I wish not only peace but a moment of rest for OFWs around the world

This holiday season has been the pits. My lola passed away, then work has been crazy busy (catching up for my bereavement leaves plus more stuff in preparation for next year. It's a ghost town here and everyone is on leave!!!!). Now, Dodong and I have been competing on who has the more miserable holiday.

Guess who has a more miserable Christmas between the two of us? Dodong OF COURSE! Just like many OFWs out there…

He is a Catholic in a Muslim country.

Despite Dubai's riding the wave of westernization (apparently Dubai's hotels have towering Christmas trees in their grand lobbies), it still is a Muslim country. So there are no Christmas Holidays over there. No special non-working holidays. Boo. Therefore, point number two…

He will be working on ALL holidays.

I thought I was in the dumps because I had to work during this holiday season. But at least, I still have non-working holidays tomorrow, the 27th and the 31st. Dodong has none at all!

This I must say is one of the most admirable things about our OFWs. They so really work their asses off for the betterment of the lives of the loved ones back home. So THANK YOU!

He is away from HOME.

Like many OFWs (especially those who did not get the opportunity to come home), he is away from all family and friends. Sure he has friends there, but I guess it is not the same at all. Though I am "alone", I am surrounded by family and friends!

Plus I still get to enjoy all the comforts and familiarities of home. Iba talaga ang Pinoy Christmas, which includes stuff like the hamon (pork is hard to find in the UAE!), puto bumbong, bibingka, simbang gabi, etc.

I think it is a bit of a psychological torture for OFWs during this holiday season. I salute them really because of all the sacrifices they've made for us, family and loved ones. We are most grateful and I hope that this would lessen the misery in this Christmas season.

Smile! We love you!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone! Wherever in the world you are!4

Stuffing myself silly is not the same without YOU

Last year, due to visa concerns, Dodong was able to spend Christmas here at home. But this year is different. After his 2-week vacation, he had to go back to the desert for work. So unlike most OFWs, most kabayans, who are home for the holidays, Dodong is in the desert, working while trying to recreate the Christmas celebrations with fellow kabayans. Is your honey home or away for the holidays too?

This is Dodong's first Christmas away from home in a foreign non-Christian land. Plus, this is our first Christmas apart…

Although when he's home, we do spend Christmas with our respective families, but then again, the whole getting together of families and friends just adds to the "missing him" mood. Thanks to technology, we would be able to be "together" this Christmas despite the distance between us…

Long distance Christmas phone patch

Once the clock strikes 12mn in Dubai time (approximately 4am Philippine time), I will be giving Dodong a call. Thank God for lower long distance call rates, I'd be able to call him without hurting my pocket as much. For Globe subscribers like myself, just dial 12800 + country code + area code + telephone number. Instead of being charged per minute, your call will be charged per second at Php 0.17 per second. Not bad right?

Live streamed Noche Buena

Hmmm with the time difference (4-hours), I think that our food would be wiped out by then. Hehehe! I'm asking Dodong if he could live stream their Christmas celebration. I could join in their kabayan Christmas celebration too It actually is a blessing that Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday which is the last day of the work week over there.

I just wish I could fly in a Christmas Ham to share the Pinoy love this Christmas day. Would you send a Christmas Ham for him?

Merry Christmas everyone! Don't be blue, technology is there for you Be happy that someone out there (literally) is there wishing you all the best for this Christmas

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay