How did I spend my Fridays in the Kingdom?

Friday is the holy day of Muslims and the rest day for the entire nation.

It was in this nation that I experienced for the first time, the back pain of sleeping so long a time on my bed. Eventually you really just have to stand up and do something!

These are what I did:

1. Started the day with  logging on to http://www.usccb.org/nab/for some spiritual readings (that is if you are a catholic). The nice thing about this site is it has podcasts (if you just what to listen to the reflections) or video reflections (if you want to view the speaker and sharer, usually a priest)

2. Did my washing and drying
     You always take foregranted having your clothes washed, dried and "crisply" ironed and tucked on your drawer back home. I miss things having done for me. But as I said earlier, this beats the hell out of an aching back from lying down so very long.
     Dito lang ako actually natutong gumamit ng washing machine....hehehe....too old I think at 36! I always thought I would do no wrong at washing the heavy maong in the machine....oh well, the pocket linings tears off by frequent washing (it's not made in maong nga pala, I forget).
     I then learned from my kabayans, who would leave their washings overnight in sudsy soap (babad) then handwash the next day or do some gentle run on the machine.  
  
3. I usually did my cooking as well so that I would just have to re-heat throughout the week
      You know the expression "takaw tingin"? I was like that in the supermarket. Bought all the food that was "eye candy", stocked up my ref to the max (thinking I would not be able to go out again anytime soon), only to realize that I was only feeding myself. Matakaw ako, that I know, but I also found out the fun of "gorging" at food is also in the company. That I did not have, so the appettite also flew away.....and you can just imagine the food that spoiled :-(
     My fave dishes were still the adobo and spaghetti but I did learn to experiment with the spices from all over the world with all these:
     I discovered CUMIN, TURMERIC for chicken and meats for that indian taste.
     I discovered YOGURT in the mornings (they would eat a tub of yogurt) which I would mix with fruits of fresh juices.
     I discovered CHEESES and all its form - Brie, feta, mascarpone, etc.
     I discovered  flat round bread (unleavened bread) which is good for making pizza or dipping into hummus and some indian/pakistani/bangladeshi saucy dish.
     I discovered the fresh juices and milk of the danes....yummy!               

4. Decide whether to go out or not
    Going out would entail  a permission from my managers to have me accompanied by either our company driver or another option was "KUYA EDWIN".
    Going out with our company driver is much like having an "unwanted" chaperone". He would follow you wherever you went, even in buying your lingeries :-( Good thing ours was kind enough to tell me, "Doctora, stay good and be good. I trust you will not put me or you into trouble so I will just leave you and pick you up later ok?" Thank God for Nizmi! 
     Then there's Kuya Edwin. Here is a Pinoy entrepeneur in the truest sense. He capitalized on what he does best...driving. He talked to his sponsor to buy him a car which he will use to drive around people as a "limousine service" for a fee. I call him and ask him to drive me to the different malls. He drops me off, goes to his other "pick ups" and picks me up again for another mall.
     MALLING is the only past time here in Riyadh. But what great malls they have! I remember now the supermarket I found really great ....it was DANUBE! :-) By its name, European tastes. The market has everything but from a world so far from ours. I marvel at the knick knack stuff like the trinkets, the plates, I even bought my wedding souvenirs here.   
     How did I get to ride with Kuya Edwin...a man and a lady together in Riyadh?????!!!! He has a document signed by his sponsor authorizing him to be a designated driver for me which he will show when a religious police aka MUTAWA would question him.
     By the way, I am not really sure if this is legal but it sure beats the hell out of staying home like a snail all cooped up. My managers knew this by the way. Of course, it goes without saying that I did this without any "hanky-panky" ideas that would get me into trouble.
     
5.  Picnics
     There is more sand than soil in the kingdom so whenever we see green grass...we sit on them and have a picnic. Back home, I think this has been a lost past time mainly because we don't have parks, the air is..indescribable and the grass you see is in your own lawn....what fun is that having a picnic just a step away from your house?!!!
     But here, parks are also uncommon but you just really have to go out of your home and bask in the sun for some Vitamin D :-)
     I learned that Syria is so "not like" KSA...much like Pinas in terms of freedom to do whatever. Muslims with fashion and movies...and with very beautiful ladies....much like the Lebanese.
     Over Kebabs and Taboulleh salad, we laughed about each other in twisted english and "shisha" (arabic blowpipe). At mapagpula rin pala ang mga babaeng syriana...sa kapwa nilang arabiana...lalo na ang mga babaeng nagparetoke ng mukha o katawan. Ayaw nila noon. Naiisip ko nga tayong mga Pinoy na sarat ang ilong maiintindihan ko pang magparetoke ng ilong. Pero arabiana na napakataas at payat na ng ilong??? Sobra nga nga naman. I find it amusing that they say things about fellow arabs mainly because we Pinoys, being malays, don't say much about our fellow Indonesians, or Malaysians. Kakaiba di ba?  
      One thing I advice our kabayans, learn from the arabs by talking and being with them...not only does your world become bigger but your stay, more worthwhile with friends and memories all intact and growing :-)

After a day out in the city, I somehow feel rejuvenated to start another 6-day work week. Hay!

PS One thing I regret tough is not having to take pics.....hay. 

I will take the Job Offer In the Kingdom, What's next?

After following all the blog entries before this, it is time to go and embark on your new adventure.

First go to your recruitment agency and they will ask you go through a medical check up in an accredited hospital. Back in 2005, I spent around P2-3,000 for this. I had a 9- hour fast (stopped eating at 12 midnight and made sure I was in the hospital by 7 am to have a waiting allowance of 2 hours) for my blood tests, and brought with me my
1. sample feces in a clean small container
2. Urine sample I submitted while waiting for my turn in the hospital the next day

I waited for my medical report to come out before proceeding to the next steps below.

Here are the steps I did to prepare for my leaving the Philippines:

1. Prepare my passport
If your passport will expire in a year or 2, best to renew it while in the Philippines. Renewal fees in the kingdom through the embassy is more expensive. Have your passport picture taken, prior to appearance to the DFA. Be sure to wear a coat or any shirt with a collar. Personal appearance is required but you can make an appointment for yourself via the internet. Choose to have a machine-readable passport, although more expensive (P950 than the usual P750), this is what all passports will be eventually.   Follow the steps on Passport application or renewal here.

2. Prepare my birth certificate / marriage certificate
Best to apply for a NSO (National Statistics Office) certified birth certificate. They have serbilis centers you can actually go to or if you can't go, have a representative get it for you with an authorization letter and your ID (SSS, Driver's license or any valid ID). Or if you can't have it done by others or yourself, you can have it delivered. Just follow the steps here.

3. Prepare my school credentials

a. Go to my school registrar and ask for: 
1). Transcript of Records (atleast 2 copies or even more), certified true copy (both for undergraduate and post graduate courses)
2). . Ask for a Certificate of Graduation, and / or certified true copy of your Diploma (undergraduate and post graduate courses)

c. On acquiring my transcripts and diplomas,  I proceeded to the Commission on Higher education (CHED) where they  Certified, Authenticated, and Verified (CAV)  all my transcripts and diplomas. Follow the steps here. All other CHED services which you may need, here. CHED sitemap here.

4. Prepare my work experience credentials

a. Asked my superiors for certificate of employment stating my job, position and years / period of service.

b. This will be certified / notarized by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in the Manila City Hall. I went to any Notary Public at the Manila City Hall and they  helped me process these documents. Fee is about p150 per document to be notarized.

5. When School and Work Experience credentials have been certified, I went to Malacanang to have it certified (AGAIN). I did this on commute because there are already public transportation that has a route from Malacanang to the Manila City Hall.  

6. After Malacanang certification, go to the Department of Foreign Affairs for "ribboning" or final certification.

7. I made sure I had a xerox copy of all my documents before submitting them to my recruitment agency. They then scheduled me for a PDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar). This is free.
Important things I learned from the PDOS:
a. Buy the small arabic book on how to speak arabic / learning arabic (around P150 back in 2005)
b. Get your PDOS certificate and open an account in Metrobank, BDO or BPI where you will open an OFW account and deposit P100 as maintaining balance. Be sure that when you open the account, you have with you a co-depositor here in the Philippines who can have access to your account and receive the remittances you will send (preferably family / relatives). Important to show your PDOS certificate as this will be your passport in opening the account.
c. get yourself an accident / life insurance if you still have extra money  

Going through the 7 steps it would be safe to prepare around P7 - 10,000 for all the fees that have to be paid.

Just a word of advice, plan each trip as early in the day as possible. Each step entails a long line, and a lot of waiting so best to start the day early...leave the house as early as 5:30 or 6 am.

5. Making the decision to Take the Overseas Job or NOT

For most it is as easy as considering the financial rewards of an overseas job that prompts the decision to leave or not. For some, just the thought of running away from the heavy burden of staying in the Philippines is the motivating factor.

But I realize now that I have left and come back, just what are the important considerations in leaving for an overseas job?

1. Monthly wage and benefits

The cost of living here and abroad is not the same.

Do not be quick in deciding just because your salary was tripled. Consider / ask your employer and research on the following:

a. Food allowance . Find out how much it would cost to feed yourself for a month. Include that in your expenses. Back in 2007, SR200-300/month was enough.

b. Accomodation provision or allowance. One cannot own a property in the kingdom so the sponsir usually provides a room/unit accomodation, alone or shared. Or can give you the freedom to look for your own place (with Filipinos) by giving you a monthly allowance. In 2007, SR1200/month for a 2 bedroom unit.  

c. Transportation allowance. A bus or means of transport is usually provided to and from work to your accomodation. Otherwise, ask for it or an allowance.

d. Medical Insurance. Expensive to get sick in the kingdom so be sure you are protected.

Maximize on your additional benefits other than your salary so that you have more to send back home to your family. There is no TAX in the kingdom, by the way. 

2. Be sure you are near HELP when help is needed

a. Have Pinoy co-employees and friends help you. While still in the Philippines, establish Pinoy contacts in the kingdom. Find out their contact numbers and converse with them by phone or email or chats.

b. Know how far you are from the Philippine embassy. This is a true story of a lady bus conductor here in the Philippines who was in the news back in 2007 (Arab News) who spent almost 20 years in a very remote town of the kingdom, left all by herself to fend for herself as a domestic helper. Her employer left her alone and she survived by planting and feeding herself on goats which she raised herself. She could not be reached because of the "remoteness" of her area. Oh God!

3. Settle your family and businesses before you leave.

a. If you leave who will take care of your children? How will your spouse handle your leaving? Will he continue to work or stay in the house for the children?

b. Who will handle the finances of the family? Who will receive your remittance?

c. How will your family communicate with you?

d. If you are leaving a business, end it properly. Consider if you do come back, will you have something to come back to?

IN SUMMARY, your final decision to leave or not would depend on what you will get in salary and benefits, how much help you can get from Pinoys in the kingdom and the state of your family and businesses when you leave.

Bottomline is whatever your decision, be sure its is wholly yours and not a decision made by others' opinions of  you.

4. What is important to see in Your Saudi Employment Contract

This is a series detailling the steps on how I dealt with a Job Offer from SAUDI ARABIA. I feel it would also apply on any job offers anywhere in the world.  

Important steps discussed previously was (click the link for reference):
1. Tell your family and important people around you and educate yourself about the country you intend to work in.  
2. Check out the POEA website.
3. How to Correspond with your employer

The 4th Consideration is scrutinizing your job/work contract.  

I was sent a contract via email. Employee/Worker Contracts in Saudi Arabia are written both in English and Arabic. I immediately sent it to

a. a Filipino lawyer-friend who commented on the contract to make sure all areas covered

b. a friend presently residing in Riyadh who could verify things for me.

CONTENTS OF YOUR JOB CONTRACT

(Should be written on Company Stationery with company seal and address):

1. Date that the employment contract is executed between the 1st & 2nd party

2. First party / employer. This is the Company's name and name of your Saudi National Sponsor

3. Address, Tel No., Mobile No. of employer / Company

4. Representative agent / Agency / Recruitment Company and its address in the Philippines and abroad

5. Second Party / employee. Nationality. Passport #. Date/Place of issue. Permanent address. Contact

    Numbers.

6. Terms and Conditions:

    a. Position. Job description. Workplaces (This is important so you may know in advance where in the

        kingdom will you be possibly assigned because your company may have other branches or sister

        companies). Best for you to research about the place & Pinoys in the area.  

    b. No. of years of effectivity of contract (usually 2 Gregorian years. Note that there is a different

        Islamic / Hijri calendar) Always request Gregorian calendar usage.

   c. Salary / month in SAR (SAUDI RIYALS). End of Service Benefits   (ESB). If your salary is

       supplemented by percentage income, commissions, be sure it is written down.

   d. Additional Benefits:

       1. Accomodation. Is either provided for or you are given an allowance to rent for a year. If

           accomodation is provided, list down contents of the accomodation. Usually this is decided upon by

           employer, as to which to give.

       2.  30 days Paid Leave which includes airfare. Time is decided either by employee or employer

            depending on what suits the business

       3. Trial Period of 3 months. If after 3 months, the employer finds you not suitable for work, he may

           terminate contract and with/without compensation. Be sure you are compensated during the 1st 3

           months and is written in your contract. If the employee finds it best to terminate contract,employee

           will shoulder the cost of going back to his country.  

       4. Other incentives: In addition to salary, there may be percentage income or commissions. Be sure to

            ask if there are other incentives like this and have it written down.

       5. Medical Insurance provison. Very important to ask if you get sick or meet an accident, what are the

           policies of the company. Up to what extent is their provision or support.

      6. Paid sick leave. How many days in a year (usually 10 days) with medical report & acceptable

           with administration. If more than 10 days, not compensated. If more than a month, may be terminated

           with the employee bearing the cost of transport back to his country.

      7.Conditions by which the employer and employee may terminate this contract

      8. Company policies important to note in the contract (company holidays, working hours, engaging in

          other business within the kingdom while an employee, settlement of disputes). If possible ask for an

          employee's handbook or Company Rules and Regulations.

      9. This must be incorporated in the contract. "That if there is a need to modify or add/delete any item,

          it shall require the signature of both the employee and employer."

             

3. Correspond with your Employer

This is a series detailling the steps on how I dealt with a Job Offer from SAUDI ARABIA. I feel it would also apply on any job offers anywhere in the world.  

Important steps discussed previously was (click the link for reference):
1. Tell your family and important people around you and educate yourself about the country you intend to work in.  
2. Check out the POEA website.

The 3rd is to Correspond with your employer.

The recruitment agency would facilitate contacting the employer for you. Just say you would like a personal correspondence with the employer. Ask that he call you, or (for lesser cost) chat / talk through yahoo messenger, google gtalk or skype.

This way:

a. You can  directly ask your "1 million" questions. Best to store the conversation if it is a chat or if talk, try to write down important details you can look back to, just in case you need further clarifications later on.

b. You will personally hear the sincerity of your employer and viceversa. He will be able to find out, even interview you already and viceversa.

In this conversation be ready to ask and be asked.

My questions basically were:

1. Who is my employer?
You will be having a Saudi sponsor in your stay. You will be under his responsibility and he will pay for all your expenses: airfare, VISA. Your VISA will be in your passport.

Be sure your occupation is accurately written on your VISA.

My experience on this was my entry VISA had me written as a nurse for my occupation. This was told to me early on (best be informed) by my employer because he only had NURSE VISAS then. But still I was able to work as an orthodontist, was also able to take the Professional Licensure exam. Not really sure if my employer had to "pull some strings" so still best to have all information accurate and correct.
 

2. What is my work specifically?  (job description)

This will also be written down on your contract

3. How much is my salary?
(yes don't be shy to ask)

4. Where is the company / facility located?

This will help you gauge how far you are from the Philippine embassy (one is in Riyadh, the other in Jeddah)
I felt farely secure working within Riyadh, the capital city. Google map the exact location.

5. Are there Filipinos in your company?
If it would not be a bother, ask permission to contact a Pinoy employee and have a conversation with him about ....everything.

6. When do you expect  to arrive in the work place?
This is important to know because October to March are very cold months in the kingdom. Best to be ready with the right clothes for the cold season.

7. May I know my accomodation?
Home accomodations are usually provided for by the employer. Either it is near the company/facility or maybe even within the compound / building.

8. Practices I should know within the country and the workplace?

This was 1 question I forgot to ask, but here are some MUST KNOWS:

a. On arrival at the airport, your passport will be taken from you (this will be the last time you will see your passport until you need it again in your next vacation / flight home)
b. On arrival at the airport, be ready to line up and follow all the instructions. click  for more info.
b. All men and women are always segregated. Men go out only with men unless with married couples.
c. A man and a woman is discouraged to talk alone. Talk always in a group.
d. If you are of a different religion other then ISLAM, do not bring religious relics, novena, bible (all of your faith you may see in the internet)
e. Women should always be accompanied by a male guardian (husband, company guardian/driver) when going out
All the rest of their culture you can find out at the PDOS (Pre-Departure Overseas Seminar) you will be attending soon before you leave.

9. When is my vacation? For how long and who pays for my airfare and back?
Filipinos usually go home during the Christmas holidays (booking is soooo hard). Say your preference or some employers already tell you that you can only spend vacations during non-peak months of business. You must know this so you will be amenable to having vacations during summer months (Saudis usually spend vacations abroad from August to September) or if you wish on christmas, kindly request your employer for early booking to be sure to get home.    

I remember my first vacation, I got home just in the nick of time,  afternoon of December 25. I forgot to ask my employer to book early. By early I mean even a year before your vacation or 6 months before you intended vacation, at the latest.

Vacations are usually once a year for 1 month, all expenses paid by the employer. But some request twice a year for 2 weeks each. This depends on your employer.

10. Will I get my full salary on my vacation?

All vacations / one month  must be paid. You will get this upon your return to the kingdom.

I hope anyone reading this, who has more recent info and would want to help by sharing will do so by writing a comment below :-) 
 

2. Check out the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) website

The POEA website  is very helpful in:

1.Verifying the legitimacy of your Philippine based recruitment agency

Found this under OFW ADVISORY:


Beware of recruitment agencies with cancelled or suspended licenses



The POEA advises the public to be wary of recruitment agencies with cancelled or suspended licenses that are still actively recruiting for overseas jobs.


The POEA, as of September 14, 2009, has cancelled the licenses of 454 recruitment agencies since the start of its operations and placed 44 others under preventive suspension. For 2008 and the first eight months of 2009 alone, the POEA cancelled 76 licenses and suspended or fined 57 agencies as a result of recruitment violations.


Please click HERE to verify status of recruitment agencies.

2. Articles for / about Overseas Foreign Workers


3. Articles for / about Foreign Employers 

4. Articles for / about Recruitment Agencies

5. Articles of memorandum of Agreements between the Philippines and other countries


6. Overseas Employment Regulations

7. Vacancies


8. .They even have an e-registration for the pooling of Manpower where you submit your resume and they store it for possible interest of foreign employers.

9. The links on the right side of the web home page is also very useful:

 DIRECTORY
POEA Officials
Regional Offices
POLOs
Phil. Embassies
Phil. Consulates
Foreign Embassies
OFW Medical Clinics

ONLINE SERVICES
Recruitment Agencies
Approved Job Orders
e-Registration
OEC Delivery
Seafarer Certification
Phil-JobNet

OFW LINKS
D O L E
D F A
M T C
O W W A
PHILHEALTH
S S S
TESDA
PAG-IBIG

DOWNLOAD
OFW InfoSheet
Standard Employment Contract for Various Skills
 

CURRENCY CONVERTER

WORLD CLOCK Current local times around the world

Share your thoughts. Air your views. Join the POEA Forum

[ POEA Webmail

1. Telling My Family I have an Offer to Work in Saudi Arabia

This was my first time ever to leave the country for work. Moreover, the first time to leave for a country so different from ours....the home of the Islam faith. I actually had no idea what I was getting into. I viewed it as exciting, an opportunity that may never pass again. So even before telling anyone, I had to educate myself as to what I was getting into.

These are the better information available now:
http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/56/Working_in_Saudi_Arabia.html
http://a-pinoy-in-nz.blogspot.com/2006/09/factsmyths-about-life-in-saudi-arabia.html  
http://americanbedu.com/2008/03/06/a-womans-life-in-saudi-arabia/
http://taraummomar.blogspot.com/2009/03/susies-new-life-in-saudi-arabia.html

Lastly, I think the most important reference guide to working in the kingdom is to be up to date with:
http://alexasuncion.multiply.com/ especially now that the Saudi Labor law has been translated in English AND FILIPINO.

Start asking yourself what questions your family would be asking you and be prepared to answer.
For me, the 1st and hardest question asked was WHY SAUDI ARABIA?

My answers:
1. I was working for the past 6 years as an orthodontist and I was not progressing as fast as I wanted to
2. I wanted to have savings...yes, during that time I just opened a clinic and was on a 0 savings level.
3. There was no other offer where I could work at the level I was in...an orthodontist....not having to downgrade into a dental assistant or hygienist.
4. I wanted an adventure, a time for myself, a period of independence, of earning my keep, being responsible for myself.

Then followed a series of questions which I called the easy questions....where will you live, salary, when are you going home, Are there Pinoys in your workplace, etc...I took down all their questions because these were the same questions I would ask my employer.

If you are in a relationship, not yet married or married, I must say it is truly very hard being apart. You must really think doubly hard whether you need to be separated for 2-3 years. Look at all options and considerations as:

1. Who will take care of the children? Can the one staying in the Philippines afford to stay home with the children?

2.  Is there a chance for you to be together. Actually there is, if the profession you are getting into has "FAMILY STATUS". By this I mean that you will establish residency and then have your family follow you after 3-5 months. Most doctors and professionals (bankers, engineers) are hired with "family status" .

3. If this is the only option that one of you has to leave, be sure to keep an open communication with the family. Prepare an internet connection on the computer. Buy a webcam and teach the whole household how to SKYPE,  do GTALK and how to email.

How I found work in Saudi Arabia

My surprise departure for the kingdom I wrote in a previous blog  (click blog)

I applied at yahoojobs  and posted my resume. My target country was the U.S. then and I knew back then that I would ONLY be hired as a dental assistant or hygienist even with my credentials as a dentist. I never did expect that a recruiter in Saudi Arabia was looking for an orthodontist.

A local recruitment agency called me one day, asking me if I wanted to go and work in  Saudi Arabia. Huh? Never in my mind was there a thought to consider the middle east. But I kept an open mind. The first things I did, in chronological order (each step discussed thoroughly on the next blogs):

1. I told my father and mother about it, and my significant other. 

2. I Checked out poea.gov.ph to see if the recruitment agency was licensed, meaning not suspended or license revoked or cancelled.

3.  Since the recruitment agency could not answer any of my "million" questions, they directed me to my
employer who was kind enough to correspond by email, skype, gtalk or he would call by phone.

4. He sent me a contract which I immediately showed to a lawyer friend of mine  to comment on. Then
correspondence between my employer and me continued until we were both satisfied.

5. Make the decision to whether take the offer or not.

6. If you decide on taking it, proceed to "recruitment" procedures. Start by renewing your passport if
    needed.

Alcohol Prohibition in the Kingdom

I wanted to write about this mainly because I never knew alcohol was banned in the kingdom. I was surprised when we were flying off to the kingdom, our luggages were checked  at the Philippine airport for anything with alcohol content and these were confiscated from us.

Bye bye to my rubbing alcohol and to my cologne. Asked why? The airport staff (which I now know didn't have any idea too) simply told us that it might affect certain contents of the cargo luggage. Even if I did not understand...huh??!!!....I was one to always follow so I surrendered.

Upon arrival, I discovered that Islam prohibits Alcohol intake. Oh so that's why....but I kept wondering why rubbing alcohol, colognes and hand sanitizers were also prohibited. So they don't use alcohol, colognes and eau de toillettes here? We need 70% ispropyl alcohol for hygiene in the clinic. I will miss having a cologne. What could substitute for alcohol?

I was wrong. We had alcohol. It was packaged this way:

\

That was how small the swab was

We had colognes but packaged this way:

All colognes were with a spritzer

Why the packaging? Go figure...

Only in the Kingdom. 

Being a Single Lady in the Kingdom ...What's there to do?

Being a single lady in the kingdom has its pros and cons.

I liked it that anywhere I go, I would have to be driven and accompanied by a male guardian. Some would not have liked this, but I did. I felt safer from the prying eyes of men (that's another topic altogether).

But I did not like it that every move I took would have to be approved by my boss, our manager, our company guard. But there were ways to go around this.

First, be a lady and behave as you should. In the kingdom this would mean going out with women only or with their family, staying in the places designated for family only, and limiting interaction with men. That would be appropriate for me as I was attached and had a very faithful fiance back home.

Secondly, doing the things I said earlier would eventually win the trust of your male guardians. At any cost, win the trust of your guardians.

But what was a single lady to do for fun in the kingdom?

Mine was to go to their super duper malls and supermarkets. They were huge and expansive, so much land. You would even see huge and tall palm trees inside these malls. Food in the kingdom was as varied as the nationalities. There were even Filipino sections in the supermarkets. I loved their cheese and dairy section. Not only were there varied cheeses to choose from, but they were affordable. Arabs were basically milk drinkers so they had the best Danish Dairy and cheeses. Juice was fresh, and abundant. Their supermarkets were mostly European franchises so their food wares were such a joy of discovery from what we have here of mostly American brands. Equally joyful was the fact that most servers were Pinoys who would gladly help you with queries and even add a little serving of cheese and meat in your order. Good to know that Pinoys are known for being hygienic and clean so they get to serve the cheeses, meat, poultry and seafood section. Oh, I was surprised at Chinese restaurants. Most had Pinoy chefs :-)

Other than the supermarket, my favorite hang out was still IKEA in Riyadh.
Maybe because we did not have one back home. Or perhaps it was just too good a place to be in. Seeing those practical designs in a huge warehouse full of showrooms...you just had to visit it as often as you could.

Arab women have small get togethers and parties among themselves and here we danced and immensely enjoyed learnin from each other. The Pinoy singing talent (even if you didn't have one ) was shown off and their culture and dances tried and absorbed...the very sensual belly dancing. Lovely arab women they really were. They were / are such "fashionistas" underneath the abaya...think New York fashion week.

Families love going to picnics. You could actually mingle and talk with men provided they were with family. Join them and enjoy their food...mostly barbecue grilled meats called Kebabs and a lot of vegetable salads like Teboulleh, Spring rolls they call Sambosas.

One could also go to Batha, the Quiapo of Riyadh. This is where all Filipinos meet, and mingle. So much like Quiapo where you actually bargain and get to feel a sense of home with the taste of Pinoy treats like puto, pancit, dinuguang baka or manok, bibingka etc etc. You get to see the brands Pinoy oh so love...Nike, adidas, Sony...where you buy cameras, video cameras, TVs, DVD players, cell phones, SMART sim and load etc etc. Funny but they usually know if you are a first timer in Batha. You actually hear the loud whispers saying, "Bagong mukha".

You could also go to the Philippine Embassy and take part in their activities. The embassy is in a very nice compound where embassies of other countries are also located. The embassy usually sponsors Financial Literacy programs and medical missions. Here, you're definitely in Filipino soil so enjoy the freedom.

Now that I look at it, there were so much things to enjoy there. Good thing I took advantage :-)

The Saudi Woman at Home

Their ways are sometimes unreasonable, like why hide that beautiful fashion under a black dress, but it works for them. They are still able to take care of their children and work at the same time. And still enjoy being dressy among lady friends.

To each his own.

Love in the Kingdom

See and learn 2 young Saudis take on falling in Love the "Saudi Way".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmJ2jyAIlCU

The American Compound

This is one of the places we enjoyed staying in the kingdom. Here, one can enjoy the american culture, no clothes restriction, no gender segregation, the joys of compound-Country Club living. We called this the American Compound.

Yes Pinoys live here as well.

Men and Women segregated

I remember when I had to do a very simple task of paying through an ATM machine. The machine had all men and no woman around it. My male colleague had to excuse my presence and shield me from the prying eyes of the men talking to me through their eyes asking, "Why is she here?".

In all establishments, there is the female side and the men side.

Like in restaurants, the open areas (the usual table set up we see here at home) is reserved only for men. Women only eat in FAMILY SECTIONS and if a restaurant doesn't have a family section then that's no place for women.

A family section is made of dividers or curtains that segregate the family and women from men who can sit on open areas.

In the bank, the female section is made of women or if men have to face women, they can only talk through cubicle windows with a wall still separating them.

I would like to look at this as a cultural difference which must be respected. Pretty soon, changes will happen and if the barriers between men and women do come down and saudi women eventually are allowed to drive, or if they don't, either way, I'm sure it is a realization that the kingdom is better off this or that way.

By the way, if you're wondering how it is in the Supermarkets, there's no more separation when buying food or medicine is concerned.

Also if you are wondering how is it in malls when buying female needs, that's quite a story. Only men are allowed to be salespersons so...don't worry they're knowledgeable and understanding enough....you just have to be a little more open and a bit more patient in explaining what you really want (they're usually not saudi men, either pakistanis or Sri lankans) :-)

Life in Saudi Arabia

I wish I met this young girl when I was in the kingdom (click the videos on the right / on the video bar).



She has braces and that's what I did there, I was an orthodontist.

The earlier you start on braces, the better. But in the kingdom I seem to have more adult patients who would want their teeth straightened either before getting married or after marriage.

But to all of them, I always asked about their dreams and adviced them to get the education and not just stay home and bear children.

Empowerment of women is starting in the kingdom and I do pray it continues with the efforts of Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal.

The Tarha

Every woman in the kingdom would have to master how to wear the head dress or the TARHA.

Would you believe that the first few times trying to wear it, it took me longer than taking a shower?!!!!
I would have to take a shower, dry my hair and then ...the daunting task of putting it in place....whew! It made it harder because Filipino hair is straight and smooth (unlike theirs curly and wavy) that you had to put lots of pins to finally put it in place.

But that became our fashion statement in the kingdom. All of us had to go out of the house in ABAYA (that long black dress) but we had the freedom to wear the head dress in different colors and styles with the condition that no part of the neck will be seen.

Eventually got used to it and found it very useful in the winter months of October to March. BRRRRR!

     

The People in My Neighborhood

Dr. Sameer (Syrian tall guy) is my buddy dentist in the clinic. He is our medical director, very nice and helpful. He would advice me on all the Muslim ways I should follow. All others would be too shy to tell me upfront (what are these, coming up on my next blog).

Dr. Sabry is our Egyptian dermatologist. A very gentle, kind-hearted man, soft spoken. His looks doesn't match his character right? He's the father of the boy I was cuddling a blog before this.

These 2 gentlemen became my comfort buddies mainly because they spoke English. Our resident Lady dentist  and OB GYNE were both very helpful and kind but I'm just so sorry I wasn't fast enough to learn Arabic.

The pretty lady is Dr. Sameer's wife. I appreciate the time the whole family spent with me. The 3 kids so loveable and nice to their Auntie Mary.

      

This is Mirvat, our Egyptian receptionist. My translator, my savior. How in the world could she explain "tongue thrusting causing a class 2 malocclusion" is beyond me, but she did. 5 years married but still trying to have a child. Happy to share with you that finally, he has a son, Mohammed. We still keep in touch, broken english and all... but as they say, words don't matter. All we know is we still care what happens to each other in both our new worlds thousands of miles apart.

Our Sri Lankan driver, Nizmi (in white). My confidante in the clinic. I will forever be grateful for him for taking care of me in my queendom. The rule in the clinic was wherever I go, Nizmi should be following me...truly a queen....but between us, trust is the rule. I don't do anything to put him in trouble, or vice versa,

we're both happy.

Here is our joy in the clinic. Baby Masha. Her neame is Maria, daughter of my Syrian lady dentist. She calls me Auntie Mary and a day doesn't pass that I don't get a kiss from her. Pretty little girl, I miss her. She must be around 4 or 5 years old now.

I wish I could show you pictures of the very beautiful arab ladies close to me. But as Islam forbids pictures of women, I must just say that Arab women are "Miss Universe" material. They are very fashionable beneath those black dresses (I forget now what they're called) and head dress (tarha).

My boss is A very nice gentleman of Syrian descent- but now a Saudi National by virtue of his father being the dentist of the King. I heard he is only 1 of 2 transplant (liver and kidney) surgeons in the kingdom. Atleast  that's what I heard. He is also the only person able to convince me to have my father undergo Kidney transplant at 74 (http://chickensoupforthekidney.blogspot.com/ ). Thank God I listened to him, heaven-sent.

They say working in the Kingdom is scary. As I see it, just as how they see our own country as scary. But you have to experience it yourself  to find out.

I did.

It's not.

 

 

My look

I arrived at my Queendom looking like this.

October 8, 2005

Left 2 years after looking like this.

November 23, 2008

Seems like nothing has changed, but deep inside soooo much happened, soooo much to share,

sooooo much learned.

Our Look in the Clinic

Here are the Beautiful Pinay nurses in our clinic. That's Twinkle, Beefy, downgrade, of course, Witch is not in the picture. You may be wondering if the one at the left most is Pinay? No she's egyptian and yes, they also have black arabs in the kingdom.

  

There they are again now in their official clinic attire.

I learned to love all of them and miss them as well and their weird ways. Most of the nurses are Musims form Mindanao - only Beefy and Cat are catholics.

Would you like to see me at work?

Yes that's me smiling at work even if all covered up :-)

 

Yes that's me at play with our dermatologist's son.

And yes that's me sleeping at work....huli ako!

There is No Color in the Kingdom

In the clinic where I worked, we were 4 Syrian dentists, 1 Syrian OB-GYNE, and a "makulit" Pinoy dentist  with 5 "ultra makulit" Pinay nurses and 1 Egyptian black nurse. 6 Nurses for 6 doctors.

All of us Pinoys had the whole building to ourselves after office hours because our living quarters was just above the ground floor. We would have a lot of 'chikka' moments over dominos pizza and coke after work.

One thing I did notice was this. When a charcoal black arab would come in the clinic, you would see all the Pinoys staring at him. I am guilty of that as well. I just couldn't take my eyes off them. Whereas if I look at how my co doctors would see this "ebonies", not even a glance.

I realized then that we truly are a race of WHITE LOVERS. Deep inside all of us, we would all like to look as fair and as white as snow. Aminin mo!    

The Queen's first night in her palace - Oct 11, 2005

The minute I arrived at my workplace, I was very open minded about everything. This was a new place, the place I chose to work in for the next 2 years so I would embrace everything there was to accept and adjust to.

Welcome to Lamset Shefa, in English, The Curing Touch Consultative Clinics. My home would also be only a floor away from my work place. Pretty good deal I tought to myself. I was led to my 1-studio bedroom, to rest. But I really couldn't so I looked around to see my bed, my very own nook in the kingdom



My bed had a mattress that needed change, my desk was with a chair which needed some cushioning. Otherwise, this was my bed to sleep for the night, still alone and good enough.

The bed I thought was even nicer than the one I had at home. But of course, the warmth and coziness was not there.

The desk, good enough for me to study in for my dental licensure exams, big enough for all my papers and books to be placed in.




At the foot of my bed was my dresser and a cabinet for my clothes.

I though to myself, where would I hang my wet clothes after laundering? Also thought what would I place in my dresser...this eventually became my pantry as you see it.

As for my clothes, no problem as I was to wear scrubs to work and a lab coat over it.




At the right side of my bed would be my dining table and refrigerator. Happy to see that my ref had fruits and some cheese in it. Not to worry because I myself brought from home some corned beef and SPAM in cans and even a can opener all for myself.

I would learn to love fresh mango and orange juice and the flat bread you see on the table, a staple on my table which sometimes I would even make into a pizza pie. The bread would cost about P12 for 5 pieces of 12 inch round flat bread - a bargain, the 1.5 liter juice about P36 - for its freshness, only a fourth of what it would cost here at home.



On the right of my dining table would be my small kitchenette. They would laugh at me for bearing that small stove but for an amateur cook like me, many delicious meals have been born from this. My microwave oven was seldom used. I would experiment on a lot of new dishes, not for hunger sake, but for the sake of doing something other than work. My pantry of condiments which consisted mainly of suka and toyo eventually grew to host other condiments I was to discover in the kingdom.



And here is my washroom and dirty kitchen. In front of which would be my bathroom which I forgot to take a pic of.

I was thankful that I had most of what I needed and more, thinking that I would be living alone here all by myself. A big part of me welcomed the thought and perhaps even got very excited at the chance of taking care of myself.



Coming home at 3 am I woke up at almost noon, very hungry and suddenly looking for my family, the ready breakfast on the table then being hit by the, BIG "H" word. I decided to call my parents back home and tell them I was safely tucked in my own little home in the kingdom.My tiny palace I would, for 2 years, call home.

The Queen in her new home.