As flight QR 647 landed by 9.30pm at June 14, 2011, in Doha, Qatar... my life will never be the same again. And as I reached my one year mark, I look back and reminisce the ups and (a lot of) downs, the pros and cons, how I treated Doha as my new home, and how Philippines, my beloved country will always be missed.
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Choosing to choose Doha over PHL to live for a couple of years, maybe one of the hardest decision I've ever made. And I think, through out my senior year in college, I was deciding whether to go or not.There are a lot of things to consider-- people, places, culture, family. Half of my family is already living here, that be my parents and my youngest brother. And I was left with my two other siblings, juggling between being a Communication Arts student, and friend at school, and being a sister/mother/father at home. But I choose to leave PHL, for a lot of reasons, I would want not to mention anymore. Even though that means leaving my best friend, my friends, relatives, favorite places, siblings. Even if that means leaving my safety zone.
It was a hard road, a path I took that I always wonder (sometimes until now) if it's the right one. I was a foreigner to almost everyone, a fresher to every employer, a newbie to the elite Doha.
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There are a lot of adjustments I went through, dressing up was one of them (and gaaad! With this Doha weather, I am still not used to it). I was used to put on flip flops, a loose top, and shorts and I'd be seen chilling in the mall. But I can't now, and I understand and respect the culture I entered. Pork is also not easily available here, which is kinda not a problem for me, but still, it's new to me. The bipolar weather drives me insane, 40++ degrees for most of the year, and 10 degrees for a short lived winter. People's language and English accents are confusing too.
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| Parking Lot View from our Patio |
I noticed that there are a lot of round-abouts, and a lot (but not enough) parking lots! And shopping malls will always be full. It seems that there are one color for all the buildings, and that is off-white (or maybe white, then the sand covered it, I'm not sure). Cars, luxury cars, sports cars and more cars around. A lot of "drivers" hitting the road like crazy. And a lot of construction going on. And though there are some that looks at you like you're from another planet, a lot of people are friendly, and all smiles when you look at them. I guess, the best part of this is meeting a lot of people from different nationalities, you feel like you've seen that part of the globe because of the people you encountered.
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And as for the career side of my life. God, it was the harderst. I guess if you're going to look back and focus on my job, you may say that I have wasted more three-fourths of my stay here. Yes, I'm not proud that I had worked for only three months (almost four), but what I am proud of is that I have never settled for anything less than my dream. And as I hit my first year here, as I've been through a lot of interviews, a lot of emails and calls, I know that I am closer to the job that I love.
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| my q.media family! :) -- Dos(c) |
I came here as a fresher, and so most of the employers think that I may not be a good asset for the company, but *ehem*, modesty aside, my dear employers, I am one of the best there is! :) HAHAHA I am committed, competent and compassionate (yes, that is the 3 C's my university taught me to embody in whatever I do). And I am blessed that Ms. Latifa of q.media gave me the opportunity, even if it's a freelance job to be an Events Project Assistant. My time with qmedia, I think was the highlight of my year. Not only was I exposed to the corporate world, doing grown up stuff, dealing with high profile people, but also I experienced the whole world with the projects I was part of (Doha Trade Fair and Qatar Motor Show). Also, I get to work witht the amazing people/bosses. And I got to meet Chbani, my guy best friend! :) YAY!
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| Bday Celeb with ze best friend! :) |
And though there were a lot of frustrated, helpless, clueless and unemployed days, I believe that the job I want is really near. And I am more than happy to accept it. So stoked! And I know all good things are worth the wait.
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Lastly, as I looked back on that one year, I am thankful to Doha for welcoming me, and maybe treating me as its own. But I will always, always and I mean always, miss my beloved country, the Republic of the Philippines. And no matter how many people asked me in a day, no matter what nationality asks me (even the Filipino ones), why I don't look like a Filipina, I will never have an answer to your question, except to say that I am 100% Pinoy and proud to be. I may not be there, and you may be a third world struggling country, far different from the first world Doha, but I will always love you, and you will always be my home. See you for a visit soon, maybe?
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| Sunrise in Doha |
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| The Torch and Doha's sunset captured from the passenger seat |
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| The view from q.media's office |
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| My first purchase from my first salary |
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| Live. Love. Laugh. |
*photos from my iPhone
Things will get better, and brighter. BELIEVE♥
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