Scene

500 Hundred Days of Summer

Summer: I woke up one morning and I just knew.
Tom: Knew what?
Summer: What I was never sure of with you.

My first 31 days in the Gulf

It’s been exactly a month now since I set foot in Bahrain and I haven't posted anything yet about the country! Wish I could have fed you with stories about how warm and nice are the people in this country, or something like wandering off into their desert land. Or at least I could have written here a narrative of my first encounter with real camels, but no: I've had to go to the office the morning after I arrived + I had to deal with tons of adjustments!!!(culture, society, and language - they all speak Arabic in the office, I cannot understand a word and I feel so left out) + homesickness + I've got to walk early in the morning to be in the office (riding a cab here is sooo expensive!), + I do all the laudry myself + I've had some psychosomatic illnesses (lack of appetite, insomia, chronic colds, dizziness, headaches) during my first week! LOL. I was exagerrating on this part, but I swear I did have a bit of each illnesses!

A big thanks to Dwight who taught me everything I need to learn in my first month of stay. You see, even way back in the Philippines, I'm a borderline retarded when it comes to being street-smart. I'm coward. I don't want to walk in streets alone. I am praning of getting lost in places and I'm the 'something-bad-might-happen-to-me' type of person. But he supported me all the way to make me feel everthing's fine. He even wakes up every morning before 7 just to fetch me in my flat and make hatid until I got familiar with my way to the office. He also assured me that this side of the world is a lot safer. wink* wink*

But I'm good now. Really. Happy monthsary to me and my new world Bahrain!

Picture taken an hour ago. Wala akong makitang kahit anung bagay o larawan dito na magpaparamdam sa akin na malapit nang magpasko maliban sa Christmas tree na binebenta sa loob ng malls. Tagal ko nang naghahanap, sa cup ng coffee lang pala ako makikita. Nami-miss ko na kase ang magagarang Christmas decors sa Ayala, mala-higanteng christmas tree ng MOA at Christmas carols na maririnig mo kahit anung oras sa kahit saang sulok ng Pilipinas. Hayyyy...a cup of coffee never fails to lift my spirit up. Cheers!

Baby talk. lol

It's funny how some of our Arabic clients know how to speak tagalog. This morning, I almost burst into laughter when one man came in front of me while I was sitting in the front desk and asked several Tagalog words...

Aynakuw? Ayos? Talagang talaga? Marunong Tagalog? Marami? Marunong Arabic? Magandang babae? Bahraini gwapo? May pera? Walang pera? Kumusta? Oki lang?

He was talking to me like a daddy to a baby in the crib, with his facial expressions encouraging me to laugh and speak up. I felt stupid at that moment but believe me, it was hilarious.

( T__T )

My heart is your piñata.

...

Love said to me,
there is nothing that is not me.
Be silent.

~Rumi

All Saints' Day

Saying a little prayer for my departed loved ones. Even if I wasn't able to offer them flowers, my prayers will surely reach them in heaven.

Yes, this is worth it.

Just before the plane landed, I felt a sudden rush of sadness. Seeing everything in pale colors of white, beige, and brown made me realize that this is not home...

So, this is Bahrain.

I welcomed the warm breeze on my skin as I rode the shuttle that would take us to the airport. The air smelled like that of a summer breeze with the hint of spices. No, I think it smelled of the sea breeze...or maybe it was the smell of the dessert. But I was too excited to think. I was about to see my love. I missed him so much.

That's when I realized that almost everyone in the shuttle were Filipinos. I smiled to myself and felt glad. Somehow, I felt that I was not afterall away from home.

When I saw the long line of people in the immigration lane, I almost wanted to cry. I couldn't wait to see him. That's when an arabic guy wearing an American suit gestured for me to go in the front line. At first I was confused because as much as I wanted to be served the first, it would be unfair for the rest of the people who came earlier than I am. But a Filipina working in the airport said, "Dito ka na sa una." Feeling embarrassed, I just looked down and did what she told me. Later on, I found out that here in Bahrain, women should always be the first in line.

It took me several minutes to get my 37 kilo-luggage. I had a really hard time getting off my luggage in the luggage carousel, but thanks to Kuya who helped me. Filipinos are genuinely helpful, I thought to myself. I walked as fast as I could to be in the waiting area. Walking in the narrow pathway, with glasses on sides, my eyes roamed around the whole place scanning every faces inside the small airport. A rush of fear creeped in me without seeing his face in the crowd. But when I looked in the doorway in front, my heart leaped with joy. There he was, standing, and wearing his familiar joyous smile.

I would never forget that very moment when we embraced. Every fear, every hesitations of being in a foreign land somehow eased away.

I know I am home.