The sound of the airplane engine.
The announcement made by the captain and the crews.
The warm-welcoming smiles of the flight attendants.
And the smell of the longing memories of missing home.
Just thinking of it makes my heart fluttered and want instantly to go back home.
My 2-year contract of working as a Long-Term Care - Staff Nurse in a private hospital in Riyadh has ended. Now it's time to go back home. I want to freshen up, be inspired and motivated again, most importantly to be with my family, finally.
Everything happened smoothly. The process of my resignation went well. It was fine but then, my flight was cancelled.
Supposed to be, I'll be leaving the Kingdom on July 21, 2021. I was so happy when I received my confirmed ticket.
Sadly, it was cancelled the night before my flight
Many of us experienced such unforeseen event.
If you are one of the same people who encountered this, let me give you some tips on how I handled the situation:
Here it goes:
1. Inform the company:
- Your flight was cancelled. What to do now?
First, inform the company. Regardless of your status - resigned, for exit or for vacation - as long as you haven't reached the place of your origin, you’re still under the company's responsibility. In my case, I informed the Company HR personnel and other people who needs to be aware of my situation; the housing/accommodation personnel, nurse manager/head nurse) because they should know that you haven't left and might stay longer. I also informed the agent of the traveling agency who issued my ticket to rebook my flight. This is a case-to-case basis. Not all companies have the same process as mine. I am a "direct" employee (not under sub-contract), so maybe it will not be the same as yours.
2. Be updated:
- What's happening now? status and flights?
I am very anxious and stressed by this. I keep scanning and checking the airline’s official site, social media, and other news platforms hoping to see an update on the status of the cancelled flights. I checked it from time to time, hoping a miracle will pop out on the screen, showing good news on our cancelled flight.
Just to give you a bit of info, July was one of the worst month for us OFWs affected by the pandemic. Most of the flights were cancelled and rebookings were not that easy. In my situation. My flight was cancelled on July 21, 2021, and had my flight rebooked on September 6, 2021. YES! it was a long wait of a devastation and agony which I endured that time. It was dreadful! For sure if you're in my situation, you would feel the same. A vast number of OFWs could prove the sorrow and anger.
One of the helpful influencers I constantly checked at that time was the Facebook page - STORYA NI JUAN. He kept us informed and dated. Kudos to you Sir Godfrey and more power to you. Mabuhay po kayo! for his official page, click the link below:
official page of STORYA NI JUAN: https://www.facebook.com/STORYANIKJUAN
3. Budget wisely:
- "mabuubos exit money ko."
Additional topping for my big bowl of stress? wait! there's more. The longer I stayed, the lesser money I have. I divided my exit money and keep some of it with me. By that time, I am not so sure how and what will happen. So, I kept half of it, for me to be ready with unexpected expenses. I also allotted a budget for my food and necessities while waiting for my re-scheduled flight.
I am still blessed and thankful despite of my hapless state. Because some of my "kabayans" are not lucky like me. The hospital I worked allowed me to stay in the accommodation, but the other Filipinos stayed at the shelter provided by POLO. I waited 2 months, but some of my kabayans stayed longer - 3 to 5 months or more.
For the official page of POLO Riyadh, I will put the link below:
Official Page of POLO-RIYADH: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069337504462&sk=about
Official Website of POLO KSA: https://www.poloksa-ph.com/
Additional information:
If in case your flight was not yet rebooked by the company/traveling agency, you can seek help at POLO-OWWA. They are offering repatriation flights for distressed OFW. For more information, I will post their official Facebook page below: POLO Repatriation for OFWs:
Official Page: https://www.facebook.com/RYPE.POLO.Repat
4. Maniwala at Magtiwala (Believe and Trust)
- "Nawawalan na ko ng pag-asa."
I felt hopeless and unlucky.
Keep up the faith, do not be tired of fighting. Because believe me, everything will be OK soon. I was there, at your place. So I know how horribly you felt right now. The only person you can rely on at this point is yourself and nothing but yourself. Please be strong.
The longingness of missing your family will melt you more while waiting. But just think like this, you are halfway there. Keep praying.
After all the struggles and anxieties I experienced. Here I am, enjoying my time, at home and with my family and friends, and eating my favorite viand - Inihaw na baboy.
See you soon Kabayan.
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Ciao!
Love,
Jess
PS: To my best friend: the witness of my misery and despair. Thank you for being with me in times like this. I will not be too cheesy. But you know it very well. I miss you. See you soonest. Take care always.
