SAUDI ARABIA LIVING DREAM

Life Behind.

As if it was like a second ago. Those pains, loss, the tears spent through sleepless nights in combat with life inadequacies. I am capable of emotional evolution either force nor natural way. Where life places my foot now is such a privileged. An opportunity I met along the way in search of fulfilling my life’s need. After so much thought of less productive life in Manila, I left for Saudi to work as a secretary.

In just three days, I have been here in Saudi for five months exactly in February 19, 2011. I had this short written thought about pinoy’s negative lifestyle around here. I guess I was just disappointed because even if not too much I still have my expectations.

SAUDI RIYAL

First off, what makes me feel motivated working in Saudi is because of its beautiful people. Maybe it’s my first time, but I like Saudis now than American people whom I used to fantasize, maybe because I am not lucky to reach America to experience its people, but since my teenage life I have that kind of American dream. Now, I only have a Saudi living dream. I won’t withhold the fact that the main reason why I am here in Saudi is due to economic demand of life in Philippines, how could I refuse to accept the offer that almost triple my salary with less accountability? But of course it has a price, you just have to deal with it naturally. The fact that Saudi has beautiful people and its economic status is outstanding there would be no reason that I shall look into the other side of hill for a greener pasture. I am not saying I am staying for life but who knows? Nobody can tell what will certainly happen on the next day.

Saudi is not a tourist destination. It’s a real-life work destination. It’s not even a love destination street but rather a quickie style of expressing one’s bodily earth discharge. Correct me if I am wrong cause maybe it’s just too early to say that. Weird, may be it’s me.

Riyal is the key.

In everything it’s money but it is not taken into the surface. Saudi is not like what I have heard of, there might be unethical, uneducated, unhygienic just like people of other countries in the world. It’s not because they are Arab and Muslim they are terrorist like saying it’s not because I am a filipino I am like this or like that. But I say, I can never change my smiling face, my artistic nature, my combine masculine figure-feminine strong touch. Accept me as I am or send me home with your own expenses. I would never dream working as an accounting assistant for the rest of my life, yet somehow it’s not bad to work as a secretary until age would force me to retire and enjoy my hard earn riyals.

Living in Riyadh has many restrictions. You’ve heard it in the news, those feminine male who runs a fashion shows, a mass held by minority group, the pinoy waiter who serve in an underground party in Jeddah, even stories that are not publish most probably you know more than I have. Yet, it's not enough reason to make me think that Saudi is not the best place to live in. Law is good, it makes me feel safe and protected, as long as I don’t cross the line I will not get hit and run over by tragedies.

I met a lot of nationality, from very famous Pakistani taxi drivers, Yemenis, Indians, Bangladesh, Nepalese, Turkish, Sudanese, Englishman, Irishman, American and of course locals – the Saudis.

In my five months, I have used to live life in cold seasons. Summer is yet to come and I hope I will be okay. I met new filipino people, I get acquainted with them but as for me I used to live my life dependent on God and myself. I never look for attention and other people’s opinion about my self. I learn to dress myself as I am, being confident of myself and most of all the self- transparency, commitment, trust. It must start from within and this make me feel ME.

In short description, Saudi women are most preserve of all women in the world, Saudi men are the most polite-aggressive ever alive, it’s like don’t give them a chance or else you’ll regret. Saudis are very conservative, God-fearing and overly protective to its people. I like it. I can’t imagine waking up daily in Philippines hearing deadly news either by natural disaster or by force. It’s what I hate the most. But at least in Saudi it is not published. And in Saudi, the game of popularity doesn’t go out in media, it’s just a word of mouth. That’s I think the reason why Saudis can be trusted in business.

Riyadh is just another city, with a seen and unseen stories of life and death, happiness and love, fetishes and luxury, of all these still I choose to live continually in Saudi. Even if not, I have no choice, I have to finish my two year contract, but honestly I have no reason to go back home in Philippines except maybe to do business and see my mom and rest of the folks. You’re right, I am single, no love life, no family of my own, just committed to send my schooling brother and my mom a monthly support.

The WORK. English is the main language for communication. It’s really a blessing to work with Saudis. No stress, no pressure, all you have to be is to work smartly, on time, be polite, most of all just be you, just be a fipino. As a secretary, I have been struggling to adjust with my environment. Wherein previously I used to work in a hostile, noisy, demanding, and restless environment. I thank God for the new dimension of environment where I move my being.

SAUDI DREAM

I know it is very impossible to have my dream bringing into a real life scenario, unless it is underground. This is due to the law of the land. But I guess having someone to be with in life is less important that living the life you are meant to be. Two out of my three lifetime dream are non-realistic in this country, one left that is doing business which seems to catch my attention lately.

Think on, live on, hours and day passes by. I would be the loneliest person in the earth if I choose not to be thankful for the cold weather, for sunlight, for the air I breathe, and for the reddish skin I got in living Saudi Arabia.

This is my dream, to the God-given life beautifully.

by: bodengdeng

photo credit: Bhakti by the inhabitant has left the building.

I had a dream

Friday, June 11, 2010 at 10:09am.

In my dream, there's a black cat and a dog. We we're in a small very small hut as i am afraid of ghost who are flying around outside, so the black cat and dog stay with me. But in a blink of an eye, i saw myself jumping out going to a mango tree branches, as if looking and scouting the whereabouts of ghost. The dog says i should come back inside the hut and the dog just leave the door of the hut open so i could get in anytime, the black doesn't mind and suddenly i jump back into the small hut.

In a sudden blink, we had transferred into a hug house, a big house with a second floor. Then we locked the door, we worried about the holes of the house and we are afraid that the ghost will use that as entrance. Then There was two ghost knocking on the door, they say if we wont open, they will call their other hundred of ghosts to come also, but I cast them out and told them to go away and they go away but they began again to enter in the house hole. Then me, the black cat and the dog hurriedly went up to the second floor and secure ourselves so that the ghost wont find us, i am very angry and i really want to fight the ghost.

I can imagine the ghost flying around the house and on the second floor. and in my mind I really want to fight them. Then I woke up and sleep again.

by: bodengdeng

PRECIOUS LIFE - originally published as "understanding process"

Feb. 21st, 2009 at 1:16 PM


21 February 2009, at around 8:30am. I went outside the office to have one stick of cigar while having a cooling snowbear mint on my mouth. I was a bit shaking. But I manage to control MY tremble. After that, I went back inside and drink cold water, very cold that it feels like freezing my brain.

Interrupted by my Korean Manager Mr. Kim with his instruction for quotation of deformed bars from the supplier. Sitting in front of Mr. Kim is for 3 minutes makes my nerves rattle.

Anyway, going back to my cubicle, I just can’t stop thinking of what I want to achieve. My dreams linger on my mind as of the moment. I have no idea on what other think about their life, as for me I am very sure of what I want to hold on my very hand and experienced the most tangible success I’ve been waiting. I understand what it means to be on the process, and now I’m on it. Being in the process is not easy. I can’t describe the feeling, though I’m not in a hurry nor I’m not trying to stop the process. I understand that shortcut always not a wise choice for success. What are those plans? Are my goals feasible? Am I able to stand the test of time? And when I am there, how will I be able to handle it?

Those enumerated question makes me more excited. I know deep in my heart I am very prepared. Preparation consists of factors that involved all my being – I mean my mind, my physical condition, my faith and my determination to achieve it.

Later I will enumerate things I want to see happen in my life. This moment, I want to re-validate my 2009 year-end goals. I’m actually almost 20% complete on it. Of 6 desired goals, one of them is now visible moving towards its fulfillment. I know I need to rewrite the six things I want to accomplish this year. I believe this tablet of writing will continuously remind me, arouse my core and intensify my will to get it. On the top of the list – I will get rid of all my fats, 2nd is to get my own place to stay, third is having a laptop on my birthday on Nov 14, 4th is to save additional money amounted to 50,000PHP, 5th is living within my means which is 2,500 per 15 days and lastly celebrate life with someone. Previously, I was talking 20 percent completion of my 2009 goals, yes, I’m moving along with it. It’s now middle of the first quarter, by ends o march I will do my best to hit 25% completion.

Going back, my long-term dreams are very impossible if I depend on my senses. But I believe I was created to live above what the temporary or the visible aspect. I believe I was born for something, something that will glorify my creator, something that is beyond others expectation. Compared to how I live and what I have now, those dreams we’re just a pieces of wish I can have that thing that will never touch reality. But my life nor as I view it, it’s is perfectly the irony of my dreams. What I mean here is the impossibility of making those dreams possible. I believe it not me; I mean the player is not totally me. God. I knew it, but I fully understand by responsibility, the weights of those dreams are not easy to carry. But my sanity is quite strong and it proves within me that I can handle it orderly.

I call my dreams as simple and ordinary, because I’ve seen lots of individual who have been there. Though journey would be different, I know I will be there too. Again, I hope this tablet of writing will continuously remind me, arouse my core and intensify my will to get it, so in the end my pursuit will be fruitful. I know I’m ready, it’s been long 5 years of being pregnant with these dreams, not I know maturity is now visible, like a distance in the dessert where clouds and sand meets as though as if it’s the dead end. Also it like viewing as far as where the sea water and the clouds met. I just took a deep breath; at last I’m able to draw the matter of my dreams in writing.

MY LONG TERM PLANS:

1. THE NECCESSITY: MISSIONARYMAN
Specifications: jail/prison & tribal outreach, massive salvation preaching, dedicated word and spirit worship to everlasting GOD. KICK-OFF DATE: now; END DATE: progressive; REALIZATION PERIOD: 1st quarter of year 2006

2. THE EXTRAVAGANT: BUSINESSMAN
Specifications: Business worth 5M inclusive of spa-2.5m, food-1m, farming-.75m, black crv type car-.75m; KICK OFF DATE: January 1, 2016 @35. END DATE: progressive

3. THE PROCREATION: MARRIEDMAN
Specifications: who’s the girl? Just watch out! WHEN: December 31, 2014 @33

So, that’s it. I knew I still have long road to go through. Though the path may be stepped, rough, dusty and darkest valleys still my heart will always cling to the most HIGH, my only source of dreams and pure happiness.


by: bodengdeng