Real Dragon Lover

Have I told you that am not a fan of sun and beaches and water sports? Remember my previous post regarding ADU Dragoneers? That day, my life changed as I met this monster team who loves paddling.

Of course, this was Rache's whole idea. We joined this team who calls themselves "ADMar Barbarians". They practice every Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at Shangri-La. At first I don't even know why a lazy ass woman like me joined this kind of team. I mean - I'm not into sports, I don't work out, I drink, smoke and party hard. But I was like, okay, bring it on!

So after some trainings with these guys, I got the privilege to paddle with them in this dragon boat festival. It's some kind of a race open for everyone. Rache keeps on telling me that this team is the "king" of dragon boat here in Abu Dhabi and after paddling with these guys, hell yeah they are!

I actually didn't find it hard socialising and making friends with the team as most of them are from back home - "kabayans kumabaga". Plus the Coach is nice and a real person to look up to.

As I was saying, I got the chance to paddle with these guys and gawd, they are mosters! They We received almost all of the awards.

ADMar Family - Champion at 1st Abu Dhabi Dragon Boat Festival

ADMar Ladies

I think I am loving and enjoying this sport. I guess you'll see more of me under the sun in the boat with a paddle on both hands! :D

Peace out! x

ADU Dragoneers

I am really not a fan of sun, beaches, water sports and all that stuff but when a good friend of mine dragged me to join and do dragon boating, man I enjoyed it! Enjoyed it more than a cup of peanut butter infront of my lappy.

Anyway, t'was my first time to paddle and compete. Our university joined a regatta at Shangri-La. Unfortunately, we didn't win anything but hey, ADU's there to have some fun! We are awesome and we really had fun!

Thanks Rache! You brought me out of my shell, love. :P

ADU Dragoneers!

Goofing under the heat with Rache!

Acts of Evil

Don't be a hypocrite! Am sure all of us have done some evilness once in our lives. Big or small, it's the same. It shows that none of us is perfect.

As promised, I'll tell everything about what happened on my roller coaster journey here at sandpit. So here goes.

The moment I came back to the Philippines was like a hell. Don't get me wrong. The word hell here is only in relation to my documents. I never thought that I'll be able to enter UAE again and have this job, but I'm a lady with full of hopes in life. Money matters, that I won't lie. Sad to say but it's true that money is power. Anyway, I endure more than a month, as a jobless ass in Manila. There was a point that I am giving up and planning to be in my home country for good. You see, all my papers were authentic and okay though my contract lacks attestation from our own labor office in Abu Dhabi. I've elaborated everything about this in Episode 6.

Good news is, there's someone in Abu Dhabi University (ADU) who knows someone in the Philippines who can help me. I call this person, the mogul. My colleague told me to contact this mogul as soon as I arrive Manila and tell everything about my case. He sounds like a very powerful man, I thought. So, I contacted this mogul and discuss things. Things that you can only see in movies. Anyway, the main point is me leaving the Philippines with fake and original docs. Fake ones for the PHI Immigration and originals for AUH Immigration. So, how much? I have to say, a lot of cash. If you insist, throw me a mail and I'll elaborate further.

My first meeting with mogul was quite scary and full of skepticism. I just thought this is the only way and I really need to gamble. I never got the mogul's full name, where he lives, what 's his job and so on. I went home with nothing but trust in my pocket.

One day before my departure is our second meeting. This is the schedule he gave me for my PDOS. He gave me my referral form, there I saw that I've got an agency in Manila and my employer in Abu Dhabi is different. I tried searching for it in Google and found out it doesn't really exist. So I attended the half day boring seminar just to have my certificate.

On the departure day itself, I arrived NAIA earlier than expected, as I've said. This is my third and last meeting with the mogul. We had some short briefing then he gave me my papers. I was never surprised on how good Filipinos in forgery. What sickened me is the idea of passing through the whole airport process. But of course, twas a success. Unbelievably no sweat! It's why I'm here sharing you this story. One thing I remember the mogul used to tell me: All persons working at NAIA airport have their own tag price in their heads. TRUE, with my own experience.

Moral lesson? I couldn't think of any good so far but this I tell you, never ever exit in the Philippines if you're planning to work abroad. Our government sucks from head to toe and for that, I am not a proud Filipino.

Episode 10

You're prolly wondering what happened next in the series of my episodes. Well, I'm now here at sandpit, for almost a week. Getting back here seemed like a roller coaster you know but am glad all ended so well.

August 14-15: The date of my departure. I arrived NAIA airport by 8:30pm though the plane will depart the next day, 1:15am. I'm thinking, I'd better be early.. it's Friday and it's payday. I don't want to lose my temper on traffic, not that early. I'm saving it at the airport. :D So, I waited there for like more than 2 hours. I can't check in my baggage as my "very important papers" are still not on hand. Past 10 in the evening when the mogul arrived, panting, he gave me my papers and instruct me what to do. Enough with the details... in short, I passed through our airport though this time, it was all smooth and easy. Up until now, I wonder how come? Weniwei, I arrived Abu Dhabi earlier than expected.

August 16: First day at Abu Dhabi University (ADU)... officially. All went okay.. my boss was happy that I'm finally back.

August 18: Had some medical procedure like eye scan, xray and blood test.

Now, am waiting for the result of the medical exam so ADU can apply my residence visa and labor card. Hmmm.. I guess that's about it. More senseless episodes in the next few days. :)