I miss my bike, but I’m here to make money
> Xander Roa > Age: 28 > Filipino > Lifeguard
DUBAI — Xander Roa, a 28-year-old Filipino, may have only been in Dubai for four months, but he already has his favourite hangout spots marked out across the city. But unlike most, it’s not the beach.
Coming from Mindanao in the Philippines, Roa said he’s had his fair share of the beach life, so now it’s Dubai Mall — all 13 million square feet of it — that’s taken his fancy.
“I love just standing and watching the fish in the aquarium. I find it so relaxing,” he told Khaleej Times.
But in contrast to the shiny mall, he loves the hustle and bustle down in Karama too. And it’s often where he goes to fill up on food.
“There’s a Filipino restaurant there that reminds me of home. It’s an all you can eat buffet for just Dh12, and I’ve already been there more than four times.” And when he can’t make it to the buffet, he said he’s not too bad at cooking himself — with eggs, chicken and vegetables being his preferred ingredients of choice.
Working as a lifeguard six to seven days a week, Roa has been quite lucky with his working hours because he doesn’t start till 2pm. And that leaves him plenty of time to “explore” his new home. But in four months he’s only had four days off.
When asked if it was the work that brought him to Dubai, he said yes. But the dream isn’t to be a lifeguard, it’s to work on motorbikes.
Back home, the father-of-one was a mechanic for two years. And aside from missing his wife and daughter, he jokingly said it’s his best friend — his motorbike — that he misses most.
“I used to ride a Honda XRM. It’s only a small bike but I loved it. One day, I hope to get myself a bigger bike here in Dubai.”
But the bike will only come when he’s done what he’s come here to do: “Make loads of money. “Right now I don’t have enough qualifications to work as a motorbike mechanic because I need to have experience with cars — which I don’t have — but I’m working towards it.”
With a sister living and working in Dubai too, he said he’s lucky to have family close by, but as a full time mother to one, she was unable to take him in because he’s like a “big kid” himself, he laughed.
Working in Sports City but living in Al Quoz, Roa’s aim is to visit home every two years. And in the meantime he’ll explore a little more of the city — namely tasty restaurants and cool bike shops.