The drawback is after six years as OFWs, we have yet to put up our physical home back in Baguio, we have yet to say we have hefty monetary investments.  Having our son stay with us costs us at least around AED 7500/ PhP 86,000 a month on top of our normal expenses. His school charges AED 9000 a year, among the cheap ones we could get. Of course he can’t study and play well at home if we remain sharing our room or apartment with others (like most Kabayans here, like how we were six years ago, sharing cramped rooms). That meant bearing AED 3500 additional rent and un-shared utilities. His dad and I leave for work five days a week, spending AED 1500 for somebody to look after him when we’re away. Oh, do you know that seeing our Gremlin devoid of playmates is costly too, driving him around especially on weekends calls at least AED 1500 a month.
 
Our above budget allows us minimum comfort in line with what we earn as 8am-5pm corporate employees. But do you know that there are fellow Filipinos having around half or less of what we earn yet manage to raise their families here? It’s a case of where there’s a will there’s a way. See our tailor friend. To raise their son here with their low family income, they sub-lease their apartment rooms to save on and earn from rent, and they also receive out-of-work sewing jobs from fellow Filipinos.

I believe OFW-ism is now taking a new definition. It's becoming more of a family act of working and living together abroad, whenever applicable.

I look to the time when the term OFW gets disassociated to disintegration of families. The world is now starting to become local; and soon continental distance is like travelling Baguio- Manila.  For one, there’s the ever evolving communication technology to thank for. Who doesn’t know Facebook and Chikka? Or Yahoo Messenger and Skype?

It used to be that degree holders if not a nurse or engineer, end up as domestic helpers. In this age however, the global job market has opened up for Filipinos. (I currently work as a Financial Analyst while my husband is a Software Programmer.) Even yet, Filipinos are now faring higher in the corporate ladder. More income means affording to live with the family in the host country, and even more.

I’d always gladly look back into my humble beginnings six years ago. In that partition (a small room inside a room) the size of our master’s bathroom now, I slept with three other Ate-s. It was so small, that our three pairs of feet inter-lap every night we hit the two beds set perpendicularly (a double deck and a folding bed passing underneath the double deck). In the other flat, Kuya G also experienced the same. In the kitchen, we cued to prepare our food. In the toilet, we held our toiletries and towels as we take our turns standing by the bathroom door. All of us came on visit visas and looked for work when we landed.

But things are different for everyone of us now. Kuya G, five years after bringing his family over, just uprooted them out of Dubai to Doha yesterday to take on as country head of the Swiss multinational company he works for.  Just recently, his family of six toured Europe for some three weeks. Kuya G continues to inspire me and others. He always says "You can do it!".


I guess one trick to getting the most of being an OFW is to be among people in a better standing and be inspired by and learn from them. But there is quite greater fulfillment when we look back at those struggling behind us and help them get better.

 Other friends, while they may not inspire, do have their experiences/ struggles/ challenges to share – getting jailed for inability to pay loans and credit cards; getting jailed for drunk driving;  getting bankrupt in the personal business;  getting fined AED 50,000 for subleasing a rented villa; getting duped by illegal recruiters; getting an employment ban; surviving without work and hunting for one after being made redundant during the recession. More than anything, it’s not how they failed, but how they picked their selves up, earned wisdom from the experience, and share their lessons to others so they will avoid going through the same hardships.

These do drive the OFW down, but I've seen that the fastest way back on track is keep the family in focus.

My husband and I do have our own struggles and challenges, and we would start getting over it with a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee and a Baskin Robbins ice cream =) And when coffee and ice cream cannot seem to solve it, a glance to our Gremlin is already enough to tell us there's more than deciding to give up. And most often, we emerge thanking the wisdom, knowledge and experience earned for conquering the challenge.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There's something good in being an OFW that's why we opt to be. 

The line I heard six years ago applying to every OFW could be a cliche' but it will never become outdated -- "Just always keep in mind what you left the country for, and everything will be fine"

Most OFWs would say "I'm here for my family", which is an unconscious answer that the OFW contributes to a better Philippines when he/ she works for the best interest of his/ her family.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lower part was my sketch asking for directions, that's all roundabouts. The upper is the Gremlin's sketch.

Our destinations: Jebel Hafeet and Al Ain Wildlife Zoo.

  The thrill of driving through Jebel Hafeet's ascending 1240 meters' zigzag road makes it an attraction.

Unlike our first nightfalldrive up Jebel Hafeet, we did it on daylight this time, giving a better view of the rock formations which are amazing. 

 

I was told those ranges forms part of the Oman border

See the duo in red and orange. They're sitting on the tip!

 Weather is still warm hence the horizon is still hazy, we could have taken better photos. 

At the foot of the mountain is Green Mubazzarah, a park with hot water springs gushing little streams

By 4pm , we were at  the wildlife zoo. Already tired (exacerbated by the heat), we tried to cover as much so we could leave by 6pm. Two hours wasn't enough though. I think that a visit on winter is better (it seems they put out more animals and that the cool temperature is less energy-draining).

By the way, tiring a li'l boy around animals could make him grouchy, you might end up scolding him and he acts up as:

  But overall, a road trip pleases him like this:

Arriving to work with this window

And then the fog clears

In this side of Silicon Oasis. Notice at far end is Sheikh Zayed Road with Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower.

More than anything, the thought of these blue skies relaxed me. It meant, cooler weather  is around the corner =)


Dubai's beaches are well regulated. Police cars/ beach patrols are always visible. Rules abound - no cameras, no alcohol, no animals, no "horniness" (have you came across the jailed Brit couple for allegedly doing s_x on the beach?). Look for the full list on the boards in case you need a guide which to avoid =)

By open beaches, it simply meant for me no green landscapes, no entrance fees, no barbeque/ grilling.

Beach parks (Jumeirah and Al Mamzar) meanwhile charge some AED 5 per person on entrance fees. And that's for access to among others -- kids playground; picnic areas, barbeque sites, volleyball or even basketball courts.

Dubai's weather at this time makes the best for beaches since it's not too hot to burn the skin, nor cold to make one sick =)

I wonder how is the beach season on other places now?

Gaining weight may still be acceptable at some level (my body mass index is normal), however if the weight is accumulating at the wrong place, it is all but good =( . How about a bulging belly?

Gremly Son acts: