When it comes to career, you can’t be just spontaneous. Only those who chase after excellence reach success. It’s indeed a mantra.
Mabilis na tumakbo ang mahigit isang linggo na walang halos napapalang sagot sa aking paghahanap. Maraming posibleng dahilan. Nabigo sa unang pagsubok. Di na muna muling sumubok at sa natitirang maaring saliksikin pa, tila ba naubos ang enerhiya upanag talakayin o bigyang-pansin.
Marami kasing umaagaw o umagaw sa atensyon ko sa mga nakalipas na araw. I can call the past week, the socialization week. Getting used to the people, and the place where I plan to trace my career for two years at most. Last Thursday, I get to meet Laarni, a Physics professor turned flat lessor here in Dubai. She’s firm, confident and pretty at 38. She introduced me to lots of locals (Arabs) whom she dealt business with. I was particularly drawn to the last person she talked to. I was just keeping her company, I barely talked. However, the last middle-aged guy was simply a great story-teller and a glib talker. Time flew as we speak to him or more accurately, when he spoke to us.
He’s divorced with his wife. The reason? Intellectual gap between him and his partner plus his wife’s change of sexual preference. He’s got two topnotched daughters, a great relief. I remember I was intently listening when he was discussing about illusion and how we lure ourselves to believe that thinking and worrying about the future will bring us success. It’s never automatic. You’ve got to draw a plan.
Another Lanie, an aunt I’ve met just recently, was with Afghanistan US military base District supervisor, Douglas. He kept saying “it’s impossible” with smiling eyes and teeth. Very considerate and highly observant. In my aunt’s flat, there were two seats, one’s made of plastic while another is made of wood. At first he was offered to sit on the plastic chair, though hesitant, he accepted to sit there, but later on he stood up unsure of the material’s capacity. I spoke, for the second time (the first time was when I said ‘Good evening’), saying, “Why don’t you sit on the other chair? That’s sturdier.” He smiled and said, “You speak good English. Even the accent sounds good.”
Just tonight, Aunt Lanie brought us to Golden Fork, an Arabic-Filipino resto, to treat my Auntie Alma whom she has not seen for almost three years since she worked in Iraq. Yes. She worked in Iraq, in an American Military base. I couldn’t get enough of her stories of rocket attacks, sirens, visits to Tigris River and Sadam’s golden palace.. whew.. how brave of her to explore the war zone. For an 800 US$ monthly salary, she could sustain her first daughter’s nursing education. The heart of a mother. Gold.
After Iraq, she transferred to Afghanistan, where she was offered 1400$ monthly pay. Better but the place was colder in Winter and hotter in Summer than Iraq. Same risk: its still a war zone. But this time, she has Douglas with her to cheer her up. Happy ending, maybe.
Do you know that last year, 14 soldiers died in Iraq because of the plane engine’s trouble? Yes, 14. All of them were dead on air. Aunt Lanie told us how devastating it was to see the ash corpses of the soldiers. War shock.
SIGH…yawn.. time for bed..
