It has been a long, long while

I don't know what happened but for some reasons, they temporarily shut down my blog. Because I'm not updating for so long? hahaha Anyway, here I am, back again for so many kwentos and I don't know where to start. Warning: this entry might have so many flight of ideas.. hehe

I've been so busy these past few months with work, family issues, and friends.

Let's start with work. Since they gave me a secretary visa for the meantime, my job is more on paperworks. Meaning I do the accounts, coordinate with the bank and insurance people, answer emails, give receipts to patients, and answer telephone calls (mainly). I find my job a little bit more stressful than being a nurse because I DEAL WITH MONEY. And if there's anything wrong with my computation then I'll be a dead meat. Having a foreigner boss also adds to my stress. He is very moody! Sometimes he shouts for no reason at all, and sometimes he's very sweet and kind. He's very fickle-minded. And most of the time I can't understand his barok english! But who cares, he's my employer and he's giving me money. Woohoo! :P

About my family issues, it's still about my parents. They're still thinking about having a legal separation. And my father is still the one who's trying to bind them. He's still trying to fix this marital issues. They're also planning to go here in Dubai this coming Eid and I'm really, really hoping they are in good terms when they come here.

About my friends here, I'm very thankful I have wonderful people around me. I'm having a lot of fun here in Dubai because of them. ü

To be continued...

The Girl taken for granted

She doesn't know you that much but she gave you a chance.

She's not ready to meet someone yet but she gave you her trust.

She waits for your call in the afternoon even if she has something more important to do.

She waits for your call in the wee hours of the night even if she's already tired.

She waits for your text, hoping that you ate well and you got home safely.

She stays in front of the computer waiting for you to go online.

She sings for you just to make you happy.

She makes you laugh with her crazy stories and jokes.

She listens to your stories and remembers every details of them.


She gets paranoid whenever you wouldn't call her.

She doesn't get mad even if she knows deep inside, you're just making excuses.

She still talks to you even if she wanted to avoid you.

She believed you when you said you will never ever leave her and you'll always be at her side.

She still hopes that everything will be fine and you will realize her worth.


But despite all her efforts and heartaches, you still left her and taken her for granted.

But still, she never got mad when you said goodbye...

She even told you to take care of yourself because you mean a lot to her...

She just cried and hoped that someday, she will forget all these things so she can be truly happy again.

It's been a while

I miss you blog, super!

So what's been happening to me these last few weeks? Since I'm sleepy and tired as of the moment, I'll just update in bullets.. hehe tamad style :)

*I'm learning how to cook! Oh well, not really.. haha. But I now perfected (almost) how to peel and cut onions and garlics. Plus green mangoes too. And yeah, my fingers are still complete! :)

*I'm eating vegetables more often now since I'm leaving in an accommodation. And would you believe that it's my first time to try Togue (bean sprouts), Monggo, and Tortang talong (without meat)? Haha Poor me, right? That's because I'm a meat lover ever since childhood. But I'm terribly missing hotdogs and maling. :(

*I'm now adjusted with my work. Somehow I can manage on my own now. But of course, sometimes I still ask for help.. hehe. By the way, my job here in Dubai is nurse/receptionist/secretary/insurance coordinator/cleaner/care taker/guard. Too much to handle, eh?

*I met new friends and it's making my stay in Dubai more fun! Special shout-out to Ate Minie whom I met last friday. Thank you again for the nice company, Ate. :) I promised that I won't call you Miss Minie anymore.. haha.

*I've realized that it's not okay to be kind and polite to everybody. Sometimes, you really have to fight for your rights. You don't have to smile and just agree to every single word a person, even your superior, tells you. If they're telling you to do things that you know are wrong, then don't do it. And you don't have to say sorry always especially if it's not your fault. We have to be tough in this cruel world.

*I'm really thankful to our technology today, especially to facebook, ym, skype, roaming services, and of course, blogs.. haha. I'm able to keep in touch with my friends in the Philippines and all over the world because of these.

*Finally, I've realized that it's difficult to be a daughter (who's living away from her parents), granddaughter (who's living away from her grand parents), niece (to her aunt who's having health problems but doesn't want to visit a doctor), employee (whose legal papers are still in process and who's living in a house with strangers with different personalities), friend (who MUST keep in touch with the ones she have in the Philippines and here in Dubai), and an individual (who does everything for herself). But nonetheless, I'm still thankful that I have a job and I'm earning on my own! Haha.

So there. I'm really busy with my life right now and I know I must thank God for all of these. :)

This is my bed in our accommodation. I know it's a bit messy.. haha

Atlantis

(Am I getting fatter now? :( Because almost all of my friends who went here really gained weight so I'm a bit conscious with every kilo and inch I'm gaining. I hope I'll stay the same or at least lose weight some more! haha)

'Till next entry my dear blog. I promise to update you soon.

PS: One of my friends from college is also here in Dubai. He just arrived a week ago (I think). And I'm really excited to see him on friday! It's nice that I have someone now whom I can talk to about anything and everything, especially the problems I'm encountering here.. hahaha. But I won't tell you this part of my life now.

Goodnight world! Especially to my friends, blogmates, and lurkers. :)

Para sa mga minamahal kong bumibisita ng aking munting tahanan sa blogosperyo

Salamat... :) Natutuwa naman ako at may mga lurkers pala ang munti kong blog na ito. In fairness, may mga nagsesend na sa akin ng emails.. hahaha. Take note of the word "MGA". Promise, tumataba ang puso ko sa inyo. Maraming salamat naman at naa-appreciate niyo ang aking mga sinusulat. Balak ko tuloy i-delete yung mga "emo" posts ko.. hahaha. E kasi naman e. Nakakahiya. Akala ko walang nagbabasa nito at joke-time lang yung numbers ng visitors sa baba ng blog ko (ui, tumingin sa baba.. hehe). Kaya maski heto, pagod at inaantok na ako e i-a-update ko naman itong blog ko. :)

Isa sa mga natanggap kong emails ay nagrequest na i-post ko raw ang experience ko during my DOH exam last April 15. Kaya ikukwento ko na lang kahit ligwak ang beauty ko.. hahaha.

Ganito yun...

3pm ang exam ko sa Rashid Hospital-Auditorium/Library. Sa mga mag-e-exams at walang service kagaya ko, papasukin niyo yung taxi sa may bandang loob ng Rashid hospital. Huwag kayo magpahatid dun lang sa may labas dahil medyo malayo pa yung building. Take note: Separate ang building ng Auditorium/Library ng Rashid Hospital kesa dun sa mismong ospital. Brown building yun. Sa may bandang likod. Kasi kung lalakarin niyo lang e goodluck sa init.

O di nakita ko na rin yung building after mga 30 minutes na paghanap nun (kasi nga hindi ko pinapasok yung taxi sa may loob). E nako, wala pang tao. 2 Indians pa lang ang naka-upo dun sa may parang canteen. Nginitian ko since friendly naman ako. Ngumiti rin yung Indian girl at nilapitan ako at tinanong kung mag-e-exam nga rin ako.

Indian girl: You've worked in which department?

Ako: ER. You?

Indian girl: Pediatrics. How many years?

Ako: Only 1 year. You? (haha.. puros "you" e noh)

Indian girl: Me too. One year. 6 months in Pediatrics and 4 months in general.

Ako: (Umandar ang pagiging pakialamera. Nakita ko yung lalakeng Indian na kasama niya. Mukhang matanda kesa sa kanya) Is that your father?

Indian girl: (Laughs) No. He's my husband.

Ako: (Laughs) Oh, sorry! (covers face)

Indian girl: It's ok. (sabay balik sa table. kinuwento siguro sa asawa at yung asawa e lumabas ng building.. hahaha)

Matagal-tagal ako naghintay. Kasi 2pm ako dumating e. 8 Indians ang andun for examinations tapos 3 pinoy kami. Dumating na yung mga mag-iinterview. Lumabas yung isa. Matandang babae na naka-abaya na mukhang masungit. Tinawag kaming lahat at sinabi kung pang-ilan kami sa mga tatawagin nila. Pangatlo ako.

Maliit lang yung room na pinagka-conductan ng interview. Parang yung table sa mga meetings sa office yung table dun tapos kaharap mo yung 3 panelists. 3 babae yung panelists namin at that time. Yung matandang babae na naka-abaya na mukhang masungit na tumawag sa amin kanina, isang babaeng mukhang African, at saka isang British female na naka-abaya. Kaya alam kong British kasi sa accent (hindi ko maintindihan kasi nung una.. haha).

Bago ako tawagin, hindi ko na maintindihan yung nararamdaman ko noon. Basta, may bad feeling ako e. Pagbaba ko kasi ng taxi, napigtas yung personalized keychain na remembrance sa akin ng BFF ko sa pinas. Feeling ko masamang sign yun.. hahaha. Para akong naiihi na nauuhaw na nilalamig. Buti hindi ako hinimatay.. hehe.

Paglabas ng naunang examinee kesa sa iyo, hindi ka muna dapat papasok. Titingin ka dun sa glass door para kapag sinenyasan ka nung mga panelists na pwede ka nang pumasok, saka ka pa lang papasok. Kasi sabi nila baka pumasok na lang daw dun basta-basta e hindi pa nila tapos pag-usapan yung naunang examinee.

E di ako na. Sinenyasan na nila ako na pwede na kong pumasok...

Ako: Good afternoon madame.

Panelist 2 (P2): Good afternoon. Have a sit. Tell us something about your experience.

Ako: I graduated Bachelor of Science in Nursing last 2007. I have worked in Bahrain for a year. I've worked in Dr.******** Diabetic clinic and ****** hospital. It is a 50-bedded private hospital. I was assigned in ER, OPD, and In-patient ward.

P1(yung mukhang masungit): Why did you leave Bahrain?

Ako: Because I have to go back to Philippines to fix something important.

P1: Why don't you just go back in Bahrain? Why here in Dubai? (Parang ang sakit na ng ulo niya. Nakahawak sa ulo niya habang nakapatong yung siko sa table)

Ako: (Medyo nairita kasi kulang na lang sabihin sa akin huwag ako magtrabaho rito) Because I'm already here in Dubai, madame. My aunt sponsored me for a visit visa and she said to try to take the exam.

P1: Where were you assigned again? (Hindi pa nakikinig sa akin kanina!)

Ako: In ER madame.

P1: Only there?

Ako: In in-patient ward madame.

P1: In-patient? What's that?

Ako: It's also a medical ward madame.

P1: It's a medical ward. You have to tell us that because we don't know what in-patient means. We don't use it here.

P1: Ok. Tell me something about congestive heart failure.

Ako: It occurs when the heart cannot pump adequate blood to supply the oxygen demand in the body.

P1: Due to?

Ako: (Nawindang kasi yan lang yung naaalala ko about CHF. MI na yung naaalala ko) Because there is blockage or ischemia...

P1: NO.

Ako: The heart cannot pump adequate blood supply because.... the left ventricle of the heart is weakened..

P1: NO. Your first part of your definition is correct but the second one is not. How do you treat patients with CHF?

Ako: *Panic mode* (MI na talaga naiisip ko rito!) Nitroglycerine?

P1: NO.

Ako: Beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers...

P1: NO. NO. (Tumayo para ayusin yung aircon. Akala ko hahambalusin na niya ko sa mga pinagsasasabi ko).

P2: What happens when there is congestion?

Ako: The heart cannot pump adequate blood supply to the lungs therefore the lungs cannot supply oxygenated blood back to the system.

P1: Do you even know what is Angina?

Ako: It is episodes/paroxysms of pain which occurs in the anterior chest which cannot be relived by rest or medicines.

P1: Cannot be relieved?

Ako: Ay, no, no madame. It can be relieved by rest or medicines. MI is the one which cannot be relieved by both.

P3: When you're in the hospital, what things should you check before giving medications to the patient?

Ako: The doctor's order, name of the patient...

P3: How will you know if that's the right patient?

Ako: You can ask the patient his/her name and verify if that's the name written on the chart.

P3: What if the patient is unconscious?

Ako: You can also check the patient's name tag on the wrist. Or you can ask the relatives for verification.

P3: What else should you check before giving medications?

Ako: Right route, right dose, right time, right drug, right patient.

P1: How many did you give us?

Ako: 5 madame.

P1: What are those again? (Hindi siya talaga nakikinig sa akin!)

Ako: (Inulit ulit lahat)

P2: When the patient has IV therapy, usually there are some complications. Could you give us some?

Ako: Phlebitis, fluid overload...

P2: How will you know if there is fluid overload?

Ako: Hmmm... The patient will have dyspnes, crackles... (wala na maisip.. haha)

P3: What will happen to the hands, feet?

Ako: Ah yeah. Edema!

P2: What other complications can you give?

Ako: That's all I can remember madame. (Nalimutan ko yung infection)

P2: Ok Camille, your interview is over. The results will be available on Monday. You can check it online or give us a call. (Imagine, Thursday ako nag-exam. Friday at Saturday walang government offices dito. Sunday wala pa result. Monday pa talaga nagkaroon. Imagine how many days ako waiting in vain!)

Ayun. At sad to say, hindi nga ako nakapasa. :( Pero siguro naman sa susunod, mas hindi na ako kakabahan as compared nung una. At saka alam ko na kung saan ako magfo-focus. Hindi ko na kakabisaduhin yung ibang hindi naman talaga kailangan like GCS kasi hindi naman ako neuro-nurse. Neurotic lang.. haha

TIP:

• 
  
  Be relaxed.
• 
  
  Huwag masyado magreview. Huwag OA gaya ko. Focus on major diseases, especially in the department you've worked before.
• 
  
  It's okay to say, "I'm sorry madame I don't know the answer." Pero magdasal ka na kung sinabi mo yan sa major question na tinanong sa iyo kasi dapat yun ang masasagot mo. Kagaya nung sa akin kasi CHF yung major dun e. Kaya sobrang feel ko na bagsak ako kahit hindi naman ako nabokya sa buong interview :(

Ayun lang.

Goodluck to those who will take the DOH exam!

PS: Ang dami kong kwento. Like nakalipat na ako sa accommodation namin kaya super independent na ako. Busy ako sa work na rin. At hindi na ako sad at emo about love kasi... hahaha.. secret :)

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!

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You are very much welcome to comment on my posts/tagboard, or send me an email @ camille_radaza@yahoo.com. You can also add me in facebook but you have to at least send me a message that you've been a reader of this blog (please include the url of my blog) so I will know how did you find out my fb account because I only add people I know as much as possible.

Thanks a lot everyone. Godbless! More updates to come, promise. <3

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Wow!

Natuwa naman ako at may nagsend sa email ko asking me about sa isa kong blog entry.. hehe

 

Sender:

 

hi, I am maybel, nurse din. Nabasa ko kasi ung blog mo about sa paghahanap mo ng work jan sa middle east. Help naman po, gusto ko rin kasi magtrabaho jan sa middle east ang hirap makanap ng work dito sa pinas as a nurse. 3 months lang ang experience ko kaya nag hirap din humanap ng agency, hingi sana ako ng advice, mas maganda ba na mag tourist visa muna ako jan sa dubai den hanap ako ng work pag anjan na... help naman.. desperate na ko maghanap ng work... hay,,, thanks and God bless you

 

 

Dear Maybel (yehes ate charo naman ang dating ko nito.. hehe),

 

Hindi ko maipapayo sa iyo na mag-Dubai ka. Sa totoo lang gurl, recession din dito. I was here last December pa. Tourist visa ako noon na good for 2 months. Ang hirap makahanap ng work as a nurse kasi mas pinipili nila dito na may license ka na rito. In order for you to work here as a nurse, you have to pass an oral exam. Sa Dept. of Health ng Dubai. Magtatanong sila sa iyo ng anything about nursing na tumatagal ng 15 mins. And well, kaka-exam ko lang a week ago at sad to say, ligwak ang beauty ng lola mo.. hahaha. Buti na lang mabait yung employer ko kaya vivisahan pa rin nila ako at after 2 months, magte-take ulit ako ng exams na sumalangit nawa ay pumasa ako. Magfocused ka magreview sa area na naassignan ka. Kasi ako sa ER ako nakapagwork. E kaso nagmamagaling ako kaya lahat kinabisado ko at hindi nagfocused masyado dun kaya sumemplang.. hahaha.

 

Pero 3 months kamo ang experience mo? Kasi gurl, before they allow you to take the exam here, you need to pass their assessment. Eto mga kailangan mo ha:

• UAE authenticated credentials (HS diploma, TOR, certificate of graduation; College diploma at TOR; PRC license). Yung sa HS credentials, dadalhin mo yun sa Deped kung saan covered yung school mo. Tapos bibigyan ka ng claim stub ng Deped at kukunin mo na yun sa DFA na naka-red ribbon na. Tapos yung sa college credentials mo naman, punta ka sa university na pinaggraduate-an mo at ask mo paano ipa-authenticate yung mga yun. Kasi yung sa akin, sila na nagprocess hanggang sa CHED. Tapos sa school ko na lang kinlaim lahat yun na nakared-ribbon na rin. Nagbayad lang ako. Yung PRC license mo, ipipila mo yun sa DFA. For personal purpose yata kasi yun. Unsure ako sa parteng yan kasi tita ko nag-ayos nun e.. haha. Anyways, kapag nakared-ribbon na ung lahat ng credentials mo, punta ka sa DHL at sabihin mo ipapa-UAE authenticate mo yung mga yun. Php 1,700 per document. so bale, 1,700 x 3 (HS, College, PRC license).
• Working experience from previous employer. Baka dito ka magkaproblem kasi sabi mo nga 3 months pa lang ang experience mo. Hinahanap kasi nila at least nakabuo ka ng 450 hours sa pagtatrabaho mo. Ikaw na magcompute ineng kung nakaabot naman yung duty hours mo.
• Passport copy
• Offer letter from employer (eto lang naman ay kung swertihin kang makahanap ng employer na maayos. Kapag may employer ka, mas mababa ang babayaran mo sa exam. Kapag wala, tumataginting na Php 25k!)
• Passport pictures

Just for you to have an idea kung ano ba ang pinagsasabi kong red-ribbon (hindi ito cake! haha), eto ang images. Plus yung UAE embassy seal na sinasabi ko rin:

(Paper siya sa harapan ng bawat credentials mo na nagpapatunay na lahat ng mga yun ay totoo)

Ayun lang gurl. Yan lang naman kasi ang naexperience ko dito kaya yan ang maipapayo ko. Pero may iba rin namang sinwerte at nakahanap agad. Ikaw na lang ang bahala magdesisyon.

Pero ganun pa man, salamat sa pagbasa ng aking blog at pagsend ng inquiry. :)

Lovelots,

Camille *cutiemaartie.blogspot.com*