I moved to Sharjah to be near work. Wanting my own room was a minor factor albeit what I got was a partition. It’s also cheaper to rent in Sharjah considering it is adjacent to pricey Dubai. Of course, I miss my room mates. They are my adopted sisters in Dubai. We got along superbly that there grew a bond among us. Like sisters, we shared whatever we have, even secrets.
I should’ve been happier since I got my own space and I have privacy but just less than four months and I moved again. I was feeling lonely in that room. The landlord won’t replace the washing machine that keeps breaking down. The airconditioner in my room is also in the same state as the washing machine. There were a lot of cockroaches despite the pesticide applied just before I moved in. I had nothing in common with the other girls living in the apartment. The room failed to become the haven I sought it to be.
So, I moved in with my friend and former room mate when she moved to Sharjah. She found a perfect room in an apartment and we immediately got comfortable and settled after a month. Soon after, our friend and former room mate joined us. It felt like a reunion with my sisters. Then the nagging issue about the centralized airconditioner came up that became the reason for our eviction.
We found a room just two buildings away from where we were staying. By stroke of miscommunication, the truck we booked got cancelled on the day of our move. We ended up lugging stuff to and fro the new apartment under the hot Middle East sun. Bless my boyfriend and his SUV for rescuing us for the stuff we definitely couldn’t carry.
It has been almost three months now since we last moved and we’re still there. So far, there are no issues to speak of, no witches and bitches to occupy our chat sessions, and everything in the apartment works as they should. Looks like we’ll be staying for a long time.
It’s full of hassle to move around especially when possessions accummulate. When I arrived last year, I only had a hand-carry and a jumbo cargo box. The first time I moved, I carried with me the jumbo cargo box plus three suitcases and some eight extra-large shopping bags. In my next move, I had all those plus a rice cooker, a steam iron, a mattress, and a portable clothesline.
As I said in my previous blog, moving is okay if it means moving forward. The ultimate goal while working here is to preserve sanity and self-respect, and live decently. Never mind all that fuss.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
From One Nest to the Next
I like moving but only if it means moving forward. When I came over to Dubai, it was a forward career move in terms of expanding my horizons even if I started back as a junior in marketing…understandably so. Everybody here no matter how much experience one has will not matter to veterans. As far as they’re concerned, you have to prove yourself before they consider promoting you.
Right! Apparently, it also applies to finding my comfortable living space and so far, I moved three times in a span of 16 months. Back home, I had my own room, my own bed and, I was surounded by my own stuff. Lots of comfort there. When I arrived in Dubai I had to be a bedspacer and it was all I could afford because living space is just way too expensive. When I rented a one-bedroom condo unit with a friend in the heart of central business district in the Philippines, we were paying about AED 800 per month. In Dubai, I was paying AED 650 per month as a bedspacer. Fortunately for me, my first time as a bedspacer was pleasant. I lived with a Filipino father and son and their partners. Each couple has their own space. I stayed with a friend in a room and it happened we were the first inhabitants of a more or less 24 square meter room. The room can cram six people on three double deck beds, each to share a closet which I think is good for one, and space enough to make a beeline to our own beds. I lived there for about nine months and when I left, there were five girls living in which now looked like a tenement. The lower decks were curtained off to provide privacy and a semblance of owning a room. Each deck also houses personal stuff accummulated over time like bags, utility shelves, hair dryers, hair irons, laptops, etc. while leaving space to lie on for sleeping.
It was getting stuffy for me so I left Dubai and moved to Sharjah for two reasons. One was I needed to be nearer to work and the other was to have my own room even by paying AED 100 more. Well, more like my own space since the room I got was actually a partition…a living room walled off to make up another room in a two-bedroom unit. Like my previous accommodation, I can freely use the washing machine, put food in the refrigerator and, use the kitchen stove and kitchen paraphernalia for cooking.
I wasn’t totally happy to live in that partition so when my friend invited me to share a real room, I moved in with her after about four months. My living conditions were getting better now even if my rent increased by AED 300 more. I still have all the creature comforts and I even get to watch cable from our landlord’s TV. The only problem was the whole flat has centralized air conditioning and the landlord controls when it is on or off. That really became a problem for us despite our request not to turn it off while we’re still in the room. We told them we will turn it off before leaving for work. Our reasonable request fell on deaf ears and by chance, our landlady overheard our nasty talks about them. That earned us an untimely eviction and most unfortunate for me, it fell on my birthday. So, we haven’t even enjoyed living there for three months and we found ourselves looking for another place to stay.
We spent a week searching for a new place and we were forced to take a room two days before our eviction. The room happens to be bigger than our last, the flat also has centralized air conditioning but the other residents are totally respectable on not turning off the air conditioning while someone is still in the house. We’re paying AED 2,200 for the room per month. It’s still walking distance from work and every now and again, we can catch someone’s wi-fi signal and use it for free.
Thus, so far, my experience of moving from one accommodation to another has always been a move to a better living space although hassle-full. I also realized that it’s really not the place I come home to that can de-stress me but the company I have. Going home to people I get along very well with, laugh my heart out with, chat the night away with, or talk about the future with can be totally relaxing and give me a much needed fitful sleep. Moving is not as simple as it sounds so let me share that in my next blog.
Right! Apparently, it also applies to finding my comfortable living space and so far, I moved three times in a span of 16 months. Back home, I had my own room, my own bed and, I was surounded by my own stuff. Lots of comfort there. When I arrived in Dubai I had to be a bedspacer and it was all I could afford because living space is just way too expensive. When I rented a one-bedroom condo unit with a friend in the heart of central business district in the Philippines, we were paying about AED 800 per month. In Dubai, I was paying AED 650 per month as a bedspacer. Fortunately for me, my first time as a bedspacer was pleasant. I lived with a Filipino father and son and their partners. Each couple has their own space. I stayed with a friend in a room and it happened we were the first inhabitants of a more or less 24 square meter room. The room can cram six people on three double deck beds, each to share a closet which I think is good for one, and space enough to make a beeline to our own beds. I lived there for about nine months and when I left, there were five girls living in which now looked like a tenement. The lower decks were curtained off to provide privacy and a semblance of owning a room. Each deck also houses personal stuff accummulated over time like bags, utility shelves, hair dryers, hair irons, laptops, etc. while leaving space to lie on for sleeping.
It was getting stuffy for me so I left Dubai and moved to Sharjah for two reasons. One was I needed to be nearer to work and the other was to have my own room even by paying AED 100 more. Well, more like my own space since the room I got was actually a partition…a living room walled off to make up another room in a two-bedroom unit. Like my previous accommodation, I can freely use the washing machine, put food in the refrigerator and, use the kitchen stove and kitchen paraphernalia for cooking.
I wasn’t totally happy to live in that partition so when my friend invited me to share a real room, I moved in with her after about four months. My living conditions were getting better now even if my rent increased by AED 300 more. I still have all the creature comforts and I even get to watch cable from our landlord’s TV. The only problem was the whole flat has centralized air conditioning and the landlord controls when it is on or off. That really became a problem for us despite our request not to turn it off while we’re still in the room. We told them we will turn it off before leaving for work. Our reasonable request fell on deaf ears and by chance, our landlady overheard our nasty talks about them. That earned us an untimely eviction and most unfortunate for me, it fell on my birthday. So, we haven’t even enjoyed living there for three months and we found ourselves looking for another place to stay.
We spent a week searching for a new place and we were forced to take a room two days before our eviction. The room happens to be bigger than our last, the flat also has centralized air conditioning but the other residents are totally respectable on not turning off the air conditioning while someone is still in the house. We’re paying AED 2,200 for the room per month. It’s still walking distance from work and every now and again, we can catch someone’s wi-fi signal and use it for free.
Thus, so far, my experience of moving from one accommodation to another has always been a move to a better living space although hassle-full. I also realized that it’s really not the place I come home to that can de-stress me but the company I have. Going home to people I get along very well with, laugh my heart out with, chat the night away with, or talk about the future with can be totally relaxing and give me a much needed fitful sleep. Moving is not as simple as it sounds so let me share that in my next blog.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Finally, Eid Al Fitr
The Corniche Road in Sharjah during Eid Al Fitr when all the Muslims are in the Mosque praying. The Mosque is just further down to the left.
The Corniche Road on a normal day.
Eid Mubarak!
That’s like saying Merry Christmas to Muslims. Yes, September 30, 2008 marked Ramadan to be finally over and after a month of fasting, things go back to normal. Alleluia to that because people didn’t know when Eid Al Fitr really was unless a certain committee announces that they finally saw the moon. Everybody was hanging on a balance on whether they should go to work the next day or not. I found out some time in the evening over the radio.
Being a Catholic in a Muslim country entails a lot of adjustments. Weekends are Fridays and Saturdays because Friday is their holy day. I don’t have a choice where to attend mass because there is only one Catholic Church in Dubai and only one in Sharjah…I’m not sure about the other five emirates. The holidays are based on the Muslim calendar and the holidays depend a lot on the moon, for some reason. Ramadan doesn’t have a fixed schedule unlike our Christmas which will always be on December 25, with or without the moon.
I don’t mind “cooperating” during Muslim holidays. The holy month of Ramadan has its good and not-so good bad sides to it but they're all livable, tolerable and do-able
Muslims fast during this month and so all cafés and restaurants are closed during the day and only open after sunset. The rest of the people have to be discreet when they eat, drink or chew gum. Some restaurants are open but they draw their shades down so people can’t see other people eating inside. What I found disgruntling was when my boyfriend and I went out to have dinner at an Italian restaurant in this area called Al Qasba in Sharjah. I wanted a pizza and was told that I had to wait til 8:30 pm when the other chef arrives because it’s Ramadan and some of their staff come in after Iftar (breaking of the fast). I think that a good restaurant manager would have planned these things out. An Italian restaurant not being able to serve pizza upon demand? Anyways, I got my pizza upon the logical resonance of my boyfriend to the staff.
Work is shorter by two hours. Most offices operate from 9 am til 3 pm without lunch break like in the holding company I work for now. In the retail company where I used to work, they operate from 10 am til 2pm with one hour lunch break and then resume from 5 pm til 10 pm. The no-lunch-break issue was hard to do at first. By the end of the month, I was well adjusted to eating lunch at 3:30 in the afternoon instead of the usual 12 noon. What I’m particularly happy about it is I also lost a few inches in the process.
The down-side of fasting is motorists tend to have road rage or they are more prone to car accidents. Feeling hunger in the middle of traffic is not a welcoming feeling, after all.
Nonetheless, I admire the Muslims' observance of Ramadan. It is the period when they deprive themselves not only of food but other comforts as well. I heard that people in romantic relationships are not encouraged to see each other. Alcohol is not served (except in Dubai) and there is no playing of loud music in clubs. This is also the time they practice to be more generous. Retail shops show their participation by giving big discounts like 50% off or they do buy-1-take-1 promos.
That’s like saying Merry Christmas to Muslims. Yes, September 30, 2008 marked Ramadan to be finally over and after a month of fasting, things go back to normal. Alleluia to that because people didn’t know when Eid Al Fitr really was unless a certain committee announces that they finally saw the moon. Everybody was hanging on a balance on whether they should go to work the next day or not. I found out some time in the evening over the radio.
Being a Catholic in a Muslim country entails a lot of adjustments. Weekends are Fridays and Saturdays because Friday is their holy day. I don’t have a choice where to attend mass because there is only one Catholic Church in Dubai and only one in Sharjah…I’m not sure about the other five emirates. The holidays are based on the Muslim calendar and the holidays depend a lot on the moon, for some reason. Ramadan doesn’t have a fixed schedule unlike our Christmas which will always be on December 25, with or without the moon.
I don’t mind “cooperating” during Muslim holidays. The holy month of Ramadan has its good and not-so good bad sides to it but they're all livable, tolerable and do-able
Muslims fast during this month and so all cafés and restaurants are closed during the day and only open after sunset. The rest of the people have to be discreet when they eat, drink or chew gum. Some restaurants are open but they draw their shades down so people can’t see other people eating inside. What I found disgruntling was when my boyfriend and I went out to have dinner at an Italian restaurant in this area called Al Qasba in Sharjah. I wanted a pizza and was told that I had to wait til 8:30 pm when the other chef arrives because it’s Ramadan and some of their staff come in after Iftar (breaking of the fast). I think that a good restaurant manager would have planned these things out. An Italian restaurant not being able to serve pizza upon demand? Anyways, I got my pizza upon the logical resonance of my boyfriend to the staff.
Work is shorter by two hours. Most offices operate from 9 am til 3 pm without lunch break like in the holding company I work for now. In the retail company where I used to work, they operate from 10 am til 2pm with one hour lunch break and then resume from 5 pm til 10 pm. The no-lunch-break issue was hard to do at first. By the end of the month, I was well adjusted to eating lunch at 3:30 in the afternoon instead of the usual 12 noon. What I’m particularly happy about it is I also lost a few inches in the process.
The down-side of fasting is motorists tend to have road rage or they are more prone to car accidents. Feeling hunger in the middle of traffic is not a welcoming feeling, after all.
Nonetheless, I admire the Muslims' observance of Ramadan. It is the period when they deprive themselves not only of food but other comforts as well. I heard that people in romantic relationships are not encouraged to see each other. Alcohol is not served (except in Dubai) and there is no playing of loud music in clubs. This is also the time they practice to be more generous. Retail shops show their participation by giving big discounts like 50% off or they do buy-1-take-1 promos.
Considering all these, is Ramadan a good or bad experience for me? Well, it's a yes and a no, but I sure welcome Eid Al Fitr!
Monday, September 29, 2008
The 10 Dos & Don’ts Working in UAE
I’ve been briefed what it’s like to work in UAE. I was skeptic at first because one of them was “don’t give your all because it won’t be appreciated.” Then I found myself shocked how true it was. Well, I was frustrated at first. Then I realized that my friend wasn’t trying to lead me on so, I began to heed all I was told. Here they are and I’ve added things I’ve learned along the way:
1. Do meet bullies head on. Bullies abound at work. Martyrs are persecuted over here.
2. Do be ready with signed documents or emails. People around you will always lie to save their ass. Be ready to defend yourself with hard evidence. Never rely on verbal agreements.
3. Do your job exeptionally well. If you want to do more than your job description, don’t expect to get well compensated. Expect more work at the same rate you’re getting but most probably you’re being passed on somebody else’s job.
4. Do practice effective communication. It may mean speaking their language (i.e. simple sentences using simple English words) combined with body language. People here can speak English but their vocabulary is limited.
5. Do learn the local language. You may want to know if they’re already conniving against you.
6. Don’t divulge everything you know.
7. Don’t smile too much at male co-workers or it will be misconstrued as liking them romantically. Try to keep a firm face instead.
8. Don’t settle for a less package at the negotiation table. Most local companies here will not give you a raise and you’ll be stuck with your package for as long as you’re with them.
9. Don’t talk to strangers. It’s common for men to call the lady’s attention. They only want to get laid. 99.9% of them are either married or has a fiance back home.
10. Lastly, don’t let anything put you down. Be self-motivated and be self-inspired. Be happy.
1. Do meet bullies head on. Bullies abound at work. Martyrs are persecuted over here.
2. Do be ready with signed documents or emails. People around you will always lie to save their ass. Be ready to defend yourself with hard evidence. Never rely on verbal agreements.
3. Do your job exeptionally well. If you want to do more than your job description, don’t expect to get well compensated. Expect more work at the same rate you’re getting but most probably you’re being passed on somebody else’s job.
4. Do practice effective communication. It may mean speaking their language (i.e. simple sentences using simple English words) combined with body language. People here can speak English but their vocabulary is limited.
5. Do learn the local language. You may want to know if they’re already conniving against you.
6. Don’t divulge everything you know.
7. Don’t smile too much at male co-workers or it will be misconstrued as liking them romantically. Try to keep a firm face instead.
8. Don’t settle for a less package at the negotiation table. Most local companies here will not give you a raise and you’ll be stuck with your package for as long as you’re with them.
9. Don’t talk to strangers. It’s common for men to call the lady’s attention. They only want to get laid. 99.9% of them are either married or has a fiance back home.
10. Lastly, don’t let anything put you down. Be self-motivated and be self-inspired. Be happy.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Cultural Shock
Talk about culture shocks. I once went out with an Egyptian. I met up with him to talk about the commercial establishment in which he was the engineer-in-charge and I was interested to secure a shop space for my employer. To cut the long story short, I went out with him that night and he took me to Jumeirah beach. We just walked along the shore and we talked about his life before the divorce.
It was my most hilarious date ever. First of all, he asked me where I wanted to go for coffee and I said Starbucks. It was the only familiar coffee shop I knew then. He said no. He wanted to be “alone” with me so we could talk “without too much outside noise.” In other words, he wanted to stay in the car…and he said we’ll go wherever I wanted to go. Yeah, right! He bought our coffee at a petrol station at a dirham each. He gave me my cappuccino and told me to go back to the car. When he returned, he handed me a solitary red rose…also from the petrol station. Obviously it was his effort of a romantic gesture he learned from someone. It fell flat, though.
Anyways, when we were walking and talking at the beach, he was very mindful of my welfare. Was I hungry? Thirsty? Comfortable? He was putting all these effort because he just wanted a wife he can come home to, who will cook meals for him, keep the house clean and tidy, his clothes neat and clean, and all those domestic stuff. In return, as his wife, he will buy me a car, give me shopping money and, look after me so I don’t have to work for anyone ever again. That was literally what he said when he proposed that night.
Sorry! I told him I’m not cut out to live that way and besides that, we just met! He said he doesn’t need to know anything more if I can perform wifely duties and of course, disapproved my choice. He thinks that at my age, I should be a kept woman with kids. What he couldn’t understand was I will die by living like that. Just to end the night, I told him to try dating the girl he really likes back at Pizza Hut in Bur Dubai. That appeased him somewhat.
When he was driving me home, he made me promise two things: (1) I will not drink alcohol and, (2) I will not use gel on my hair. He was so serious about this he even said I should swear these on my brother. I agreed just to humor him. What I found very funny was his opinion on my hair. He thinks my short, spiky hair is too funky that if there was another girl sitting beside me with long straight hair, he’d trust the other girl.
So, I got a marriage proposal during the first date and it was also my first encounter with a chauvinist face to face. That night certainly gave me a blow by blow shock of my dating life and more so how different our cultural backgrounds were. I finally had it confirmed that there are still men stuck with the Middle Ages mentality. The period of enlightenment still has to catch up in this part of the world.
It was my most hilarious date ever. First of all, he asked me where I wanted to go for coffee and I said Starbucks. It was the only familiar coffee shop I knew then. He said no. He wanted to be “alone” with me so we could talk “without too much outside noise.” In other words, he wanted to stay in the car…and he said we’ll go wherever I wanted to go. Yeah, right! He bought our coffee at a petrol station at a dirham each. He gave me my cappuccino and told me to go back to the car. When he returned, he handed me a solitary red rose…also from the petrol station. Obviously it was his effort of a romantic gesture he learned from someone. It fell flat, though.
Anyways, when we were walking and talking at the beach, he was very mindful of my welfare. Was I hungry? Thirsty? Comfortable? He was putting all these effort because he just wanted a wife he can come home to, who will cook meals for him, keep the house clean and tidy, his clothes neat and clean, and all those domestic stuff. In return, as his wife, he will buy me a car, give me shopping money and, look after me so I don’t have to work for anyone ever again. That was literally what he said when he proposed that night.
Sorry! I told him I’m not cut out to live that way and besides that, we just met! He said he doesn’t need to know anything more if I can perform wifely duties and of course, disapproved my choice. He thinks that at my age, I should be a kept woman with kids. What he couldn’t understand was I will die by living like that. Just to end the night, I told him to try dating the girl he really likes back at Pizza Hut in Bur Dubai. That appeased him somewhat.
When he was driving me home, he made me promise two things: (1) I will not drink alcohol and, (2) I will not use gel on my hair. He was so serious about this he even said I should swear these on my brother. I agreed just to humor him. What I found very funny was his opinion on my hair. He thinks my short, spiky hair is too funky that if there was another girl sitting beside me with long straight hair, he’d trust the other girl.
So, I got a marriage proposal during the first date and it was also my first encounter with a chauvinist face to face. That night certainly gave me a blow by blow shock of my dating life and more so how different our cultural backgrounds were. I finally had it confirmed that there are still men stuck with the Middle Ages mentality. The period of enlightenment still has to catch up in this part of the world.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Inshallah!
Strictly speaking, it means “it will happen in God's time.” Well, I hear it all the time especially when I want something to happen on or before deadline. Instead of feeling good at the word, it is making me feel insecure and nervous. A lot of Muslims use them loosely and when something does not happen on the appointed date and hour, they say it was not God’s will to happen.
I remember the first time I had to exit Dubai, go to Kish (an island of Iran), and wait there til my new visa gets through. I was told that processing of visa especially for a first-time exiter takes less than a day but it can go up to three days, max.
I was booked to fly out at 8 am on a Sunday. I can only get a return flight when I have a new visa. So, when the PRO, the guy who prepares and facilitates the processing of visa, told me, “You’ll get your visa on Monday, inshallah!” I just had to vehemently reply, “No inshallah! I get my visa on Monday. Not inshallah, Monday!”
I heard different sorts of icky stories about Kish enough to send bad shivers down my spine. Beds are full of bed bugs, it’s a must for women to wear abayas (the women’s black over-all that practically covers all of the skin except for the eyes), no decent food to eat at…nothing exciting at all. It doesn’t help either that I had to go there during Ramadan when every Muslim is fasting ergo no restaurant is open during the day.
So, hearing “inshallah” was like hearing good luck from a dead crow. Who knows, they didn’t get their ass to move to make sure they meet the timeline. Come on, if we are in a western environment, excuses are not allowed. You must have a very valid reason why you failed to deliver on time. Most circumstances can be controlled. But some hide behind religion to justify their weakness, their irresponsibility, and their negligence. What they don’t realize is they are contradicting the teachings of their own religion thereby, making them hypocrites.
I remember the first time I had to exit Dubai, go to Kish (an island of Iran), and wait there til my new visa gets through. I was told that processing of visa especially for a first-time exiter takes less than a day but it can go up to three days, max.
I was booked to fly out at 8 am on a Sunday. I can only get a return flight when I have a new visa. So, when the PRO, the guy who prepares and facilitates the processing of visa, told me, “You’ll get your visa on Monday, inshallah!” I just had to vehemently reply, “No inshallah! I get my visa on Monday. Not inshallah, Monday!”
I heard different sorts of icky stories about Kish enough to send bad shivers down my spine. Beds are full of bed bugs, it’s a must for women to wear abayas (the women’s black over-all that practically covers all of the skin except for the eyes), no decent food to eat at…nothing exciting at all. It doesn’t help either that I had to go there during Ramadan when every Muslim is fasting ergo no restaurant is open during the day.
So, hearing “inshallah” was like hearing good luck from a dead crow. Who knows, they didn’t get their ass to move to make sure they meet the timeline. Come on, if we are in a western environment, excuses are not allowed. You must have a very valid reason why you failed to deliver on time. Most circumstances can be controlled. But some hide behind religion to justify their weakness, their irresponsibility, and their negligence. What they don’t realize is they are contradicting the teachings of their own religion thereby, making them hypocrites.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Of Witches & Bitches
I am Pinay and proudly so. I can't say the same thing towards other Pinays in UAE who think so highly of themselves for whatever reason. What makes it funny is they put up a front of being better than the next Pinay by looking down at them without realizing that they're dealing with, say a marketing manager of the mall and not what they easily assumed as another saleslady.
Where did this superiority complex come from? Certainly back home, they have very congenial personalities, very nice, very polite, and humanly understanding. Are they showing their true colors when they are in another country? Or is this an output of intense insecurity because they know they're better off back home if only they are more financially stable? They probably held better job positions in the Philippines rather than being one of the secretaries or receptionists in UAE.
We all leave home seeking for greener pastures. It may be to earn more or get an advancement in career. I left the Philippines for both reasons. I met a lot of Pinay old-timers who either made it here or are still struggling to make it here. Some embrace their good and bad experiences and used their experiences for personal growth. They are now wiser, more understanding, more humble, more helpful, and more sympathetic. Others resent their bad experiences and glorify their good experiences that they turn into a witch and a bitch without realizing it. I always choose to be a better person. It won't do me any good to belittle my fellow Pinays just because I'm luckier than them. I have no right to do that. I only have the greatest respect for all Pinays who stuck out to help their families and friends.
Drew Barrymore said it best in one of her interviews, “I’m not insecure. I’ve been through way too much f***ing sh*t to be insecure. I’ve got huge balls. But I’ve been humbled. That makes you grateful for every day you have.”
Where did this superiority complex come from? Certainly back home, they have very congenial personalities, very nice, very polite, and humanly understanding. Are they showing their true colors when they are in another country? Or is this an output of intense insecurity because they know they're better off back home if only they are more financially stable? They probably held better job positions in the Philippines rather than being one of the secretaries or receptionists in UAE.
We all leave home seeking for greener pastures. It may be to earn more or get an advancement in career. I left the Philippines for both reasons. I met a lot of Pinay old-timers who either made it here or are still struggling to make it here. Some embrace their good and bad experiences and used their experiences for personal growth. They are now wiser, more understanding, more humble, more helpful, and more sympathetic. Others resent their bad experiences and glorify their good experiences that they turn into a witch and a bitch without realizing it. I always choose to be a better person. It won't do me any good to belittle my fellow Pinays just because I'm luckier than them. I have no right to do that. I only have the greatest respect for all Pinays who stuck out to help their families and friends.
Drew Barrymore said it best in one of her interviews, “I’m not insecure. I’ve been through way too much f***ing sh*t to be insecure. I’ve got huge balls. But I’ve been humbled. That makes you grateful for every day you have.”
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