There's always a first time!

It's been 3 weeks since I have been away from home. When I say away, it means, 4ooo miles away. Yes, I am here in the land of nowhere, where everything is new. The place, the culture, the people, the weather , the religion. One by one, I have to deal with it. So, let's call it a "major-major" adjustment in Abu Dhabi!

When my dad accompanied me at the airport, I was damn nervous. You know that impression of most people have on the arab place? "Scary!" So I was so afraid. I saw my other colleagues with their parents and a bunch of friends with them, teary eyed and all that. My dad left already that I was alone with all my anxieties and there were not much emotional goodbyes for me to make. Well, that's a perk, I believe so... I should re assure myself that it's ok (coz I had no choice)..

There are a lot of perks though when you had traveled a lot already before. You already know how it feels like when the plane takes off, the turbulence, the immigration process, the baggage, etc. I was alone in my journey and I knew that I would make it. And yes I did! Although may mga kasama nmng Pinoy, they were all strangers to me that time. I just took few pictures though during my plane ride, for blogging purposes (hihi)

But..... A BIG But!!! it was my first time to travel for almost 12 hours via plane with a connecting flight in Singapore. Woohooo! I was shivering, dizzy and super bored that I had already finished 3 movies on board.

Now let me show you the airport that welcomed us in land of United Arab Emirates!

amazing, right? Yeah I was amazed! But then again, I was really anxious of the life beyond this beautiful things my eyes could see....Nung una kong makakita ng mga taong naka abaya halos lahat, bigla akong natakot. Oh em gee! eto na yun! At lalo kong naramdaman yung realidad nung nakaamoy nako ng kakaibang amoy. haha.. So kelangan tagalog, syempre para hindi maintindihan.

Okay let's see...
How does it feel like to be officially called as OFW? I have been hearing a lot of things about being an OFW..

malungkot, mahirap, etc, etc...
But then again, In my life in the Philippines, I was so independent that I was living away from home that at this moment, I felt like I am still living on my own, only that it's in a brand new world! Honestly, I don't feel like missing anyone yet. (aside from my dog)...Of course my family too, pero I know, kanya kanya na nmn kami ng buhay ngayon. Lahat nasa malayo na din. Well,  I hope it would feel like this until the end of 2 years. Maganda nga siguro yung wala kang masyadong naiiwan para d ka masyadong nasasaktan. (chos)

So far, so good... I just wanna share my first few "first times" in here...
The first time I exposed myself outside, I was sunburned. The temperature was 41 degrees and it was pricking hot. I bought some hydrating creams because my face and skin was super burned. My goodness! But the good thing is that, everything in here is centralized.

So after I had recovered from the heat shock, I was so amazed to hear that it's raining din pala in here. In fairness nmn.. I took pictures again.

It was so funny that even at work, the rain was so big deal. Everybody was talking about it. Ang saya ng lahat. Umuulan! haha
Well, so much about the rain. There are other new things that amazed me in this place. Another thing is when I have my journey to work, I always encounter camels walking and passing the streets. May nakalagay pa na signage, "Be careful, camels crossing". (sayang d ko napicturan!)

After few days that we get used with the people, my anxieties and worries slowly has been deteriorating. There was even one time when I went to the mall alone. I took the taxi and I left the plate number with my friends. Afterwards,  I could hear my heart pounding.... But then again, Thank God, I reached there and got home safely.

We also experienced the place in here that is "ala- Quiapo/Divisoria" ang dating... Everything you need to buy is there. We have to hurdle the prices and it was so cheap. When we get used to the place, we again took pictures...

That's the mosque at my back..

And that's the busy streets at night.

Then, while we were walking at the mall, we passed this atm machine, which looked like a vending machine. Instead of food, it's Gold to Go! Susyalan. So pagbigyan nyo na. First time din namin makakita nito. We were so wondering how much a little gold bar costs. Then we said, "Oh, kaya nmn pala ng sweldo natin. Not Bad! pero syempre, why would we waste our money for that dba?" wala lang, just to quench our thirst of curiosity.

A closer look...

Life is full of mysteries and uncertainties. We will never know what it's like when we never try. Sometimes, we get too scared that we never get out from our shells and at the end of the day, we would end up full of regrets and "what-might-have-beens". In this journey, I have learned a lot. I know that different challenges are waiting for me ahead. But then, I know that there's nothing bigger than my faith and my courage to conquer them all. Inshallah!... =)