Body Search

Have you ever been subjected to a body search by an airport security? My flight from Wisconsin to Chicago was at 10:10 am October 30, 2011. I was the last one to check-in together with Gas and Lest the Brazilian host parents of my new sister-in-law. When it was my turn, I removed my laptop from my knapsack and put it on a tray. Then I removed my shoes and took another tray. I also removed my jacket although I was chilling a bit and put it on a tray as well. I handled by boarding pass together with my passport to the ATS (Airline Transport Security) Officer. As the x-ray converyor scanned my things, I went through the entrance metal detector as everybody does. As I passed through it, there was no alarm at first but after 2 seconds, the alarm sounded. As I try to wonder what metal do I have in my body, a lady security officer told me, "Sir, you were chosen for a random security check and please step back." They asked me to enter to another door and one gentleman officer explained to me the routine on how he would check on my body. He asked me if there are any sensitive parts on my body and I said none. He also asked me if I prefer to be searched in private and I said I have no problem anywhere. Before he started, he explained to me how he would run his hands on my body. The routine was thorough and very instense. Although I have nothing to hide or to be afraid of, but since it is my first time to be subjected to such, I felt a little bit nervous. I have doubts. What if they will plant something on my bag? What if they will put some drugs on my body? Just like in the movies. Well, they found nothing except my BODY SHOP lotion. It was still full and I forgot to put it on my check-in luggage. It cost me OMR12 for that lotion. Well, what can I do? I can not insist to them to take it with me because they said it is beyond the limited amount. Rather than being detained just for the lotion, I went ahead. People were staring at me but I was not ashamed. I am even proud because out of all those passengers, I was chosen.  In fact, I admire the US Security Officers and I salute them for doing an excellent job. For what ever reason they have they have chosen me for security search, I never mind at all because I have not done anything wrong. In fact, I should be thankful for them because they are really doing a great job and it was really a nice experience. No hassle at all.

Graduation

Tomorrow Tuesday and Wednesday will be holiday ONLY for students at Shinas College of Technology. All staff members must report for work as usual... This is the second graduation and might be my last to attend to before I leave Oman. Two days without students in the College will be good for us because we can do our work like in QA, prepare quizzes and forthcoming midterm examination, to conduct meeting and plans for the Committee which I am heading, to mark all quiz papers so that students will not come to the office and ask for their marks even the exam was just an hour ago. When I returned the first quiz to my class in Computer Programming, the average mark of the students were 4 out of 10. The quiz was very easy, but I found out that they could not understand the question. WHY? Because it was written in English. The students are fond of memorizing the handout and when it comes to situational questions, they could not relate anymore. Sometimes the students make a guess with their answers. Anyway, so two days without students. What the heck... We still have to go to the College.

Student Advisor

Burden.... Is that how I feel about my student advisories? Sometimes... But with 148 students under my care, I may not be able to take care all of them. Plus having 16 hours of teaching, Coordinator of the Student Services Committee, member of the Domain 6 Quality Assurance, Time Table Coordinator, Department Registrar, Engineering website writer.... What else? Teaching... Examinations... Quizzes... Reports... Deadlines.... Patience.... More patience... Who will understand? How long is July 2012? How many months more?

It is good to know

I would like to say hello to Ms. Pradeepa. She is a Lecturer in IT and she told me that she had learned that I was writing my experiences in a webblog. Likewise to Ms. Manju. She is an ELC Lecturer and cornered me one day at the cafeteria and told me something about what I have posted recently. I thank them for somehow, they have read about my blog which is dedicated to all teachers in Oman. This is my way of expressing my gratitude, sentiments, experiences, problems, etc. with my life as a Teacher in Oman. Knowing that many people read my blog makes me stronger in writing what I feel about my superiors, Globenet - the company who hired and brought me to Oman, to my students, and to my fellow Teachers. Just to thought of it, makes me wonder... I wish I can stay longer in Oman...

Starting to Say Goodbye

A few years back, I did not expect that I will stay in Oman for more than a year. In the year 2005, I was the ONLY and the FIRST Filipino Lecturer in Musanaah College of Technology. All staff members are either coming from Jordan, Iraq and most of all India which dominates the lecturers population. After more than a year in that College, they terminated me because of politics. I was accepted in Shinas College of Technology because of Dr. Nasser who believed in my capabilities. And I never let him down. More than 5 years until now, I am still in Shinas and being one of the most respected staff member of the College. Big responsibilties were given to me and some of them i turned down in order to avoid more headaches....

As July 2012 is fast approaching, I wonder what would be my life when I will settle in Canada. Will I be missing Oman? Will I be missing my friends here? What I will miss most in this country is the serenity and beauty of its sorroundings. Peace. Jogging. 50 degress celcius of temperature. Fish market. Quezon Avenue. Dubai Travels. Quiapo. Fairview. Al Ghaseel. Hyundai Tucson. Al Anhar Internet Cafe. Carrefoure.  Safeer Mall. To name just a few.

Nine months from now... Step by step. Inshallah...