DXB

Never thought of stepping my feet on UAE soil but now here I am, trying to enjoy every second of it. It's hard to leave families and friends but that's the way life is. It's hard to explain but I'm pretty sure you know what I'm saying.

Anyway, I was all prepared -- financially and emotionally. I've got high hopes being here but most importantly, I have a plan. But before that drama I want to throw out everything that happened to me before arriving Dubai.

It seemed pretty easy on me but that wasn't always the case, okay. I'm doing this for the sake of those people who wants to go here so they'll at least have an idea. As what would everyone say, I decided to go here for better opportunities. So I fixed all my documents and within a month, I got all the results. I have a friend working in Dubai who helped with my visa and ticket processing. The only thing that I'll be thinking about is on how to pass through those immigration officers in Manila. Immigration officers in the UAE are more lenient (as long as you have all legit documents of course) so I don't need to be worried about that.

April 28, my departure date. I arrived in NAIA three hours before my flight schedule. First thing you need to do is to have your visa scanned for authenticity then off you go to check in your baggage. I couldn't stress more on the fact that checking in online a day before your flight is pretty helpful. You will benefit by not queuing from those long lines at the airport as there are specific counters for online/web check-in. Oh before I forgot, pay the freaking terminal fees first before checking in your baggage. You need that receipt enable for you to check in your baggage. So after checking in your baggage, you will be given your boarding pass (don't forget to ask for a departure card, you'll need that at the Immigration counter), then you can now go straight to the Immigration. This is the last step before you board a plane. Some say go to a line which you think will let you pass easily but who can tell, right? Anyway, I picked on the most snob-looking immigration officer and when it was my turn, she asked for my passport, boarding pass, and departure card. She looked at me then to my papers and asked, "Why are you going to Dubai? What's your purpose?" I calmly said, "Just visiting a friend." Then she asked for my visa and return ticket. She then asked, "Who is Elaine Cruz?" I told her she was a friend and that's it. She stamped my passport and gave it back to me. I exhaled deeply. I thought that wasn't hard and I'm lucky. There are some people who have been going back and forth in different lanes yet they've always been denied. I overheard one of the immigration officer telling the other officer, "Pabayaan mo silang magpabalik balik diyan. Maghahanap lang ng trabaho yang mga yan sa ibang bansa." In English, "Let them go back and forth. They're just going to find a job outside Philippines." Honestly, I felt angry. I understand that it was part of their so called "job" to make sure every Filipino citizen will always be on safety but can't you just let them pass? I mean, most of them are in the right age and it's up to that person whatever he/she will do to whatever country he'll/she'll be in. They have visa, they have passport, what else do you fucking want? Gah! Anyway...

So, I waited for boarding for almost two hours. My flight was delayed, what's new? Eventually, I boarded a Boeing 777 Emirates Airlines' plane and it was freaking huge. The whole trip was about nine hours straight. When we reached Dubai, we did not land that instant. The pilot said that they're experiencing traffic. I was like, "Traffic on air? WTF?" We've been circling around for like 30 minutes and then we landed.. safely.

I was so stoked upon entering the Dubai airport. T'was huge and clean and seem to be very organised -- well, compared to NAIA for sure! Oh, here's another tip, don't ever wear heels! I was wearing my new stilettos and never thought that I would be having a verrrrrry long walk inside Dubai airport. Anyhow, before the immigration officer, you will do the eye scan. I dunno what the purpose is but it's their protocol here. After that, go straight to the immigration officer. When it was my turn, the Arab officer greeted me "Kamusta?" which is basically "Hi" in my own language. So I told him, "Mabuti." which is "Fine." He asked for my passport and visa, typed something on his computer then stamped my passport. And that was it. No questions asked. This is when I realized Filipinos are more strict when it comes to the immigration thingy and I wonder why. When I passed through the immigration, I immediately saw and got my baggage. Then I got out of the airport and my friend was already there waiting for me. =)

It's 2AM when I arrived and I can feel the heat from this place. I really am in Dubai now.

x