ARTICLE | Ponderings of a New OFW in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Ponderings of a New OFW in Saudi Arabia

The past few days, I have been recollecting about my two-year (i.e. 2011-2013) stay in Saudi Arabia and every time I think about it, I am still surprised at how I was able to survive. It wasn't the easiest experience for a novice OFW like myself. But because I am naive at working overseas, I accepted what was thrown at me- blindly.

Do I regret it? I really can't say yes, but during the latter part of my days in Saudi, I started feeling sorry for myself, for all the unnecessary suffering I had to endure for two long years. I do not want to sound ungrateful or like I am complaining- please do not get me wrong. This article is far from whining, and in fact, truth be told- I learned a lot from my bosses and I was treated professionally in my company. If only for that, I am thankful that Saudi was my first real job outside the Philippines. Also, my work in Saudi helped me finance my sister's education and enabled me to pitch in for the bills.

Now comes the points that I had to contend with.

Accommodation

Being a Filipino, it was extremely difficult for us to voice out our sentiments regarding our deplorable housing situation. Why you may ask so? Imagine being cramped into a small room with eight people, ventilated with a 24-hour airconditioner. 

Toilet is a few meters and my choice of words to describe how utterly dirty it was, is just beyond me. Since the toilet is used by everyone in the housing area, it was constantly soiled and toilet seats are abominably left with foot tracks of people who definitely opted to step on it and did not clean afterwards. There are days when the toilet is clogged and human feces swim on the tiles.

To my mind, it was an image of a pig pen. And the cleaners actually water hose the entire toilet to clean it- pretty much how it is done in pig pens. 

I had no choice but to live with it. I had to live with it for two years. Two long years, before I could escape the horrors of this condition. And took me another three years to write about it. I still shiver when I remember the place. Of how one time, I was sitting in one of the toilets and the door got locked; and I couldn't get out. I almost cried because it was all too much for me.

And despite the unhygienic conditions, it is still the place where we clean our food and wash our rice. It was atrocious to say the least.

Many times I wondered how people could get so accustomed to this squalid living condition. Is life in the Philippines really that bad to be stuck in this rut?

Even the kitchen is also a walking distance from our room. I remember how I had to carry all my cooking utensils for me to be able to cook and feed myself. Buying fastfood outside was not an option because we had no car. So it is either we cook or sleep hungry.

See related article - Journal While There's No Laptop  

Weather

What made the situation even worse (at least for me) was the extreme weather conditions in Saudi. During the months of April until September, it was so hot that it became difficult to walk in the afternoons (you see, we just walk to go back to our "barracks" during lunch and end of business day).

While October ushers in the sand storm, so all clothes outside we forget to bring back to our room will be soiled in dust and would need to be washed again. 

And during the winter months of December to March, the temperature plummets that I had to wear mittens and ear mufflers just to be able to walk outside.

All these I had to endure, thinking that perhaps there's a good reason why I was put in this place. My faith was truly tested during these trying times.

Transportation

The main modes of transportation in Saudi are the taxis. However, taxi fares can be high so Pinoys opt to carpool during weekends. It was also discouraged to travel alone, for safety reasons.

Social Life

As human beings, we require to meet people to stay sane and healthy. I found it very hard to find similar minded people, simply because the activities are limited, and besides- you are always locked in a compound. The only way you can go out is when there is a scheduled vehicle going to a place called "Batha" where you can buy basic provisions- clothes, food, do bank transactions.

I have high respect for Filipinos who choose to sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of their families, because working in Saudi is absolutely one big sacrifice, which can only be understood by someone who has experienced the hardship and pain.

Perhaps that's the reason why they called it "Katas ng Saudi", because one would really have to invest tears, blood, and sweat in order to provide for their families.