So what happened to me after that, I started scouting for possible flats (stop if you already know the end of this story, its so boring I don’t even want to tell it!). How do you scout for possible houses here in dubai? They are usually posted on supermarket billboards. There are tons of supermarkets here run buy Panas. So I stand, looking up on the paper infested corkboard and bring out my cellphone. It’s usually written like this: 1 BIG ROOM FOR FILIPINOS CALL: 050209234 or something like bedspace for Filipina call: 0509849273. They’re all written, printed on a piece of bond paper and stuck on a cork board, usually near the entrance of supermarkets. You’d see a lot of people.. their cellphones in hand, crowding on it. Im one of them. Amongst all the commotion of desperately trying to find a place to stay, I’m there scouting the board for a the keywords that gives “hits”. Like, FLAT, BEDSPACE or INTERNET. If I see any one of these words on an ad. I immediately call the number on it.
The first place I visited was a villa, the villa’s just near the supermarket. What does a villa mean? It looks something like this:
Here in Dubai, they’re all demolishing the old villas. So if I ever move to a place like that, it still wouldn’t last long. And the place was nasty. It wasn’t clean and it’s super worse than where im living now. It’s also super far from everything. Well, when I found out that it was a villa, I immediately set my mind not to take it. When I saw it! Villas off the table!
Next stop a flat in Bur Dubai. Bur Dubai is a town near Satwa(is where I live). I didn’t want to leave satwa, because we’re walking distance from the beach! And I always go to the beach almost everyday after work! But I had to check it out, coz the woman I talked to, said that the flat was new, there was internet and it’s not all too far from satwa. So I checked it out. For the first time here in Dubai, I rode the bus alone. Good thing the guys are separated from the girls! Or else! Anyway, I rode the bus, and went down in front of the hotel where we’re supposed to meet. It was a bitchin walk to the flat, under the frying sun, but I got there, thankfully!! It was on the seventh floor. The place was decent enough. It’s clean, and it’s got internet and it had an automatic washing machine. Problem is, it’s NOT in Satwa. So I had to decline, yet again.
(gosh, writing this is getting tedious.) hehe. So, one afternoon after work again, I tried my luck once again on the majestic corkboard. And voila! I found all key words on a single ad! Internet-check! In Satwa-check! Flat-check! So I called up the guy. He guided me via cellphone on how to get to the place. I rang the doorbell and the people where nice enough to give me a tour of the place. It’s waay smaller than the place I;m living now. And the flat’s old. But it’s cheaper. I’m paying 750dirhams in my eviction-flat, that flat’s just asking for 600dirhams monthly! Problem is, the washing machine’s not automatic! But I thought, as long as I ‘m in satwa, I can live with spending a few hours washing my clothes. Still im hesistant! I won’t be able to reserve this place unless I give the owner, 1200dirhams. That’s one month advance payment and one month deposit. I pondered on it, on my own. And I suddenly decided to take it, coz the lady told me that it’s a very good find and that most people would want that slot. I went home, got my money and went back. I paid the owner. Yes, folks without thinking I paid the owner 1200dirhams. I paid her to feel secure, that even if we were gonna be kicked out of the flat, I would not be left homeless. Oh yeah, here’s the other thing about that, I’m super panicking because my aunt and uncle also got the same notice in their flat. But it wouldn’t be too hard on them because they have a car. They could live anywhere! Anyway, after giving out my money, on my way home, walking… I felt.. weird, hmm scared, uncertain! I felt uncertain! What if we won’t be evicted? What then? What will happen to my money? What if we do get evicted? Do I really want to live there? The place was very small and old. It’s abysmal. So, it’s too late… I went back home, changed my clothes and as usual, hung out at my aunt’s place. (I needed to go to my aunt’s place because my cousin was going back to the Philippines and I bought my mom a cellphone and, I was also going to send a box of chocolates for my brother). I was still uneasy about my decision. I don’t know what to do. It was driving me insane! How could I have given my money when it’s not 100% sure that we really were getting evicted? I tried to calm myself down by going online and distracting myself from thinking. I chatted with my friend, and we tried to rationalize and sort out the mess (thanks friend! I was seriously going ballistic!) while chatting however, my aunt asked me about the new flat. She said, did you get a receipt? I’m like.. no.. and she got livid! She said there are lots of pinoys here who are swindling other kababayans. And I’m so stupid in just giving out 1200dirhams. I panicked again, and immediately went back to the other flat. (its quite near.)
I got there with my cousin. I asked for the receipt from the owner, and while waiting… I realized, holy horrors. My roommates where slobs. They’re all finished eating and all the food were scattered on a table near the beds. There room smelled of food. There were three kids playing. There was absolutely no space in the ref for food. There was no space in the kitchen for cooking. The place was stinking all over. My cousin was like, whatever were you thinking getting this place? I have NO idea! It just hit me how stoooopid I was. The owner went out and gave me a paper ripped from a cheap notebook with a scribble that says I paid them that day. I am an utter twat.
That’s it, there’s nothing I can do about it. I just have to sleep on the bad call I’ve made. Bad bad call. My aunt was still mad because I didn’t listen to her and didn’t even ask for her advice. The next day, I distracted myself by working. I was already picturing myself living in that small flat, I blocked it out by understanding the validation system of CSLA. When I got home, good news welcomed me. Our landlady was able to bribe the super, and we were still allowed to stay in the flat. Immediately, my mind raced back to my 1200 dirhams. (14235.00 pesos) Shoots! Am I going to get it back?? Without changing my clothes. I ran to the dingy flat. I told them I was going to back out! Goodthing the wife was at home. She called her husband up, and the guy talked to me. He said, he can only give 600dirhams back. He’ll only give the other half if I find a replacement within the week! If not, the 600 will be forfeited! I completely and blindly agreed with him. I started posting ad papers for the flat. I went home a little dismayed and relieved at getting the 600 dirhams back. I did my laundry, then I went o my aunt’s place again. I told her about the 600 dirhams problem.. and she said.. “that’s insane! He can’t have your 600dirhams!” “ano ba yan, pinoy pamandin!” She and my uncle said, lets go get your 600dirhams! That same night they accompanied me back to that dingy flat. I just rang the doorbell, and I don’t know what came over the couple, but they immediately handed me the 600dirhams, no questions, no requests. Apparently, they really were not supposed to take that money from me. So, that’s it. I got my money back, and I’m still living in the same nice, new and clean flat.
What did I learn? Really, I don’t wanna hear it.
Wow, this is my longest blog to date. It sucks here that your own kababayans will try to cheat on you. But in the end, I’m still thankful for not having to move and getting my money back, that was super close call. I’m quoting my mom on this, she said, “answered prayer nanaman.” I’ve never really had anything happen to me like this before, and I really suck at it. I really don’t know if I’ll be better at this next time.. that’s life.
Did I change my opinion about dubai? NO! it’s still effing hard!
Finally! It was such a chore to write this all down. thanks to all of you who encouraged me to "kaya mo yan!" you have NO idea how it feels like to read those three simple words!
