It's lunchtime. You look forward to savoring those oven-fresh pizzas whose delicious aromas have been teasing your nose for quite some time now. Your teeth cautiously sink into the tip of the slice. You chew for a while and then you go mmmm....
Suddenly someone storms into the room and launches into a litany of sorts..."Eating in the meeting rooms should not be allowed because it might give the clients the wrong impression. The reception smells of garlic and cheese! What will they think if they see you chatting and eating take-away? You know very well that it is hard to look for new projects..Who knows, this company might close down in a few months..." With each sentence I could feel my anger rise. Finally, I told my friend that I'm about to cry. The person comes back and says we can eat at the back, near the staff entrance. She notices I'm getting all upset and apologizes for it. By then, we decided to move to a different place outside the office. I continue eating my pizza in silence, tears flowing down my face like you would see in some cheesy videoke...hahahah! I laugh at the absurdity of it all but at the same time it felt great that I was finally able to release the negative vibes.
It was back to my cheery self after that, but I somehow feel that there was clearly something wrong with the message I'm getting. 1) That person seems to be throwing her weight around much to the chagrin of the people around her. Whatever happened to respecting the unpaid one-hour break? 2) It is certainly unprofessional for someone to be saying stuff about the possibility of the company closing down as that person is not in the position to say stuff like that. Funny how the lack of tact can cause so much trouble. Nevertheless, I will speak to higher authority about this and hopefully it will not fall on deaf ears.
Dinner was the complete opposite of what happened earlier at lunch. Kuberan and Punitha invited Claire, her husband Chris and me to their house for some Malaysian fare. Conversation was great, the food was good, the house was warm and homey, and the people were very very nice and friendly. It was a great way to cap a crappy day. The energy around was so positive that I feel blessed and grateful to be in these couples' presence. I surely wouldn't mind coming around and spending time with them!!!
I am glad to have survived another day. I just know that things will turn for the better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and trusting that the universe will conspire with me. ;) For now, I'm just happy to be getting some sleep. Good night! Tomorrow is another day. :)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Strange Saturday
Today I managed to do three batches of laundry and hand washed my favorite purple top. That means I spent roughly three hours doing those. I'm amazed at how many pieces of underwear my flatmate uses in a week.
Today I took a picture of the seafood oil and garlic pasta that i made yesterday. I just thought I would take one last shot before I gobbled everything up.
Today I had one last chat with someone who was going back to his homeland after a brief stint at work. It is a pity to see a free spirit go, but well, that's life. I wish him the best as he embarks on a journey of a lifetime.
Today I told my nephew that I was getting bored. He asked me to just go home. Easier said than done.
Today, another friend asked if I can meet up with her at the mall. I readily agreed since it's been a long time since I last saw her. She also brought me pasalubong: postcards, a magnet, a keyholder, coins, bills and a poster of one of Argentina's national parks. We spent two-and-a-half hours talking about each other's lives and sorting mine out. It's refreshing to have a different perspective amidst all the clutter in my mind. Finally, someone is coming to my rescue. One of the best gifts anyone can give is the gift of time. Muchas gracias, mi amiga Marcela!
Today another friend called me up (he was probably doing that to pass time..hahaha!) and subjected me to a barrage of questions (Why does it seem that all you do is laundry and ironing during the weekend? How much does that flatmate of yours pay you for his laundry? etc., etc!) After which he proceeded to make his opinions known (I think you should charge more for the amount of work that you do for him. You should be going out more often. etc., etc.!) It's strange to be talking to this person again like old times after a brief hiatus.
Today I had a disturbing realization (after the barrage of questions) that I'm relatively living a hard life compared to what I was used to in the Philippines. I almost cried. (Echoes of "What is wrong, Roma? and "Why are you feeling sad?" ring through my mind.) I am not, and will never be, used to living with so many people in one place. Right now, 18 people share a 3-bedroom flat with a large hall. That's a challenge considering that I am only used to living with my mom in a small house. Rent takes up almost a third of my salary and yet the space i have is very small. To earn a few extra dirhams, I took up the task of doing my flatmate's laundry for AED125 and selling Etisalat recharge vouchers to my flatmates.
Today some cheeky bloke made a crazy proposition that scared the hell out of me. It was so bizarre! I sincerely hope he is just winding me up.
Today I encountered a cab driver who knew a lot of Filipino words (sira ulo, kanan tapos derecho, kaliwa, unang kanan, salamat, walang anuman, kumusta ka). I was not prepared when he said this: Ikaw ay maganda (You are beautiful). I say a polite thank you. He said it again. Experience tells me to be suspicious but well, the guy was just probably trying to flatter me. Nice try though. Made me smile nevertheless. Sometimes compliments (genuine or not) come from the most bizarre places.
So much for complaining that my life has suddenly become predictable and boring.
Today I took a picture of the seafood oil and garlic pasta that i made yesterday. I just thought I would take one last shot before I gobbled everything up.
Today I had one last chat with someone who was going back to his homeland after a brief stint at work. It is a pity to see a free spirit go, but well, that's life. I wish him the best as he embarks on a journey of a lifetime.
Today I told my nephew that I was getting bored. He asked me to just go home. Easier said than done.
Today, another friend asked if I can meet up with her at the mall. I readily agreed since it's been a long time since I last saw her. She also brought me pasalubong: postcards, a magnet, a keyholder, coins, bills and a poster of one of Argentina's national parks. We spent two-and-a-half hours talking about each other's lives and sorting mine out. It's refreshing to have a different perspective amidst all the clutter in my mind. Finally, someone is coming to my rescue. One of the best gifts anyone can give is the gift of time. Muchas gracias, mi amiga Marcela!
Today another friend called me up (he was probably doing that to pass time..hahaha!) and subjected me to a barrage of questions (Why does it seem that all you do is laundry and ironing during the weekend? How much does that flatmate of yours pay you for his laundry? etc., etc!) After which he proceeded to make his opinions known (I think you should charge more for the amount of work that you do for him. You should be going out more often. etc., etc.!) It's strange to be talking to this person again like old times after a brief hiatus.
Today I had a disturbing realization (after the barrage of questions) that I'm relatively living a hard life compared to what I was used to in the Philippines. I almost cried. (Echoes of "What is wrong, Roma? and "Why are you feeling sad?" ring through my mind.) I am not, and will never be, used to living with so many people in one place. Right now, 18 people share a 3-bedroom flat with a large hall. That's a challenge considering that I am only used to living with my mom in a small house. Rent takes up almost a third of my salary and yet the space i have is very small. To earn a few extra dirhams, I took up the task of doing my flatmate's laundry for AED125 and selling Etisalat recharge vouchers to my flatmates.
Today some cheeky bloke made a crazy proposition that scared the hell out of me. It was so bizarre! I sincerely hope he is just winding me up.
Today I encountered a cab driver who knew a lot of Filipino words (sira ulo, kanan tapos derecho, kaliwa, unang kanan, salamat, walang anuman, kumusta ka). I was not prepared when he said this: Ikaw ay maganda (You are beautiful). I say a polite thank you. He said it again. Experience tells me to be suspicious but well, the guy was just probably trying to flatter me. Nice try though. Made me smile nevertheless. Sometimes compliments (genuine or not) come from the most bizarre places.
So much for complaining that my life has suddenly become predictable and boring.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Hired!
Today has been one of my happiest days in a long time. After two months and one week, I finally found a job! :)
I was called for an interview yesterday, exactly a month after I forwarded my resume to my friend Claire. I was lucky to have the interview rescheduled after the very unfortunate event of being stuck in traffic along Sheikh Zayed Road for a few hours. The interview was scheduled at 9:00am but since I was, again, lucky to catch a taxi just a few steps from my flat, I came two hours earlier! :)
The interview went on very smoothly, with Steve the interviewer asking normal interview questions. There were times though when I could hardly decipher what he was saying. I don't know if it was his British accent or if he was just eating his words. It was a good thing that he was also chatty so I did not feel like this was a job interview at all. He was complaining that most of the people he interviewed spoke with an American accent. I boldly said, "Well, we can change to British if you want!" Steve sat back, crossed his arms and asked me to say something in his accent. I laughed and declined. I explained that it was part of my previous job to learn British accents. Steve decided to test me and ask me to repeat the words "herb" and "tomato" after him. I obliged and I guess he was pretty entertained. Ha! :)
This afternoon, Steve called with exciting news. I was chosen for the receptionist/admin staff position! He gave details of the compensation package and my jaw dropped. The salary was higher than what I expected! :) I was so happy that I was laughing non-stop for about a minute.
The next few minutes were spent sharing the good news with everyone: calling my brother, calling my friend Claire (who always put in a good word for me), updating my status in yahoo messenger and facebook, sharing my happiness with my flatmates and texting my mother and friend Suzette. Just the day before, I was at my lowest point, wondering whether I should just give up and go home. However, I owe it to the people who have been continuously praying for me and giving me words of encouragement to continue fighting. I figured that I might as well fight until my visa expires. I have been constantly praying for a good job and asking my friends around the world to pray with me. I have people praying to Jesus and Allah and I even asked my friend who is in Tibet to offer a prayer to Buddha. Talk about storming heaven's gates! I hope my employment visa will be processed before my tourist visa expires. Under the new rule, one has to go back to the Philippines while waiting for their employment visa. I'm going to tap my prayer network again for this one! :)
Right now, I am just happy to start a new chapter of my life in Dubai. The last nine weeks were an emotional rollercoaster, a ride wrought with anxiety, anticipation, boredom, sadness, happiness and excitement. I am thankful for the support of friends both here and abroad who bore witness to all my ups and downs. I am grateful for the many Filipinos I have met in interviews and in my daily commutes. They too, share my hope of finding a job and even went the extra mile of giving email addresses where I can send my CVs. Ditto for my classmates in Arabic class who extended the same generosity. A big thanks to my flatmates who constantly found ways to cheer me up, whether it was a choco hot fudge sundae, junk food, ice cream. the Friday edition of the Gulf News or videoke nights. Thank you to my flatmate She, who volunteered to fax and print my CVs during her free time. Ditto to my sister-in-law Leslie, her sister Chai, their flatmate Christine and to my friends Ella, Shane and Dave. Thanks to my flatmate Erwin who shared his juju of not washing your hair on the day of the interview (The trick was to wash your hair before you sleep so all you have to do is take a shower the next day. This works fine as the water is always hot in the morning. It's less hair fall for me! hehehe!)
Now that the jobhunt is over, a sense of relief has come over me. Excuse me while I savor my last few days as a bum. :)
I was called for an interview yesterday, exactly a month after I forwarded my resume to my friend Claire. I was lucky to have the interview rescheduled after the very unfortunate event of being stuck in traffic along Sheikh Zayed Road for a few hours. The interview was scheduled at 9:00am but since I was, again, lucky to catch a taxi just a few steps from my flat, I came two hours earlier! :)
The interview went on very smoothly, with Steve the interviewer asking normal interview questions. There were times though when I could hardly decipher what he was saying. I don't know if it was his British accent or if he was just eating his words. It was a good thing that he was also chatty so I did not feel like this was a job interview at all. He was complaining that most of the people he interviewed spoke with an American accent. I boldly said, "Well, we can change to British if you want!" Steve sat back, crossed his arms and asked me to say something in his accent. I laughed and declined. I explained that it was part of my previous job to learn British accents. Steve decided to test me and ask me to repeat the words "herb" and "tomato" after him. I obliged and I guess he was pretty entertained. Ha! :)
This afternoon, Steve called with exciting news. I was chosen for the receptionist/admin staff position! He gave details of the compensation package and my jaw dropped. The salary was higher than what I expected! :) I was so happy that I was laughing non-stop for about a minute.
The next few minutes were spent sharing the good news with everyone: calling my brother, calling my friend Claire (who always put in a good word for me), updating my status in yahoo messenger and facebook, sharing my happiness with my flatmates and texting my mother and friend Suzette. Just the day before, I was at my lowest point, wondering whether I should just give up and go home. However, I owe it to the people who have been continuously praying for me and giving me words of encouragement to continue fighting. I figured that I might as well fight until my visa expires. I have been constantly praying for a good job and asking my friends around the world to pray with me. I have people praying to Jesus and Allah and I even asked my friend who is in Tibet to offer a prayer to Buddha. Talk about storming heaven's gates! I hope my employment visa will be processed before my tourist visa expires. Under the new rule, one has to go back to the Philippines while waiting for their employment visa. I'm going to tap my prayer network again for this one! :)
Right now, I am just happy to start a new chapter of my life in Dubai. The last nine weeks were an emotional rollercoaster, a ride wrought with anxiety, anticipation, boredom, sadness, happiness and excitement. I am thankful for the support of friends both here and abroad who bore witness to all my ups and downs. I am grateful for the many Filipinos I have met in interviews and in my daily commutes. They too, share my hope of finding a job and even went the extra mile of giving email addresses where I can send my CVs. Ditto for my classmates in Arabic class who extended the same generosity. A big thanks to my flatmates who constantly found ways to cheer me up, whether it was a choco hot fudge sundae, junk food, ice cream. the Friday edition of the Gulf News or videoke nights. Thank you to my flatmate She, who volunteered to fax and print my CVs during her free time. Ditto to my sister-in-law Leslie, her sister Chai, their flatmate Christine and to my friends Ella, Shane and Dave. Thanks to my flatmate Erwin who shared his juju of not washing your hair on the day of the interview (The trick was to wash your hair before you sleep so all you have to do is take a shower the next day. This works fine as the water is always hot in the morning. It's less hair fall for me! hehehe!)
Now that the jobhunt is over, a sense of relief has come over me. Excuse me while I savor my last few days as a bum. :)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
And The Winner Is...Me...But...
From 200 who submitted their CVs, 40 were interviewed, 7 were short-listed and only 5 attended the second interview last Sunday. Of the five, three were Filipinos, one was Kenyan and one was I think, an Indian. How very Miss Universe-like, I thought.
The boss was coming in late which meant more time to sit and wait. I fish out my camera and take pics of the objects on the table. The window offered a good view of the Emirates Towers across the street. Click.
I brought my book on travel writing, anticipating the long wait. I realized I can use this as a prop. When my turn came, I was holding the book, knowing it would spark his curiosity. Talk about selling myself by making sure I would stand out in his memory as the travel and writing girl.
True enough, the first thing he did was to ask about the book. "So you want to be a travel writer?" "Yes!" I explained that I have travel articles published in the Philippines. The next series of questions flew by so quickly that I must have spent less than five minutes in the room. The questions were surprisingly very normal (Would you like to work for the company? What is your strength among the other candidates?). I was expecting a practical test on how to make coffee, or something like that. Anyway, I was told to expect a call by that afternoon or the morning after if I was the chosen one.
At 5:49 pm, the phone rang. I was chatting with my mom, who was telling me to go home already. It was Ms. Audrey on the other line, Mr Hassan wanted to speak with me. "Congratulations, you won a million dollars!" "Really?" "Yes, come to work tomorrow at 11am, sign the contract and then you can start right away." I felt like the new Miss Universe 2008. Hahaha.
Getting the position was one thing and knowing the terms of contract was another. I had prayed to God that if the job was really for me, the company must offer a good compensation package. I read the employment contract draft. No concrete figures were given. I had a gut feeling that if we were to base it from a previous experience, (I declined a job offer from a Lebanese company) the starting salary would also be low. I proceed with writing the questions that were forming in my head.
At Mr. Hassan's office, I was told that the job offer would be pegged at three thousand dirhams. Aside from performing executive assistant responsibilities, I would also be an office manager and a receptionist. I started to doubt. The boss rambled on that the other benefits (the bonuses, increments and even the yearly plane ticket) are performance-based. Hmmm.... I ask for a few minutes to think it over.
After several phone consultations with my brother and friend (she was backing up my application in her company and I was already slated for interview at 5pm that day), I faced with Mr. Hassan with an indefinite answer. I told him I needed more time because I still have to discuss the terms with my brother and that I would also like to see what the other company had to offer. I explained that the salary is not enough to cover the cost of living here in Dubai.
At 10:44am today, I officially declined the ad agency's offer. My visions of an Ugly Betty-ish life just ended. Haha! It's back to square one again.
The boss was coming in late which meant more time to sit and wait. I fish out my camera and take pics of the objects on the table. The window offered a good view of the Emirates Towers across the street. Click.
I brought my book on travel writing, anticipating the long wait. I realized I can use this as a prop. When my turn came, I was holding the book, knowing it would spark his curiosity. Talk about selling myself by making sure I would stand out in his memory as the travel and writing girl.
True enough, the first thing he did was to ask about the book. "So you want to be a travel writer?" "Yes!" I explained that I have travel articles published in the Philippines. The next series of questions flew by so quickly that I must have spent less than five minutes in the room. The questions were surprisingly very normal (Would you like to work for the company? What is your strength among the other candidates?). I was expecting a practical test on how to make coffee, or something like that. Anyway, I was told to expect a call by that afternoon or the morning after if I was the chosen one.
At 5:49 pm, the phone rang. I was chatting with my mom, who was telling me to go home already. It was Ms. Audrey on the other line, Mr Hassan wanted to speak with me. "Congratulations, you won a million dollars!" "Really?" "Yes, come to work tomorrow at 11am, sign the contract and then you can start right away." I felt like the new Miss Universe 2008. Hahaha.
Getting the position was one thing and knowing the terms of contract was another. I had prayed to God that if the job was really for me, the company must offer a good compensation package. I read the employment contract draft. No concrete figures were given. I had a gut feeling that if we were to base it from a previous experience, (I declined a job offer from a Lebanese company) the starting salary would also be low. I proceed with writing the questions that were forming in my head.
At Mr. Hassan's office, I was told that the job offer would be pegged at three thousand dirhams. Aside from performing executive assistant responsibilities, I would also be an office manager and a receptionist. I started to doubt. The boss rambled on that the other benefits (the bonuses, increments and even the yearly plane ticket) are performance-based. Hmmm.... I ask for a few minutes to think it over.
After several phone consultations with my brother and friend (she was backing up my application in her company and I was already slated for interview at 5pm that day), I faced with Mr. Hassan with an indefinite answer. I told him I needed more time because I still have to discuss the terms with my brother and that I would also like to see what the other company had to offer. I explained that the salary is not enough to cover the cost of living here in Dubai.
At 10:44am today, I officially declined the ad agency's offer. My visions of an Ugly Betty-ish life just ended. Haha! It's back to square one again.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Of Smiles And Stares From Strangers
It's funny how one can elicit a positive response and the other, a negative one.
In the two months that I have been here, I have noticed that Dubai has a predominantly male population. Please note that of the city's population, the Emiratis (locals, as they are called) only comprise a measly eighteen percent. The rest are of different nationalities, mostly from India. Now you can just imagine how uncomfortable it is to be walking the streets of Dubai and being at the receiving end of these stares from men. Once, when we were waiting for the traffic light to go green, I looked at the nearby vehicles and to my horror, a busload of construction workers was next to our taxi. They were all peering from their windows, their eyes fixed on me and my female companion. Eewwwww!!! I get the same creepy feeling whenever I pass by the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station. It seemed that the male South Asian population in Dubai converged in that terminal. Some would size you up from head to foot. Others would even try to catch your gaze. It gets more uncomfortable when you are all lining up for the bus and it takes a while for the bus doors to open. Since you're all huddled together, it's not hard to notice their menacing stares. In my mind, I find myself saying, Ewww kuya! Wag po kuya!!! hahahah...Females are supposedly the first ones to enter the bus but sometimes, when the doors do open, it all becomes one mad dash to the door. The uneducated ones disregard the women in front of them and jostle their way in, much to the displeasure of the men and women trailing behind.
Today, I was lining up at Spinney's. A tall, Caucasian guy stood next to me at the counter. I was fixing my stuff and I unintentionally glanced at the next guy. He gave a polite smile, gesturing for me to continue with what I was doing. That made my day (Oh, did I mention he was cute too? hihihi). Finally, a show of refinement and good manners! That was a refreshing change from the uneducated actions of some of the men here.
I think it's exciting how a city's character unfolds as each new day arrives. Meanwhile, I continue my Dubai adventure with a silent prayer that I get more of the former and less of the latter. :)
In the two months that I have been here, I have noticed that Dubai has a predominantly male population. Please note that of the city's population, the Emiratis (locals, as they are called) only comprise a measly eighteen percent. The rest are of different nationalities, mostly from India. Now you can just imagine how uncomfortable it is to be walking the streets of Dubai and being at the receiving end of these stares from men. Once, when we were waiting for the traffic light to go green, I looked at the nearby vehicles and to my horror, a busload of construction workers was next to our taxi. They were all peering from their windows, their eyes fixed on me and my female companion. Eewwwww!!! I get the same creepy feeling whenever I pass by the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station. It seemed that the male South Asian population in Dubai converged in that terminal. Some would size you up from head to foot. Others would even try to catch your gaze. It gets more uncomfortable when you are all lining up for the bus and it takes a while for the bus doors to open. Since you're all huddled together, it's not hard to notice their menacing stares. In my mind, I find myself saying, Ewww kuya! Wag po kuya!!! hahahah...Females are supposedly the first ones to enter the bus but sometimes, when the doors do open, it all becomes one mad dash to the door. The uneducated ones disregard the women in front of them and jostle their way in, much to the displeasure of the men and women trailing behind.
Today, I was lining up at Spinney's. A tall, Caucasian guy stood next to me at the counter. I was fixing my stuff and I unintentionally glanced at the next guy. He gave a polite smile, gesturing for me to continue with what I was doing. That made my day (Oh, did I mention he was cute too? hihihi). Finally, a show of refinement and good manners! That was a refreshing change from the uneducated actions of some of the men here.
I think it's exciting how a city's character unfolds as each new day arrives. Meanwhile, I continue my Dubai adventure with a silent prayer that I get more of the former and less of the latter. :)
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The Strangest Interview Ever...An Update..
Today, I woke up from my afternoon nap to the incessant ringing sound of my mobile phone. It was Audrey, from the company which gave the most bizarre interview ever! I am scheduled for a second interview on Sunday, October 5th at 12 noon. I wonder what adventure awaits me! :)
Friday, September 19, 2008
The Strangest Interview Ever...
Date: 17 September 2008
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Rm 604 Crowne Plaza Building, Sheikh Zayed Road
Position: Executive Assistant for an advertising company
Having survived my pick-up girl moment (see previous blog entry Are You Marriage?), I continued to psyche myself for the interview. I managed to come on time, thanks to Mr. Hussail.
I was ushered to a mini-conference room upon my arrival. An Indian girl arrived before me. We were immediately given some sheets to fill up. The fun had just begun...
After answering the usual personal profile questions (name, age, religion, expected salary, etc.), I then turned to page two. It said "General Information Questions". Interesting.
Question 1. What is the international currency code of the United Arab Emirates?
Thinking it was asking for the dialing code, I answered 971. After reviewing my answers, I promptly erased that and answered AED (which is the correct answer).
I was to answer 9 more questions (I don't remember them in the exact order anymore and I am missing one question ) and here are my answers (in blue):
After spending half an hour waiting to be called by the interviewer (who turns out to be the big boss), it was finally my turn. In true bizarre fashion, the interview felt like a beauty pageant.
The secretary introduced me to the boss as Roma.
Boss: Roma?
Roma: Yes, Roma, like the city in Italy. (I proceed to sit down.)
Boss: Would you like to visit Rome?
Roma: Of course! I want to see what it's like...
Boss: Oh, but it's not a nice place to visit. You can get robbed, raped or killed. Rome is full of criminals. (Wow, thanks for dousing my enthusiasm!)
Roma: Really? How do you know all of these?
Boss: I've lived there.
Roma: Well, I would still like to go. Anyway, criminals are everywhere.
Boss: How would you describe yourself in terms of organization? Are you very organized, messy, or somewhere in-between?
Roma: I would say in-between. When it comes to tasks, I even go to the extent of listing down the steps required in order to complete the task. When it comes to my personal things, however, I have what I call an organized mess. I have my own way of arranging things and if somebody attempts to fix them, I have trouble finding my stuff. (This is already somewhat paraphrased. Boss writes something down on the upper right corner of my CV.)
Boss: What is advertising for you? (At this point, my mind goes, YIKKKESSS!!!)
Roma: It's about creating an image for a product and communicating that image to a target audience. (Ha! Good thinking on this one...hehehe..I don't know how I managed to compose this answer!)
Boss: So you speak Spanish..Habla espanol? (Do you speak Spanish?)
Roma: Un poco, si. (A little, yes.) Boss smiles. But I don't speak that well.
Boss: Por que? (Why?)
Roma: Por que no practicar. (Literally, because no practice.) People in the Philippines only speak Filipino and English. There's no one to converse with. (Uy, palusot!)
Boss smiles again. I feel like a beauty pageant contestant greeting the host country in its native language.
Boss: How do you entertain yourself? (Ano raw? Gawin ba akong autistic...hahaha!)
Roma: I'm sorry, you were asking about what I do in my free time? (Gusto ko lang ipaintindi na hindi ako baliw na umaaliw sa sarili...hahaha!)
Boss: Yes.
Roma: Well, I watch TV and movies, read books and sing.
Boss: You sing...Do you sing well? (Aba'y naghahamon ata ito eh...)
Roma: (Smiles and says in all confidence) Of course! Would you want me to sing for you? (Aba, bibo na kung bibo no! Todo na ito!)
Boss: (Smiles in amusement) No, no, it's too early for that...
Roma: What do you mean it's too early? Are you saying it's only reserved for nighttime?
Boss: No, I mean, we don't know you that well yet to ask you to do that. Besides, you might break the windows with your singing...(Uyy, nakikipagbiruan na! Cheee!)
Anyway, I was so glad to have this interview over and done with. Boy, was I kept on my toes! On hindsight, I enjoyed the experience probably because I love trivia games and beauty pageants. It was certainly the most bizarre application process I have ever experienced. As to whether I get short-listed or not, we have yet to see. Nevertheless, I feel proud of what I have accomplished that day (after having a tearful outburst, being offered a ride by a stranger, and this strange interview). I can look back and say, "No, I don't feel, any pressure, right now!" (to borrow one of Bb. Pilipinas-World 2008 Janina San Miguel's quotable quotes). :)
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Rm 604 Crowne Plaza Building, Sheikh Zayed Road
Position: Executive Assistant for an advertising company
Having survived my pick-up girl moment (see previous blog entry Are You Marriage?), I continued to psyche myself for the interview. I managed to come on time, thanks to Mr. Hussail.
I was ushered to a mini-conference room upon my arrival. An Indian girl arrived before me. We were immediately given some sheets to fill up. The fun had just begun...
After answering the usual personal profile questions (name, age, religion, expected salary, etc.), I then turned to page two. It said "General Information Questions". Interesting.
Question 1. What is the international currency code of the United Arab Emirates?
Thinking it was asking for the dialing code, I answered 971. After reviewing my answers, I promptly erased that and answered AED (which is the correct answer).
I was to answer 9 more questions (I don't remember them in the exact order anymore and I am missing one question ) and here are my answers (in blue):
- What is the capital of Spain? Madrid
- What was Mozart's occupation? composer?
- Which country won the World Cup in 2002? France?
- What does www stand for? world wide web
- Who is the current US Secretary of Foreign Affairs? Condoleezza Rice?
- Who wrote Romeo and Juliet? William Shakespeare
- Who is the founder of Microsoft? Bill Gates
- What is the code for Dubai International Airport? DXB
After spending half an hour waiting to be called by the interviewer (who turns out to be the big boss), it was finally my turn. In true bizarre fashion, the interview felt like a beauty pageant.
The secretary introduced me to the boss as Roma.
Boss: Roma?
Roma: Yes, Roma, like the city in Italy. (I proceed to sit down.)
Boss: Would you like to visit Rome?
Roma: Of course! I want to see what it's like...
Boss: Oh, but it's not a nice place to visit. You can get robbed, raped or killed. Rome is full of criminals. (Wow, thanks for dousing my enthusiasm!)
Roma: Really? How do you know all of these?
Boss: I've lived there.
Roma: Well, I would still like to go. Anyway, criminals are everywhere.
Boss: How would you describe yourself in terms of organization? Are you very organized, messy, or somewhere in-between?
Roma: I would say in-between. When it comes to tasks, I even go to the extent of listing down the steps required in order to complete the task. When it comes to my personal things, however, I have what I call an organized mess. I have my own way of arranging things and if somebody attempts to fix them, I have trouble finding my stuff. (This is already somewhat paraphrased. Boss writes something down on the upper right corner of my CV.)
Boss: What is advertising for you? (At this point, my mind goes, YIKKKESSS!!!)
Roma: It's about creating an image for a product and communicating that image to a target audience. (Ha! Good thinking on this one...hehehe..I don't know how I managed to compose this answer!)
Boss: So you speak Spanish..Habla espanol? (Do you speak Spanish?)
Roma: Un poco, si. (A little, yes.) Boss smiles. But I don't speak that well.
Boss: Por que? (Why?)
Roma: Por que no practicar. (Literally, because no practice.) People in the Philippines only speak Filipino and English. There's no one to converse with. (Uy, palusot!)
Boss smiles again. I feel like a beauty pageant contestant greeting the host country in its native language.
Boss: How do you entertain yourself? (Ano raw? Gawin ba akong autistic...hahaha!)
Roma: I'm sorry, you were asking about what I do in my free time? (Gusto ko lang ipaintindi na hindi ako baliw na umaaliw sa sarili...hahaha!)
Boss: Yes.
Roma: Well, I watch TV and movies, read books and sing.
Boss: You sing...Do you sing well? (Aba'y naghahamon ata ito eh...)
Roma: (Smiles and says in all confidence) Of course! Would you want me to sing for you? (Aba, bibo na kung bibo no! Todo na ito!)
Boss: (Smiles in amusement) No, no, it's too early for that...
Roma: What do you mean it's too early? Are you saying it's only reserved for nighttime?
Boss: No, I mean, we don't know you that well yet to ask you to do that. Besides, you might break the windows with your singing...(Uyy, nakikipagbiruan na! Cheee!)
Anyway, I was so glad to have this interview over and done with. Boy, was I kept on my toes! On hindsight, I enjoyed the experience probably because I love trivia games and beauty pageants. It was certainly the most bizarre application process I have ever experienced. As to whether I get short-listed or not, we have yet to see. Nevertheless, I feel proud of what I have accomplished that day (after having a tearful outburst, being offered a ride by a stranger, and this strange interview). I can look back and say, "No, I don't feel, any pressure, right now!" (to borrow one of Bb. Pilipinas-World 2008 Janina San Miguel's quotable quotes). :)
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