What is it like to live and work in the Middle East?

By Alon Calinao Dy: Middle East countries remain the top choice these days for many people who want to make a difference and experience a diverse environment. It is a rich learning experience for a variety of reasons:

Photo credit: Olive Bryan Padua (MOH Kuwait)

• Personal growth - Some say that relationships are not truthful in nature in the Middle East and when you are gone, some people whom you called friends would twist and disrespect you. This is a personal development as you become aware and knowledgeable on how to deal with different personalities. 
• Cultural experience - I have learned about different people, their cultures, and different nationalities. I enjoy talking and socializing with other nationals. But the most significant thing of all is respect. I have to respect their religion, views, and who they are as people.
• Save money - It is true that I dwell in a tax-free country with few expenses. The money I earned in the Middle East enabled me to support my family in the Philippines. That's why I'm so thankful for my monthly income.
• Skill and career development opportunities - I have established a good reputation as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW). I am always positive, optimistic, and flexible at work. I am also open to new and exciting career options because I am not afraid to explore new things wherever opportunities lead me.
• Human rights awareness - The laws are not always evenly applied in the Middle East like some countries in Asia. It is true that it is better for you to shut your mouth and determine not to discover anything. But the good thing is, you begin to thoroughly understand your rights as a person against human rights abuses.

Photo credit: Marie Grace C. Lim

I don’t bear a single regret about the time I have spent in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. These countries unfold my eyes to see the real world and in better perspectives. I become open to fresh ideas, to new people and to different ways of doing things. 

In my stay in Kuwait, I have known Olive Bryan Padua  for more than two years who worked as a staff nurse in Ministry of Health. I also worked in the same profession in MOH, but that was months ago. I remember Bryan loved to sing and play guitar during his free time or rest day after work. He was industrious and still working too hard for his family. He is a wonderful person.

In the Gulf, you will encounter sandstorms that it is good for you to spend the whole day at home. You can actually do a lot of things on your own time and convenience at home. Chess is what I usually played with my buddy Julius Macabuhay whom I considered a great chess player and a grandmaster. I admit I always lost in a game when I played against him. 

If you love the sport of basketball, then my friend Sherwin Lim is the person you need to call. He is an easy-going, kind, and sports-minded person. Losing weight is not a big problem.

These are some of the things I normally did when I felt bored in Kuwait. I was so grateful that I had free furnished accommodation, transportation, paid annual leave, and a good income during my time.

I guess it always depends upon a person on how he/she considered his/her Middle East Experience. Personally, I have experienced many things and seen new parts of the world. Indeed, I have to show a deep respect to a wide range of nationalities despite differences in various aspects of life. 

Not only that, I have to sacrifice for my loved ones just like any OFW. I have to save my hard- earned money for potential emergencies or future use. I need to live a comfortable life and come up some alternatives where I can be with my children when they grow old. I believe everyone deserves a prosperous life.

A Crazy Senior Cath Lab Nurse

By Alon Calinao Dy: When I was a Cath Lab nurse in Chest Diseases Hospital, the hours of work could be exhausting and punishing for some but not for me. I was constantly interested to learn new things and I regarded the real excitement with it. That's why overwhelming stress, which could contribute to severe mental and physical health problems was nothing for me, since I always considered things positive at work. Thus, I could cope up with any difficulties in my job and could make friends easily.

One day I met this Filipino senior nurse who worked in the Cath Lab for adult patients. He was a male nurse like me. At first, he seemed nice and easy going individual. I was so happy at the time because I came across a fellow Filipino in the Middle East. We frequently talked to each other and made funny jokes about everything. 

Until one time, he told me that Cath Lab was the best department of all nursing stations in the hospital. He then asked me where I would like to be stationed if I was given a chance to choose a place. I thought he was not serious about his question, so I argued back as a joke and said to him that anywhere was just okay for me. He was offended by my answer, but I never thought that he would get that joke seriously.

Three days had gone things were quite normal between us, except that later in the day, I heard the nursing supervisor complained me of something I did not do. A statement of complaint about me was that I was missing at the start of my duty. To be specific, I was absent for 4 hours, seriously? My close friend Sherwin knew what exactly happened because I was talking to him that day while  he was waiting for his Ministry bus way back home.

Yes, I had many witnesses that would prove I was working with them at the outset of our duty. I also had eyewitnesses that would indicate that my Filipino senior nurse was the one who called our nursing supervisor to complain about me. After knowing this, I confronted him. I told him why he did not tell the whole truth that he saw me at work. He denied all the allegations that he was the one who drew a complaint. 

Two foreign nurses playing computer games while on duty

But rather, he blamed other senior nationalities who made a charge. When in fact, my colleagues told me that he was the one who phoned our nursing supervisor. Not only that, I saw with my own eyes these seniors including the Filipino playing video games and watching shows instead of performing their duties and responsibilities. I took photos to be used as evidence after they made a complaint against me. The picture clearly showed that they were watching videos during their hours of work. 

When I presented this evidence to the nurse manager, the nurse manager spoke with them in Arabic. I did not understand their entire conversation because they talked in Arabic fluently. But because they were seniors, they could hide their wrongdoings in order to avoid being exposed. Ministry of Health in Kuwait was paying them a good amount of money for them to work properly, but then they abused this privilege. A chance your voice being heard was low because the system was predominantly based on seniority or Wasta (Nepotism).

I found out that not all OFWs could be trusted. I didn't realize I would be betrayed by a fellow Filipino whom I called a friend. I didn't even say bad words on his personality at the beginning till I had recognized his true color. Even so, I treated him with respect and dignity since I still considered him as my senior nurse even though he disrespected me. I never lied or stayed in one seat for 4 hours or longer. That was extremely excessive and unacceptable circumstance that happened to me. I was a victim and would never ever forget about all those lies I encountered! 

I posted this story to a thousand of readers so that they could learn something from my experience overseas. As I said earlier, not all OFWs are true friends. It's better to have few good friends instead of many acquaintances who would pull you down in the end. Despite what happened, I still need to forgive and forget all the unpleasant memories. I thanked God for all the blessings he gave me, and I am still having these days.

Thank you for reading!

Not All OFWs Are Cheaters

By Alon Calinao Dy: I am a proud Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), a poetry lover, a blogger, an author, a sports writer, and a nurse by profession.

International Medical Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Due to high unemployment rates for Filipinos in the Philippines, especially for nurses, many workers tend to move out of the country for better opportunities. It is true that there are many competent Filipino workers, but they don't have chances to showcase their gifts and skills.

I recall after I graduated from college, I couldn't find a nursing job suitable for me even though I already passed the Philippine Nursing Licensure Exam and international exams in the US. 

Until today it has been vivid in my mind that I underwent a bunch of trainings to many tertiary hospitals and I was the one who paid for my trainings instead of them paying me for my services. But it was alright because at that time I really wanted to provide my services to my countrymen without expecting in return.

After I acquired almost three years of experience at the Fatima University Medical Center, I determined to work abroad because life became tough for me. Although my parents were very supportive and kind, I made bold decision for myself to go on my path.

Ever since I have been an independent soul, my parents knew about it, trained me when I was a high school student in the seminary. Besides, because I want to marry my long-time girlfriend, who is now my loving wife, need to prove to everyone that I could stand on my own.

Thus I worked first in Saudi Arabia, then found a much better opportunity in Kuwait while I am currently waiting for my immigrant application in the US.

I found out about the cheating issues when I was an expat four years ago. Men and women are alike; they are merely humans who feel the urge like wild beasts. But remember, humans are not savage animals who have just escaped the cage. They know right from wrong; therefore, it wholly depends upon them if they are going to cheat on their wives and husbands.

For about five years I worked in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi and Kuwait, I encountered some bad men and women who are unfaithful to their loved ones. I don't know if they are only looking for fun and "Love and belonginess" by Maslow's Hierarchy.

Perhaps, they are simply at the developmental stage. I'm not certain. Or possibly, they need intimacy, which is the sixth stage of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development that usually takes place between the ages of 19 and 40. Whatever the reason is, cheating is cheating. It is like stealing a small or large amount of money. The act itself is still stealing. 

Nevertheless, I would like to clear everything that not all OFWs are cheaters. I recognize they may feel lonely, homesick, ignored, unhappy, bored, thirst for love, but they can still think right for themselves. They still conduct good values they have learned from their own parents and respective schools. Overall, they hold a great fear towards God.

I detest people who think negative things. I don't know if these are their strategies to separate happy families. Beware of these sort of people. I just want to protect the poor families because not all they read or hear are true. They should fold their ears to some unreliable sources. I strongly encourage them to endure and trust their OFW families because they really need it.

And for those greedy, lying bastards and deceivers, get lost!

Certainly, male OFWs can have many adoring women. But the truth is, they are simply insecure. Their self -esteem is often extremely low. That is why they look for love and other lovers who fill those cracks. They look for sexy and beautiful adult females; they are dimmed by their sex drive. But what they don't have is the right thinking or judgement. 

And for those women who screw their husbands, wait, I think they are crazy and jerks!

A piece of advice: if sex is not enough for you, then you have applied whores. Sex is not important than love, although they are equally indispensable. When people grow old, they often don't need sex, but a companion who would love them till the end. A true love is difficult to find nowadays, especially if people don't deserve it. 

I don't desire to be rude or hurt anyone. I just want to be true to everyone. I have great concern for their families, as much as possible, they should stick together and defend one another.

Filipino Migrant Writers' Society in Kuwait

Some people can cook up stories to destroy some families, but if the foundation of every family is solid, no one can break them. But if it is like a rotten wood, then everything will turn into slices. 

As temptations are everywhere, people should not forget their real purpose why they work overseas, and that is, to support financially the basic needs of their kins. And most importantly, to express how much they love them in the extent to give their own happiness for them.

Moreover, for those people who have zilch to do with their life, but create only gossips, I pity them!

I need only one thing, please refrain doing undesirable deed towards others. These people are not public figures or celebrities who appear on the tv screens.  These are actual people who have families who depend upon them. These are real heroes who work long hours each day, even though they have demanding employers who always see their every mistake. 

They are OFWs who make sacrifices and left their own families in hopes that they would be able to give a shiny future for their loved ones. 

Yes, they are the ones who battle for homesickness, but then other people belittle, abuse, and defraud them with their twisted lies. 

They are true heroes, but most people don't appreciate everything they do for their family and country; consequently, they have been labeled as cheaters, pretenders, and other hurtful names.

Job in Kuwait Oil Company

By Alon Calinao Dy: This is a great opportunity for Filipino nurses and other nationals to apply nursing jobs in one of the most biggest and respected Oil Company in the world, which is Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

Photo credit of nurses job vacancy

This company provides everything for its employees who sincerely work with them. KOC has the means to give better pays from minimum wage of 80,000 to 150,000 PhP every month with free accomodation and transportation allowances.

From 2011 to early 2014, I worked as a registered nurse in the Ministry of Health (MOH), I would say that government pays you a higher salary than any other private hospitals in Kuwait. It also provides you free transportation and housing. I recently resigned in the MOH because my first option is to work as a registered nurse in New York, USA.

However, KOC always spoils its employees as they offer a wide range of benefits they would surely enjoy and stay a long period of time.

It is not surprising why expatriates in Kuwait, who work in the government and private sectors, are still aiming to apply in KOC until today. It's truly a source of pride and good income for all people in the region.

So what are you waiting for, apply now! This is your chance to earn a good living. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Good luck and God bless!!! 

Amazing Marina Seaside in Kuwait

By Alon Calinao Dy: Marina Seaside is one of the coolest places in the State of Kuwait. My close friends considered this tourist spot as a paradise since it's a perfect hideout for people who want to have family picnics or social gatherings.

If you want something different, then you might be interested to roam around the area and watch the most amazing luxury yachts on display. I had a unique experience sailing beautiful yacht from Salmiya to Failaka island two years ago, where bullet marks and other remnants of Gulf War between Iraqi forces and Kuwaiti soldiers are still visible today.

Marina Seaside is romantic at night. Don't close your eyes because you would spot relaxed and colorful surroundings around you. If you want a stress-free environment, then this is a right place for you.

You would definitely feel the sea breeze and gentle touch of fresh air in your face. You would have a chance to listen the laughter of children around you. When you see children laughing, it makes you feel happy. This is a safe and nature-friendly environment for kids. I would recommend this place for everyone who is looking for a great nightlife. 

Kuwait

By Alon Calinao Dy: Kuwait, officially known as The State of Kuwait, is a small, rich, and wonderful country in the Middle East. It is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. It is also believed as the 11th richest country in the world per capita.

Here are some of my pictures in Kuwait. These photos are intended to familiarize people with new surroundings in the country.

This is where I work at Chest Diseases Hospital (formerly known as Kuwait Heart Center) in Sabah Region, a specialized health care facility that treats patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Inside catheterization laboratory, an area of my expertise.

A photo of two Kuwaiti teenagers at the Marina Mall in Salmiya, Kuwait.

This is a loving portrait of an Indian family that reminds me of my own.

My friends during our seminar at Crowne Plaza Hotel & Restaurant in Farwaniya, Kuwait.

This is our Hostel Caretaker. We called him “Baba,” a term in Arabic, which means father.

This is my picture, enjoying the warmth of the sun outside the Geant Mall.

This basketball court is near the Catholic Church alongside the ocean. Once a week, I visit this place to play basketball.

A Catholic Church/kanisa in Kuwait City where I usually attend mass every Friday.

A huge statue of Blessed Virgin Mary, a mother of Jesus Christ, within the Catholic Church Cathedral.

This is a Sri Lankan Catholic Festival. They offer their food products at a low price during this special occasion.

Kuwait City is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy the taste of ice cream.

Of course, The Liberation Tower, symbolizing Kuwait’s freedom from Iraq. Everyone loves to take a photo from this structure because of its magnificent history.

This is my group called Filipino Migrant Writers' Society, a literary migrant writers’ guild in Kuwait.

A lovely couple, Mr. & Mrs. Sherwin Lim, eating their dinner at Crowne Plaza Hotel & Restaurant in Farwaniya, Kuwait.