Conversations along the Road
Last night, I got a chance to talk to one of my closest friend here in Dubai, Rowell. It’s been quite sometime since we had this kind of conversation. The last one I remember was last year before I flew back to Manila after working for less than a year. Anyways, talking to Rowell is really something that I miss of him. He is truly a gifted conversationalist, particularly of note is his cunning way of making dull subjects and senseless topics come as something so enlivening, interesting, funny, dramatic and everything else in between. Last night was no
exception. Aside from our personal struggles, we talked about how life has been with regards to our families, friends, our jobs, our aspirations and so many other things that just popped out of our brilliant heads.
It’s been almost two months since I arrived here in Dubai. Sad to say, it was only last night that we got to spend time together. Though barely few important events had happen in our lives in the past months, there are countless stories and intriguing insights about the people and things around us that needs to be tackled. Nope, we were not just wasting time feasting on somebody else lives, we know that everything that happens in our surrounding has an implications on all of us hence they deserve to be analyzed so that we make can our own individual stand.
And so our agenda has reached as high as the sky down to the level of grounded and unlucky Pinoy Dubai v
isitors. We talked about the soaring cost of going to Dubai, the revised visa rates, the ever increasing airline ticket prices, the expensive accommodation, the elusive jobs etc . We notice that as more and more people come here in Dubai, the competition for a successful job hunting is also becoming stiff. Still , nobody can tell what is coming next. Luck may show you the way. But generally, the situation is getting less breezy and laid back. More visit visas couldn’t find a placement and are forced to go back home as prolonged stay here in Dubai without a job could mean getting yourself in serious cash trouble.
We also talked
about our respective jobs, how we were getting along with our everyday routines. I am just three weeks old in my job and naturally I am still getting adjusted to the environment though there are times when I have little thoughts of backing out. Rowell has been here for more than two years, he actually had his annual leave Christmas of 2007. I frequently ask him if he has any plans of looking for another company because he is very much qualified and able to fetch a position with a better pay. He would always tell me that he’s still happy with was he’s doing and he’s enjoying every second of it (now he is the department’s “Employee of the Month”). There were times though that he felt upset and exploited by his work load but nevertheless at the end of the day he said it’s bearable and he still got more rooms to grow in the company ( a noble man indeed!).
One thing so funny of Rowell is, whenever he knows of someone of lower qualifications getting a better and overpaid job that his, he will always complain why some has to be more blessed and lucky. He would always sigh why can’t it be fair, for example, the External Auditors in their company are recruited from other country and are paid big bucks, considering that their job is relatively easy and what more, they are so young and some have yet to finish their degree. There’s one more, one of his friend who just used to open billing envelopes has landed a job whose salary is three times bigger than his. I clearly understand his sentiment though I know that it was never meant. Rowell is a grateful person, he is contented with what he has endowed with. It’s all for the sake of light and funny conversation.
Of course, ou
r set of friends could never be missed in our palate of discussion. Likewise, I have not seen many of them since I got back. So a little update was made to me. Its sad to know that in this small city where you could hardly find true friends, the people who are supposed to gel with you, are now bounded by their individual choices like family, work and personal matters. Though work is really the main reason why we are here, it takes a toll on what is supposed to be the time to bond, relax and feel like you have never left home.
We could have shared more to each other but time is getting late. Rowell is full of stories to tell. Nothing has changed. He seems to be unaffected by whatever good or bad things that’s going around him. Good to know. I took the taxi right from the shed where we loitered and chat. It was quarter before midnight.
exception. Aside from our personal struggles, we talked about how life has been with regards to our families, friends, our jobs, our aspirations and so many other things that just popped out of our brilliant heads.It’s been almost two months since I arrived here in Dubai. Sad to say, it was only last night that we got to spend time together. Though barely few important events had happen in our lives in the past months, there are countless stories and intriguing insights about the people and things around us that needs to be tackled. Nope, we were not just wasting time feasting on somebody else lives, we know that everything that happens in our surrounding has an implications on all of us hence they deserve to be analyzed so that we make can our own individual stand.
And so our agenda has reached as high as the sky down to the level of grounded and unlucky Pinoy Dubai v
isitors. We talked about the soaring cost of going to Dubai, the revised visa rates, the ever increasing airline ticket prices, the expensive accommodation, the elusive jobs etc . We notice that as more and more people come here in Dubai, the competition for a successful job hunting is also becoming stiff. Still , nobody can tell what is coming next. Luck may show you the way. But generally, the situation is getting less breezy and laid back. More visit visas couldn’t find a placement and are forced to go back home as prolonged stay here in Dubai without a job could mean getting yourself in serious cash trouble.We also talked
about our respective jobs, how we were getting along with our everyday routines. I am just three weeks old in my job and naturally I am still getting adjusted to the environment though there are times when I have little thoughts of backing out. Rowell has been here for more than two years, he actually had his annual leave Christmas of 2007. I frequently ask him if he has any plans of looking for another company because he is very much qualified and able to fetch a position with a better pay. He would always tell me that he’s still happy with was he’s doing and he’s enjoying every second of it (now he is the department’s “Employee of the Month”). There were times though that he felt upset and exploited by his work load but nevertheless at the end of the day he said it’s bearable and he still got more rooms to grow in the company ( a noble man indeed!).
One thing so funny of Rowell is, whenever he knows of someone of lower qualifications getting a better and overpaid job that his, he will always complain why some has to be more blessed and lucky. He would always sigh why can’t it be fair, for example, the External Auditors in their company are recruited from other country and are paid big bucks, considering that their job is relatively easy and what more, they are so young and some have yet to finish their degree. There’s one more, one of his friend who just used to open billing envelopes has landed a job whose salary is three times bigger than his. I clearly understand his sentiment though I know that it was never meant. Rowell is a grateful person, he is contented with what he has endowed with. It’s all for the sake of light and funny conversation.
Of course, ou
r set of friends could never be missed in our palate of discussion. Likewise, I have not seen many of them since I got back. So a little update was made to me. Its sad to know that in this small city where you could hardly find true friends, the people who are supposed to gel with you, are now bounded by their individual choices like family, work and personal matters. Though work is really the main reason why we are here, it takes a toll on what is supposed to be the time to bond, relax and feel like you have never left home.We could have shared more to each other but time is getting late. Rowell is full of stories to tell. Nothing has changed. He seems to be unaffected by whatever good or bad things that’s going around him. Good to know. I took the taxi right from the shed where we loitered and chat. It was quarter before midnight.
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