My Last Day at DT office

We ordered fast food on my account and Raquel accompanied me to buy ice cream from the Jebel Ali foodcourt as well.

I said goodbye to all my colleagues with the knowledge that it might be the last time I’ll ever see them. I’m not leaving Dubai, but for one reason or another, I know that circumstances might not permit me to see their smiles again.

They surprised me with an iPod nano as a farewell present!! But what hit me hard and made me cry was the goodbye card with the signatures and goodbye messages from all of my colleagues!!!

It was so difficult to say goodbye to colleagues who have become friends and it’s even more difficult when you’re the one who’s leaving everyone behind… because the choice is in your hands. If things are beyond your control, it’s easy to take an attitude of resignation and say to yourself that you cannot do anything about it—“it’s God’s will”. But when the goodbye is by choice, that’s when it’s heavier to bear.

It was my turn to drive that day and Raquel had to wait for me to finish up--clearing my desk and sending goodbye emails to everybody, including my superiors at the head office in Germany. We left the office two hours later than the usual and I logged out for the last time from my DT user ID.

Raquel has been my best friend in the office since I joined the DT family in March 2005 and the farewell present and card was her idea. I dropped her at her home and hugged her goodbye… and as it was too much to bear, I had to burst in tears after driving a block away. Whew!… tears come easy these days for reasons that my rational mind keeps on rejecting!!

Leaving DT

I know I have countless reasons to be grateful because I have been a part of the DT family.
And when I leave, among numerous things:

I’ll miss the occasional treats of:
Indian and Arabic sweets
chocolates
birthday cakes
Lebanese bread
Pizza Hut pizzas
KFC fried chicken
Dunkin donuts from the ENOC station nearby
Starbucks tea/coffee from the Jebel Ali foodcourt

I’ll also miss:
the daily Bible quotes from Santhosh
the alternate drive to Jebel Ali with Raquel
the fingerprint login every morning
the fingerprint logout every afternoon
the boisterous voice and jokes of Dax
my favorite colleagues: Raquel, Valentina and Rinkle
the forwarded funny emails of my colleagues
the Thursday lunch at the Jebel Ali foodcourt with Raquel
my bulletin board, my computer, my chair, my desk and everything on it

I’ll never forget:
the memories of my trip to Germany
the fun during the company’s Desert Safari
the interesting physical inventory count at the warehouse
the memories of the Christmas Party at the head office
the fun and laughter during the company’s Christmas Party


I’ll be leaving with much sadness,
but hopefully I’ll also be happy with my new colleagues in another company.
Hopefully.