Introduction
Being away from our family is not really that easy for me and probably for anybody else. Leaving my eldest in his 8th month age and a wife whom I married just less than 2 years is very painful. But for the sake of better opportunity that may lead me to better life and future that I can give to my family, I took the risk of being away from them.
Below were some of the big projects where I was involved in.
He is my eldest. He is now 14 years old. The photo was taken on January 2007.
Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar (Jan. 2007 to April 2011) – Part One
HIA or Hamad International Airport (formerly known as NDIA or New Doha International Airport Project) was the very first major project abroad where I involved in. Our company is a joint venture of three different construction companies namely Gamuda Berhad, WCT and Sinohydro.
The construction was already on its fourth year when I came in. The main building was nearly 50% and the runways were just started. Since this is a very big project, it is divided into contract package and the one that we got are the construction or asphalt paving of runways, tunnels and few substations. As a neophyte in working abroad it can’t be taken away for me to get nervous. I have to communicate to non-Tagalog speaking people which is one of my weaknesses. But since there are lots of Filipino in our department and some of them were my colleagues in the previous company I came from; it somehow eases my nervousness.
This is me while on inspection of asphalt paving one of the runways.
Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, UAE (Jan. 2012 to March 2012)
Being unemployed for almost 6 months abroad is very challenging, considering we have our son together with us in Abu Dhabi. After a long period of searching of opportunities I was finally employed by Six Construction Company whose main office in Middle East is based at Dubai, UAE. When I entered into the project, it was just starting. I was then assigned to monitor and inspect the boring of holes for bored piles in mall’s proposed parking areas. After a month of working in this project, I was called by our manager. He said the company will transfer me to another project.
This was a fragment of rocks taken at about 14 meters below the ground surface at the Yas Mall site.
Das Island Abu Dhabi, UAE –(March 2012 to Nov. 2012)
This is my first offshore project. Well, it is not really offshore because we were in a small island in the gulf located halfway between Qatar and Abu Dhabi, UAE. Our specific project there is placing of concrete blocks along the shore as protection from the huge waves. Technically these blocks were placed to break waves to protect the shore. I stayed there for six months without going back to Abu Dhabi mainland.
This the actual activity on the site. This is own by Besix on their website. We are not privy to take photo on any part of the island.
Hamad International Airport, Qatar (Nov. 2012 to Sept 2015) – Part Two
This was a Welcome Back to Qatar project for me. Same place but different company and colleagues. Different company with respect to the first company I worked with in Qatar. Same company which means, the same company who hired me in UAE.
The airport was already in operation when I came back but it was only partial. There are some areas that were not yet finished and that was the job for company to finish most of them.
One of the remarkable parts of our project here was the construction of giant bear which is called “Lamp Bear”. It is a huge yellow bear with a lamp on his side. It is made up of bronze (if I am not mistaken) painted with yellow. It was brought inside the terminal part by part and assembled on a platform. This is placed perfectly after coming in from the immigration gate. People used to take a selfie photo before getting on board.
There is this saying that – “You didn’t really go to Qatar if you don’t have a selfie photo with the Lamp Bear.”
This was my selfie near the bear.
Khalifa International Stadium, Qatar (Oct. 2015 to Jan. 2016)
With the same company, I was transferred in this prestigious project. This stadium will be used in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2022. Five or more stadiums were simultaneously constructing during that time. The stadium was already partially constructed (by other company) when our company got this project. Because of the change in capacity, we have to do retrofitting on structures especially on the foundation part of the stadium.
As a QAQC Engineer, I was assigned to inspect mostly on the earthworks, waterproofing of concrete structure underneath the ground and inspection of rebars and formworks of structure to be concreted. Additional to these responsibilities was to monitor on going concreting – recording the quantity and exact area where it was poured and making it sure that enough samples were taken for laboratory testing.
Taken on the last day of my duty in this project - January 2016.
Now, these are just part of my OFW journey. A story that I may tell to my children, relatives and friends.
Note: Just click the red and bold words to see the actual establishment and structures.
Thank you once again for taking time reading my blog.
Best regards,
@braddvon21
What an amazing job you have! It's also incredible to be able to get used to the new environment that you are in and get over with the culture shock. Kudos to you!
I appreciate you sharing this kind of experience. Keep them coming. :)
Yes it was very hard. Different places, different kind of people and environment. Thanks for reading my blog. There are more to come.
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I have many workmates who were former OFWs and worked in different facilities in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. I remembered their stories while reading this. They also shared how their lives went and how hard it was to work abroad being away from their families and adjusting to different culture and tradition.
Thanks for sharing this post and those nice photographs. :)
As I was drafting this blog, many memories flashed back in my mind. There are many stories to tell of all the years i spent working abroad. Thanks for your very inspiring comment.
It was really hard to be far from your love ones... But we are here your family and brother and sister in faith...
Thanks Bro.
Welcome... 😇🙏
Yes, it's hard but life must continue for brighter future we wanted to make it happen. Because we all know that it's harder when there's no food in the table.
take care and god bless.
I already came back at my home country and been working locally for two months already. Those were the days.
Relate with your memories, hubby's work was in Brunie's Airport QAQC, 1984
...too just for 3 months can't stand the homesickness feeling.
That was way too much different. No phone. No internet. Communication was very hard.
But even in my time, homesickness was still present.