being far

Being far, yup it's hard but it's one way of looking back and do the things one loves to do during the past.

As for me, I get to listen to the music I once love listening.  I've already posted some of it and here is another one.  Hope you like it too...

i just love to listen to this one

Finally...my own car in qatar...

Yup, finally, my own car in qatar. Well it's really not mine but its a company car or should I say pickup.  I've been driving it for the past few days now and having my own transport for personal and work use is really better than having a ride with just anyone free.

The truth is, my company did not issue the vehicle immediately. It just so happened that there is this one driver who couldn't have his RLIC gate pass secured.  Our admin was saying that the driver's sponsor is having trouble getting the pass and so we were left with one coaster without driver.  So our admin assigned the driver of the pickup drive the coaster so our people can go to and from work.  After that I asked my manager to have the pickup issued to me instead and, he agreed.

It's almost a week now that I've been driving the pickup around Al Khor.  I still have to try driving it to Doha or to some far place and have some fun with it.

Anyways, maybe in Hajj time me and the guys can go joy riding and explore Qatar.  I think it would be fun.  Hajj will be a three day vacation, or maybe more.  Better we make our plan now since in a couple of weeks Hajj will be here.

does fighting lead to something good?

Do fighting really lead to something good?

Sometimes I do think it does.  Last monday, me and my supervisor ended up into a heated arguement with our clients chargehand.  It was so intense that my supervisor cursed and challenged this chargehand to a fight. Well, I being their senior, tried to calm things down.  But instead of the two fighting, what transpired was I was the one who threw the punch. Against the chargehand ofcourse.

This chargehand was trying to meddle with our work and was trying to be the boss in the area.  This attitude I did not like at all.  That's why, instead of me being the middleman, I ended up to be the fighter.

After the incident, I thought that would be it for me.  I was already thinking what to do once they sent me home. It was lunch time when our client's planning engineer called me up to explain what happened.  And after I narrated my side of the story, he then sent me to the construction manager, a Palestine.

There he again asked what happened and how was our work going to.  So I again explained to him that the trouble was with their people.  I was just surprised because, instead of me getting fired, I was given full control of the work.  He even called his people and said that they should not interfere with my work.

It's been 2 days now and still no word about any report on that incident.  Well I guess everybody hated that chargehand anyways that's why no one even cared to file any report. I guess I must have been very lucky.

The never ending project

The other day, I got the punch list (checklist) from our client for our project.  It makes me happy cause when this punch list is present, it means the project is nearing it's end and we just need to fix up things that were missed out or unacceptable to the client.

I just hope we can complete everything before the week ends.  I am really fed up with the way things are going in this project.  Not considering that I had a very big load in this project compared to what was expected from me.

Until now, my request for a raise since I've taken over the project has not come.  And adding insult to injury, the promised car which was supposed to have been given after I got my driver's license is still a promise. I am tired of asking my boss when this car will come.  Maybe they don't plan to give me one. Maybe they thought I will never get a license since so many have tried getting a license here and very few pass.

Anyways, who cares about that car.  If it comes then good, if not, then good also. That is what I keep on telling myself.  I would not die walking from our place to the supermarket anyways.

Tomorrow, it will surely be an exciting day.  The client will again have a walkthrough on our site and hopefully, finally sign their acceptance on what we did, that is for electrical only.  Works in instrumentation hasn't been as fast as electrical.  There are too many obstructions which if explained to the client isn't acceptable. I just hope we can finish everything before the month ends...

love this song too

one of my favorite songs

sealine beach resort in messaid

yesterday afternoon, we took a 2 hour ride from al khor to messaid, southern part of qatar, where sea line beach resort is.  it was our first day of holiday due to the mideast occassion EID. 

from al khor, we met our colleagues at wakhra, around 15 mins drive to messaid, and we followed them to sealine.  upon seeing most of the pinoys from wakhra, i suddenly felt guilty or sorry for not taking along our people in al khor camp.  i know they would have love to come to this beach reasort and unwind from all the work they have been doing. i think i will set-up a day for them to go on an outing.

back to sealine, although being such a big place, it was still so crowded, most are indians by the way.  we have to drive up all the way to the farthest location our vehicle can go to.  at the end of the coastline was this mountain of sand which ordinary cars cannot treck. so, we have to settle in a small area between too many indians.

after setting our things, first we walked, hiked could be a better term, up the big sand dune and at the top we could see these 4x4, mostly toyota land cruisers, and they were really drifting.  you could hear those big engines roar from the distance and you can really feel the excitement the drivers are feeling.  i sure wish someday i can do those things down there. it was almost 6pm so we decided to hit the beach.  better start there while we can still see the water.

the waters of qatar is very different from pinas.  even with the strong winds, still the water was luke warm.  come to think of it, it felt better swimming in this kind of water.  although it was very salty and it really hurts the eyes.

getting in the water was ok.  the beach had a very fine sand where you almost cannot see any sign of solid rock that might hurt your foot if your barefoot.  the sea flooring was the same.  its as if the whole place was covered with sand only, but it was not white.

comparing with the beaches in al khor, messaid was far better.  it was really a place where you can have fun in the water, go up and enjoy the sand dune (if you have 4x4 or ATB), camp for the night and have barbeque. it was really a nice place and i think i'd be back there another time....

Thank you.....

Well, after a few days of training and 1 failed exam, finally I got it.  My driver's license. Thank you very much.

It really feels good having passed that test and finally getting my license.  I was really praying hard from the day I again started to train upto the time I got out of the car on that testing day.

The L-parking did go smooth for me, although I was asked to do it twice just like the first test I had.  But now, the officer signalled me that he was rather sleeping and didn't see me do the parking so I had to go up the ramp again.

It was a bit complicated that time, getting out of the L-park.  During the training, everybody was instructed to look at the big post as the mark to follow when making that full left turn.  During the exam, I noticed the big post was moved from its original location which made most of the examinees fail.  Luckily, I noticed it before I got into the ramp.

I was very nervous after finishing the parking test though I have a hunch that I aced that part of the test.  And when the announcement came, for those who passed the first test, I felt even more uptight because I was expecting to be called in the middle part of the announcement, but instead I was called in last.  Well it sure was relieving to hear my name.

So the road test begins.  I think we were less than 20 inside the bus. I got to sit at the back because of being called in last.  And one by one, examinees would go down the bus and drive the car in front. Funny thing is, it wasn't so bad being the last.  While everybody else was asked to pull over and stop so that the next examinee can take the wheel, being the last driver, I was just asked to drive the car back to the school and not do the things other examinee have done. It seems, if your last, you'll be graded only on how you drive and not on so many other things.  I was really very lucky.

Well that was 2days ago, I passed my driving test.  This morning, I went to the school again and got my driver's license card.  I get to drive from the school back to work and around Ras Laffan city, even if I still don't have my own car.  I just hope everybody in our office is right.  Their saying I will get my car, for sure, next week.  I already have filed a request for it and my project manager approved it already.

I am just thinking, where can I bring this car for a joyride.  It will surely be fun and relaxing to go someplace far from our workplace....

my driving test

Last thursday, I took my driving test and sadly, I failed.  Really, I don't know why I failed that test.  I have been driving more than half of my life and I could proudly say I have learned or come to know almost everything there is to know about driving. But still, I failed.

Well, again I have to wait until the 9th when I will go back to the driving school and get my schedule for a retake.  They said I will be taking a 2day course again before  the retake.  I hope I can do better this next time.

It would really be good to have my own car here.  Last saturday, I had no choice but to come home late to finish something in the office.  But since I had no car, it took us longer than we expected to come home for our pick-up came too late.  With my own car, I'm sure that wouldn't have happen.

Also, I've been wanting to roam around Qatar, or atleast the nearby cities here in Al Khor.  It would definitely be fun to go to the corniche and walk along the beach till the sun goes down.  Of course it would be much fun with someone...hehehe.

I sure wish I pass my retake. I know my car is just waiting for me there at our office in Doha.  It sure would ba a waste if I cannot get it.

it's friday again....

12:45 am....yes, it's past midnight and again it's friday.  i really should be sleeping now but, i don't know, maybe because tomorrow is a rest day and i can't seem to find the time to sleep yet.  well, as for my people, tomorrow is still a working day for them.  i can't blame them, there isn't anything to do back at their camps anyways.  might as well go to work and have some more overtime hours. but for me, even if i report for work tomorrow, my pay will still be the same and so i'd rather stay at home and wait for my kids to go online and chat with them.

i'm kind of excited also, this day being a friday, because it means my driving exam is nearing. i'm scheduled to take it this sunday. i just hope everything works out fine and i pass the exams so i can have my license and eventually my car. back at doha office, they say, my car is waiting for me. maybe if i have my own car, i can get around qatar and see the beautiful places here.

4th day of driving lessons...

yes, it's been 4 sessions already and i have been driving around al khor city since the second day of my training.

now what i've noticed about the way they teach their students is, they are not into defensive driving like that in the philippines. here, they teach you about who's on the right of way road and, it somehow amuses me. one time, i was driving through a crossroad where i was on the right of way road when i noticed a big truck coming from the other road. my instinct tells me to slow down and check my brakes but instead, the instructor told me i have the right of way and the truck should be the one to slow down and stop. i, he tells me, should go straight and not slow down. really now, it was very different.

another incident when i was in a roundabout, qatar do have alot of these roundabouts, i saw a very fast toyota camry coming towards the roundabout and again my instinct told me to slow down and step on the brakes but again this instructor instructed me not to slow down and brake but instead to speed up more cause i am in the right of way. always, he said, roundabouts have the right of way and i should not mind the incoming vehicles.

well, i guess i will have to follow it for now since i still need to take the driving test for me to have a license.

today the clerk in the office told me, after i finished my lessons for the day, to bring my receipt for the driving test. maybe he'll be scheduling me for the upcoming test. i just hope it will be this thursday. they conduct the test every tuesday, thursday and sunday. and would you believe it starts 5:00 in the morning.

i just hope i do good in the exams and pass the test in just one take. what they're telling me is, it's very hard to pass the driving test and usually everyone fails.

driving lessons

yesterday, i enrolled and started a 12 days session on driving lessons. well, here in qatar, it is required to get a driving test before they issue a driver's license. good thing for us pinoys, if you have a valid professional driver's license, you will have the option of taking the exam immediately. but many say, the chances of passing the exam if you take it outright would be slim. might as well take the short course and practice the exam itself before taking it.

so, yesterday was my first day and as i expected, it was kind of different. the instructor is teaching me something i don't normally do when i'm driving in my home country. in school, i started to practice what they call inclined L-parking. well, one thing i noticed different was the way they want you to turn the wheel in getting in and out of the L-parking. they will have you stop the car and then turn your wheel full then after let you drive again.

that is what i did the whole session. just get in the L-park and out. then go around a bit and back to the L-park. the instructor may have noticed that i knew how to drive because after a few L-park, he just sat there and slept and never said a word about my driving.

tomorrow, i'll be again in school for an hour and i hope lesson will be different. i just hope that this coming week they will have me take the exam even if i hadn't finished the course yet. i was told that my car is already in our office in doha and will be issued to me as soon as i had my license. i sure miss driving again....

almost mid of august and humidity here is really getting worst. this morning, i had to go straight to the clinic and had the nurse (ali) check my blood pressure because i started to feel some pain at the back of my neck. well, i am still fortunate, my bp, as ali would say, was as if i am not in my 40's, 110/80, and i hope it would stay that way for a very long time. with the kind of diet we have here, it really is very hard to maintain good health.

i guess the heat really bothers me a lot. imagine yourself being in a sauna for the whole day. being drenched in sweat even if you've changed your shirt for so many times. it would really dry up your body and eat up all your energy specially if you don't drink water that often.

but the surprising thing about this is, i seem to be very well adapted to this environment. as the days goes by, i feel i am getting much bigger, or should i say wider. i really should start on something rigorous and keep my body in shape. I came here to be at least 50 kilos only but now i feel like i am almost 80 kilos.

well this is it for now, maybe tomorrow i'll have something better to write about. i just hope weather will be better tomorrow....

6 months and 14 days

yup, 6 months and 14 days to be exact... that's so far how long i am here in Qatar now and so far I can say I can still stay for more.

it's really tough, since our managers are leaving the company. I really don't know what the real issue is, but 2 of our managers and an engineer(?) have resigned their post and is now preparing us, me and another engineer, to take over the whole project. Well that is of course under a new project(construction) manager, a french, who just came to join us a little over a week ago.

i can't complain. the work is very challenging. i came here to be an assistant engineer only but as it turns out, i will be managing a group of construction team which i really have not experienced before.

since 2 days ago, we've been asked to join the daily manager's meeting and i got to hand it to us, me and the other engineer, we handled all their questions very well.

only problem now is, we get to go home late. before, we usually go home at around 4pm but now, since we have this meetings, preparations and planning for the next days activities and stuff, we cannot go home until 6pm.

i just hope our management will see through this on the spot promotion of our responsibilities and give us some kind of an increase. maybe in our salary or in our allowances.

it sure will be good if management can give us such increase but in any case, i know it will be a very good training ground for me to handle a big group of people unlike before when i supervise only a handful.

Comments from subordinates

Early this morning, I was surprised to see a clear sky compared to what we're having this past few days. They say the clear sky is an indication that climate here has changed and, definitely true, I experienced the sudden change in the humidity at the job site. Well, that is, after 2pm when I went there at the job site cause I had to stay in the office the whole morning and finish some work.

The humidity was, I think, very intense already. I wasn't even moving a muscle but I can feel my sweat coming out from every pore of my body.

It went on like that the whole afternoon but the harsh feeling of the heat was for a moment stalled when one of my chargehand (a leadman) gave a very refreshing compliment.

I didn't expect such a compliment from him since he was about to leave the company in about 5 days but yet he was very eager and very much willing to help us finish our project.

Well I asked him why such an attitude towards his work and he answered it was because I have been very good in handling them in our work. Unlike most of the bosses they had before, I was different as if I was never really a boss but a fellow worker who only lead them in the jobsite.

Hearing this words, it kind of took away all the heat I was feeling during that time and it gave me a feeling that I am doing a fine job.

I just hope tomorrow's climate wouldn't be as harsh as today. My sweat never stopped dripping which really drained my energy. I just hope I can catch sleep fast tonight...

First Time Blogger

Well here goes.

I just created this blogspot of mine and I really don't know if I had it in me to to create such blogs.

It's been too long since I last wrote my last essays, and as a matter of fact, I really can't remember when I did made such.

Maybe because my field of work did not give me the chance or time to to find out whether I can speak out my mind through writing. And having finished an engineering course, it was almost always numbers, figures and equations that our professors feed us inside the classrooms. Our reports were always in "Outline Formats" which required short and concise phrases or sentences.

Come to think of it, is it possible to write a blog in outline form? Can it still be interesting to read?

Well anyways, since I have plenty of time to sit back and browse with my laptop after work, I will try to post some of the interesting (and maybe also those not so interesting) happenings or events that I will encounter here somewhere in the middle east and maybe, when I become much older, I will be able to read my post again and remember, if not all, the things that I will be experiencing in the remaining 18months of my stay here. That is, if I will not return after the 2 years contract my employer gave me.

I'll stop here for now, it's past 12mn, and I have to wake up early for work and tomorrow let's see if I can continue writing some entries on this newly created blogspot of mine.