya ‘yung kuya nya kaya kung pwede makipagkwentuhan para di mainip. Sabi ok lang kasi nagpapalipas din lang ako ng oras.

“Nag-aapply ka “, tanong nya sa’kin, may dala kasi akong folder.

“Ah hindi, meron na kong trabaho, ganito, blah blah blah” sabi ko.

"Buti ka pa", sabi niya. "Ako nag-aapply pa lang kasi, ‘dami ko ng pinagbigyan ng CV ko. Ang hirap pala dito sa Dubai. Pangalawang visit visa ko na wala pa ‘kong nahahanap na trabaho. Ang liliit ng mga offer. Dami na naming nagastos".

"Buti na lang nga andito ‘yung kuya ko. S'ya yung nagdala sa’kin ditto. Sa hotel sya nagta-trabaho. Maliit lang din ang sweldo pero ok naman. Nakikituloy nga ako sa kanila eh bed space lang din ‘yung tinutuluyan nya, anim sila sa room, nakakahiya tuloy, ilang buwan na rin ako dun, buti na lang din hindi pa nagre-reklamo yung landlady".

"Kawawa nga ‘yung kuya ko eh, minsan tuloy hindi na nakakapagpadala sa pinas. Sya pa naman ang breadwinner dun".

Naputol ang litanya dahil biglang tumunog ang phone niya. May nag-text. Nilabas niya ‘yung phone niya, N95…

Padating na daw ‘yung kuya nya, ni-reply nya para sumunod sa starbucks.

Wala pang 10 minutes, dumating na ‘yung kuya. Nag-order ng kape and as usual, parehong litanya tungkol sa hirap ng buhay sa Dubai, mahal ng renta sa bedspace, mahal ng bilihin, maliit na sweldo, hindi nakakaipon, may loan, simot ang credit card at hindi na nakakapagpadala minsan.

Sa tagal ng pakikinig ko sa sentimiento ng magkapatid, oras na pala para bumalik ako sa Egyptian Embassy. Nagpaalam na ko. Sabi nila, kung free daw ako minsan, sumama naman daw ako gumimik, madalas daw sila sa Chikka Grill. Naisip ko bigla, ang hirap nga pala talaga ng buhay sa Dubai.

Hindi ako maka-oo, so sabi ko, kunin na lang nila ‘yung number ko, at kung nasa Dubai ako at available din lang, susunod ako kung sa’n sila mag-invite.

Binigay ko yung number ko, at ‘yung kuya, para ma-save ko din daw ‘yung number nya, nag-miss call sa’kin….from his Iphone.

Ikaw, gusto mo din bang magtrabaho sa Dubai??? Mahirap daw….

Travel light...yan ang palagi kong advice sa sarili ko para relax and buong journey, kaya lang hindi pa rin maiwasan na may mga pang-asar na dumadating:

Nakapila pa lang sa luggage x-ray, bakit binabangga ako ng trolley nung mamang nasa likod ko...makuha ka sa isang tingin.

Bagong biling luggage, matagal pinag-isipan kung papatulan yung presyo, ok napag-desisyunan na bilihin at gamitin na, paglabas sa x-ray, lalagyan ng sticker (baggage checked) na napakahirap tanggalin. Pero matatanggal din, maiiwan nga lang yung pandikit nito.

Check-in...mahaba ang pila. Lipat ako sa kabila, yung iniwanan kong pila, biglang bibilis. Kasi 'yung nilipatan ko, biglang may pasaherong may problema sa visa, reservation, etc. Kulang pa 'yun, aalis pa yung counter clerk para ipa-check sa supervisor nila yung problema. Di ba pwedeng yung supervisor na lang yung lumapit?

Para mabilis ang check-in, iipit ko 'yung e-ticket ko sa passport page na may visa ng bansang pupuntahan ko, huhugutin ng clerk 'yung ticket, magpi-pindot sa computer at tatanungin ako, "saan dito yung visa mo?"

Aisle seat please...

Passport control...pila ulit, wag na lang lumipat kasi dalawa lang ang mangyayari, yung aalisan ko bibilis, yung lilipatan ko babagal.

Salamat at may E-gate na sa UAE.

X-ray ulit- ang tagal matapos nung nauna sa'kin, kasi hindi sya ready, tunog ng tunog 'yung sensor, hanggang sa pinaalis na pati sapatos...

Ako naman..para ready, alisin na yung watch, wallet, coins, susi, belt...alam ko na 'yan, ready na ko lagi. Pero minsan, ilang beses akong pinabalik ng security sa sensor door kasi tunog ako ng tunog, according to my checklist, inalis ko na lahat ng mga tumutunog. Syempre, naasar na rin 'yung mga sumusunod sa'kin. Ganti-gantihan lang. Cuff links pala...tumutunog din pala, ngeh...

Boarding..."We are now boarding all passengers assigned in Zones E&F", biglang nagtakbuhan lahat ng pasahero (lalo na 'yung mga...ay wag na lang pala sabihin kung taga-saan). Hindi na ko makikigulo, mauna na kayo. Di naman aalis 'yung eroplano ng di ako kasama.

Sa loob na ng aircraft...may nanunulak na naman, mauna ka na nga...please!

15C, aisle seat as requested. 12.....13.....14....15....puno na ang overhead compartment. Ok lang pwede naman "under the seat infront of you"... "Sir nasa may emergency exit po kayo, di pwedeng naka-block 'yung passage". Bakit naka-block ba?

15C, aisle seat as requested. 12.....13.....14....15....C...may nakaupo na. "Excuse me, that is my seat". Sagot niya "I know" (asar lalo da'ba?), I am with my family, we like to seat together". Ok, sana sinabi mo 'yan nung nagche-check-in ka pa lang...

Flight attendant with a smile (kahit asar na rin), "sir I'll find you another seat". Pasalamat ako syempre, kahit napunta ko between aisle seat and window seat...buntong-hininga na lang...

"We will be happy to serve you hot food in a short while". Kawawa naman 'yung mga flight attendants, sa isang kisap-mata, biglang mga naka-apron na, nakangiti pa rin, at magse-serve na ng pagkain. Tagal dumating sa'kin. And finally "Chicken with pasta or beef with rice, sir?". I'll have chicken...FA checks and says "sorry sir, no more chicken"....ang sarap ng beef.

During the flight, pag gustong mag-CR ng nsa window seat, tatayo ako...pag gusto ko mag-CR, tatayo rin yung nsa aisle seat.

Nasa CR. Merong tulak ng tulak ng pinto eh nakalagay na nga "occupied" kulay red pa.

Landing.."Please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until the aircraft has come to a complete stop". Ewan ko ba kung bakit ang hirap intindihin ng pangungusap na yan...

And finally, out of the aircraft...buntong hininga ulit at pasalamat na nalagpasan lahat ng pagsubok...

Sabay litaw ng angel dela guardia "hindi ka pa tapos, may immigration procedures pa"....

Isa pa, bakit parang luggage ko yata 'yung palaging huling lumalabas...?

Marami pa, kung meron kang ibang naranasan na pang-asar, dagdag mo na lang....

Losing my weekend again as I have to fly this afternoon (Friday) to Dammam. I can’t remember when was the last time I had a proper weekend (Friday/Saturday in the UAE). The thing is, tomorrow, Saturday, is the start of working day in Saudi Arabia so I have to start working too. The morning of Friday is spent preparing the things I need for this trip.

Actually, I had a choice to fly tomorrow instead so I at least have the whole Friday to rest but I can’t find a flight, every airline going to Dammam is full. I wonder why. Even today, I can’t get a flight with my favorite airlines, I mean the airlines where I can accumulate miles with. My travel agent found me a flight via Air Arabia, a budget airline that flies from Sharjah. This is the first time I am taking a return flight from this airline and I realized how much savings I made for my company for this choice. Emirates Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines charges AED2,500 (USD676) for the same flight while Air Arabia is only AED830 (USD224). Super savings!!!

At the moment they already have flights to middle east, India and Pakistan, and more. I just hope they start a flight to Manila soon para naman matulungan ang mga kababayan natin na umuuwi sa Pinas or nagbabakasyon na hindi sinasagot ng mga employers nila ang ticket, or yung mga binibigyan ng cash value of the ticket at bahala ka na kung sa’ng airline ka lilipad. Malaking tulong ‘yun para sa mga pinoys dito sa UAE.

You brought something fragile as a pasalubong. Did you write "handle with care" in your luggage? Yeah right! Did you think somebody's got the time to read that. I took this video while waiting for a flight in Dubai airport. All I know is that the luggage that was thrown the hardest wasn't mine.

Being connected with a French company, I wonder if they do give Christmas bonuses to their employees. Tanong lang naman, no expectations.

Thinking about it again, the bonus that I already got from my current job is something not material. Mas maganda siguro sabihin "less material". It is something that I learned that continuously gives me more benefit over the years than just a lump sum at the end of the year.

Here it goes...

From the time I needed to leave Doha for this new assignment, I had to pack my things to come back to UAE. I can't definitely bring everything with me. 5 years in Doha made me accumulate a lot of "I want one of those" things na hindi ko naman kailangan. To cut the story short, I needed to decide and keep only what I really need, and believe me, there were plenty of things in my cabinet that I bought and never really used, and don't plan to use anyway. I had to put those in good use so I gave them away to my friends, neighbors, cleaners, etc and I saw how happy they were receiving these mostly unused things.

It also gave me the opportunity to also close my credit card (finally isa na lang that time).

With this and with all the travellings, I realized that I can "live on a minimum". I certainly don't need all my 20 denim pants, 10 jackets, 7 towels, di mabilang na shirts and all the bottle of perfumes na tagko-konti(tagalog 'yan) na lang ang laman. Now, I only have mostly what I need and before buying, tatanungin ko muna ang sarili ko kung "kailangan ba kita talaga kaya kita bibilhin, o bibilhin kita dahil kailangan kita???", LOL. Ok, honestly sometimes I really can't avoid buying a new t-shirt every now and then, I know I don't need a lot of t-shirts pero I can say na ito na lang ang pinaka-bisyo ko. When I see a new t-shirt and it fits well, bili na agad.

But wait, hindi ko naman tinatago for so many years in my wardrobe 'yun. Once in a while, pag walang magawa, nire-review ko yung wardrobe ko para alisin yung mga hindi ko na kailangan at pinapamigay ko naman. Pati security guard ng building namin nakikinabang. So mga friends, wait lang kayo. Before end of this month, end of the year na rin, I'll do another inventory to clear my stocks, LOl, para mas clear ang pagpasok ng 2009. Ako pala ang mamimigay ng Christmas bonus.

Anyway, this for me is really a great bonus. The ability to live on a minimum. The fact that I can fit things in my luggage and still live comfortably for a period of time. It made my life lighter, "less material" and less expensive too. In other words "HAPPY".

Nissan Altima 2009 Silver

I fell in love with her the first time I saw her...

Ang porma, great options, keyless ignition...and more. Sabi ko kaagad, I want one of those, LOL...kaya lang wala pang driving license sa UAE.

I have been thinking what car to buy and considering few options plus some friends recommendations. The fact is, I only live in UAE for like 1 week in a month, so getting a really expensive car is not practical at all. Besides my bro-in-law already drives his own 4WD so our transportation problem is reduced. I have been checking this cool site. Friends in the UAE and the middle east who wants to shop cars, check prices and specs, read reviews, be it brand new or used, just click here.

So what I really NEED (but I wanted the Altima) is just a car to move around UAE at times. I have a home office and the only thing I need out are some admin things like visa's, air tickets, paying the bills, buying supplies, collecting my salary check (once a month of course), visiting our stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and that's all. The rest of my personal businesses are just a walk away from our flat in Sharjah.

Probably rent-a-car will be a better option. Just rent it whenever I need (and choose different model everytime) so I don't get stuck with a bad debt. Getting a loan is not good for my cash flow, LOL...cash will be flowing out...

Yesterday, as my bro-in-law's passenger on the way home from Dubai, I spotted this black Toyota Yaris completely tinted and I said, that looks cool...and half the price of Altima...




so, I don't know yet. Got to get my driving license first. ENSHALLAH!!!

Ever been worried about something not worrying about?

I can say this is one of my strengths, patient and less worried. Mahirap minsan. It is one of our emotional responses, mag-worry. I have read below lines sometime somewhere before. Too bad I wasn't able to note the author's name, but these lines are good to read on, print and stick on your office desk, near your bed and anywhere you might think it will be useful to reduce all those wrinkes...LOL...

Why Worry….
Most of the things you worry about are not worth the time and trouble
you take to worry. And all that needless worry distracts you from other, more productive, creative and joyful things you could be doing.

With every worry also comes the option to let it go. You can feel the worry, see it for what it is, and then choose to immediately walk
away from it.

As soon as you do, your mind becomes vastly more clear and more focused. Your spirit experiences a glorious refreshment.

When your mind is filled with worry, just imagine how wonderful it would be to have that heavy burden lifted clean away. Imagine it, and
then choose the simple act of doing it.

Choose to walk away from worry, and lift that burden from yourself. In a moment, your worry can be gone.

Breathe in the sweet, refreshing air of freedom, clarity and effectiveness. Walk away from worry, and walk forward with positive purpose.

Walang madaling paraan!!!

I thought I had an edge for owning a Qatar’s driving license and I drove for almost 4 years in Qatar. Siguro malas lang ako, kasi nung dumating ako dito sa UAE in November 2007, rules have changed na daw, at kahit may gulf license ka, you still have to go to the driving school and pass the required tests. For a gulf license holder, ang advantage mo lang eh you only take half the number of classes. Instead of 40 classes, 20 lang. And then, you also need to attend lectures, pass the signal test, parking test, and finally the road test.

I registered sa Emirates Driving Institute, hindi dahil sa ‘yun ang preferred school ko, kundi dahil ‘yun ang alam nung taxi driver na sinakyan ko. It was a good choice (choice ba ‘yun?) anyway kasi professional sila. At least on my experience, mababait yung mga instructors na nagturo sa’kin (hindi pala nagturo, kasi, kwentuhan lang kami while I drive…medyo may konting tips din). Even the lecture rooms are better.

I registered since April 2008 pero dahil I’m always out of UAE, di ko matapos-tapos ‘yung 20 lessons ko.

Isa pang malas, they changed the rule sometime mid this year again saying that gulf license holder can go directly to road test. If you fail, then you get some classes. Well, fair enough. I went to EDI administration to check if I can do the same and I was told that I was covered by the rule when I registered in April…grrrrrrrr…ok, tapusin ang 20 lessons, anyway bayad na ‘yun.

One time I had no travel schedule for almost 2 weeks, nilagare ko and finally got a schedule for signal and parking test.

It was easy. I passed. But it’s not over yet. Road test ang pinaka-importante and to what I heard, nobody passes the first try. My first test was on 26 November. Syempre, FAILED!!! I can’t figure out what I did wrong, but yes, it was my first. The worse part is that when you fail, you need to pay another 8 classes and the new road test.

I was okay not to pass because I already knew the never ending stories about this subject. What I can’t take is that the first guy who drove the car passed the test while he keeps on horning on pedestrians and he was driving too close to the right side of the road. There was a point that he stopped suddenly because a pedestrian was crossing, blew his horn and it was the examiner who pressed the hazard signal. It was his 4th try, so maybe that’s enough for him.

This morning I went back to the school to get a new road test schedule. Ready with my cash, I proceeded to the cashier and was surprised to find out that they increased the lessons to AED100 per class. I blew AED900 (800 for 8 lessons and 100 for road test), about PHP11,000, a price I need to pay for failing for no reasons at all.

Larry, my bro-in-law passed on his 8th try…congratulations. He doesn’t want to remember how much he ever spent to get this GOLDEN card. For more horror, or rather funny stories about getting a driving license in the UAE, click here.

My next road test is on 29 December…will it be a happy new year for me…ABANGAN!!!