Nov. 3, 2005, about 5pm, i boarded the plane flight ek333 bound for dubai, uae. I had a glimpse of dubai at about 1am local time. Two hours after landing i found myself still inside the Dubai International Airport, wandering around. It was my first time to be alone in a place so far from home yet i didn’t feel scared. I was feeling excited! For a few moments i enjoyed being surrounded with strangers, amused of people speaking entirely different languages, different colors. Each one’s eye says something…my imagination was interrupted every so often with the sound of the paging machine calling a particular person’s name. I thought it was my name, but no it wasn’t. Then i felt tired, i felt my arms straining from the heavy luggage i was carrying. Then again the man announced the same name and i hoped this time it was mine, but no, it can’t be me. I decided to look where the sound was coming from. Maybe i should have my name announced then. " I’m Haydee Dominguez and i’m waiting for the driver from Ramada Hotel…." The ‘white man’ looked at me, smiled and politely said: "I’ve been calling your name, so you’re Ms. Do-mi-nic-ges?" I paused and with much hesitation i said "y-e-s…umm, say it again please!
It’s been a year since then. I am standing one afternoon in the office with a new girl who had just arrived from another country. One of our office mates spoke to her and said " can you stand outside for a minute, please" Immediately she said "YES", then she looked at me skeptically and said "what did he say?"
( the first problem i encountered living in an expat community like dubai was the accent. everyone has it’s own way of speaking english. it’s not enough that u speak the language, u have to tune your ears too. but u’l get used to it or just let them…say it again, please! )
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