George Bush and the rain: What do they have in common?

Answer: They both visited Dubai!! And if I may add, both caused some major chaos and a lot of roads closings.

MR. PRESIDENT'S ARRIVAL

A lot of actors and very famous people have been visiting Dubai. A lot are even staying in the resort I am working for. But never have I experienced someone who caused much turmoil as George Bush. His wife have stayed in our hotel about two months ago but more tahn the thight security, we barely felt her presence.

I was on local vacation and was supposed to come back to work last 14 January. I called up my supervisor to ask what time does he need me at work, not that I was excited about coming back ( oh no, please!) but just so the start of my year at work would be in order. Then I just found out that the whole of Madinat Jumeirah, actually the whole of Dubai was not in order at all. Bush would be staying in Burj Al Arab and the rest of his delegation in Madinat Jumeirah. To top that, they have closed all the roads near our hotel. 1)A part of the main road, Sheikh Zayed Road, was closed. That was like closing EDSA from Cubao to SM Megamall. 2)The whole of Jumeirah Road, the road in front of Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah was closed from 6 am to 6 pm. How could our guest go out of the resort? How can we go to work during our shifts? Hmm.. good questions! Answer to both is they could not. All our guests were advised to go out of the resort after the said timings or move to Emirates Tower, one of our hotels in the downtown area not affected by the road closings. And take this. All the employees who used to be coming to shift 7am or 3 pm has to come to work at 4:30 in the morning. Could you imagine that!? Sometimes, I wonder if people like George Bush could actually imagine how much does his presence affect people's lives. I mean one day visit and suddenly our world was shaken. Anyway, I feel bad for those people affected but luckily I wasn't. My supervisor said I can jsut take the day as my OFF. Hmm.. extended vacation..

IT'S RAINING, MAN!

The scarcity of raindrops in Dubai got a bit of excitement out of me. It was not like the typhoon with strong rain and wind that we always have in the Philippines. It was a very light downpour but a few days of continued rain was not really a good thing. Dubai was flooded, at least some areas. Could you imagine?! My colleague told me he phoned his mom back in Mumbai to tell her that it was currently flooded in Dubai and she was shocked in disbelief. Dubai, an emirate in the middle of desert is flooded?!Haha, what an irony but it happened. Thing is, this rain is something they are not so prepared of. The drainage system is so poor and there are some areas where there is no drainage system at all. Road have been inaccessible because of this. The few roads remaining were so congested. For two days in a row, I had to sit for 2 hours in the bus just to get to work and from work to my flat, which usually takes 15 minutes of my time. On the 4th day, after the rain stopped, a loty of workers have been dispersed to actually do some pumping thing to get water off the street.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy as you may never see them again. Im sure Dubai will do something about it. Maybe they will even make the grandest drainage system in the world. You know how ambitious this place is..

it rained!

I barely slept last night.

I had to wake up at 6:30am for my morning chat with mom but 5am and I was still texting my colleague who just came back from his Philippine vacation.. Yehey, I have a pasalubong daw!..

I hugged myself as I exited the main door knowing that the temperature outside will be much colder than my building's AC. Well, that's an understatement. It was freezing!Aside from the winter wind, guess what?! It rained last night! (Or maybe just a strong fog) A rare occassion here in the UAE, you can count them with your fingers.. in one hand.

I looked out of the bus.. Hmm.. it's just so gloomy. Already 8am and not even a sign of sunshine. One cannot see anything on the sky except, well, the silhouette of Burj Dubai. Hay, gloomy days.. I just love them.. Anyway, with God's grace, I'll be home this August.. I'll have my share of gloomy days. A lot. Oh, and rainy days too..

The Evolution

FIRST IMPRESSION

Kelan ba ako magsasawa sa squid balls? Mukhang di yata e. Buti na lang talaga at si Ate Fish Balls ay nakapuwesto mismo sa tapat ng Yakal. At buti na rin dahil si Ate Fish Balls ay nagtitinda rin ng squid balls.. pati na rin kikiam, kwek kwek, cheese sticks at hotdog..

Leslie 1: Leslie, Pumasok ka na sa Kwarto mo at doon mo na kainin yan. Habang kumakain, baka gusto mo na din simulan yun report mo. Di ba due na yun sa isang araw?
Leslie 2: Teka.. Teka lang.. Mamaya ka na pumasok. Kagagaling mo lang sa class tapos mag-aaral na naman. Break muna. Tsaka, tingnan mo o, 2:30 na. Di ba may pasok sya ngayon? Upo ka muna sa couch. Malay mo suwertehin ka pa at makita mo si crushie..

Oo nga naman, mamaya na ko papanhik mo? Dito muna ko sa couch. Hindi naman ako haharap sa pinto ng east wing 1 e.. im sure di naman ako mahahalata. Sana talaga makita ko today si A--... Wait! Bumubukas ba ang pinto? Bumubukas ang pinto! omigosh, okay lang kaya itsura ko? Baka naman mukha akong ngarag? Ngingitian ko ba? E papansinin ba nya ako? Baka naman magmukha lang akong engot!

Naku, ayan na lumalabas na siya. Aba, at nakablack sneakers sya ngayon, faded jeans, checkered polo(?), may dalang books at... mahabang payong!?! Sus , si Alfred lang pala. Akala ko naman...Aba, at mukhang nagmamadali ang lolo mo. Late na siguro. Nalalate din pala ito.. well, di ko naman siya kilala pero mukha lang kasi siyang goody goody. Sabi nila matalino daw. Mukha nga... At mukha rin siyang mabango. Hmmm.. mabango nga kaya siya? hehe..

Leslie 2: O wag mo nang pagnasaan. May gf na yata yan di ba? Yung lagi niyang kasamang girl from West Wing 2?
Leslie1: Para ngang gf niya. At saka, di naman siya type mo. Parang sobrang linis sa katawan. E di ba ang gusto mo yung rugged? Yung halos maligo na sa pawis kalalaro sa basketball court?

Excuse me! Para namang pinalalabas niyong mahilig ako sa mabaho. Kahit naman rugged, gusto ko din yung mabango no.. Speaking of which, mukhang wala na yatang balak magpakita ngayon yung mokong na hinihintay ko. makapasok na nga sa room. Gagawa na ba ako ng report? Hmmm, parang masarap munang matulog.

ANG HISTORY NG "ATE LES"

"Hi Ate Les!"

Sus , nakakagulat namang bumati itong si Alfred. Bigla na lang sumusulpot.

"Uy, Ate Les. Sample naman ng rampa dyan o."

Haha.. nakakatuwa talaga itong lalaking ito. Simula nung sumali ako sa fashion ek ek sa Kamia at Yakal, aba'y wala nang ibang alam sabihin pag nakikita ako kundi " sample naman ng rampa dyan o". At ang hindi ko pa maintindihan ay kung bakit tawag siya nang tawag sa akin ng 'Ate Les' Hello?! Ahead kaya siya sa akin ng 2 years no. mas matanda siya. Di naman siguro ako mukhang gurangutans, di ba?

Leslie1: Baka naman, nagpapacute lang sa'yo? Yihee..
Leslie2: Oo nga, baka nagpapacute.. Tsaka di naman pala niya gf si grace e. Best friends sila.

Magtigil nga kayo! Anong nagpapacute? Mabait lang talaga yung tao kaya laging namamansin. E di naman kami close kaya wala sigurong masabing iba kundi yun. Sakyan na lang natin ang trip niya.

" Anong Ate Les ka dyan? mas matanda ka po sa akin, KUYA Alfred.. haha.. Tsaka mas magaling kang rumampa no.. Dapat nga ikaw ang magturo sa akin dahil ikaw ang nanalo sa Faces , di ba?

THE APPRENTICE

Antok na antok na talaga ako. Hugasan ko lang itong pinagkainan ko ng pancit canton at matutulog na ko. BUkas na ang review.

"Hi Ate Les."
"Uy, hi grace.."

Minsan, nagugulat pa din ako pag nakikita ko si grace sa east wing 1. Taga west wing 2 kasi siya dati. Lumipat lang dito nitong sem. Best friend niya si Alfred which explains kung bakit 'Ate Les' din ang tawag niya sa akin.

Kakaiba din itong si grace. Parang lagi siyang hyper. Nakakatuwa siya kasi lagi siyang namamansin at lagi kang kukuwentuhan. Prang di niya alam yung word na 'mahiyain'.

" Uy, Ate Les, may tsika ako sa'yo."
"Talaga? Ano naman yun?..."
"Wala lang.. Basta may alam lang akong nagkakacrush sa'yo.. Uyy.."
" Haha.. sino naman?"
" Basta taga-diyan lang siya sa east wing 1. Naku, baka masabi ko pa kung sino. Sige na, Ate Les..Good night.."
"Ok, sige.. Good night."

Hay, palabiro talaga itong si Grace.
Leslie1: Palabiro? Malay mo naman kung meron nga?
Leslie2: Hindi kaya si...?

Naku, wala ng panahon para dyan. Antok na talaga ako..

ANG BDAY CELEB NI MIKE AT SUZANNE..BOW..

Ang himbing na ng tulog ni Pop. Kawawa naman ang roommate ko. Napagod siguro kanina. Kasi naman no, lahat yata ng games sinalihan.. Well, ako din naman sobrang nag-enjoy.. Okay talaga ang ang idea nila Mike at Suzanne ng joint bday celeb.. Andami ding mga taga east wing 1 na dumating.. Wala nga lang yung crush ko pero..pero..

Mahimbing pa din tulog ni Pop.. Nahiya tuloy ako kanina nung inamin ko sa kanya..
" Sige na, Ate Leslie, sabihin mo na sa akin kung sino yung nacucute-an mo kanina.."
" Hmm.. sige na nga.. sasabihin ko sayo pero wag ka maingay ha.."

Ayan, ang kulit kasi nitong batang ito, naamin ko tuloy. Pero talaga naman kasing parang may kakaiba sa kanya kanina.. Sobrang bagay sa kanya yung blue shirt na suot niya.. Ewan ko kung may deperensiya na yung mata ko pero para siyang naggoglow kanina sa shirt..At in fairness, mabango nga talaga siya.. hehe.. Tapos, kapag naghaharutan sila ni grace, parang ang sarap niyang panooring tumawa.. ang ganda pala ng ngipin niya.. at ang pula ng lips..

Leslie2: Wait, wait, wait... teka lang, sister.. I have a million dollar question here.. Crush mo na ba siya?

Crush?! Uy, iba naman yung crush sa nacucute-an no. Matulog na nga tayo!

Leslie1: Asus, ano pa ba bago.. Tulog naman lagi ang excuse mo pag gusto mo makalusot..

Kinaumagahan..

Toot toot... Toot toot..

Uy, may nagtext sa akin..

Gud am Leslie! e2 nga pala ung # ni alfred.
At bkt daw para kaung ngkakailangan kgbi?
- derf
+639163575253

si derf, ngtext gamit ang fone ni alfred. eto daw yung # ni alfred.. bakit, hinihingi ko ba? Nagkakailangan daw kami kagabi? Huh!? Di ko yata gets...

SEMBREAK

1st day ng sembreak at andito na ko sa bahay namin.. hay, looking back, sobrang makulay ang last days ng sem ko. i met new friends. isa na dun si grace. maaga kasing umuwi si pop sa province for sembreak at wala na din ang room mate ni grace kaya dun na lang siya sa room ko nagstay for almost 2 weeks. Sobrang sarap kasama ni grace. sobrang daming kwento. meron silang org ni lafred at iniinvite nila akong sumali. feeling ko nga, kilala ko na lahat ng tao sa upcym kahit di ko pa sila nakikita dahil sa mga kwento ni grace. Hmmm.. parang naexcite na akong magjoin next sem.

kapah hindi kinukwento ni grace ang buong UPCYM o ang kanyang lovelife, busy naman siya sa pagbuild up kay alfred. Sabi niya sa akin, kung hindi ko naman na daw crsuh yung crush ko e si alfred na lang. si lafred naman daw ay ganito, ganyan at lahat na ng magagandang puwedeng sabihin. In fairness nakikita ko naman yung mga sinasabi ni grace. mabait siya, matalino, masarap kausap, may sense of humor din, hmm, cute.. thoughtful at five thousand pogi points sya talaga sa pagkagentleman. kahapon, last day sa dorm. kahit magdamag siyang gising kagagawa ng project niya, sinamahan niya pa din akong maghintay sa sundo ko hanggang 7 pm!Nagkuwentuhan lang kami ng kung anu-ano. I have to admit na lahat ng pagbuilup ni grace ay umeepekto. Meron nga lang isang problema which I learned from grace din. He likes somebody else..

BANGUNGOT SA MAINLIB

I fell in love with the story nun pa lang una kong nabasa sa east wing 1 logbook. It was so honest sa emotions. And I, a huge fan of hopeless romatic stories, was touched. The I found out na siya pala ang sumulat ng 'Panaginip sa Mainlib". E di more pogi points na naman for him. What amazed me was how the story which he wrote maybe a year back actually came to life right in fornt of my eyes kanina. Well, of course except for the fact na nakatulog siya at nanaginip.

Alfred's unofficially a graduate. nagreresidency na lang. He's not even staying na sa dorm so hindi ko na siya madalas makita except sa pagsulpot sulpot niya sa UPCYM Bible Fellowship. So nagulat talaga kami ni grace nang makita siya sa lib kanina. There was some glow in his eyes which apparently brought dim to mine. And there it happened. Panaginip sa Mainlib.

Napaisip tuloy ako. Posible kaya na nung sinulat niya yung kuwento ay may namissed siyang isali na character? Yung character na nalulungkot dahil nakita siyang malungkot..

RUSTOM AND KEANNA (THE BIG REVELATION)

"Sige na Alfred, magkwento ka naman,"
"Ano naman ang ikukuwento ko?"
" kahit ano. Hmmm.. alam ko na. Ikuwento mo na lang yung 'date' mo last weekend. Uy, muling ibalik.."
"Sus, wala yun no.. Isipin mo na lang na closure lang yun.."

Period. Yun na yun.. Kumain na lang siya bigla. Kaasar talaga itong lalaking ito. Mukhang wala man lang akong makukuhang inside scoop. Nagyaya kasi siyang lumabas last weekend pero di puwede and work sked ko, Aba kamukat mukat mo ay natuloy din palang gumala ang lolo mo.. w/ Ms. Closure.. At wala man lang balak magkuwento.. Hmpft! Bitin na naman ang.. o well.. pagkatsismosa ko.Pero syempre naman no, this is just my way of catching up sa kanila..Sobrang busy na kasi sa work ang mga UPCYM friends ngayon kaya bihira na magkasamasama. Unlike nung college days na halos inseparable lahat from sunrise to the next sunrise..Pero pag may time nagmemeet pa din naman kami lalo na pag may mga events . Gaya na lang ng latest UP fair.. Hay, kakukulit pa din..

Gaya din ng ginagawa namin ni Alfred ngayon. Simple gala, kain lang at catching up..although mas nakakasama ko siya kesa sa iba. Who would have thought d ba? I mean, ilang buwan ko ding pinagdasal kay Lord si Alfred dati nung bago ko pa lang natutunan sa UPCYM na pag may gusto kang hingin kay Lord, puspusan mong ipagpray. So, I did. At hindi ko na din alam ang dahilan but one day, I just stopped. And then I moved on.

" Ate Les, tapos ka nang kumain? Starbucks tayo.."
" Ok. tara.."

...

"Oist, napanood mo ba yung PBB? Yung umamin si Rustom kay Keanna?"

ito ang gusto ko sa mga kwentuhan moments with Alfred e. Kahit ano pede niyong pagusapan. Mula sa mga scientific ek ek na nakakanosebleed hanggang sa mga plain ek ek lang..

" HIndi nga e.. Pero kinuwento sa akin.. Haha.. may paru-paro effect pa daw e.."
" Ano e.. may aamininn din sana ako.."
" Don't tell me bading ka..?!?"
" Hindi. Ano ka ba?"
" E ano nga kasi. Gusto mo bang umihi muna ako sa likod ng halamanan parang si Keanna? Haha.."

Nakakatawa yun, di ba? Imagine hahanap pa talaga ako ng halamanan sa Shangri La Mall..Haha.. Aba at di man lang natawa itong si Alfredo. Mukhang seryoso yata.

" Sige umihi ka muna.. Ay hindi, ako na lang pala ang iihi.."

...

" O ano, ayos ba yu ng pagweewee mo? Ano ba yung sasabihin mo?"
" Ate Les, lumipat na lang tayo ng table. Dun na lang tayo sa sulok para di maingay."
"Huhh.. Ahh.. sige.."

Sabi ng isang classmate ko nung high school, ang mga lalaki daw, nagtatry talaga sila na maging romantic yung moment na nagtatapat sila ng feelings sa babaeng gusto nila. Yung tipong, okay yung ambiance, nakakakilig yung lines. Pero sa sobrang kaba, nagmumukha na lang silang engot. Alfred was not an exception. Para lang plemang maiharap ilabas ang mga salitang sinabi niya sa akin. Para siyang najejebs na pinagpapawisan at di mapakali. Di ko na din malaman kung paano nga ba biya nasabi lahat at kung ano ang inireact ko sa bawat sinabi niya..E ni hindi ko nga macontain ayung puso ko sa sobrang bilis ng tibok.. Akala ko sasabog yung dibdib ko sa sobrang, kaba, excitement.. at oo, saya...

Di ko sure ha, pero parang sinabi niya yatang MAHAL NIYA AKO!!!??!!

THE REST IS HISTORY

21 months after naging kami and here i found myself still as crazy about him as day one. i always smile whenever i would reminisce about that fateful night in Tagaytay nung naging kami.. Di ko na ikukuwento but im sure it went down to history as one of the corniest line ever told by a girl in an attempt to romanticize saying "yes" to a would-be boyfriend. masyado siyang corny, wala akong balak ishare. I made the mistake of telling too much details to my then-housemates and I had to endure their teasings for weeks..

alfred and i just finished our chat dates na isa sa mga nilolook forward namin lagi since I moved here in Dubai. i really wanted the chat to be today para pagsalubong sa birthday niya. Birthday niya bukas. It is indeed a day to celebrate! Pano ka ba naman di magiging thankful e yun yung araw na pinanganak yung taong nagiinspire sa yo sa araw-araw. Nakakatuwang isipin kung pano kami nagevolve from being strangers to friends to close friends to a couple. too bad, i wont be there tomorrow to celebrate his birthday with him. but as we always say, our love goes beyond the distance.. and i have alittle something para sa kanya tomorrow.. shhh.. secret lang ha.. sana masurprise siya..