Your experience of culture shock in the Philippines

mugtech wrote:

vetretreat wrote:

"When you were 20 or 25 and cruising the malls or clubs, were you eyeballing and drooling over all the elderly women?"

TeeJay I can say this when I was in my late 20's I had seen many older women who were in their 50's and even mid 60's whom had taken good care of themselves which I most undoubtedly would had wanted to be with but was to shy to hit on them...That is why now being in my mid 60's I exercise regularly, eat right and take good care of my skin so my much younger wife sees me in the same light at I did those beautiful, fit, healthy older women back then...Women I could had easily fallen in love with, instead of hooking up with a young girl, so vane and having her nose in her cell phone all day long. In fact at age 29 I had lived with a beautiful very sexy woman of 49 who worked as a model for McCall magazine..To many Filipinos and Expats who visit this blog just assume all are fat, balding, arthritic, near blind and I can assure you that is not always the case..

Too bad you didn't stick with that 49 year old, she'd be in her mid 80's now.

Your right...But unfortunately I was never in love with her...Had I been I would had cared for her until her demise...

gmcne4 wrote:

You (Teejay) have an attitude I wish more "foreigners" ( I hate that label) would adopt. Yes there are many anecdotal stories of behaviours that have been perpetuated by social and economic circumstance. Hey, I have encountered grubs in my own country but I do not label all of my countrymen as such. I have been a victim of crime, scam etc but these individuals are not the norm. If you find a local lady you want a serious relationship with, make it clear it is her not her family you will support. Then provide a means (sari sari store for example) for her to earn money to help support family. When the family know she is providing the financial support they will understand and usually help out in some way.
I really wish we as "foreigners" would be less willing to criticise and more willing to provide solutions.

Glad you like it, I too have been scammed and ripped off by my own countrymen. They also were the minority, most were good folks.

dondee31 wrote:

I just wrote somethings down that have surprised me over the last six years, but it does not really matter. I am living in their country and what I think or feel makes absolutely no difference to any one here. The one thing that I can say is that foreigners are just foreigners here, walking talking ATM machines. We are always wrong except when its pay day. I have never lived in a country where I as a human being, matter so little. The culture of the Philippines is only for Filipinos, foreigners need not apply.

You nailed it......

MikeandCo wrote:

Much better said than some of the people whose experiences probably could have been avoided with a little more foresight and better judgement of their fellow man. Such generalizations, wow ! I've been Phil. (Tarlac) to visit my wife's family many times and they've never asked me for anything.

Not all do.  It must be remembered that it varies.

We all know that it happens, and people must still be warned that it can happen, otherwise everyone will see everything with rosy glasses, and the "foresight and better judgement" you mention will not occur.

Both the good and the bad must be kept in everyone's minds, and we must remain cautious until we know one way or the other.

With 25 years experience, I have seen both sides, and would always advise to be a bit wary, until you get settled.

jasonswits wrote:

Maybe some of you can stop complaining and learn from this guy.

The typical Filipino way.. Don't complain about things, just accept them.
The problem with that ?  Nothing gets done, nothing changes.

jasonswits wrote:

I don't know what the Department of Tourism is doing about it.

They are waiting for enough people to complain, before they think there is any problem.
They will do nothing unless more people complain...

jasonswits wrote:

he focuses on the positive side of the culture of Filipinos

If people only focus on the positive sides, two things will happen:
1: The government will see everything as OK, and do NOTHING to make things better
2: People will come expecting perfect situations, and get pissed off when they find the truth. Unless they stay only in the good areas.

You need to keep it balanced, and not want to silence those who tell the truth about the bad.parts.

There are two sides to the Philippines with lots in the middle.

Manonnan wrote:

I guess it also has to do with where you come from and how you see things...

Totally agree with you.

loakes wrote:

I totally agree with you, I've built a new home with local help and they all were excellent craftsman. I've learned from them and my 40 plus years in construction also taught them a little. So, we have a great time building and developing the house. I'm happy with it all, so far.

what a lucky guy you are verses the hundreds of others whom have experienced the ultimate nightmare..

ron2 wrote:

Where are all of the foreigners that have found a happy place and enjoy their new ives in the Philippines?

I have been enjoying myself here.

Let me start by telling you about me. I'm ALL-AMERICAN and was raised in a black rural community in North Central Ohio. My upbringing was Baptist and family oriented.

There are several things that I choose to note in this order:

1. The first time I realized that I was here was when a guy popped his eyebrows at me. I'm straight with a hint of Homophobia. I was alarmed and shocked then seconds later another guy did it then another until I caught on that this was a HELLO gesture.

2. I am a very friendly guy and because I'm a grandfather of 9 I always notice the little tykes staring at me and many will break out into a cute smile. I would always wave at them. To my surprise they would come running up to me. This would happen so often I'd make sure I kept candy in my pocket. Until one day I learned why they always ran up to me and that's because in my country the wave hand gestures are a summons gesture here. So weird, I then stopped waving at the little ones and I'm saving money not having to buy so much candy... LOL

3. I'm at a store, the place was crowded. The people were all trying to get the clerk to wait on them. The clerk looking at me asked if she could help me and I asked for a package of my brand cigarettes. Instead of saying that they didn't have any she waves her hand in the air. Flipping it back. Well where I grew up that gesture meant go do something sexual with your self in a derogatory manner. I was offended and by my facial expression a Pinay lady who herself was an Expat noticed I was clueless about what the young lady was telling me. She was simply saying with her hand gestures that they were NOT AVAILABLE.

I STILL DON'T LIKE THAT HAND GESTURE...

4. Crowding, is the first welcome you get to the Philippines. I just accept it now, but before I'd get so agitated and angry because several people would walk right up to the counter and get served while I'm standing in line.

5.No one takes credit cards. Back home street vendors accept credit cards. They use their cell phones and swipe, purchase made. Here they look at you like your crazy for asking.

CAT CALL..

In America men will CAT CALL pretty women... Here men do it to men...they don't flirt with women they don't stare at women, but men stare at me and will yell at me...HEY..as though they know me or want to know me....DID I SAY IM A BIT HOMOPHOBIC ?

6. WHERE EVER YOU MAY BE, LET YOUR WATER RUN FREE..

PUBLIC URINATION

7. I KEEP TOILET PAPER IN MY POCKET ALONG WITH HAND SANITIZER... ALWAYS.

8. I learned to eat dinner at 8am. I'm single so I eat out all the time and if eating foods from restaurants I learned that they cook the food at 6am and they let it sit until all sold. If you want it hot freshly cook with less fly eggs then eat it right then because they only cook once.