Dream Granted

I kinda miss my job as an editor in dubai. A job that i only thought possible in my dreams but dubai has given me the opportunity to experience it at least for a while. I was afraid at the beginning that I might not be able to do it as my experience is totally different from being an english editor and matter of fact is, I'm not even a journalism graduate. What are the odds of getting the same kinda job if I applied here in the Phils with its highly critical readers?  But as it turned out, arabs were easy to please (in terms of the way i write) and doesn't have a clue that there is a style in writing for public-consumption-reading more than the grammar.  

It's not that I was given the chance to write interesting stories or opinion- the publication i was connected with caters to the insurance industry of the entire middle east region and who reads insurance magazine? But I miss the feel of it! It was a total hell when I was working in the office with my arab boss around, but as soon as i get out on field attending press conferences, seminars/fora/symposia, and what-have-you, i was awed with my interaction with other nationalities during those events. Met a lot of different people and most of them executives from insurance companies in the middle east and some were from france, japan, us and where-else. I felt how it was like being a journalist-conducting interviews, promoting the magazine, and to my surprise I actually find the conferences interesting even when all they talked about was insurance.

I also liked the fact that while having these events, I had to wear coat and tie as if it was a normal thing for me to wear and being with people who means business. I couldn't forget the first ever interview i've conducted and it was with a powerful man from AIG -President & CEO American International Underwriters (AIU), Nicholas Walsh. I was like in a panic and at the same time trying to sort my questions without even listening to what he has to say - well, i had my recorder- but wasnt able to make follow up questions only because I was overwhelmed and at the same time intimidated by this influential man. What was also good about it were the hotels where they held the events. Shangrila (Dubai and Oman-palace like shangrila), Dusit, Al Murooj Rotana, Fairmont and its hotel food -was quite an experience I would say. I missed the chance to go to Burj Al Arab though (the 7 star hotel) since this egyptian (my supervisor) picked a fight with me on the day that we're supposed to attend a press conference in that hotel - that pig!

I wish I could write better! I wish I can transcribe my train of thought into a competent-journalist-style of writing. And if that happens, i would love to make a career shift here in manila. But that's far from reality so I'll probably just stick to the job that I have now. I'm just glad to have been given the chance to work with something I'm passionate about even when it meant that i went through hell during those miserable months working with idiots.