My First Birthday in KSA

April 27, 2013

This is the first time I spent my birthday in KSA.

It was just an ordinary day made special by my husband who surprised me with this delicious cake from Al- Aryaf and these lovely flowers.

Everytime I receive flowers it makes me happy even though I know it is just temporary happiness because soon the flowers will wither but the memories that comes along with it lasts forever.

with my hubby

with my very first nurse Analiza

Thank you Lord for the blessings of Good Health and Family and Friends to celebrate my birthday with. Nothing more I could ask for.

Khobeib Here We Come...

For the past month I have been hearing that when you want Filipino stuffs you go to Khobeib. So we were off to Khobeib this time.

Earlier, I was scheduled to go to a round table discussion sponsored by Ferose-F at Golden Tulip Hotel but I woke up late and so was not able to go.

Along Khobeib

4:15 pm we were picked up by Gris from our flat then we dropped by to pick up the nurses and lastly we picked up Dr. Genelyn and Dr. Antolin who came from Moevenpick hotel for an RTD by Abbot.

We asked to be dropped by in the Gold Souk, of course we cannot take pictures, they might think we were pirating their designs. Then we walk the street going to Riyalin( a store which sells items at 2 SAR hence the name Riyalin) and we come across this nice architecture along the way. There are lots of items for sale on the road and like what my husband said it is like Batha in Riyadh. We walked through stalls that sells clothing item just like the streets in Quiapo.

The Clothes Souk

Our next stop is the Abaya store. I have been eyeing the abayas eversince we got here. The one we bought from Greenhills cost us 1800.00 pesos which we were able to get at 1500 each and all I can say, after seeing all the abayas here, is that it is below quality. Its just an overlapping  black cloth with velcro straps and lace edges. It opens up whenever you walk around. However, it helped us get through our first month in Buraidah. The abayas in Hyperpanda were a bit expensive each sold at 100 SAR each the quality is better than what is sold in Greenhills but I was told that I can buy a variety of designs in Khobeib. Hence, it was really my mind set to buy 2 pcs today, medium quality one and my last 2 pieces would be the ones I found in Al Nakheel mall , a high quality one which I will wear on special occassions.

Here are the two pairs that I bought..One with gold and brown embroidery and the other which Denisse chose is a Japanese inspired one. If you will not wear the Tarha you will look like a Giesha.

The next stop is Riyalin Store where we bought a nice green tablecloth(16SAR), a broom and a dustpan(15SAR), a pair of scissors(2SAR), a serving spoon ( 3SAR) and A Dove Beauty Cream (6 SAR),

Then we bought 3 pillow cases at 5 SAR each beside Riyalin store.

Next we went to a perfume store and bought 3 perfumes which were all not in our list but I cannot resist on buying. My all time favorite Escada ranges from 2,800 to 3,200 pesos in the Philippines  here I was able to buy Rockin' Rio at 200SAR (2,000 pesos). I got Cherry in the Air at 250(SAR) and POLO Blue at 250 SAR. Plus we got a lot of Freebies too.


Our last stop is to look for Babes slipper. so we went to the Merrell store where we saw lots of good stuffs.

I cant imagine a Merrell rubber shoes at 990Php. Even in the Philippines, where we bought most of our shoes Merrell Shoes, the lowest price during sales were 1800 Php. My Merrell brown slippers costs me 2000Php and my Merrel rubber shoes costs me 2100.00. Babes' Merrell red rubber shoes costs 4000.00 all of them we brought here in Buraidah with us. Then here we can see items at a heaping low price of 99 SAR and a beautiful one for that matter.

Originally 170 SAR now 99 SAR

Our last stop is at Sundus Basket, an all Filipino store where we bought Balayan bagoong(Fish sauce) and itlog na maalat( salted eggs).

We are definitely going back to Khobeib to buy shoes before the school starts. And I promise my daughter that I will get her a pretty nice jacket.

We get by with a little help from Dr. Genelyn who served as our tour guide.

Our next stop Otheim and Jarir bookstore.
Thank you for visiting my blog. Happy Reading!!!

Khamsa Khamsa Adventure

All my Fridays were devoted to Hyperpanda. This day I am so excited since I will be in a different place. They say it pays to know where to buy the things you need especially so when we cannot always go out. The group decided to go to Khamsa Khamsa

Khamsa Khamsa Buraidah

a place where one can buy stuffs for home like casserole, plates, mop, rug, spoon, forks, knives, waste and laundry baskets. Name it they have it. They also have perfumes, lotions, soaps but don't expect them to be original. A khamsa(5 SAR) thaman(price) perfume? its an imitation just like what you can buy in greenhills.

Unfortunately, when we arrived here in Buraidah we already bought utensils because it is a Saturday and of course we need to eat and cook and we spent so much buying in the bakala(store) beside us well seems understandable since we don't know the place yet.

This is how the inside of Khamsa Khamsa looks

 We bought a set of knives, tissue paper, hand towels, mugs, serving spoon, teaspoons, sketch pads and color pens, bag, hairclips, rugs, air freshener 3 additional pillows and cloth for curtain, all for 200 SAR.

Then Salah time and we were forced to pay our stuffs because the store has to close. We never went back after Salah. We did some picture taking at the carpark just before we board the clinic van. Our next destination...Khobeib :)

My Clinic Space in Buraidah

After one month of travelling every afternoon to Al Khabra finally I was settled in my originally planned clinic. I have mixed feelings since I was able to mingle already with Al Khabra peeps but this is not a choice for me.

APRIL 1, 2013  my first day in Buraidah Clinic. let me show you the nice, little cozy clinic that welcomed me.

the clinic at the end of the hallway

Let me show you in details

my desk

mini receiving area

patient chair

ultrasound room

The clinic is small compared to all the other clinics but it is basically complete and definitely bigger that my clinics in Manila.

On my first day here are the patients that welcomed me.

not bad for a first day

They told me that patients here are more demanding and impatient but as I have seen it it is how you deal with them.

Thats it for now. Pray for me that I can cope up. Happy Reading.

Friday Again.....Off for Good Buys

Today is supposedly my rest day but I need to buy some juices and fruits. So we decided to go out.

Outside HyperPanda during Salah

Manuj, our Indian Driver pick us at exactly 4pm. We arrived at Al Nakheel during Salah and the doors to HyperPanda were closed so we decided to stroll around the mall.

Most of the stores were closed as expected, a common view in Saudi during Salah. I took some pictures which apparently you can't see anything but closed stores and the black and white fashion.

I found one store that sells beautiful Abayas and I am eyeing one with the ethnic design. I have to come back to that store once I get my first salary.

We reached what seems like the food court and we saw McDonald's, KFC, Cinnabon, Herfy and Seattle's Best Coffee in one of the Kiosk. Life isn't that remote here anyway. Besides, Buraidah is already a City.

The ramp going to Al Nakheel Mall

At the Food court

Me and my daughter outside HyperPanda

Romel @ Pringles Section

Me and Denisse at Cheetos corner

waiting for counters to open

my daughter sitting in a corner
texting while mommy
queue at the counter

Our Final stop is HyperPanda to get some good buys and you will see more pictures coming as I show you some stuffs that I bought.. be ready and be patient :)

The scene at the cashier was the same. It was Salah again so we have to patiently wait until the counters are open.

I paid 197 SAR for my groceries, comparatively low than that of last week which was 733 SAR. For me it was quite reasonable, it was just roughly 2000 PHP. These are some of  the stuffs that I bought for 2000 php.

15 pcs of egg for 7SAR. In the Philippines, a dozen costs 67 pesos. I am amazed that eggs have expiry dates :)

Eggs with expiration date

2.95 SAR per kilo

A kilo of Oranges costs only 2.95 SAR and it is shockingly 30 php when converted.

The yellow plums, which is a first for me to see, cost 12SAR per kilo, red plums cost 2 SAR higher.

no they are not lemons..

French Feta Cheese

Hmm what else...yes the French Feta Cheese...imagine it is only 5.50 SAR. No kidding, 60 pesos for a French Feta Cheese?? . I don't understand why the Greeks love them it was too salty for me, so we put it in fresh salads and the pasta that I cooked.

Juice Concentrates

I also bought these juices that I got for only 7 SAR( Nadec Brand) and 8 SAR (Almarai Brand). In my home country, a liter is already 70-90 pesos and to think this is 1.75L each.

Full Cream Milk

Milk only costs 3 SAR ( 1L) 6 SAR (2L).

Yogurt is also cheap.

And cream cheese..oh yes the cream cheese :) A Philadelphia Cream Cheese ( 300g) costs 11 SAR and the President Cream Cheese ( 500g) costs 10 SAR. So which do you think I bought?

Yes I got the President's brand 

And lastly coffee and creamer, I was told coffee is expensive here since it is being imported. I got the Kruger brand which was on sale last Friday for 20 SAR and then this Friday came the Kruger Creamer for 10 SAR. For me the price is reasonable enough. My husband is a coffee lover and I know the price ranges of the best coffee brands in the Philippines. Kruger costs less than Nescafe Gold .

There are lots of stuffs too like the Baskin and Robins Ice Cream, chocolates ( incredibly cheap too) of course I got some Cadbury's and Twix for Denisse and sodas which is only 5SAR per 2.25L. I hope that my blood sugar won't rise beyond its limits in the next few months.

If only I can buy all the stuffs here and send it to the Philippines, I would. My next post would be about the life of other OFWs here and their sacrifices for their families or maybe my next stop...Jarir or Kubaib :). See you and happy reading.

Our First Day Out - HyperPanda in Al Nakheel Mall, Buraidah

It's Friday!!! and it's family day here in Saudi Arabia.

Today marked our first week (7th day). My daughter and I started dressing up at 315pm since the driver will pick us up at 4pm. We will go to HyperPanda at Al Nakheel to get some grocery stuffs and hopefully stroll around the place.

My daughter and I in our abayas

Dressing up has never been so exciting. In the Philippines, we used to go to grocery stores in slippers, shorts and shirt. Here, we need to alot time in putting up our cover ups. Abaya is easy to wear but the Tarha (head dress) needs art in putting. Thanks to my nurse Analiza who taught me the right way in putting up the Tarha.

My daughter is growing up so fast and I am so glad that she is as open minded as I am in embracing the Arabic culture. I never heard her complain and in fact she showed interest in what she was doing. I asked her if she wanted her face covered because young girls less than 16 may not cover their faces but she wanted to and besides she looked like a grown up already.
I was amazed when I asked her if she is ok and if she likes what she is wearing. She said " mafi mushkila" (no problem) that she like what she is wearing and covering her face is not an imposition it's her choice to be completely covered. Truly she is a grown up.

We arrived at a very nice grocery store. Al Nakheel is an upscale store similar to Shopwise in the Philippines. Only women, couples and families are allowed inside. Single men are not allowed unless they are with a family or with a couple. Kuya Manny, also working in the Hospital's Engineering/Maintenance Department together with my husband went with us.

People who live on the other part of the world often have misbeliefs about Saudi Arabia. Sometimes what one reads creates some fear among others. Now that I am here, I can say that there are a lot of misconceptions.

My Husband(L) and Kuya Manny(R)

I am in Al Qassim, the most strict province in KSA (so they say) and yet apart from being completely covered face down, I have not seen yet men being separated from women. Maybe because single men are not allowed to enter. So inside, all the women and the families mingle. Women and families are being given priority (being a woman is an advantage) I have never felt more secure while shopping. Here, I can leave my bag in the cart and check on stuffs without being paranoid that someone might take my bag (no one wants their hand to be cut off!).

I can even let my daughter off my site to check some stuffs that she wanted which we rarely do in the Philippines.

My daughter checking the yogurt section

Some of the prices were amazingly cheap compared in peso and since I'm a first timer I still have the habit of converting it.
Kuya Manny told me not to convert and just get what I need. He was right it is indeed time to buy stuffs that we rarely buy in the Philippines(either because it is not available or too expensive to include in the budget). Would you believe a half kilo of French Feta Cheese only cost 5 SAR? That's only 55PHP!!!

I got some good bargains and filled up my cart with what I think are wise buys ( Ok! Ok! I did buy some unnecessary things). I will make another post on the good stuffs that I bought.

As we go through some racks, some nurses saw us. Who says that  you cant be recognized in abaya? I can identify each one of them by looking in their eyes and the sound of their voices. One of the nurses said, "grabe dockie ang dami nyong binili"  looking at our overflowing cart. I said " its ok I think its just enough to feed 3 people for two weeks, hehehe "

I paid 733SAR for all the stuffs I bought and I felt its just the same as when I do groceries in the Philippines.

Now our kitchen is stuffed to last for 2 weeks or so.

Embracing the Saudia Culture

March 8,2013 5:25pm Qatar airways took off from Manila Philippines carrying 3 passengers who decided to face a new life in a new land.

My Pedia friend Dr. G. Ramirez and her husband send us off.  I never felt indifferent, it was just like any other travel we had together except that we are not on a leisure trip and not coming back soon.

Qatar Airways' Meal Serving

Glecy, my colleague told me that Qatar Airways serves delicious food. So I was anticipating and I wasn't disappointed, except that the dessert does not fit the menu. I am no food critic but I don't think that "Maja Blanca(coconut pudding)" fits a seafood and pasta entree (pan seared fillet of dory with chunky tomato sauce and penne pasta in herb cream sauce plus buttered vegetables). This was concluded with brewed coffee.

Boarding Gate 3 going to Gassim

We arrived in Qatar airport 10pm and we have to stay there for 3 hrs since the connecting flight is at 1:25am. Still the same no significant changes felt since Qatar is an open country.

Then as we near boarding time women wearing Abayas (black overcoats) with black Hijab/ Tarha ( the hair cover) and face cover came flooding in. We were not planning to change since we were advised that only in Gassim Airport that one needed to be in Abaya. However, it felt different when everyone is looking at you as if you are the odd one out. So, my daughter and I decided to change. After a few minutes we were already strutting Qatar airport clad in all black fashion ( this is optional for first timers, all one needed is an abaya and a tarha of any color will do). Abaya is available in the Philippines in Quiapo at a cheaper price but if you are not used to going to Quiapo you can get one from Greenhills at the price of 1500 php.

The travel to Gassim took 2 hours. We arrived at 3am, contrary to expected the line is not separated by gender, couples and families stay together. It was not very strict after all but be prepared to wait since Saudi nationals were given priority. After an hour at the immigration we were fetched by Al Flaiw Van driven by Khaleed a Saudi Citizen (Only employers are allowed to fetch at the airport).

Take note that when someone tries to help you on your bagagge(porters) say no if you don't want to pay 20SAR. Do not take their insistence as kindness. They will just grab your baggage.

The travel from Gassim airport to our flat took 30 minutes. The flat provided for us is fully furnished and the refrigerator was stocked. Insaallah! At least it contains the basic necessities to survive a day or two in a place where you don't know where the bakala (store) is.

We did a bit of unpacking then went off to sleep.We woke up at  9 am feeling dizzy and hungry. I prepared instant noodles which we brought from the Philippines and coffee. Good thing I also brought an electric kettle :)

Kabsa: Saudi's traditional dish

12nn ( 6 pm Philippine time ) our doorbell rang. It was Dra. Raquel, her husband Arthur and their son Sebastian. They brought our lunch courtesy of our employer it's a Kabsa ( Rice ,Pasta, Chicken )

I felt so comfortable and blessed to have an employer who knows the needs of the people. And so we had a hearty lunch.

I have to rest some more since I am anticipating that I might start clinic that afternoon eventhough I was praying that this day be spared.

My phone rang, it was my employer and he said he will pick me up at 3 pm so I prepared. He told me he will bring  me to Al Khabra Clinic. It was a Saturday and its the first day of the week in Saudi Arabia just like a Monday in any part of the world. My employer arrived at 3:15pm on board a White Tahoe. He introduced me to Analiza a nurse who will be my assigned nurse assistant and travel buddy to Al Khabra everyday.

The clinic was flooded with Men in White and Women in Black. I was not culture shocked, somehow I was expecting this. Buraidah is a very conservative city and Al Qassim is strict than Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam. In any other place in Saudi, expats/foreigners/non muslims like me are not obliged to wear a face cover, just an abaya but here in Buraidah women are completely covered.

The clinic where I will stay is complete and with ultrasound. I can say doctors are very spoiled here, everything that you will need is anticipated and provided. The only challenge I will face is speaking the Arabic Language. So far having decided to go here seems to be a right choice.

List of Requirements for the Medical Professional

This list is purely based on the list my agency required me to submit

1. Updated Resume
2. 5 pcs 2x2 picture

3. Passport- should be valid for more than 6 months prior to departure date. If not better renew your passport.
SHORTCUT: No need to have an appointment online- it takes time. If you don't have the luxury of time just present your verified contract and booking ticket and you will be directed to the courtesy lane together with the Senior Citizen's and the Disabled and you can get your passport in 7 days.

4. NBI Clearance - One can always go to satellite offices usually in Robinson's Malls but be prepared because the queue starts as early as 4am and they only cater up to 500 applicants. If you don't have a hit you will get your clearance the same day but if you have a hit (same name with a person who has a criminal record) you will be asked to come back after 2 weeks and chances are because of the new system being implemented by the NBI you will have a hit, especially if you had a previous hit, since the system has not been updated since 2010.
SHORTCUT: The fastest is to go to the main branch in U.N Avenue so in case you had a previous "HIT" you can immediately fix it by filling for an Affidavit of Denial and swearing under oath with the administrative officer in the Quality Control Section. Once cleared you can get your clearance from the releasing section in 15 minutes. Note: people in the main branch also queue at 5 am. You can read about NBI FAQs here.

5. DFA Authenticated Documents:

• Highschool Form 138 and Diploma 
• Process: 
• Request from your school a Certified True Copy of your Form 138 and Diploma
• You will be provided of all other documents needed like an S.O and your rank in the graduating class ( the registrar knows which document to provide you just tell them for DFA CAV)
• once you receive the documents you will go to DepEd Regional Office where your school belongs to file the documents (No fees required to file). You need to bring passport size ID. Check the website for additional requirements and for the location of their regional offices here
• You will be given a DFA claim stub. 
• You will claim your red ribboned documents from the DFA Authentication Division.
• When you go to the authentication division. Put your claimstub in the box. Read which box to put it the box for the claim stub is different from the box for the receipts( receipts are the once you will have if you file directly with DFA)
• wait for your name to be called in either Windows 5,6 or 7
• you will be asked to check your documents. If no correction proceed to the cashier. Pay 100php
• once paid proceed to Window 8. Attach your receipt to your documents and put them face down in the window. If you are lucky sometimes there is a lady guard who will assist you.
• Have yourself sit again and wait for your name to be called in Window 4 (which takes a long waiting time)
• Check your documents before leaving. Common misconception is people return the documents because they dont see their names. Your name is written in the lower right hand corner of the document. The name you see in the upper portion of the document is the name of the authentication officer.
• College Transcript of Record and Diploma
• Process:
• Request from your University a certified true copy of your TOR and Diploma will take weeks.
• Fill up necessary forms
• Pay fees.
• You will be given a claim stub. Ask your registrar when do they deliver request to CHED(Commission on Higher Education) because sometimes they pile in request. If you are in a hurry you can request to deliver your documents personally but you have to provide proof of urgency which is either a Verified Contract or a Booking Ticket.
• Check CHED's Website for Regional Offices here.
• Pay minimal fee of 40php.
• Get your DFA claimstub. 
• Claim your documents at DFA. Same process stated above when claiming your highschool documents
• Medicine Transcript of Record and Diploma
• Process
• Request this from your Medical School
• PRC Board Certificate/Board Rating and Professional License
• Process:
• Go to PRC 
• Have your documents assessed at Window 1. Get Necesary forms.
• Pay fees Php75.00 per document Php 200.00 if rush (you can get in 2 hrs)
• Pay documentary stamps
• For Board Rating proceed to Window H (regular processing) Window A (expedite)
• For Board Certificate and PRC ID proceed to Window 16,17,18
• Claim at Window A and Window 14.
• Go to DFA.
• Fill up blue form
• Submit documents at window. 
• Pay fees at the cashier
• Submit receipt at the same window where you submitted the documents.
• Claim on the date indicated on your receipt.
• Other Certificate of Trainings
• Process: 
• This one you need a CANA. The Agency will do this for you.
• Marriage Certificate
• Process:
• same as when having your PRC Authenticated
• This only applies to those job offers with family status
• Birth Certificate of Dependent Children
• Process:
• same as when having your PRC Authenticated
• This only applies to those job offers with family status

Very tiring process but for every document you submit is like pulling one thorn stuck in your chest. READ and GOOGLE it saves time when you know what to do.

Things to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer

Most of the Jobs available for medical professionals are bound for Middle East. I have received several calls claiming that they saw my resume on jobstreet and workabroad ( which I posted since 2003 right after I finished my OB-GYN residency) during the time when I was still looking for a job. Ninety nine percent of the time they will ask you to come for an interview, there is ready visa and that the employer is coming to town.

But wait don't get too excited first keep this things in mind:
1.) Get the Name of the Agency
2.) Check if the agency is listed in POEA as an authorized recruitment agency and check the validity of their accreditation.
3.) Get the Name of the Employer. Surf the name of the clinic over the net to make sure that such institution exist.
4.) NEVER attend a pre interview. Attend only actual interviews with the employer and not the agency owner (Do not waste your efforts because your questions will never be answered) so make sure you are meeting the employer personally.
5.) ASK how much is the offer even a rough estimate. Do not accept the reason "It is the employer that will determine your salary based on your qualifications" because if this agency have sent medical professionals before you at least they have an idea how much was the offer. Just tell them " Were you able to send doctors before? Can you give me a rough estimate on the offer to the previous doctors?" Dont be afraid to ask, at least you have an idea if you still wanted to proceed with the interview based on the salary offer or not. If you have good qualifications chances are you will get more than what is being offered.

Assuming that you accepted the JOB and you signed a contract then what's next? You will be given a list of requirements that you needed to submit. Remember you will be working on a very limited time so it pays to know what requirements are needed and which one to get first. Be Prepared.

You can check the list of requirements for medical professional here.

What are the estimate expense you will incur while processing your papers?
 Let me give you a rough estimate:
1.) Placement fee equivalent to your 1 month salary to be deducted in 6 months. ( You can beg the employer and agency to deduct it for 12 months if you think its to heavy on the pocket)
2.) Agency Processing fee for the DFA Authentication of "some" of your credentials ( I mean some because you will have to apply for the DFA authentication of your other documents). I will discuss the process of having a DFA CAV in details in another post and stamping at Saudi Embassy. This ranges from 10-15k.
3.) Medical Exam usually Php 3,000.00
4.) Pre Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) Php 100.00
5.) NBI Clearance Php 115.00 if you still dont have any
6.) Passport 900.00 Regular(14 days) and 1200.00 rush (7 days)
7.) DFA Certification Authentication and Verification(CAV) or most popularly known as "RED RIBBON" Php 100.00 per document Php 200.00 if rush which you can get the following day.

So before you can earn you will spend a lot but don't worry, after every storm comes a rainbow. :)

About My Coat and Abaya

I would be a hypocrite if I say I am not worried at all. In ten days, I will be facing a major turn around in my life. Almost a month back I have accepted my faith and chose this road, there is no turning back.

In this blog I would take you through my journey from the moment I have decided to give up my established career and accepted a Job Offer in Buraidah KSA, the process of securing necessary documents and the struggles in between.

This blog would also cover all my experiences as a medical professional in the most conservative part of the world and how I will adapt and accept changes.

The initial title of this blog was White and Black just like the Yin and the Yang. White stands for my doctor's coat and the black stands for the Abaya ( an overcoat that women in Saudi wear in public places). I then decided to make it simpler and change the blog title to "My Coat and Abaya" to spare my readers of the guessing game.

I designed the header myself and I hope you like it. The background I choose yellow for obvious reasons. My coat and abaya both representing me and the yellow background depicting the sun in the desert where I will soon be.

This would be my 3rd blog. I have been maintaining 2 blogs related to my practice since 2009 but this one I am so excited about because everything that I will write here will be new to me and I hope that you will find information here useful.

Happy Reading!