Culture Shock

Middle east, Qatar still in many ways a conservative Muslim state. During summer the temperature reaches to a staggering 50 degrees more than enough to fry eggs under the sun, in the Philippines 37 degrees is already a phenomenon but enough of the weather, there is nothing I can do about it.

Back home I can go outside wearing only my birthday suit as long as my genitals are covered, in here if you are caught not wearing shirt in public is punishable by repatriation. Never mind the gentleman's gesture because you cannot hold the hand of a lady even while crossing the highways, its Haram. Liquor is only accessible to those who have the liquor license, and if you really want to have a sip of the precious liquid you have to pay it double to the licensee, good business eeh? And if caught even just the cap of the battle KALLASH goodbye Qatar hello Philippines.

Probably anyone wasting time reading this, is getting the picture….Yes we are like prisoners here with a huge cell. But that’s not it.. if you are under the sponsorship of your company and you are fed up with it, you cannot just make a resignation letter and find a new one, it depends on the prerogative of the employer if it will give you NOC, (No Objection Certificate) which is a requirement before any other company will hire you as if it is the “certificate of ownership” which can be pass on. Worst they’ll accept your resignation and you’ll pay for the plane ticket and be banned for two years from coming back.So its more of personal rather than professional.

The culture I respect and willing to abide by the law, now that I have seen the good side of Islam, my respect for Muslims is too much especially the locals whose respect for us Filipino is evident. The one thing that I can’t comprehend is the power the government has given to the companies to chained employees and keep them at their disposal.”Modern Slavery”….I hope not..

In the land of the free like Philippines, maybe at this time you can see me holding a big improvised board with the print so big that even the penguins up north can see..but I can’t I’m in Qatar, have to live with it and wait until my contract expires but how when I have a non expiring one..