Life in Dubai (Part 2)

So far, since January 2008, I applied to at least 90 jobs and got invited for an interview to at least 13 companies. Of those, there were 5 interviews I got because of a referral (i.e. knowing someone on the inside). I guess the odds are better this time around and I would think I should have gotten a job in 3 months but I don't know why, I really just suck at interviews! I think I'm too nervous or come off as too desperate at times. Though at times, I feel the job wasn't really what I expected and I guess we would both feel it.

Anyway, there are others worth talking about and I think would be worthy to share to others out there. Sorry, no names. If you like, email me and I'll see if could let you know.

The Well-Reputed Distribution Company

I applied for Brand Executive. The original person who was going to interview me was sick that day so someone from the Sales Department filled in for him. This guy struck me as a classic inDUHvidual. He is not capable of handling interviews and actually totally turned me off to work for the company. He had an American accent but was of South Asian descent.

I introduced myself to him (saying my name). Then he attempted to pronounce my name again, reading the top of my CV. "GHEE-se-lah var-GEES?" he said. I get that a lot, so I corrected him, "It's ji-SE-la VAR-gas" I said. "Okay, please sit down and I'll be with you shortly after they're done with the conference room." After a while, he appeared again and called me "Vargas"... like, "Vargas, would you like anything to drink?", "Vargas, this way please". When we finally sat down, I said, "Please, call me Gisela." Then he said, "Oh, because in America, we call each other by our last names." What the? As if I don't know anything about American culture! Only after the interview did I realize it, when he gave me his business card. No wonder! His first name was so hard to remember and pronounce that the "Americans" use his last name! Hahaha!

Anyway, here are a couple of other things he said:  

HIM: It says here that you graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. Shouldn't it be just Bachelors in Science? or just Bachelors in Business Administration? I think you should change it on your CV.
ME: Well, then you should talk to our University because it's what it says on my Diploma. (At this point we got into a long discussion about a Bachelor of Arts vs. Bachelor of Science, etc... I even showed him my Diploma!)
HIM: What would you say is what you dislike about working with other people?
ME: What do you mean by that? Do you mean like, if a pet peeve?
HIM: Uh, yes.
ME: I don't like it when I have to repeat the same instructions more than twice. (I actually wanted to say, "I hate working with stupid people!")

Of course the conversations were longer and there were other questions, but in the end, I wrote him a thank you letter saying I was no longer interested in the opportunity.

The Multinational Bank 

The position was for Alliances & Loyalty Manager. Reading the job description, I really thought I was a good fit. I got invited for the interview and was asked "What can you do for us?" I thought I answered great, I gave them some ideas even since I had a lot of contacts I could tie-up with to provide more value to the Premier clients of the bank. But when I asked the manager what she looked for in a candidate, she said, "Like you said, someone who has contacts and all the other traits you have, etc... and I'm also looking for someone who is PRESENTABLE. Afterall, she is going to represent the Premier segment." Presentable, she said. I wonder what she meant? Someone whiter? slimmer? richer? I was wearing make-up, a good clean suit, I even carried my Louis Vuitton Duomo! Whatever it was, I guess I wasn't presentable enough for her so no call-back.

More to come... just keep posted.

Okay, so I checked out my past posts and I thought it would be time to update y'all with the cost of living here in Dubai, with the rice crisis and all. My gosh, I really can't get tired of talking about it. One 10-kg bag of Thai Jasmine rice used to cost about AED 38 just a month ago. Now, the same brand costs AED 68! This made me make sure my kids ate every single grain on their plate (I never thought I had to do that). I looked for other brands that cost less, but now, with what's available, we had to switch to Calrose which was AED 57. Hey, a buck's a buck. 2 years ago, we'd spend about AED 500 a week, now it's about 700aed.

Here's part of my grocery list yesterday (all in AED), in a hypermart. Small groceries and supermarkets are more expensive:

• UHT Milk (4 x 1 liter cartons) = 14.00 (This used to be 12)
• UHT Orange Juice (1 liter) = 4.20 (used to be 10 for 3)
• Frozen Chicken Wings (900g) = 12.25 (I rarely buy the whole chicken, only the parts we actually eat)
• Frozen Chicken Whole Legs (900g) = 15.50
• Chicken Vienna Sausages (small can) = 2.75
• Silver Swan Soy Sauce (620 ml bottle) = 5.05
• Zwan Turkey Luncheon Meat (340g) = 8.60 (this is our alternative to Spam, tastes similar but so much cheaper)
• Downy Fabric Softener (3L) = 14.85
• Toilet Paper (10 rolls) = 9.90

We went to the movies last weekend, Iron Man rocked but it cost us AED 30/ticket. Luckily, my hubby's credit card had a buy-1, get-1 free benefit for movie tickets so we only paid for one.

Cigarettes are also becoming more expensive at AED 6/pack of Marlboro Ultra Lights. I tried out Winston Ultra Lights, an okay alternative at AED 39/ream.

Tuition... increased by 15% from last year. We moved our kids to a better school. A bit more expensive but quality of education is so much better than their old school. Average is about 20k a year.

Rent... still exponentially growing. Now it's so hard to leave our flat because thanks to the rent control laws, and having stayed here since 2004, we're only paying 60% of the current market rates (say if a newbie takes our flat). But, we want to move to a 3-bedroom but only until I get a job I can see myself in for at least 5 years.

That reminds me, gotta go... back to job hunting.

Yes, I know... again. Why? Because I quit! Yes... I quit. Can you believe it? I never thought I could actually do it, but I've wanted to quit the second month into the job. But I stayed on for 2 years, so I guess that should be good already. I had many reasons, but most of all, I just couldn't take the 6-day work week anymore. I realized that Bass is becoming a teenager already and if I wasn't around enough for him, I was afraid we might stop talking to each other anymore and before I know it, he'd start having sex, or worse, doing drugs!

At first, I was telling my husband that I don't want to have a career anymore. I actually let it go the second I decided to move here with him. I just wanted to have a job I am good at, have fun doing, while earning myself a decent allowance. But then he goes, "Get a career again, so we can retire early." Just great. 

PS: I was just reviewing my blog after what feels like a million years since I've written on it after getting a couple of emails this last week telling me how they enjoyed reading it. I was really surprised, I didn't think anyone would still give a hoot about it anymore. So thanks, guys (you know who you are). Anyway, now that I've resumed writing... I think next time I'll be posting more stuff about living and job hunting in Dubai again.

In my job, I had the priviledge of going around malls and hotels to visit the shops where my brands were located. And one of the things I did whenever I first visited a location (whether it was a hotel or mall), was to check out their rest rooms. Of course I haven't been to 100% of the hotels here in Dubai but I can say that I've covered more than just a few.

Here's my list of the best banyos ever...

1. Grosvenor House Hotel - This one deserves taking pictures of. My gosh, the moment I entered it, I wouldn't have believed such a place existed. From the posh powder room that made you feel like a Hollywood star, to the sink, to the chandelier and plasma screen. You gotta see it to believe it!
2. Emirates Towers - So modern and chic... the best part of this bathroom is how huge the cubicles were, the thick handtowels, and Elemis Hand Soap and Lotion they use that smells so good.
3. Al Murooj Rotana - Kind of like Grosvenor House sans the chandelier. I loved putting on make-up in the powder room because it has that magnifying mirror with the built in lamp. Smelled nice too. 
4. Festival City - Newly opened, it jumped way above #4 below because of the hi-tech automatic gadget that dispenses mouse instead of gooey liquid soap. It has a couch inside and the tiles are very nice.
5. New Burjuman - Everyone who has been to Burjuman cannot be awestruck by how each individual cubicle has its own sink. It's just that the paper towels are outside so you have to use toilet paper to wipe your hands if you use the inside sink. Don't you just hate using toilet paper to dry your hands because of the way little pieces get torn off somehow and stick to your hands? Eww.
6. One & Only Royal Mirage - I just love the fresh rose petals on top of the towels.