J•O•U•R•N•E•Y

Last 2025, I visited the UAE, but not for employment—rather, as a tourist. I came to visit my sister, spend my post-birthday celebration, and relax my mind away from work in Saudi Arabia for about three weeks. It was my first unpaid vacation in a year, and I decided to make the most of it by exploring the country. This year, right after I finished my contract, I decided to have a quick stopover…

The answer to what I have been looking for—why I would rather work overseas, even if the job is practical and hands-on, and why I am hesitant to seek employment locally in the Philippines—lies in the version of myself that I built while living abroad: resilience. “Difficulties are great teachers. They are lessons you will never fully learn from books, but only through your own…

Winter is the most awaited season across the GCC countries, and it is one of my favorite times of the year. The cold air when you walk outside—especially at night—and the feeling of finally wearing hoodies and jackets are things to look forward to in the region. I visited Abha in late October and Riyadh last December (2024), and the weather was perfectly pleasant for walking around, even in the…

Freedom can mean differently to each person. If you are going to ask me personally how I define the word “Freedom”, it is the state where you can do whatever you want that pleases you. And I, for once, had that definition embodied at my core. Growing up, I used to wish to experience that kind of lifestyle, being free. Freedom from the idea of no longer asking for permission from my parents to go…

A young maiden lived in a secluded part of the forest, a place the outsiders feared to explore. Since she was six years old, she had lived in the place all by herself. Her parents died while they were traveling up north to seek help from the King and Queen to support their living conditions. But in the middle of their quest, a huge oak tree hit their carriage. It crashed and fell to the cliff.…

When my thoughts wander, I cannot escape them nor silence them. They demand to be spoken. But in my case, writing is my only option. Running away and walking away were my strongholds every time I got overwhelmed by circumstances beyond my control. I may have become an expert at shutting myself off. I clung to the idea of withdrawing from people and certain events, avoiding any minor or major…

In my own conquest of being a lost soul, it was not about me using drugs, being an addict, or getting into a rehab who has found her way back. But it was about me, being lost in track of my future goals and dreams, that I wished to aspire to a certain timeline that I created for myself. I thought I knew where I was headed; I thought my curated plans were easy to grasp and follow. I was wrong. It…

I am hoping to start the year with a plot twist in my life. I wanted, and I believe that I also deserve a blissful chance to experience romance in my life. If what is meant for me is for me, I hope it will come to me in an unexpected way. But if it’s not for me yet, allow me to experience pain. It is only then that I will learn, and I will rediscover a part of myself that I have never met. That,…

To be honest, being here in Saudi Arabia made me realize a couple of things. Hence, here are the few things that I want to point out about my learning whilst living and working here. First, setting up boundaries between your personal and work life. Second, learn to work and trust yourself independently. Third, never let anyone know your next step. Fourth, not everything will be the same as what…

My 5th month of living here in Jeddah and so far, I’d been to some places and attractions that are located in the city. Honestly, there is still more to see but I will be sharing only the few places that I went to. This post can also be a guide to those who are new to the country and if you are planning to visit Jeddah, just keep reading. Corniche – I am lucky enough that the hotel where I work…

You caress my soul with the words you utter,As it fills my heart with great joy.The distinct tone of your voice is the only sound I wish to hear.As I woke up, you were the first thing that crossed my mind.When I fall asleep, your presence lingers in my dreams.Not a day goes by that I stop thinking of you.But knowing that you were nowhere to be found,The thought of your being still remains a…

In a small town at Port Wellington, lives a fisherman named Gabriel, short for Gab. He had dreams for himself and hoped that one day he would give his family the prosperous life that they all deserved. He has a younger brother named Lucas. Lucas is the one who stays more often at their house and takes care of their parents. Linda and Ronald were both in their 70s. The two brothers decided that…

It has been a month and a couple of days since I first arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. When I first arrived at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, I was already greeted with a bit of disappointment and regret. I can still picture out how convenient it was back then when I first arrived in the United Arab Emirates compared to Saudi Arabia. Despite my sentiments, I choose to…

Times like these, I just want to embrace sadness. Cry for no apparent reason. Or perhaps, I felt sad because there was no one that I could turn to. When you feel lost in your own world, when everything is all in your head all at once, you even wish to have at least one person that you can share it with. Sadly, no one is there for you. Despite that, you will learn how to be a coach for yourself.…

My journey back home in the Philippines was not how I pictured it. But looking at it now, I will never wish to go back in time and change it. I am who I am today. Take these as my own personal journey towards healing. One can never move forward if something from the past still haunts you. What I mean by that are the things in our life that bring us down or, in the simplest terms, our emotional…

The United Arab Emirates is one of the popular destinations for travelers and even for foreign workers who want to experience the Middle Eastern culture. Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are the famous Emirates in the country that will surely never fail a tourist when it comes to futuristic places, innovative building infrastructure, and other places worth capturing and activities worth trying. There are…