“Nice place to stay”, “its home away from your real home”, “life is good here”, I hardly hear people saying this now when asked about why are they in the U.A.E. I was shocked to see that expats here have no reason other than work to be in the U.A.E. Talking about expats, Philippines are people who can always be differentiated when seen in a group of people, by their looks and by their way of talking. You see them everywhere, in shops, in cinema counters, in hypermarkets and some of them working in multinational companies.
Paulina who works in Debenhams in Sahara Centre, has been here in the U.A.E for the past four years says, “We cannot celebrate our festivals here with full freedom; it is very difficult for us to celebrate them the way we used to when we were back in our country. If i get a chance i would run back to my country. I got a good job here, and that is the only reason why i cannot go back.”
On the other hand Jun Rayis and Rose Rayis, a newlywed couple started their married life in the U.A.E; they have been here for more than a year now. Jun Rayis says, “I like it a lot over here, it’s a different experience with different people from different nationalities around you. At first I dint like this country at all mainly because of the climate and a lot of other things, it was very difficult for us to adjust. But as we got to know more people from our country, we started enjoying here. I would like to stay here for some more time save a lot of money and then go to a better place and settle there for good.”
Jun Rayis with his wife Rose Rayis
(Photo Credits: Khadija Ashraf)
Their different way of talking is what makes them stand out in a crowd of people. Catherine Joveline who works in gulf greetings in Sharjah City Centre has been in the U.A.E for two years. She says, “I have heard a lot of people imitate us. The way we pronounce fifty and forty is very different from the way it is supposed to be pronounced. But that is the way we talk and we find it right. At times it does hurt to see how people make fun of us, but then that happens everywhere. If i get a chance i would love to go back to my country, but i work here and i stay with my boyfriend here. I don’t want to give that up!”
Raymond Ambant having a good time in Sahara Centre
(Photo Credit: Khadija Ashraf)
When I was talking to them, they all wanted to go back. They all had different reasons like missing family or their country, but only one of them actually accepted that she doesn’t like the way some people here behave and discriminate every other nationality. A 28 year old Philippines female, named May Paul says, “The only reason i am here is because i want to learn many things and experience everything in my life. If i want i can go back and I will be going back soon. There is no place like home. This place has a lot of people who think low of others who don’t belong to their community. I have been here for four years now and i don’t think i love it enough to stay here all my life.”
Raymond ambant her boyfriend added with a laugh,” I will go anywhere she goes, but I like this country too. If the bad people are thrown out this place, it will be heaven. Not to forget the expenses should also go down and the traffic should reduce. Then i would do anything to stay here.”
When i asked them if i could click their picture, Raymond says,” you click my picture but leave my girlfriend out of it. I don’t trust what people can do over here.”
They are different, and they proudly accept that they are different from the rest. A lot of them are here because they are desperate for money. I spoke to five Philippines and four out of five said they would do anything to go back if they got a chance. I wonder what that means. Has U.A.E lost its charm of attracting people to settle here? Or is this just an opinion of a few people staying here.
