20/07/2026
IN THE UAE, DON'T TRUST EVERYONE — THIS IS MY STORY
Sometimes, life teaches you lessons through the people you least expect.
When I came to the United Arab Emirates, I met fellow Sierra Leoneans who I considered more than just friends. I regarded them as my brothers because we came from the same country, Sierra Leone, and we were all working for the same company.
I believed that because we were from the same country and facing similar challenges in a foreign land, we should stand together, support one another, and do things as one.
When we recently had issues with our supervisor at Al Bateen C1 & C2, I was the one who took the responsibility of explaining everything to the manager and the management team. I spoke on behalf of all five of us because I believed we were together and that whatever affected one of us affected all of us.
Eventually, all five of us were transferred to International City in Dubai.
Before and even after our relocation, I continued doing my best to support everyone. I used my personal phone credit to make calls and send messages. I helped connect them to my personal network and tried to make sure that we stayed connected and supported one another.
When we arrived at our new location, we agreed to continue doing things together. We all agreed to subscribe to a monthly Wi-Fi router, which costs AED 220. At first, everyone agreed to contribute and share the responsibility.
But today, after everything we agreed on, I ended up feeling disappointed.
The people I considered my brothers let me down.
I sacrificed my time, my money, my phone credit, and my energy because I believed in unity. I believed that because we are all Sierra Leoneans, we should support one another, especially while living far away from home.
But today, I have learned another important lesson:
Being from the same country does not automatically mean that everyone will have the same heart as you.
Sometimes, the people you call your brothers may be the same people who disappoint you when you least expect it.
But it is fine. I am not angry. I am not bitter. I have simply learned my lesson.
From today, I will continue to respect everyone, but I will be more careful about who I trust and how much I sacrifice for others.
Because in a foreign land, you must have a good heart—but you must also have wisdom.
Those whom I regarded as brothers have taught me a lesson I will never forget.
🇸🇱🇦🇪
