My New Home:Qatar

"We're approaching Doha International Airport" the Stewardess announces over the intercom.

I feel anxious and excited at the same time. This is it! This is for real! I can't believe myself that I'm here. I can feel the chilling cold on the tarmac and even colder inside the Doha Airport. As we fall in line for the immigration, I began looking back. Now I'm on my own. I can vividly remember when I'm in Mumbai airport with my kababayans whom I just met and acquainted there. I told myself that I have no single reason to panic because God has proven His omnipotent guidance and love for me.

"Next, please" the Qatari airport personnel looks at me as he guides me to the immigration counter.

I stepped forward to the immigration counter and gave my passport, visa and other travel documents. Without questions ask, the immigration officer stamped my passport. I feel relieved because I thought it would be a difficult process as I heard before. I went to the Baggage conveyor to look for my baggage. Finally, after almost 10 minutes of searching, I found my luggage already on the floor. I got stroller, loaded my baggage and proceeded to the Arrival area to look for a curly hair, tall lady, wearing a green vest name Ms. Maria.

I went to the Costa Coffee shop as instructed by Ms. Rush, my agent in the Philippines where Ms. Maria would pick me up. The huge crowd waiting in the arrival area became my obstacle course as I began searching for Ms. Maria. Alas, I saw a lady sitting inside the coffee shop with the same description. I'm about to approach the lady and introduce myself when a heard a voice at my back speaking "bisaya".

"Dugay na me didto" the lady narrates to somebody over the cell phone.

When I looked back to see whose voice would that be, I saw the real Ms. Maria, the tall Spanish mestiza, very charming and beautiful lady. No one could possibly identify her as a Visayan Filipina.

"Nilo, I'm following you" Ms. Maria recalled.

"Paano ninyo ako nakikilala?" I asked her.

"Nakita ko 'yong bag mo na may pangalan mo" She pointed to my baggage with the bold letters of my identification.

We laughed together and walked outside the arrival area.

Ms. Maria called up a Karwa taxi. I loaded my baggage in the compartment and seated on the driver's side. On the way to my "new home", I was in awe looking on the different buildings, establishments, and night façade of Doha City.

At my back, I heard Ms. Maria calling Tim. She said the guy would be waiting for us in Sana Market. He would be my housemate. 5 minutes later, the taxi stopped at the front of Sana Market. I saw this guy maybe 5'4" tall; he wears a red bonnet and a jacket with a yellow stripe on the arm side.

Ms. Maria introduced me to Engr. Tim while the latter sits beside Ms. Maria at the back seat. I just said hello to him because I can hardly extend my hand for a handshake. Anyway, I would have ample time to know this guy. Two years would be enough maybe.