A W A Y F R O M H O M E
_____________________________
(3/7)
"Sometimes we’d go to the desert and spend some two, three days and the cold in the desert is indescribable. Whenever we are going to the desert, we will pack so many bags you’d think we were leaving for the moon.
_____________________________
(3/7)
"Sometimes we’d go to the desert and spend some two, three days and the cold in the desert is indescribable. Whenever we are going to the desert, we will pack so many bags you’d think we were leaving for the moon.
Sometimes we wouldn’t even spend more than a few hours in the desert yet they would pack everything they can pack.
A whole car is loaded with boxes and everything they believe they’d need to replicate their home in the desert.
It didn’t matter if we’d only be
A whole car is loaded with boxes and everything they believe they’d need to replicate their home in the desert.
It didn’t matter if we’d only be
spending a few hours in the desert - they didn’t care! They still expected you to cook several dishes as though we were back at home.
While you’re moving up and down through the sand in the scathing evening cold, these guys just sit down, cross their legs doing
While you’re moving up and down through the sand in the scathing evening cold, these guys just sit down, cross their legs doing
whatever they do while barking orders at you. Truth is whether it is in the desert or even in the city, these guys don’t do anything.
The aged woman I was originally designated to take care of used to use adult diapers. I was supposed to check her diapers and change
The aged woman I was originally designated to take care of used to use adult diapers. I was supposed to check her diapers and change
them when soiled. This woman always never wanted to change her diapers. Every time, I’d struggle to remove the diaper she had on, before I could put on a new one for her, she’d have messed up her bed and everywhere.
I’d carry her, clean her up and I’d try to tie her new diaper
I’d carry her, clean her up and I’d try to tie her new diaper
and she’d refuse. This struggle with changing diapers and cleaning her mess broke my will to stay any further in that house. It was then I began to think of a way out.
I sent a message to a friend - whom we were together in the middle East - and I gave a long rant about my
I sent a message to a friend - whom we were together in the middle East - and I gave a long rant about my
experiences. She told me that there’s a WhatsApp group for Nigerians living in Saudi Arabia. On that group, Nigerians connect and share whatever problems that we might be facing wherever we are.
My friend sent me the number of a Nigerian there in Saudi too. She
My friend sent me the number of a Nigerian there in Saudi too. She
explained that the man was the Nigerian representative who fought for the interests of Nigerians who may be stuck in one situation or the other.
I called the number and explained everything to the man. He asked for what part of Saudi I was, I told him. He asked for the street
I called the number and explained everything to the man. He asked for what part of Saudi I was, I told him. He asked for the street
name and I told him. He asked for my boss’ name and I provided that too. He asked me how long I had spent on the job and I told him – a month. He promised to investigate based on my complaint.
Truly, the man appeared on our doorstep one day. He informed them that he was my
Truly, the man appeared on our doorstep one day. He informed them that he was my
guardian and that I had told him I was no longer interested in working for the family.
The family refused and said that there was no way they would let me go since the work contract I had signed with them was for a period of two years.
The Nigerian man asked me which
The family refused and said that there was no way they would let me go since the work contract I had signed with them was for a period of two years.
The Nigerian man asked me which
guardian and that I had told him I was no longer interested in working for the family.
The family refused and said that there was no way they would let me go since the work contract I had signed with them was for a period of two years.
The Nigerian man asked me which
The family refused and said that there was no way they would let me go since the work contract I had signed with them was for a period of two years.
The Nigerian man asked me which
recruitment agency got the job for me and when I showed him the agent’s card, he said he knew the agent then he proposed to the family that we all go to the agent.
At the recruitment agency, they dragged the matter for a while. The agent then asked me what I really wanted;
At the recruitment agency, they dragged the matter for a while. The agent then asked me what I really wanted;
that was when I told them I didn’t want to work for the family anymore.
In order to meet the existing contract between the agency and the family, my agent decided that another person who had come into Saudi and hoping for a job would replace me in that house and run
In order to meet the existing contract between the agency and the family, my agent decided that another person who had come into Saudi and hoping for a job would replace me in that house and run
out the remaining term of the contract. By implication, I was owing the agency a work-debt to the agency too and I had to fulfill that too.
The swapping was done, I packed my things and was moved back to the hostel. The hostel is where the agency that arranges your traveling
The swapping was done, I packed my things and was moved back to the hostel. The hostel is where the agency that arranges your traveling
houses you till eventually you get a job. I was in the hostel for a while and then a new family was found for me to work at. I was in the hostel for a while and then a new family was found for me to work at.
At this my second boss’ house, I was free to use a phone and I could
At this my second boss’ house, I was free to use a phone and I could
by airtime to call my family in Nigeria at any time, however international calls are expensive!
If I called Nigeria with a card worth the equivalent of N2000, that call wouldn’t last more than a minute! On days when I really longed to speak with my mother, I’d buy a card of
If I called Nigeria with a card worth the equivalent of N2000, that call wouldn’t last more than a minute! On days when I really longed to speak with my mother, I’d buy a card of
100 Riyal, which was about N10,000 at the time.
I was not allowed to go out by yourself and so if I needed to get airtime, I’d wait for when my boss’ son, who was a teenager, was going out and begged him to buy airtime for me. The teenage boy saw how much I spent on airtime
I was not allowed to go out by yourself and so if I needed to get airtime, I’d wait for when my boss’ son, who was a teenager, was going out and begged him to buy airtime for me. The teenage boy saw how much I spent on airtime
and so he suggested that I defied his father & get a smartphone. I saved up some money & he helped me to get a phone.
The night I got the phone, my boss found out I had got a smartphone. He didn’t like it at all but he let me use the phone nonetheless."
❤
(4/7 runs tomorrow)
The night I got the phone, my boss found out I had got a smartphone. He didn’t like it at all but he let me use the phone nonetheless."
❤
(4/7 runs tomorrow)
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