Its has been officially 7 months 1 day and 4 hours since I left the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was the winter season when I left the land of gold and oil.
My experience there was somehow something that is quite difficult to tell. The reason behind that is because I can't tell if I was happy there or was I sad but I can definitely say that I didn't feel the homesickness that most people experience. Perhaps because even if me and my family are quite close, I've always felt so distant to them. Anyway, I'm not here to talk about my family, but about the heat and cold of the desert.
My first day there was very eerie. To think that I went there alone and I don't have no idea how to speak their language, I had to face the reality that I had to be strong enough to protect myself whatever happens. When we arrived at the airport, women were seperated from the men and our passports were collected. I can't forget the tall man with the big nose and huge eyes who shouted "YALLAH" at us urging the women to follow him to a big room.
It was a room filled with women waiting for their employers to come and fetch them. Some of them were waiting for almost 24 hours but luckily, I only waited for 3 hours. I met again the man who interviewed me back in Manila and his wife who was wearing a full outfit of a woman Arab called Abaya. It was very disturbing as we rode the car because I can't understand a single thing that was coming out of their mouth! We arrived at their house and I met the sister of the wife and their nieces and nephews. They were little noisy querubins just like the very image of the statues that we see in our churches. I was really afraid because I never did expect that I was going to stay at a house. I was expecting to go to a dormitory or something. I was thinking that maybe they were going to make me a caregiver... omg.. I didn't slept well that night and woke very early but I didn't get up until the daughters of my employers woke up too (we all slept in one big room). Finally, we rode again and I was able to see the real arabian desert. It was freaking hot!!! At around 38 - 40 degrees, my skin was already burning but I wasn't sweating. We arrived at another house and after 30 minutes later, Baba (my employer) motioned me to follow him outside and follow the Indian looking guy who was carrying my luggage into a 3 floor building next to the house. We reached the 3rd floor and knocked at the last door of the floor. When the door opened, that was when I was finally able to breathe again.
I met Maha, my first Filipino Muslim close friend. She was really nice and told me all the things that I needed to know about our work as a dental assistant. Thank goodness all our dentists were Filipino too! Aside from us, there was an Egyptian and Indian nurse too. This was the time that I started my life at the desert.
After 4 months of staying there, I finally learned enough Arabic words (thanks to Maha , our Indian janitor and my doctors) to have a conversation. I always practiced with Yahyah, our Arab receptionist who looked perfectly like the guy Laurant in twilight. He was very patient with me and in return, I had to teach him english also. The best thing about being there is I was able to learn the language and I love how cheap the food is! I miss going out on Wednesday - Panda Day!!! It was because they always have a weekly sale and I'm always waiting for the Nutella and Cheetos sale! The price of the large bag of Cheetos there is only 5 riyal which is 50 pesos only but if I will buy one at SM or at mercury drug, it would be a whooping 150 pesos! Haaayyy buhay!!! I also missed singing Ya baba asnani wawa to children patients who always cried before having their teeth cleaned or extracted. I learned a lot about their culture, their faith and their food.
It was fun till it lasted. I miss but I'm glad I was already out of that place. The only regret that I have is that I wasn't able to bring home some sands from the desert... I'll be making sure Maha brings me some when she comes home on November. =)
