Sojourn

My cargo box – ready to sail

It has always been a worry taking a long vacation leaving the house empty on its solitude and prone to burglary. I can’t recall my family having a long vacation all together for simple reason that we can’t leave the house empty. So if ever all of us really need to go in unison, we do some “mock ups” like putting a mop/bucket and slippers at the doorsteps or switching on the kitchen lights just to pretend that someone is home. Most importantly, the 24-hr curfew must be strictly followed.

That is in the Philippines. Here in Dubai is a different story. I have already settled here and considered it my home since 2007 but I don’t even know my neighbors. The rule here is mind your own business especially when your next-door neighbors wear white and black. The only way to find out if the flat is empty is when there are lots of flyers and stickers left on the doorsteps and you need to scrape the dust off the car as if it had gone through a strong sandstorm.

An expatriate for nearly 4 years straight, I miss the noise and the pollution back home. Year after year, I made plans of coming home but for some reasons, I was unable to. This time it is finally pushing through. Exactly 30days and we are off to go. 3rdy is already counting the days. Flight details – check; pocket money – check; luggages – check; cargo box – check-check-check.

Through the years, we have accumulated several stuff that goes to our so-called “relief box” neatly stored in the corner of our bedroom. Through the years, the boxes piled up and I just realized that it had already consumed more than a quarter space of the room. Through the years, one small box became two, two became three and so on and still counting until this writing. Those boxes have long waited for the time to come to be unleashed from the dark corner. The much-awaited toss and turn will happen anytime now (or soon, depending on my mood). Much as I want to send home and donate all “pre-owned and pre-loved” stuff, there are no exact takers back home. So as not to convert our house into a dumping site of relief goods, I’d rather leave those not-so important stuff here and sell them at the flea market for some Dirhams when we come back in September.

Besides the fact it’s not practical to shell out hefty cash for the cargo charges, I want to save myself from the hassle of arranging and donating the relief goods while I’m enjoying my grand vacay at home. I will just bring home the basics for our 3-month hiatus but for other things I need to bring, I don’t know what else to bring – really!

All this stuff should go before July

So here it is, I am packing away my 4-year expatriate life.  I’m dilly-dallying doing the packing but my conscience tells me to stop procrastinating and do it now. I don’t know where to start and which stuff goes to which box? Shall it remain in the relief box or shall it go to the cargo box and start its maiden voyage. I need to do some 5S before I finally toss them inside the cargo box. Packing is such a sweet sorrow, they say. Sweet because it is pleasing to the mind and heart. Now for the sorrow part – the picture on the left shows you exactly. Can anyone tell me how to squeeze them in 2 boxes for sailing and 3 luggages @20K each?

As my sojourn starts in July, the home stretch begins right after I post this page.

 

— JBQ —

United Arab Emirates

02June2011

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