ETKT 065 2402788636 via Saudi Arabian Airlines, Terminal 11 Arrival Time 2050 Dammam
Arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at a temperature of 38 degree celcius, 09/09/2010, Wednesday at 2200 hours via Saudi Arabian Airlines Dammam-Riyadh flight. Upon setting my foot on this part of the world, I asked myself, WHY AM I HERE? This was the place I was told NEVER to go to, but, well, I JUST ARRIVED!! Reality bites but I committed myself to making my stay in the kingdom, not all work but also some sort of fun.
FIRST IMPRESSION: A-ha, so this is Saudi, ey? So where's the desert and the camels? All I saw were lights and buildings ('twas nighttime when we arrived)! And while it's true that men wear white long dress with headdress and women wear long black dress called abaya, which we were told to bring and wear once we arrive and so, immediately wore it upon stepping off the plane, some men also wear a "more westernized" outfit. Terrorized? Not really. Surfed facts from the net about Saudi, Dammam specifically, prior to coming to the kingdom. Disappointed, yes. Men at the airport were just too slow facilitating papers. Took us 4 hours before we left the airport exhausted, sleepy and hungry.
TRAVEL TO MCH - Luggages women carry on travel almost always won't fit a bus. 13 girls travelling in a shuttle bus was almost like a sardine, but we fit in and travelled to Maternity and Children's Hospital for a night's accomodation. Vividly remembered the big, thick door that opened for us when we entered the waiting area and the long greetings they have for each other: Greetings was Waasalamalaykum. Repllied with waalaykum salam. Sometimes followed by waramatula albarakat. Since it was night time when we arrive, I heard them greet "sabah alnoor"....hmm, time consuming! But it didn't bother me at all. I was focused on where to lie down because I was too sleepy that time.
MATERNITY AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL - Brought by a Saudi male driver and a Saudi female nurse to MCH Hostel, where we thought would be our destination. Barely new hospital, everything new there, including the hostel and everything that's inside. Stayed there for 2 days and made friends with the other 12 girls who arrived with me.
12 OTHER GIRLS - I arrived in KSA with these girls, knowing only Inah whom I met at the Saudi Recruitment Office 2 days before our flight but never really remembered her face. I kept calling one girl Inah who happened to be Rose, of whom I later met on our first breakfast. Among the 12, it's only Inah, Rushelle, Donna, Rose and Roshelle whom I remember. Disappointing that I don't even remember the name of my roommate at MCH! I'm just too poor at remembering names.
SALAH (Prayertime) - Salah is done 5x a day in the kingdom. Prior to the prayer, an announcer would make a call for prayer who uses a loud speaker to inform or remind every Muslim for prayer. Ex-saudi's explained to us what we heard and I find it, well, creepy at first. But I got used to it!
FIRST SAUDI BREAKFAST - amazed with the QUANTITY of food they delivered for a meal! Seems like one serving is meant for 4 persons. The usual MOH stuff - bread, cream cheese, coffee (I don't drink coffee, 'tho), a bottle of water and some foods I never really liked, maybe because they're all strangers to me.
MOH INTERVIEW - Saturday 10am, while doing the laundry in our pajamas, were told to go to "Moderiya" (Ministry of Health office). Never did we thought that, that would be the last time our group could be together. Question asked to me: What are the different modes of ventilator? Same question asked to Rushelle, Donna and Inah. A question we never thought would bring us to Dammam Central Hospital. Other girls were assigned to different hospitals and dispensaries in the Eastern Region.
DAMMAM MEDICAL COMPLEX - a 485 bed capacity tertiary hospital, formerly Dammam Central Hospital, located at 4th St, Dammam City. Specifically assigned to ICU, a 33 bed capacity department, where Indian nurses rule! I mean, majority of them are Indians; Saudi's next then Filipinos and some Indonesians. Have seen only 2 male nurses, the rest females. The sound of ventilators and cardiac monitors didn't bother me but sure gave me anxiety knowing that this is a new place, new adjustment with equipments but more so with the people.
HOSTEL 3 - the hospital has 3 hostels, ours was at hostel 3, kinda' old but we don't mind as long as Rushelle, Donna, Inah and I were together. We were temporarily housed at the guest room at the ground floor where there are 4 single beds but we opted to put together 3 beds so we could sleep together. And so developed the friendship which we have until now. It was there where we told stories of our lives, what made us decide to come here and some of our personal backgrounds. We had the same schedules and we're always together sleeping, eating, going on duties. How I miss that room!
FLAT 6 - After 2 weeks came the reality that we can't be together forever. Our hostel matron informed us that she've found a place for us to stay. And so Inah and I were assigned to Flat 6 while Donna and Rushelle at Flat 14, which is 2 floors away from our flat. Ours was dainty and spic and span with everything we need - sofa, TV, dining table and chairs for 4, cooking range, a ref, washing machine, a hot and cold shower, almost everything except a wifi. What I like about out flat is the cooing sound of pigeons flying on our windows, but not liking them making po-po on the building. We have other 2 flatmates who, at the very first time, were told were mean and true enough, Inah and my patience were sorely tested but hey, we're staying here no matter what!
FIRST TRAVEL outside the hospital: Invited by Mam Carmen, our Nurse Educator to join her in her church. There, for the first time, saw a congregation of Filipinos. Feels like home, in a different situation, in a strange place.
MOVIE MARATHONS - when nobody but Donna has the laptop and haven't had our salary yet, we simply enjoyed being together and watched movies previously downloaded in the Philippines. Spent most of the time on bed with Inah, Rushelle, Aizza (who came 2 weeks ahead of us) and Donna munching on oranges, doritos, lays, bread and cream cheese. This is what I missed the most - a very simple beginning.
FIRST McDONALD's EXPERIENCE: Mam Carmen brought us to McDonald's near Rameez and mesmerized with a food chain being closed during prayer time and men and women ordering and eating separately, except for the Family section where men, usually the father or brothers could eat with their families. And the McDonald's sandwiches, fries and drinks were huge! Not the usual Filipino size! No rice for chicken meal, 'tho.
MEDICAL: Had our medical exams for employment and application for Iqama, a residence ID. Couldn't forget the gauge 12 needle that pricked my median cephalic vein for blood sampling. Hate that thing!
THE FIRST SHOUT - On our first week, we were told by the nursing office to submit a picture with our black tarha on but we didn't have any. And were also told that there's one studio near the hospital where we can go have our picture taken. Planned to go there but the matron said there's no available driver who will bring us to the place so we decided to just go without the matron knowing. We told her we will go to the bacala, a store near the hospital but decided rather to cross the street and walked through the studio and had our ID picture taken. Unknowingly, the matron asked the guard to go after us and when he didn't see us at the bacala, she suspected we went to the studio and when we came back to the hostel came also the first shout of "MGA WALANGHIYA KAYO, ANG KAKAPAL NG MUKHA NYO". Humbled by our lyings, we asked for an apology but the matron was so furious and didn't accept the many sorry's we said. Until now, when she would see us, she seemed so paranoid as if we would be doing some mischievous stuff to her again. She was a road traffic accident survivor and with the brain surgery she undergone which resulted to her different moods, we tried to extend as much patience and understanding as we could with her shoutings and frettings. Until when would we be patient to her, I do not know!
DHAHRAN MALL - The Ministry of Health provides free ride to Souq, a marketplace, every Saturday from 5pm -9pm; to HyperPanda, others call it Rameez, every Monday, and to Dhahran mall every Tuesday. First time we had our names listed on one Tuesday of October 2010 and experienced malling in this 11,000 square meter mall, one of the biggest in the Kingdom. Such a worldly pleasure!
RIDE TO SOUQ - A souq is a marketplace. The first time was a laughing adventure. It's always like that when we lack sleep, we tend to laugh at things nonsense but sure enjoyed it a lot! In a group, we walked through streets and going in and out of the different stores but what we liked the most is the Makati grocery store where all Filipino foods can be purchased at a more expensive price. But we love the things they sell there - 80% Filipino.
STILL, CHURCH MATTERS - this time, mine. On October 1, Lee, Jackie, Joshua and Holly- the McMorn's picked me up at DMC and brought me to my Church where I feel no more a stranger but fellowcitizen in the Kingdom. Just loved the place and the people there.
AL KHOBAR ADVENTURE - It was a Church thing. Inah, Rushelle and I attended a bonfire activity. First time to set our barefoot to the Persian Gulf overseeing the Bahrain Bridge. Kees drove us to that place. Beautiful adventure with beautiful people!
WARD ROTATION - After a month of stay at ICU, were informed that we will be rotated to the different wards, of which I was hesitant at first but eventually learned to love the people I worked with and the place I worked at. All the 4 wards I was assigned to (2 weeks each) were disappointing, exciting, sometime boring but it's always work. Assigned to Female Surgical Ward A, B and C (FSA, FSB, FSC) and lastly, the best of them all, Female Medical Ward, the busiest of all the wards where I lost 2 kilos in just 2 weeks! :)
FIRST PAYCHECK - after 2 months came the most awaited salary - on a check! Encashed it and off we rushed to Jarir to purchase a notebook. Mine was a netbook and a digicam. Finally, a connection to the world!
MOTTAWA ENCOUNTER - Let me recall what actually happened. Inah, Rushelle and I headed to Dahran Mall but decided to cross over Jarir Plaza opposite the mall and have Inah bought a notebook at Jarir bookstore. It was almost 7pm when we felt the need to fill in an empty stomach so Inah and I walked through the center aisle to look for something to eat when a mottawa, a religious police, caught us without a tarha on our head and shouted "cover your hair, sisters, cover your hair." Nervewrecking indeed! Inah and I put on our tarha immediately, which were hanged on our necks and instead of finding a resto or a fastfood, we ended up at a sports store where I bought my first Nike shoes for half the price of 125rials. What a great find! Thanks to the mottawa!
FIRST RAIN - Our first rain came with the Mottawa experience. We were at Jarir Plaza when the rain started to fall and caught it on a video which until now I haven't uploaded yet. One of my memorables.
SAUDI COUNCIL - A saudi licensing body for professionals. Adel, our Saudi Council officer couldn't just understand the need for us to immediately facilitate our papers so we could get a temporary license, a requirement for Iqama and so we have to go to Al Khobar, Saudi Council main office 4x before we finally got this freaking temporary license and have spent more than a thousand rials, registration fee, included, on fares and foods. Got mine 2 weeks ago and finally, an IQAMA.
FRIDAY's on a Wednesday - Had dinner at Friday's Khobar on our 120th day. Supposed to avail of the 35rial lunch but we ended up ordering from the regular menu. Enjoyed it more with friends/colleague who only had 4 hours sleep after a night shift and will go back to work later that night.
CHILLIN' at CHILI'S- An Egyptian consultant from Saad Specialist Hospital, Rushelle's friend, invited us over for dinner. We chose Chili's and have him pay 500++ rials for the 4 of us (Inah, Rushelle, myself and himself). He brought us back to our hostel in BMW! On Facebook, a friend said, "you're dangerous.....dangerous on the pocket!" LOL!
MEN in SAUDI - How do I find men in Saudi? Saudis are exempted from my comments for my safety. Hahaha......But in general, I find most men in Saudi craving for more from women. Everytime they see women, they get to stare at us for reason I do not know. Or maybe because they seldom see women without a tarha or an abaya on.
BUILDINGS AND STREETS- Arabian touch. Most of the buildings here look the same. Until now, I'm lost with buildings and streets and find it embarrasing when being asked where I live because I couldn't give a concrete direction. I'm not a good navigator! Sigh!
KUYA OLAN - found a friend, a good, defensive, trustworthy driver, cook, adviser, who help us explore our new world. Rolando Viray, a Filipino and works here for 9 years whom we call kuya O, is the one making suggestions for us where to go, where to dine, where to spend a day off, etc. Almost all of the places we went into were his ideas. He would also transact businesses for us and we felt blessed to have known him.
ICU/ER BEAUTIES - Aizza created this group for Facebook. A group of new nurses who invaded ICU and ER- myself, Inah, Rushelle, Donna, Aizza, Geraldine, Jinky, Judy, Rose Ann and Francelle. These girls rock!
CAFETERIA - MOH provides free food for employees. Ours is ready to eat foods and always broasted chicken, beef or fried fish of the same variety and cooking. On Wednesdays is bariani chicken and rice and I never really liked spicy and hot. Skipped all Wednesdays and resorted into bread or none at all.
KADEER, THE GUARD - Most of our hostel guards are lax but not Kadeer, whom we call Jonathan. He's kinda' strict but we knew his weakness: FOOD! So we started giving him pepsi and something he could munch on during duties and he started loosing his belt on us. Indeed, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach!
FIRST CHRISTMAS - On duty from 3pm-11pm December 24 and went home with a party awaiting, actually a despedida party for a colleague who've spent 20 years in the Kingdom. Enjoyed the dancing and singing with newfound friends.
NEW YEAR 2011- Never planned on celebrating new year but celebrated it anyway - with a blast! After our 11pm duty, dressed up and attended a party in our Bosses' room and I'd say, it was a wonderful celebration even when we're longing for our families who are miles away from us on this special day!
COLD WEATHER - never really thought that temperature here could drop down to 8 degrees (the coldest I've experienced). A humid country now experiencing cold weather and I have to purchase jackets because I only brought 3; to suit the cold weather. Temperature ranged from 8-16 degrees and hope it'll last forever.
CORNICHE, DAMMAM - Planned on spending a day off one Friday at the bayside and so we did with he ER/ICU beauties with Kuya Olan and his wife, Ate Ning and another driver-friend, Faisal. 'Twas a great, breezy cold night out there. Thanks to Kuya Olan's and Geraldine's cooking, we had a wonderful time. And yes, of course, Francelle's DSLR cam. The activity was sooo cool and cold! We ended up at Starbuck's for hot choco for me and coffee for them!
LAUGHING MOMENTS - The greatest time for me are our friend's laughing moments over jokes cracked by Jinky or Rose Ann. We love to laugh our hearts out, til we drop. There are 4 moments I enjoyed laughing out loud and long: 1. At Souq with Inah, Rushelle and Donah; 2. in the bathroom while doing the laundry, with Inah; 3. At McDonald's with Jinky, Rose, Rushelle and Judy; and 4. At Rameez, with Jinky. I couldn't exactly remembered why I laughed but I sure remembered I laughed out loud and long and I just loved those times!
THE FRIENDSHIP - Indeed, I am enjoying my stay in the kingdom because I have friends here. They're making my stay a bit of heaven in the desert! Thank you, Rushelle, Inah, Aizza, Jinky, Judy, Rose, Geraldine, Donna, Francelle, Kuya Olan, Ate Vicky, Evan, Len, Kees for your friendship. You're God-given gift to me in place called Saudi Arabia.
Lastly, on my 150th day in the kingdom, I wish I could learn, appreciate and see more of the many good things in the Kingdom. I know there'll be more and I look forward to the day when I will finally say, hey, it's worth being in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia!
