The lost history - Bahrain as an expatriate

 

It was December 31st, 2011, when I first landed in Bahrain.
A winter season, in a time zone I had never experienced before. I was surprised to see the afternoon prayer begin at 11 a.m.! That small shift in time left me totally confused. Everything felt unfamiliar – the climate, the people, even the sky looked different.

A person from the company was assigned to pick me up at the airport. He arrived on time, and we had a warm conversation on the way. Thankfully, we got acquainted quickly, which gave me a bit of comfort in an otherwise strange land.

The company provided me with a temporary room. The next day was a holiday – New Year’s Day – so I had a full day to experience this new place. Another colleague, Balaji, had also just arrived from another state in India. We became friends instantly. That New Year’s Eve and January 1st of 2012, we spent together – walking around, searching for a decent restaurant, and finally enjoying Indian food that gave us a taste of home.

The first official day at work was challenging. I got up at 5 a.m., wore a tie (which felt strange), and braved the cold to take a bath. It was tough, but we managed. Slowly, I started understanding how to adjust to the winter, the new prayer times, and the early sunsets – so different from Kerala, my home. I realized that some things can’t be understood by reading or hearing; they must be experienced to be truly felt.

And thus, my journey in Bahrain continued, right up to February 28, 2025. I left on the 28th night, returning to India for a new opportunity. But those years in Bahrain… they shaped me.

Professionally, it was a fantastic time. I worked with technologies like Java, Spring Boot, Angular, even React and Flutter, and ventured into AWS and Camunda. I learned all on the job (academically a chemical engineer, so computer science entirely was a new learning)and through personal effort. The team discussions were productive, though there were occasionally pressure-filled moments. I learned patience(?). I even had to slow down my speaking speed to better connect with others – still a work in progress.

Over the years, I met many friends. Some friendships became like family. The multicultural experience was amazing – not just Indian, but a mix of influences from other countries too. We were all workers, expats, sharing the same sky, chasing our dreams in the same sand. Unusual friends, connected friends, just hi bye friends and more. Even I got a friend, but a student, that also something helped me to understand the culture.

Bahrain taught me a lot – how to live with less entertainment but more human connection. I loved the Indian art and cultural gatherings.
The desert camps, foodie spots, teatime talks, debates, occasional arguments, events we attended and organized – all helped me grow. Even in small ways, I developed soft skills – leadership, communication, and the ability to guide others in tech-related matters.

Emotionally, the final weeks were hard. Some friends were so close that I had to switch off my emotions, becoming a kind of robot, just to get through the goodbyes. Honestly, I did become robotic. But that’s how I coped.

I miss the drives with music, the beach evenings, the casual tea breaks.
Life is such a strange phenomenon.

What remains are the memories – and they are strong.
They can give us energy when we feel low.
They can erase tension and bring back the smile we forgot we had.
The strength that my friends gave me is something I will carry forward, always.