½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Cheryl, you are more than correct and the operative word is adapt.

Different countries and different strokes no matter where you land, here in PH. is not much different to my home country aside from culture and cuisine, one learns to be patient and raise the tolerance levels a few notches.

14 years knocking around here, 6 of which full time has taught me many valuable lessons that many western countries don't consider and take for granted that all think alike, not Kansas Dorothy etc.

I love PH and have not been home in my 6 years living here and will be my resting place once pushing up the daisies.

Irks? An antiquated bureaucracy designed to create employment for the masses, My local city has 3 sets of traffic lights, the last time I saw them working was 9 or 10 years ago, traffic enforcers at each intersection now when they wake up. Supermarkets and hardware stores with a cashier,  packer that stamps the receipt and a security guard that stamps it yet again before you can leave,,,,,,, wait until they discover self service checkout.

Dealing with companies/businesses. Call them and no answer, no voice mail nada even though most countries have had this facility for 20 years or more one has to keep calling, time wasting. When you do get through it's all very cordial and our service technician will contact you today or in the morning,,,,,, 3 weeks later and 5 more phone calls? No technician.

Filipino time and things move slowly, just as well we are not waiting for the fire brigade.

The up side, wonderful individuals that I have met, not pretentious and simply nice humans with no expectations or motive to simply be a normal Filipino, its refreshing. Local food is fine unless you want xyz imported, we have a very wide choice with culinary delights from major supermarkets, wet market and vegie vendors, does get tiresome as the big supermarkets have little or no thought when it comes to stock control and the products they normally stock,,,,, or don't for 3 months.

The Philippines is a lot cheaper to live than most western countries and the bonus is most here speak English.

I type this watching the waves roll in on our bit of paradise. A very wise move for us and no regrets.

Cheers, Steve.

Thank you. Steve

I enjoyed your informative down to earth assessment of the Philippines.  I spent two weeks there over the Christmas holiday and felt very welcome  by everyone I met

Keep up the input.

Regards

Travelinman