not sounding disrespectful, but it seems like everything is better in the philippines based on your countdown so, why not move back?

I have to say that I can sympathise with most of the things that you said. I am married to a Scotsman and now live and work in Scotland. Although, I’ve now been away from the Philippines for more than fifteen years, there are still things that I miss from our native land. Surprisingly, I can get marinated bangus, ube in a jar, Skyflakes, etc. from a local Chinese supermarket! A visit to the Philippines to see my parents has now become a struggle after being acclimatised to the Scottish weather which I believe is not very different from Scandinavia.

One of the positive aspects about the weather though is that despite the fact that winter days are short, we can thoroughly enjoy having long summer days when you can play with your son outside the house until around 22:00 - something that we never do in the Philippines where the sun sets at a regular time!

It just show that Philippines is not a BAD place after all.

I hope she will post again with the same topic after 6 months or 10 months stay in Denmark. Let us see if she crop again with the same observation.

Well, same in Finland.I also miss security guards at the mall who open the door for you greeting you with a smile, baggers that put your groceries in a bag and carry them outside for you. i don´t know if its the cold weather that make the people cold never too friendly, long face. No wonder they always asked are you always okay???

I MISS MY HOME, FAMILY, RELATIVES AND MY CHILDHOOD.

All true, except for the bus incident. They are mostly polite, actually. Been in Denmark (Århus) and lived there for almost 3 years. Now I’m back here in the Philippines since Nov 06.

i hope you were just joking about number 15 like missing without somebody carrying your things and with the plastic bags. well, i know you were just teasing people wo are used to have maids at home and those who are environmentally unconcious.

Get over it. Millions have learned to assimilate. Unless you enjoy whining about it. Otherwise, just leave if you are so miserable.

I feel sorry for you Lurenda now i know i will not emigrate to Denmark, it sounds like you are in an open prison.LOL.
Happy new year if you can?

Manny

have been married to a pinay i know its hard to integrate , but possible and for sur networks here are strong - in Jylland where i live is good place to start at homepage of:www.pinayexclusive.com where you can find proper assistance and even find bayans of all pinay languages spoken - You shall be very welcomed to our 5 million inhabitant country and i wish you and your family good luck in the future

Good Article

hi,

very same thing here in canada, nakakamiss pa rin ang pinas but we have to leave home for our daughter’s future.only the rich people and the corrupt are making more money, walang value ang pera,cost of foods, education, health care are very expensive.dito sa canada walang nagugutom, even the wild ducks and the birds ang tataba nila. we are here for almost 2 yrs, we plan to go home yr. 2010, ipon muna ng pamasahe at pasalubong.

have a nice day, take care

During the late eighties, we have the same experiences here in Australia. But things have greatly changed then since the on-set of Asian immigrations, particularly Vietnamese and Chinese. I will see if I could write on this in the future.

I found your article very interesting. I agree with every single thing you said. I live here in Canada and there are things that can be found “Only in the Philippines”

I have to use 5 layers of clothes here in Nagano, Japan. It is 2 degrees to - 8 degrees here usuallly from November to April. And the rest are the same, prices, time, driving, movies, etc…. we have similar experiences too. Let us be more patient then.

Dr. Lurenda,

It is good that your sense of humor has not diminished despite your present predicament. It is really hard to be uprooted from the comforts of our own culture and way of life. Nonetheless, we pinoys are survivors and I am sure your sense of humor and discovery of the different things and ways will get you through.

Yes u are right, i felt the same on how you feel being abroad. I still love the philippines and i still prefer being in the philippines. There is no place like the Philippines but i havent been felt yet what the whole year round would feel because i’m only here for 6months yet. One thing i enjoy being abroad is wearing winter clothes to hide all my fats which you cant do it in the Philippines.

Interesting read. I wonder what is it that you won’t miss.

I am in Canada and I hear you.

Welcome to the world of feeling like neither here nor there.

I guess that is the trade off for economic and financial comfort, career opportunities and intellectual and emotional space to explore and grow, and opportunities for your children as far as their eyes can see.

I wish you well in your adventures.

Well, all I can say is welcome to Denmark! But I can tell that you must be far from the city…tsk..tsk…tsk…
You must know how to adapt and stop comparing. Hello… you’re no longer in the Philippines and so it doesn’t make sense expecting jeepney stop in front of your house!

(me holding the gas nozzle? Ewwww!)…
This is the worst phrase in this whole article. Besides needing help ALL the time so they could go shopping! It was clearly written by some rich spoiled kabayan who does not know where taxes go.

where are you anyways?

labor in the Phils. is cheap…
an average Fil. earner can afford servants, supermarkets helpers, restaurants many waiters…

Denmark’s crime rate is lower than in the Phils…no need to have security guards in every establishment; cameras monitor
traffic violators

the dept.director/lawyer of the Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration
Affairs is half-Filipina- Cristina Poblador.
It is necessary in these countries to have
such ministry because there are so many
refugees, guest laborers, illegals coming in..

it will take time to adjust, but you will
survive…Fils. are very flexible people.
In winter, when everyone looks grey and
walking fast, just smile and brighten them
up, maybe that’s what they all need to
keep them warm…

Fourth, I can’t imagine myself filling up at a gas station (me holding the gas nozzle? Ewwww!). ..

good lord.. must be your first time to go out of the philippines.. have you been to the u.s. dear? come and i will teach you how to put gas in your car.. what’s so ewwww in filling up your tank using your own hands?

7. Policemen — Never thought I’d say this, but I miss seeing policemen, armed security guards, traffic enforcers, and the “friskers” at the entrances of malls and LRT stations. Not that I long for their presence; it’s their absence that is disconcerting. In my one month’s stay here, I swear I’ve only seen one policeman (his partner, the driver of the police car, was female). At the police station where I had to report my presence, the staff were all women. There are lots of cameras on public transportation and highways, still, getting the personal touch is different (hahaha).

..beacue dear, they dont need a policeman there.. people are obeying the laws.. and that’s it..

Mabuhay! Eto naman ang mga nami-miss ko sa Pilipinas. Nandito ako sa Amerika (New Jersey) nung 2003 pa - malamig din dito 9 months of the year, 3 months lang summer
1. Mga Parol sa mga bahay bahay at ang engrandeng Christmas decors sa Ayala Avenue, Makati
2. Mga nangangaroling (carolers)
3. Tricycle, Pedicab
4. Jeepneys, MRT
5. Mainit na Pandesal sa umaga; palaman na Star Margarine, Cheez Wiz
6. Sari-sari stores sa bawat kanto
7. Believe or not - yung traffic sa Maynila
8. Taho, Halo-Halo
9. Gulaman at Sago na mabibili sa kanto
10. Tiangge lalo na sa Baclaran at Greenhills
11. Fishballs at ang tatlong klaseng sawsawan - gusto ko yung matamis
12. Watusi at mga paputok tuwing New Year
13. Mga Piesta sa iba’t ibang lugar - lalo na yung basaan sa San Juan
14. Santacruzan tuwing Mayo
15. Mga buko na mabibili sa Araneta Avenue, QC

Marami pang iba - pero yan lang muna po ang sharing ko sa ngayon.

Enjoyed reading your post. It reminded me when we are living in Iceland. The only different is my wife is a Pinay and our children are all born and raised in the USA. Although the kids missed shopping mall and american fast food they adjusted very well. I like the safe and clean environment but I hate the long nights and howling wind of winter. The 23 hours day light during summer (what summer?) is also something.

And one thing, Eastern European think that all Asian (including Filipinos) are all look-alike. So guys just stay in PI where life is simple and people speak your language. I am going home soon.

Charlie San Diego

I lived in Denmark (Aarhus City) for almost 3 years. I agree with most of the things except for the bus ride. They are generally polite and courteous in public transport. But I guess that depends on where you are taking the bus from. I like it there but my Icelandic-German husband and I prefer to live here in the Philippines.

thank you for this. very enlightening and fun to read.

what’s wrong with filling up at the gas station by yourself? i, myself, migrated to a foreign country — the united states, and like everybody else here, i do it on my own. i’ve never done it back in pinas, but hey, no big deal. you made it sound like it’s so disgusting. unless the gas nozzle in denmark is so nakakadiri that’s why.

and by the way, you give the impression that denmark is not a nice place. am sure denmark has many wonderful things to offer. you sound very unhappy, might as well bumalik ka na lang ng pinas if you can’t adapt and adjust.

First of all, I’m one of the Filipinos who are always surfing Philippine news via inquirer.net and it’s a part of my day to day habit. I’m an immigrant for three years but still I love to know the situation in our country. Thanks for this wonderful website.

My comment to Lurenda Suplido-Westergaard, M.D. is that it’s expensive to live in European countries unlike United States. What she mean by saying that taxes to buy a car is 200%? What kind of car is that? It’s funny to know but I don’t buy on her idea because there’s a lot of european car here in the US.

Happy New Year to all!!!!!!!!!

hey doc your slip is showing.
what do you expect in danish land, coconut and banana?
enjoy the danes kippered herrings, it is good for your heart, forget about greasy food in the meantime.

v/r….
kayana

What is wrong with having female police officers? Why is that disconcerting? I’d be proud of that!

If you don’t like where you are now maybe you should consider to come back. Honestly

Hi,
I’m been living here 4.5 years in Denmark and you just expressed all what I missed and maybe eating out and ang pagkamagalang ng pinoy here they don’t have please in there language.
There’s a lot of Filipinos here in Copenhagen and some active filipino organization. We are a small group of Filipinas but a member of Babaylan Europe who main goal is women empowerment.
Visit our website or contact us we can provide you whats the latest here in Copnehagen.
Happy New Year

Very funny, I enjoyed reading it. Thank’s.

HI, praise Him that i live here in the phils.!!i dont know why but i love being pinoy & living here!!God has blessed us to be with my husband when he went to work in malaysia & brunei.almost all the pinoys there migrated to canada.my husband even during our ist year in malaysia was urging me, no, was forcing me to apply to canada for emigration but i do not want to.he told me it will be for our kids’ future but i thought & maintain until today that if they want to emigrate they can do it on their own!of course, there are things that i do not like here.what with the kids begging on the streets?the mendicant mentality being encouraged by the govt & most especially an afternoon tv show?i tell you, i lived in the squatters’ area before but never in my childhood days my parents encouraged us to beg or to line up for xmas bags etc?we were poor but my parents worked hard to give all six of us education.my goal in life was to finish college so i can buy all the things that i wanted.my son once told me the reason why a lot of pinoys are baon sa utang or think of themselves as “poor”?it is because daw that we want to live as the people in first world countries live?i do not know if it is true or not but baka nga?anyway, dont worry girl!rest assured that when you have the time to come back, we will be here!!!!ha ha ha!!

I agree..being in a different country will really make our whole life change.There’s no place like home.

First of all, the reason why they don’t give you free shopping bags in the supermarket is because they are trying to help the environment.

Can’t see filipinos? Go to church, you’ll definitely see some there.

Language barrier? It is the same everywhere even back home. It is human nature to prefer to speak your native language. Since you are in their country - where you’ve been for a year - try to learn it.

Your whinings and MORE are the things we, overseas filipino workers, have to go through everyday of our lives. However, we need to sacrifice and live through it coz the $200 we send back home makes a huge difference to our families and even to the economy.

After all your 15, I doubt you’ll move back to the Philippines sometime soon - well, unless you are part of the upper class.

Tama ka maam.
Minsan kahit anong ayos at ganda ng ibang bansa mamimiss mo pa rin ang Pinas. Kahit magulo ang kalsada, umitim pa ang leeg mo sa kakalakad dahil sa usok. Hinahanap hanap mo pa rin yung Good mornings sir sa mga Fastfood. Yung kapal ng tao sa mga mall, yung mga ngiti at tawa ng mga kababayan mo. Yung masarap na treatment kapag namimili ka.
Wala lang talagang trabaho sa Pinas kaya kailangan lang talagang magwork dito sa ibang bansa. Kaya ideally dapat kahit kaunti may pera ka sa Pinas para mas maenjoy mo yung kalayaan ng buhay sa atin. Para hindi rin magmukhang kawawa sa bandang huli.
Sa tutuo lang maganda at mayaman ang Pinas pero masyado lang maraming negatibong pananaw ang ibang sektor ng media at pulitika diyan sa atin.
Merry Christmas and Happy new year sa iyo at pamilya mo.

It was fun reading this!! I see myself in your experience when I first came to Sweden. (11 years ago as student but living here for 5 years na as a resident).

I agree with you 100% about winter. November is the worst month for me with the darkness, cold and the thought of the coming long winter. Depression always comes uninvited.
Good luck to you and hope to read more of your experiences there.

i hope you enjoy reading this…

where are you from in the USA? i’m from new york and it’s much different here. are you living in Alaska?

you can write me back on my yahoo

mikethomson7 @ yahoo . com

This is an exaggeration of concepts derived from simple ignorance. How was this even published on Inquirer?

I so totally agree with you! I have just moved to sweden six mos ago with my husband and two kids. WE MiSS LIVING IN THE PHILS SO MUCH!

wait Lurenda, you forgot something. didn’t you miss the pollution also. and also tilaok ng manok sa madaling araw? As for me, I miss balut!

There are 50 million Filipinos that will change places with you in a second. Quit complaining.

You complain too much. Why don’t you just go back to P.I. Stop converting your money to pesos, you don’t earn pesos in Denmark anyways.You can’t see police officers on the street because the place is so peaceful and quiet, unlike in Manila, even the police will make “kotong.” And they’re no racist, even female can join the police force.

“I really miss is having an attendant actually carry the stuff out, wait with you as you enter the taxi line, and load up the goods. That kind of service doesn’t exist here.”

I bet they would do help you if you asked them! I, for one, don’t want like having someone waiting at my beck and call at a supermarket, or having seven hundred sales people who greet me with, “Yes ma’am/sir?” when all I want to do is shop in peace.

“Heck, they don’t even give you free shopping bags at the supermarket: You have to bring your own, or they charge you for each one you take.”

I think these are all good things, because it curbs consumerist impulses. And having to bring your own bag is (was) very Filipino: think “bayong”.

“I’m told it’s because family life (being at home) is so central to living that commercial establishments have to let their employees go and enjoy it.”

I think that’s incredibly sensible. Why does entertainment have to mean consuming in a mall?

“What happened to shopping after work? Or sitting in coffee shops till midnight?”

It *would* be convenient to be able to shop after work, definitely. But I find how malls are open till midnight kind of ridiculous. It just encourages rampant and often unnecessary consumption. The Philippines’ oversized malls are cultural monstrosities of the worst kind because they have taken over public spaces. Where other countries in the world have parks where people can take the time to reflect about life in the presence of nature, or to congregate and exercise their right to do whatever they want, we have malls–private, highly-regulated (you can’t even sit down on the floor!) spaces designed for the sole purposes of making people spend money on useless goods they don’t need.

Five out of the fifteen points listed here are all about consuming the products of big businesses. Is this what the Philippines has become? Marc Cooper, writing in The Nation in 1998, discussed how far Chile has transformed from a country with “a permanent sense of social justice” to “perhaps the one place on earth where idolatry of the market has most deeply penetrated. Years of military dictatorship and a quarter-century now of the most orthodox application of sink-or-swim social policy has imposed a sort of collective neurosis on Chileans–it has driven them crazy, driven them to market.”

Familiar, isn’t it?

The Scandinavians have gotten many things right, particularly when it comes to creating environmentally-sustainable egalitarian societies where capitalism–while not demonized–is held tightly in check. The world can learn a lot from them.

I realize that this article is meant to be humorous, so perhaps my comments may seem like an overreaction. But I think real progress in this country lies in inspecting the minutest details of our lives–including the things we miss about the Philippines or the things we find humorous. Everything we do or believe (from our expectations of what constitutes “good service”, to whether bringing your own bags to the supermarket is sensible or annoying) contributes to the creation of the political economy and society that we want. The minutae of our lives constitute the big picture of society. It’s the little things that count.

Reminds me of my life here in Switzerland/France. I miss the Philippines so much I have decided to pack my things and back to the Philippines. No place like home talaga, promise. Whenever my relatives, friends, and neighbors tell me am so lucky to be here, well…that’s what you think….siguro in some other aspects…but still, I’m better back home, the way i see it, mas happy ako doon kasi iba talaga. Dito people are kinda cold and whenever you want to see your friends there dyan sa atin you dont have to make an appointment to talk to them, dito lahat dapat may appointment ka, even to have a haircut, may appointment din, kaloka!….anyway, very good article, nakarelate ako ng husto

Ah, there are so many things that I miss the Phils. I always long for it at nakakamiss ang warmness ng pinoys.Tama lahat yung sinabi mo.I agree.
I am here in US but I miss the Phil. culture. Wala nga lang akong masyadong opportunity there as of now after I lost my business there before.
-MGrasse-

On your 15 count down to 15 things, what shall I say? You are right! Cost of living in Denmark as well as here in US is so high.So, It’s just the same.
There are many job opportunities but the earnings are just good or not even enough to pay for the very high utility bills and other cost of living,hayyy!Money here is just higher if you convert it in Phil. money but if you spend it here, just like in your place now(Denmark), you have nothing left after you pay the cost of living.

15. Some countries actually DO encourage recycling. Also, loading is not that much of a hassle as there aren’t long lines (or any line at all), and you can actually bring your shopping cart all the way to your car.

14. Even though cars are (absolute value) more expensive, salaries are generally higher, too. A lot of cars already come with GPS. Can’t figure out what’s wrong with filling up your own gas! Can’t figure out, too, why an MD can’t figure out what to do with the ice on the windshield.

13. Let the kid do it him/herself. That’s what most locals would do.

12. They don’t care — so you shouldn’t either.

11. Malls are for buying stuff (not shopping by the way). Besides, there are other more interesting things people there do (i.e., the great outdoors, museums, etc.).

10. Maybe they know they haven’t taken a bath yet! Or, the one already sitting hasn’t!

9. There are usually concession rates. But even without, the average salary would be more than 10x anyway so it’s a wash.

7. Even without them, place is safe, I’m sure.

6. At least you know the extra 13% goes somewhere you can benefit from.

5. Can’t argue with this. Esp. fishballs, taho, etc. Yumm!

Integration and assimilation is an integral part of migrating to any host country. It is for this reason that most Filipinos ‘feel’ unease about leaving the comfort of one’s culture and practice that they resent being at another place. So get on with it!!!

I am a Dane living in this beautiful country for over 8 years, I am one of the lucky ones who is married to a Filipina for over 25 years. The article was sent to me by a good friend in Denmark.

I am very surprised that an educated Professor writes like that with just 1 month experience in a new country. Normally it takes a few years to settle in a new country.

My experience tells me she is very homesick, that is normal but it is not normal to react in such a negative way, putting your new country down, but its not only the country you are putting down but all Pinoys who lived in Denmark and are happy, but most of all you are putting youself down.

It is correct that it is an expensive country, but you can’t compare, the pay is high. The pay for the lowest paid worker under the government here in the Philippines is 120 pesos a day. In Denmark (if we can compare as you do), the HOURLY pay is 1200 Pesos. With that pay everything is expensive.

For sure you have to pay for the plastic bags, thats one way of saving our environment. We also know that we can pack our goods by ourselves when we shop because it’s faster & effective & time is money.

You talk about car prices are high, but the standard of living is among the highest in the world. You are different, we are different, be happy for that, at least your look is your own. Don’t tell me there’s not many Pinoys in Denmark, there’s plenty around.

I don’t like your attitude. No one are allowed to say about a person, “He might have a Parkinson’s or maybe she was physically abused in the past.” That’s an arrogant attitude.

About shopping hours; people working in shops are members of the union and they have the working regulations for that. Employers have also their own unions.

Denmark have no need for armed security guards, there’s plenty of security without. The social standard is one of the highest in the world. All educations & health cares are free.

When one is in their own country, they speak their own language therefore the Danes speak danish & not english, only when necessary. Now you are living in a real Democracy where everyone have the same rights & same responsibilities.

I hope for you that you will be as happy for Denmark as I am for the Philippines. All beginnings are difficult. GOOD LUCK!

From: Niels Petersen

Hello Ma’am Lurenda!!

happy new year and best wishes!
I’m one of your students from UPOU, not sure if you’ll remember, but thank you and I hope things warm up soon!

take care.

“Fourth, I can’t imagine myself filling up at a gas station (me holding the gas nozzle? Ewwww!)”

An ignorant, unreasonably elitist statement considering you just take public transportation and can’t afford a car. Even the rich [Filipinos] in the US fill up their own gas tanks.

Best of luck to you in Denmark.

Noel of San Francisco

i guess you can’t have everything, eh? di umuwi ka sa pilipinas!

One month into a foreign land, of course, it shows that you are still a Filipino, all the way. Dito sa Pinas, it is very easy to buy services even if it is not necessary. So, nasa tao din yan. There are Pinoys or Pinays that like to do all things by themselves, like carrying grocery items by myself instead of asking somebody else to do it, because it is faster and some times cheaper. Dito sa Pinas, mahilig din tayo na i-please iba tao that in return we also expect to be pleased, which to me is creating more troubles for us. It is always better to be thinking only of pleasing yourself or your family. We just need to respect other people, respect their rights, respect their privacy, respect their country just as they will respect us and our country. This is why, when ever I go to another country, I read first about their culture and lifestyle and prepare for it while I leave everything home. We cannot expect Philippines lifestyle in any other country. I also do not like snow so I do not plan to go Northern Hemisphere, but I do like colder weather than the scorching heat in Philippine summer. Just learn more about the people, places, and the food and I think you will like it there better for sometime until the time when you feel like moving again to the tropical Philippines. You should be happy because you have the opportunity to live in two totally different environment. Pagdating ng time na sawa ka na sa Denmark, uwi ka ng Pinas, and vice versa. Never leave Philippines for good, it is equally good as Denmark, you have to work your mind out like that, only then you will enjoy your new life.

You poor thing, you have much more to learn. I know how it is to be homesick but that’s not reason to be bitter for Denmark.

Have lived in Denmark for 13 years with no problems taking the buses & trains. Then I got my driver’s license & got the possibilities to discover the beatiful places around.

Learn the language & integrate before you complain. Haven’t your husbond told you that? Or haven’t he told you either how cold is 5 degrees celcius especially the minus degrees? Train your son to drees by himself & maybe you will know each other more better.

You are lucky to stay in the country where there is peace & a good system the whole way through.

Your arrogance won’t help you. You are not more than the others.

Good luck. Elma

Well doctor denmark,you’ve gotta adjust to it or rather choose to go home,but since you’ve decided to stay then i should say;”WELCOME TO EUROPE”.Me, after 13 years here in milan,im used to it.So i would rather say, YOU WILL TOO!
Albert of Milan,Italy

Oo nga, miss ko yung kagat sa isaw then saw2x uli sa sevice suka nung ali. ewww!! Pero pinoy culture. heheh

But Ma’am, sooner when you know well about the customs or traditions of your new country, I believe things will be different. Why not start with, why it’s called Denmark.

Happy new year.

What an ignorant MD! Why don’t you go back where you came from? I think you are what we call in Tagalog “Biglang yaman, biglang yabang.”

Hola!

I enjoy reading your article it only shows even an MD in our country becomes ignorant and arrogant in other countries. Stop complaining and you must be thankful and if you can’t adopt the culture and weather of Denmark better go back to Pinas.

I live here in Philadelphia USA for 3 years and I have a lot of doctors friend from the Philippines and I’m very happy that they are humble and not nimrod.

Filipinos here in the US are known for hardworking and intelligent professional.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!!

Happy New Year to all my friends in Zamboanga City.

where did you came from? hello!!!! wake up…..better learn the culture of dENMARK before making any comments(countdown) sayang your a doctor but you sound ignorant to me.

Good luck in Denmark…masuerte ka walang traffic dyan at pollution.

philly boy

doctor lurenda,i was hurt while reading your article!you seemed so educated person,but i think you understand things wores than i do…! i know you are missing phils things(and so do i…),but in 1 month in denmark is so short to know everything about this country,especialy about danish attitudes or ways(culture maybe?) which is for sure a “friendly country”. honestly maam….european gas stations are more cleaner and safer(if you are woried about mandurukot or magnanakaw when you left your car…)than we have in manila.am i right maam?.. and being a police woman,?do you have a problem about that?if you dont know maam,we have a policewomen in phils. too.armed policemen in the street?they simply dont need them here because of what we call “PEACE!”,security guards by the entrance of shoping malls?they dont need them too bcoz they dont have magnanakaw or mandurukot or holdaper,if there will be…sooner or later they will find them unlike in manila,no kotong no holdaper. about the shoping thing,…i think you are just lazy to cary your own shoping bags or just lazy to push your shoping cart till you reach your car and put all things in your car by yourself!,and also learn to keep plastic bags for the next shop.as you see,europe is more cleaner than manila.if you didnt noticed yet,mostly garbage in manila are plastic bags. i think,denmark is one of the most rich country in europe and thats made them expensive in all.i know that there is no place like home,but quit complaining and dont compare europe and philippines because you are just puting down our country(phils)on the end. i am just wondering,how come that you are just eating sandwiches whole day long?dont you know how to cook?well,…sory maam,nobody will cook for you here in europe unless you brougth maid with you to denmark. the first year of mine here in slovenia(i hope you know where it is…,the country of my husband),was so difficult for me esp. when i arrived here at winter time and 1 and a half month pregnant.the weather,time and food was a big problem for me that i need to addapt or else i need to go back in phils,…alone.so i learned to cook my own food,atleast that i could enjoy during my pregnancy.in the second year,i got a job,by third year,i got a driver licence.and now,i will be 4 years in feb.5 here in slovenia and am waiting for my first car.yes my first car and it makes myself proud.so what i would like to say is that,i wish you to fall inlove to DENMARK the way i fall inlove in slovenia. GOODLUCK!!!!!maam….

please, sinasabi lang niya yong na-mi-miss niya, wala siyang sini-siraan.

It was obviously true love when you married a white man!! Where did he find you? Manilabrides.com? Since you can’t hack living in a civilized country maybe you should go back to the province.
Having to fill up your own gas tank… oh please!!

hi,
i just can’t help laughing when i read this article…i think you are a little bit spoiled..?.you should think everything as a challenge and i am quite sure everything will turn out fine
i got my driving license just after five months of arriving here in Belgium, taking the exam in Dutch(Nederlands),it is very difficult but i have no choice
my point is, instead of sulking,learn the local language as soon as possible- that is the most important thing…and the rest will follow..GOODLUCK

I thought i have it bad living in payatas. Doc Lurenda, focus on the positive and everything will be alright. Peace.

it made me cringe upon learning that this article was written by a fellow UP alum and a medical doctor and professor!…. how sad…. UP teaches us how to be street-smart, flexible, tolerant, adaptable…. seems that you didn’t learn these…. “me holding the gas nozzle? Ewwww!” —- so pathetic! Has Mr. Westergaard read your article??? I wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t argued about what you have written about his native country. You brought this upon yourself when you married a Dane, accept your lot. Otherwise, get on a plane and go back home to the Philippines.

I think the good “doktora” is feeling the same way i felt when i first came to london with my 5-year old son.It is the feeling of homesickness-missing your family and your country in general.you just can’t help but really miss them even to the extent of being teary-eyed sometimes.i was in london(my first time in a developed country) for barely a week but i was always considering going back to the Philippines.I’m sure every Filipino working overseas dreams of going home someday when the right time comes,whatever the situation there maybe.But for the meantime,I think we have to adapt to the ways of our host country.This is not to say though that we give in to every practices that they do.We throw away their bad habits and acquire the good ones.There are a lot of things i miss in the Philippines.But I’m going to tell you what I don’t miss back home-the traditional politicians and the humid weather.Do you think I like the weather here?No…it is just that I’m getting used to wearing some fashionable jackets and sweaters…

Poor lady…That’s only for now and later you’ll adopt yourself with it. It takes time to adjust for a life overseas and everyone knows that and you should know that also. Well it’s your choice Madame…..Goodluck!

You know we should respect how she feels okay. You say she’s spoiled, that you are surprised to hear that she’s from UP and she can’t handle those things She’s new - and Denmark is really different. In time she’ll get used to it. hey doktora, hang in there, you have your husband and your son there with you - and in time as you get used to the climate and the language it might actually be fun. Happy New Tear

I always pride myself of being a filipino abroad because we have this talent (if you can call this as such) of being able to adapt….to immerse….to integrate…..every time we moved or lived in a foreign land. It doesn’t matter the social or educational status back home, we seems to all have this talents…..I always have this conversations to friends or european friends that we as filipino if we’re in the company of irish, we’re irish and if with english, we’re english….( i have to exp-lain it to them though in a way that this will come across in a positive way so as not to be confuse as being a turn coat or a ” BALIMBING “. we simply know how to be polite to our host….it pains me to see or hear people complaining or keep on saying in our country (sa pilipinas mas ganito ,mas ganyan)/ the problem with this country ( sa bansang ito lagi na lang ganito,ganyan)..all pertaining to the country that took them in it’s bossom….

I loved my country the philippines..it’s given..a fact….i will always have a filipino heart and soul in a british mind….

Doktora….chill….we all missed our beloved philippines…..

i hope you will prove me again right….and the others wrong about you….every one had a right to expressed themselves….to be wrong and try to amend for their mistakes….sabi nga ni M.Tan….we should praise and give credit to cebu pacific for making the flights to other asian country affordable….and he hopes that being able to do so (traveling) will broaden our horizon and understanding of other cultures…..(not his exact words).

i can’t believe that we have a doctor writing this kind of article who does not even know how to compare P7.50 vs. P 96.00 transpo fare. If she’s ni denmark then the value of the fare can’t be compared to peso by converting it to peso because the earning in denmark is krone. one hour minimum wage is more than one 5 days transpo fare, sa Phils, yung one hour minimum wage is two days na pamasahe lang. Nakakahiya yung pagkakasulat sa article, MD ka pa man din, pero it does not show any education.
Nakaka-awa ka naman. Bumalik ka na lang ng Pilipinas to help you to recover.

Nakakatuwa talaga ang mga Pinoy, di ba Ma’am? dahil sa blog na ito marami kang makukuha sa bawat blogs na pinasok, mapansin mo na may impokrito, may mabait, may caring at may bastos, ha ha ha, that’s pinoy. Malamang yong karamihan nag respond out of impulse na naging defensive rin sila trying to justify their living out of the country. Naalala ko yong sabi ng isang columnist, yong mga dual passport holders, marami sa kanila ay “Filipinos for Convenience”. The 15 points are merely some of enumerated differences between the two countries at di naman sinabi na di nya gagawin. Siguro marami sa mga nag-emigrate ay naramdaman din ang discomfort na nai-encounter mo ngayon pero talaga lang inherent na yata ang pagka-impokrito.
Alam nyo kung ano ang talagang mamimiss nyo sa Pinas, food and lots of food and especially seafood, isda, hipon, alimango, ginataan, meron din gatas dito. At syempre pa, beaches. Ang ating mga kundiman, mga kanta ng APO. Mga talagang sariling atin.

Alam nyo mga noypi out there, you will always be a Filipino. Kahit dyan ka pa tumira sa labas sa habang panahon hanggang kamatayan, mananatili kang Pinoy at foreigner ang tawag sa yo dyan o di kaya, Fil-Am, Fil-so and so. So you will always miss the sense of belonging, which is very warm dito sa Pinas. Marami na akong napuntahang bansa, I am out of the Philippines two weeks a month at nakakaapat na akong 62 pages passport for the last 7 years, not being arrogant just to tell you that I have really seen a lot of countries. Pero Pilipinas pa rin ang mahal ko. Maraming mahihirap na tao dito at ibig sabihin maraming opportunity to help na pag ginawa mo very heart warming. Sa Pinas, pag tumulong ka sa tao, you are feeled valued as a friend as a person and Filipinos are always very thankful.

Just my final word ma’am, kahit andyan ka na sa Denmark, always remain the true-blooded Filipino, hospitable, cheerful, resilient, loving, thoughtful and lovable (kaya ka nga nagustuhan ng husband mo). Show the world the true Filipino and everyone of us here at home will be proud that no other foreign citizen will despise us. Do not bring in there the negative Filipino values and every people in Denmark will surely love you. Let them taste adobo, ginataan and tinola but don’t offer them balut and bagoong, they are exclusively ours.

edel

Looks like you’re too pampered back in the Philippines. I only miss food and family.

i can sympathize the things that you’d written on your article. i myself being an ofw here in new zealand, i fully undrstood how difficult it is to be in a foreign land on your own. but experience will teach us and everything will be fine as you go on.

be proud of being a pinoy! we are unique for our “pakikisama ‘ika nga!!!

kaya mo ‘yan ‘wag mo lang masyadong e-exagge!

Ahh Dr W, you have gotten a lot of different comments from your entry. I know you miss the country a lot especially since there is so much going for you here… but there are some tradeoffs right for the love of your life? I’m sure you’ll do well in Denmark. Filipinos easily adopt well after all!
Take care!

(me holding the gas nozzle? Ewwww!) what an ignorant expression!!! dID you know that most of the 300million americans fill up their own gas tank and besides it’s no big deal for them. Filipinos are known to be professional and versatile abroad (walang imposible sa pinoy) and driving is a part of your life outside pinas. If you can’t afford to buy a car in Denmark why not convince your hubby to migrate here in US so that you will know how to deal will snow and gas nozzle!! Very funny to imagine a UP MD become ignorant in Europe. I wish you the best in deNmark and stop complaining and be count your blessings…mas maraming pinoy na mahirap suerte ka nakarating ka dyan.

glenda-Philadelphia

stop complaining and start learning their culture and language…it takes years to know the culture of host country not just a month.

glenda-philadelphia

I’ve been an expatriate for 12 years and have lived in three countries that are not my own. I’ve written similar articles from each country. It’s very easy for people to be judgemental when they haven’t experienced expat life. I think people should take the article for what it is. A comparison by emphasizing small details to turn a humorous light on it.

I enjoyed this entry and laughed out loud about Al Gore. Good job and best of luck in Denmark.

Hey guys give the lady a break. She’s just writing about the things she misses about the Philippines and used a humorous style that made her accounts very interesting to read. She’s a fine writer, you need not take her words literally. If you read closer and without any bias, you will actually find her experience an interesting read. She’s not complaining, she merely used writing techniques that would make her ‘unpleasant’ experience appear humorous. Don’t insult her intelligence, it’s just you misinterpreted/misread what she wrote. You took the article too seriously when I guess she merely meant humor.

I think that the article is very funny…and it truly says about the reality of her situation for now.. I dont see anything wrong with that..It is a VALID observation of somebody who is so new with the place..
Let’s wait when she writes her article during the summer time. Winter time is the most deppressing season because it is almost “dark” the whole day..
I am so surprised that most of those who made comments found it to be negative
Come on guys…where is your sense of humor? I just thought that most of the Pinoys can emphatize rather than criticize…

I’m surprised if not shocked about the comments. I guess other people misjudged her for saying her sentiments. It just shows how many Filipinos are so into foreign countries and do not really love their own country. She may have thoughts or used words that may sound offending to Denmark but I guess she just wants to convey that she loves the Philippines and appreciate even the never-before-appreciated things. I hope we would not judge her based on her educational background, her status and school. The point of this blog is to let Filipinos know what we are really missing; It is in the Philippines, we just have to really appreciate it.

was it your intention to sound funny? it didn’t work. many got pissed off with your countdown. it reflects cultural ignorance and really BAD WRITING. had you not included your name, i wouldn’t have guessed it was written by a UP Professor. i wish you had it edited/critiqued before posting. my gosh!

Give her a break! This is just her way of dealing with homesickness and I think she’s handling it well and with humor. I lived in Iceland for over 16 years and believe me, Iceland is more expensive and a lot colder. In the beginning I felt Icelanders were standoffish but I am proud to say that I now count several of them as very good friends. It’s just a difference in culture and that difference actually makes the friendship more interesting. I share with them some Filipino customs and they do the same with their culture. To the Doc, hang in there. Sooner rather than later you will learn to love Denmark and appreciate the safety, security and maybe even find Danish friends to help you pass the time. Take advantage of the long day light during the summer and take the time to the see the countryside. You will love it. Take care, relax and enjoy.

Ang tataray naman ng mga nag co-comment…take it easy over the lady doctor. Guys, it was made clear that she just recently migrated to Denmark—at ito yung mga bagay na nakita nya na “iba” sa Pilipinas…let’s not be too harsh sa paghusga sa kanya. I don;t think “biglang yaman, biglang yabang” sya. To begin with, the fact na nag medicine sya sa Pinas proves na “matagal” na syang mayaman at hindi ito biglaan (because he married a white?) I look at her article as her initial impressions of her new environ na aminin natin…valid naman lahat. Given time, who knows she might write another article saying na mas maganda pala yung ganoong sistema that they observe sa Denmark.

Welcome to the world of reality and a congratulations, you are a survivor because you brought yourself into this new situation, you are not the teacher anymore, but the pupil.With your article you learned something about yourself from the responses you received. Those
few who pitted you are those who are in the same situation as yours, and those who criticized are those who gave you lessons. Learn from it & get to know yourself.

The wise man Soeren Kirkegaard said: it’s your life, you are the only one who can make it good or bad. If you choose the last, just swim with the stream, but if you choose the good life, be prepared, it’s hard work.

You have your son & your husband therefore you have to choose the right thing.

Advise: Change your attitude.
Learn the language & culture.
Integrate.
Talk together (you & your
husband).

Remember you can make it because you are strong. We are sure it will be better in the spring and summer. Just wait & see.

EPN

i was so entertained with this article. some people here are overreacting, c’mon doc lurenda was just culture shocked, so her comments should not be taken out of context. thanks for sharing your funny thoughts doc!

Hey…why dont we adopt that system about plastics here in the Philippines. If all stores and supermarkets will not provide disposable plastic bags, people will be forced to bring their own. That way hindi kakalat ang mga plastic sa mga ilog at kalye. I’m sure Al gore will give us a medal for this.

Anyway, let’s respect doc’s story. It’s just her way of expressing herself with what she’s undergoing right now in a new environment. No need to be rude to her.

Maybe you should start thinking of moving back to the Philippines.

“But Ma’am, sooner when you know well about the customs or traditions of your new country, I believe things will be different. Why not start with, why it’s called Denmark.

Happy new year.”

Denmark - derives from Field of Dana - Field = Mark in danish language - Dana were queen in this fields before or during viking seasons as remember my history

Congratulations Doc….I know you can make it because you are with your love ones. One month is to early, depression and loneliness has not creep in to your system yet. Just make yourself busy, enrich yourself ,after a while visit our country, and decide from there on which you will be happy….but for now learn to integrate and mingle. I know theres alot to learn from the way they live there….

“11. Long mall hours — Everything is closed by 6 or 7 p.m. on weekdays, by 3 p.m. on Saturdays. And there’s nothing open on Sundays (except on eight Sundays of the year)! What happened to shopping after work? Or sitting in coffee shops till midnight”.

Get rid of that 3rd world mentality and you’ll be fine in Denmark…

And besides, folks, give the doctor a break. Doctors are not known to be street-smarts ’cause they’d spent most of their young adulthood reading medical books…believe me I married one and have friend doctors as well here in the US.

i find the blog very funny, bakit ang daming nag comment ng hindi maganda? well, kapag nasa ibang bansa ka talaga, you dont have choice but to adopt what they have, syempre there’s a big sacrifice of being alone… ang mahirap lang talaga is yung no sense of belonging sa foreign land, pero masasanay ka rin, all you have to do is to accept the fact na wala ka na sa pinas and you need to embrace everything. pero to be honest nakakamiss talaga ang pinas hayyy…..

oh my god! nagulat naman ako sa mga katarayan ng mga comments dito! i read this article and i find it really amusing. thats it! relax folks! dont be too uptight! lumalabas tuloy ang mga hangups at kayabangan ng mga nag comment dito ng kung ano ano. yun lang!

I think many responders are missing the point of the Doctor. She is NOT necessarily making negative comments. Differences are not always good or bad, just different. She is humorously mentioning her formerly familiar life style, and its comfortable ways. She is saying *appreciate the blessings you have in the Philippines, even though I am in a more developed country, there are things i really miss about home.* There are surely things she appreciates about her new location. However that was not the focus of this letter.

bastos talaga pinoys… if you can’t help or say anything good to anyone, keep your mouth shut and mind your own business. leave her be!

read http://ayringreyz.blogspot.com/
interesting comment about this post.

Plain and simple, this is another case of Filipino CRAB Mentality!
Backward countries like Australia, NZ and Denmark are good if you are a COW!

What’s ‘Ewwwwww’ about gas nozzle????

Save your money, buy stocks, live in the ol’e USA and go home every year like I do. It minimizes what youre missing maybe into 1 or 2, hehehe!
And for you Doc, ask your husband to give you justice by buying you a car even a used one! Poor ka na, martir ka pa!

Sr. Engineer of San Diego,CA

I was so amused by this article and yet very shocked by how others reacted to her story. I sincerely understood her predicament. She probably wrote it to just to let some steam out of her system and to share to others so that they may learn from it.
When people go to visit or live in other countries, they come to realize that living in the Philippines is not that bad after all. Yes, wages are low, everything is expensive, dirty politics, etc., and yet we love all our traditions. It is not uncommon to miss these things that we are so accustomed to.
To the others who reacted differently, first to those who are still in the Philippines, these things happen when you are or will live in another country, what you call “culture shock”, and to those who already are in other countries, didn’t you all at least have similar stories when you just arrived or were new there?
To those who said it, yes, do not compare the two places, and more importantly, stop converting everytime you buy or spend your hard earned money. You’ll never be able to do anything if you think about it all the time.
Good luck and keep it up, you will just be fine, doctor!!!!
P.S.
My best (Filipino-Ilocano) friend has been living in Denmark since the mid-70s and I have visited him on numerous occasions. At least now, they are more or less used to seeing different cultures compared to the 70s when we were the only filipinos there. We both have a lot of funny stories about our misfortunes and mishaps in Denmark that time but we also learned so much from them.

so what the hell are you doing in denmark , come home and enjoy life

All I can say is, there’s no place like home. And mind you, you don’t have the right to judge unless you are in the same situation. People are good in minding other people’s businesses.

Ha ha ha..
The article was funny. I feel for you doc. A week after i came here in the US of A, it snowed so hard up to my knees. I said to myself, I’m going home next year after finishing my contract. A year passed, i said, I’ll try to make it five years. That was thirteen years ago. I am a pure breed Filipino and I am going back to the Philippines eventually but i learned to adapt here. I go home every year because i miss the Philippines. We Filipinos are very flexible and we can easily adapt to the culture of other people. Give it time. you’ll learn their culture. Good luck and God bless.

Don’t worry about the negative comments. That’s one Filipino trait i don’t miss at all. Inggit lang yan.

Maybe you should write another article about things that you don’t miss in the Philippines……

Thank you…

i don’t miss the politics in the philippines, if you know what i mean. although i do miss eat bulaga. but so far, i’ve been busy acclimatizing and discovering so many things about new zealand that i’ve hardly had time to miss the philippines. and hey, there are a lot of pinoyz down here, so NZ is not really a strange land. besides, it’s a treat (for a change) to look at boys and girls with blonde, brunette or red hair for a change, with matching blue, gree, grey, azure eyes… this is where i saw the adage “peaches and cream complexion” come to life. hehehe.

you sound like you’ve never gone out of UP in your life… oh, maybe you did go to other countries, attending seminars and medical conferences, but you’ve just isolated yourself to the hotels and the convention centers, and have not really visited the places you’ve been to. typical of medical conferences, you know? i mean, even if the drug company paid for your fare and accommodation, that’s about it, you’re on your own with tours and getting “lost” in the city. and what’s bad is that they only paid for the number of days that the conference is on. if you plan to stay longer, it’s your expense. so many doctors just keep to the venue and the “recommended” sites for sightseeing. it’s not really getting to know the country.

by the way, next time you get married, ask him first if he’s from - oh, say, USA, England or Australia? - but stay away from alaska, or canada or the highlands of europe where winter is the dominant season…

perhaps hawaii would be the best.

cheer up! denmark isn’t at all strange. you’re a pinay, you’ll get used to it.

cheers mate!

16. Add to your list - Boy Bawang

17. Kwek-kwek

I read this article and I was smiling, because anyone who has lived all his/her life in the Philippines will be able to relate and laugh at the things that the good doctor mentioned in her blog. I was, however, not smiling at the comments by some people about her blog.
My comment? From all the comments I’ve read, I can tell which ones have lived in the Philippines and know the nuances of being a resident here, and I can tell which ones didn’t. I think the Tagalog lines that the writer put in were funny, charming and to the point. So, yeah, as one person wrote here, give the doctor a break.It’s her way of venting and as was often mentioned before, you never really appreciate something until it’s gone. In her case,she was able to appreciate the Philippines even more, and that’s a good thing. She’s learning to adjust to Denmark, too, and that’s an equally good thing too. The taxis, the long mall hours, the sunlight (or lack of it thereof), the taxes, the feeling of being a minority, the friendly space she misses and craves, these are all true and it’s her truth, and who are we to judge her and her truths and realizations? It’s not about going back her loving the Philippines more and she should just come back here, I don’t think that was her point. she certainly wasn’t being racist and she certainly as hell isn’t being a bad writer…I know of a lot of writers who can’t string a coherent plot line and yet are grossing millions from their ineptitude. I am going to London in a few months. I can’t tell you how freaked out I am by that. I’ve lived in the Philippines all my life, and I’ve been trying to process that. The things that used to annoy me, well, I’m appreciating them more now because I won’t be seeing them in a few years..Yeah, I sure am gonna miss the sun (glorious sun!), the temperature, the stressful traffic, the police (even though they freak me out sometimes), the mall hours, the lower taxes, the steady, constant stream of people flowing through the malls and the markets and the ever-present energy and vibrance only the Philippines can offer. I love the Philippines. I am not leaving because I wanna earn more, I am leaving to challenge myself more, in other areas of my life. I am sure that the doctor feels the same way. And she is dealing with the homesickness, the loss and isolation, admirably, with good humor. And that’s a good thing.
Writer Jessica Zafra once said, if you can look past your anger and laugh about it, you’re stronger than you think. I say, if you can look past your homesickness and loss and isolation and laugh about it, you are stronger than you think, too. Zafra says, Anyone can throw a tantrum, but it takes guts to process it and turn it into something funny. This is what separates Filipinos from others. This is what the doctor is doing. This is our secret and why even though we are a poor country, we are the happiest country in the world. That is the secret of life. ^_^

i can totally appreciate this. I love basketball and now in a country that doesn’t have it. And people tell me to adopt rugby, football, soccer etc.

i miss everything back home. I have travelled in other countries and is totally a big change for me for malls to close at 6pm.

I like that Phils and others have a 24 hr day.

mostly friends and families. Though you will develop new friendships, it’s still not the same.

for the US folks here, life hasn’t changed much for you except if you’re in alaska or some snow plowed state. I have been there and loved it. That’s why a lot of pinoys go there.

Other countries are really hard to adjust and some are easy.

It really is just a financial sacrifice. There are things I appreciate more about the Phils now compared to before.

Thanks everyone for your comments! I appreciate your support, especially those who shared their own thoughts of what they miss in the Philippines, as well as those who offered support services in DK.

Yes, I am integrating quite well, and have just started language classes. My family here is very supportive.

Yes, I now know what to do with a frozen windshield. The point was that I had to learn, and not that I couldn’t I got an application form for a driver’s license but will submit it after I learn the language.

No, I’m not an elitist. I’m not rich, and neither is my husband. I painted our apartment (Ewww!) because that’s something you do for yourself - you don’t pay others to do it for you.

Yes, there are many things to like here. There is a second part to this post: “Countdown to 15 things I wish I had sent home for Christmas”, which I hope the editors will post soon. There is always a good and bad side to everything. I hope you will all read that too.

MLSW

Mahal kong Lolit,
Maraming salamat sa iyong artikulo na magkahalong bahaghari at unos ang pagtanggap ng mga nakabasa. Unang-una ay nakakaaliw ang iyong mga pananaw lalung lalo na sa iyo na kalilipat lang sa Denmark. Nang magpunta ako rito sa Kobe, Japan ay tag-araw naman kaya ang pakiramdam ko naman ay parang Pilipinas lang din pala ang Japan. Nang una akong tanungin kung saan na ako nakarating, ang sabi ko ay doon sa parang Cubao (saan yun? sa Sannomiya pala). Pero, ang panonood ng sine sa mga bagong lugar na pinupuntahan ko ay di ko pinalalampas, kahit mahal. Noong nasa Frankfurt nga ako, pagpasok ko sa isang sinehan, ang bulalas ko ay “ang liit.” May sumagot ba namang babae na ang sabi ay “oo nga.” Maikukumapa mo ito sa isang malaking sinehan na nagkaroon ng cinema 1 at 2 (kadalasan ay maliit ang cinema #2). Sa palagay ko ay marami ring Pinoy ryan na hindi mo pa nakakahalubilo. Ang tingin ko ay gusto mo lang talagang maging totoo sa mga pagkukumpara mo sa iyong bagong mahal na tahanan at ang mahal mong Pilipinas. Huwag kang mag-alala at ilang buwan lang ay iiwasan mo nang mag-isip ng halaga sa piso dahil lalabas talaga na parang ayaw mong gumasta. Alam ko namang kaya mong umagapay at talunan ang kaibahan ng iyong kasalukuyang kapaligiran sa Metro Manila na iyong kinalakhan. Sulat ka ulit,ha? Mabuhay ka at ang iyong mga mahal sa buhay. Manigong Bagong Taon 2008 na rin!
Nagmamahal,
Jaz

Welcome to the club! Too bad there is a lot of uncalled for negative comments on your article. I do admire your courage to make that life-changing decision to leave the Philippines and face the unknown. I made the same decision 13 years ago when my family immigrated to New Zealand but unlike you I had to fend for myself and my family. Just imagine how much one would immediately miss RP and it’s “Luxuries”.
You will be surprised that your decision will come out right especially for your child and those to come. Education will be the biggest factor because no amount of Ateneo , La Salle or any other reach-the-sky priced university education in the Philippines will matter in Denmark or any other country where you decide to stay.

As for yourself do continue to miss the Philippines for you are a Filipino no matter what. Face the storm, learn the language, the culture, be one like them. You will be an Filipino-Danish in no time.

I felt the same way when I moved in here in the states let me tell ya… Nobody but me, no family no old friends. I was glad I was able to meet few good ones after. Its hard but you’ll get through it. Always cherish the value of family and friends. Good luck to you. And to all the people who made negative comments, don’t be jealous! You’ll have your time. If you’re gonna tell me you’re not jealous, maybe you’re just one sad sack who can’t be happy for anybody else.. pity!

What an ignorant article, witten by a spoiled child ! Can’t believe it is witten by a grown-up, a colleague and a professor at that ! What happened to our educational system in RP- seems going to the dogs !!!

With just a month being in Europe, what a lot of rubbish to say these things. The author might have thought she would write something that would be entertaining and witty but to the readers dismay, it does not achieve that purpose.

Living in Europe has been one of the best experienced I have. It has family centered values. I dont have to worry about getting sick here as UK have free healthcare. I pay roughly 10.000 pesos of tax a week (yes a week!) but it goes to the public service. I understand in our country (Philippines) we do not pay high taxes our healthcare is out of the pocket system. Being a doctor, you should know that. Kung walang pera walang panggamot ( no money, no medicine).

I passed my driving test here and I dont pay 200% tax. I put the petrol in my car, and I do have fun doing it (playing with the nozzle and digits)

I use my own “bayong” when I do food shopping as this is the way of helping the environment. Some Brits re-use plastic bags.

You probably went there during the winter months, hence your comments about being dark at 3 pm. Don’t fret, wait till the spring and you will see beautiful flowers in bloom.

here is a simple case of one suffering from homesickness. give her time, she’ll adjust.
in phils., we can afford help bec. its cheap, hence, people become spoiled; in gas stations where gas boys fill up the tanks. but, if need be, as when you have to migrate to 1st world countries, you have to do everything by yourself bec. you have no choice.
someone wrote, so, phils. is not really a bad place after all…TRUE! take away the corrupt pol. leaders and the rude bus and jeepney drivers, our country is ok..
think positive. you chart your own life. in time, you will be ok, just like the rest.
happy new year and new life!

So much reactions for an article intended to while away a person’s homesickness….looks like so many people have too much time on their on hands. The author simply was being funny.

It’s amazing how we are all given the opportunity to write out our thoughts through blogs.

On reading your article, I was practically detached. I was simply reading it which I think is the whole idea of blogging…to share and inform.

What came out after what you wrote caught me off-guard. There were a few good-natured readers in this thread but the rest were either emotionally imbalanced, uneducated or cynics. I cant help but ignore those comments that were poorly written or those that merely complained and criticized your personal view.

Everything happens for a reason. God wants you to experience what you missed while you were in the Philippines..living a simple life (not like how Paris or Nicole were on reality “scripted” tv). They say life outside of the Philippines is better. It is better because it is much simpler. You become practical. It’s really up to you if you WANT your life to be complicated.

Even if there’s a barrage of ugly comments here, I still encourage you to write another article after 5 years. By then I’m pretty sure you have assimilated yourself with Denmark’s culture…that you have seen its beauty and uniqueness just like how you have experienced in our native land.

Godspeed!

first impression lang sinabi niya!sa mga nagsasabi na di nakakadiri ang mag fill up ng gas, kayo na din nagsabi na willing kayo na turuan siya!which means sanay na kayo..please remember, FIRST IMPRESSION niya yun!sigurado ko, masasanay din siya at di na niya masasabi na kadiri siya kasi magiging parte na yun ng buhay niya. at kapag ikaw e nasanay naman talaga na may tumutulong sa iyo, di mo ba hahanapin yun? kahit naman siguro sino, di kagad makapag adjust kapag pumunta sa ibang bansa. pag isipan niyo muna mga sinasabi niyo. binibigay niya opinion niya bilang isang pinay na bagong salta sa isang bansa na kung saan iba ang kultura. wala siyang malisya sa mga sinabi niya kundi ang napansin niya lang.

yay!! those are funny remarks..for first timers like her i think thats her initial findings/reactions of how REAL the world is outside Philippines when you do all things yourself ..she need to stay long enough to really know the basics…it’s not an overnight thing..every country has different time clock and different season..here in America you do all of the above too–thats why in every place you go you need to adjust yourself with life in general and see for yourself -not people adjusting to you- you need to put efforts in doing things yourself or read the freakin manual to make things work..HAHAHAHA..

oh well she need to grow up more!!its not the diploma or degree a person get from school–it’s all about ATTITUDE!! about COMMON SENSE!! about AWARENESS!! about EXPERIENCE!!about MATURITY!!about BEING ADOPTED TO CHANGE–it’s all about transition that she need to master–good luck!!

[...] was checking some articles in INQUIRER.net when I came across an article entitled “Countdown to 15 things I miss about the Philippines.”  I find the title so [...]

I enjoy this article. It only shows we Filipinos love criticism and sympathy. one thing don’t take criticism or over-reaction as negative take it as a challenge. Well, thats life outside Philippines, walang katulong etc…or you’re an AVP (acting various positions) sa gawaing bahay unless you have helper. Being a pinoy it’s in our bloodd to be sensible, hardworking, easily to adapt and most of resilience in every aspect of life( kaya nga maraming pinoy in every four corners of the world)

It’s to early to describe something in just a matter of month coz understanding the culture of host country(denmark) will take years.

Being a pinoy is a great advantage in our part because we have English as our secondary language and this is a big factor in your part coz you can communicate with danish people and other immigrants. however, whether you like it or not you have to learn how to speak danish because it’s needed when you apply for permanent resident or citizenship.

Learn their culture, language, history etc.
as soon as possible and learn how to drive
so that you can enjoy your self going to country side. The only thing I can share to you being in the western culture : “respect for individual” and always abide their laws in traffic.

Used the internet to know about your host country and for sure after a months or years things will be different.

As far as know Denmark is 95% evangelical lutheran and a portion is catholic whatever your case you can meet Filipinos in those churches to start things.

Always pray and believe in your self. God Bless you and your family.

Mabuhay Philippines!!!

Roel Orong-Pennsylvania USA.

i fully commiserate with you doc; ive travelled/worked in a number of countries before pero ngayon lang ako sobrang na homesick. i think it is the sun i miss most and the warm people kasi dito sa oxford well, compared to africa and asia, there’s warmth and a strong sense of community and or belongingness. anyway, good luck sa iyo, in no time makaka adjust ka rin.

I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE REPLY OF THE THE LADY DR. IF SHE STILL HAVE THE GUTS AND THE WIT TO RESPOND TO THESE VARIED/MIXED REACTIONS REGARDING HER ARTICLE…. I JUST BOOKMARKED THIS PAGE (lol) AND ACTUALLY PLANNING TO VISIT THIS ON DAILY BASIS TILL SHE POST HER REPLY… ‘TWILL BE A LONG WAIT FOR SURE…HEHEHE… GOOD LUCK DR., IS YOUR HUSBAND AWARE AND READING ALL THESE RESPONSES IN YOUR BLOG? I WONDER WHAT HIS REACTION WITH ALL THESE BROUHAHA TOO…

I empathize with you doc for I had some experienced like yours too. But the most important thing you have to bear in your mind is be thankful for your blessings. And stop complaining or don’t be so negative about your new found country. For you’ll never be happy in your life if you’re not be satisfied with what you have.

Good luck and acclimatize to yourself to your new environment.

Hi all,

Why are you all harsh about this article? There are so many articles and emails around about missing Home even if obviously you miss somethings that are negative about things in the philippines. Example missing eating dirty streetfoods.

Also this is not boasting, it just shows you MISSED those things. I am just sorry for the DANISH people for seeing this. It does not mean DENMARK is less of a COUNTRY. In fact it shows HOW RICH and GREAT the country really is. It does not intend to put a negative image of your country.

In fact, I AM ABOUT TO IMMIGRATE to Canada this year. Canada is a GREAT country as well, but you know already you will MISSED a LOT of things. As some of my friends there say.

You MIGHT experience the same feelings when you go to another country. We are human to feel feelings of this sort.

Hey guys, doc simply wanted to express herself from the new environment she is experiencing right now. No need to be so rude to her. If you feel she’s mistaken about something, then pls keep it to yourself ok? She only wants to shed out her feelings and sentiments that’s all. I don’t think she intends to argue anyone about living in Denmark.

By the way, why don’t we adopt that system about plastics here in RP. If all supermarkets stop giving away free plastic bags, that will solve our garbage problem. Then people will be forced to bring their own bags next time. Hello Mr. Lawmakers!

I don’t see any arrogance from the Doctor’s blog.

It’s the simple things that we expats/OFWs miss.

She should be glad that you are in Denmark and probably earning Euros. It would have been worse if you are in the United States.

US Dollar is now being exposed as worthless (not really backed by Silver and Gold). US will be on recession soon.

Count your blessings.

And to her fllow UP alumni: aw, cmon…don’t act as if you were really trainied by UP to be street smart, humble non-elitist…

looking forward to your part 2 of this article dr. W.
i’m sure the comments will be as interesting and enlightening. cheers to us, pinoys!

Nyek. Ano ba yan!

Ang linaw linaw.. 15 things i miss about the philippines. Pag tingin ko sa ibaba ang daming galit na nag comment.

Nakakatawa yung sulat nya eh, except for the gas-muzzle part.

Thank you for a very interesting read. Whether you are spoofing or genuinely mean what you said, it is a useful contribution to migration literature. Of course there is “no place like home” but after being expat for almost 40 years, I have added another slogan, “Home is where your nuclear family is” and this has largely been Denmark and Europe for me. Of course I go home to the Phil. as much as possible, ie. whenever I can afford it and luckily, this has been almost yearly thanks to a simple, humble and equitable lifestyle where taxes are so awful!!!basically one pays close to 50% income tax and 25% sales tax on everything, with luxury goods such as cars and perfumes@200%. On the other hand I do not have to worry about educating my kids, getting treatment if ill, sleeping soundly because I do not fear being robbed and so on and so forth..

Life is always a trade-off, as well as being a series of priorities. All of us coming from the Philippines, no matter how poor,always had either “katulongs” (house help) or poorer relatives who made life more comfortable for us. Our Pinoy society is built on mutualities which is the start of corroding corruption.

When I look back at raising 3 kids (only) without help, unlike some people in my circles here who did (yes, some upperclass Pinays have had maids here- a secret!and nowadays they have au pairs!) I feel proud, but not specially because that is what Danish women of my generation have done so why should I have it differently? But they also have many freedoms: economic, political, socio-cultural, eg.freedom from want, of speech, from sexual harassment, etc.
Like I said, Life is a trade off. Obviously after living more than half my life here, I know where quality of life for me is to be found. Here in Denmark. But it is not perfect. No democracies ever are….

I know you will quickly learn the ropes. But keep your critical eye and sense of humour and you will quickly integrate. The Danes have this ascerbic wit and some Pinoys here in Copenhagen will never discover it. You already are equipped with it,so Welcome to better: warmer and lighter times ahead.

Take time out to check out -as
suggested by Ana Lindenhamn earlier-
our organization, BABAYLAN, The Philippine Women’s Network (Denmark) which is a Europewide network of Pinays empowering themselves while maintaining a critical eye to European society.

PS. I am trying to organize a UP Alumni org so you are also very welcome to this initiative. But do it fast, the Centennial celebration is this June already. Contact
me at my email if you are interested.

cold , dark by 3pm , feeling grumpy and tired ,hight taxes is familiar to me i live in winnipeg , canada .living in cold climate country has lot of challenges let alone a new culture with the culture shock i’m sure Denmark and Canada has some similarites who ever said that living abroad is easy? it takes a lot of sacrifice ,courage and perseverance to succeed . when we are outside looking back to the philippines we miss the things we take for granted when we were there, remember the best things in life are free just from the exprience you have mention when you were there , but now you are in Denmark well then just make the most of your life in there dont forget your roots but at the same time move forward . Pinoys here in Canada are known for their hard work, being able to adjust to way of life and for the ability to learn quickly and i’m sure that i dont speak only for pinoys here ,but for everyone of us who left the philippines. best of luck to you in Denmark make the most out of it you definitely will look at life in a different perspective.

“No one is useless in the world who lightens the burdens of another”. charles dickens.

[...] you think being in a rich country makes you rich? This is an article written by a UP Professor. It has humored and appalled a few readers. I was browsing around the [...]

[...] Services « Countdown to 15 things I miss about the Philippines [...]

Hi!

I fully understand your current situation. You probably arrived in Denmark this winter. I am here in Canada and I also arrived in this country, in winter times. Please email me and we can share.

The editors have just posted Part 2: Countdown to 15 things I wish I had sent home for Christmas.

I’m hoping that subsequent comments would be posted on that one.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this entry, both positive and negative. I am amazed by blogging as a form of public communication… how a writer can see the reactions of his/her readers very quickly.

The negative comments I take in stride, as any writer should but I think they all stemmed from readers not knowing that from conception, this Countdown had two parts - the good and the bad aspects of being abroad for a new migrant, in Winter, at Christmastime.

Here’s to a great year ahead of us!

MLSW

Well-written! I have been away from home for 2 years too! I stayed in London for a year to study and after completing my studies, I moved to Japan to work. I actually missed the same things that you missed! Guess you are not alone! Funny though because you wouldn’t think someone would miss those things that you mentioned! Our country or home is not really a paradise but like what they say, there’s no place like home!

Doc,

Let me also share my own experience… some 5 years ago a great hospital in NC hired 12 of us Pinay nurses. The 1st day a hospital van drove us to buy grocery and personal effects in a Walmart store, we passed a mall parking lot full of cars with nobody walking in the sidewalk. We were like, is this America?? We have to call a taxi company so we can take a cab. Buses have schedule, on Sundays malls open at 12noon and close 6pm. In a place where 80% of the population are white, some have not even heard of the Philippines- a brown Asian would certainly be stared at. Colleagues initially thought we were stupid because we speak meekly and with an accent. It took awhile, mind you it’s not easy, eventually we got their respect. They realized we’re not just cute Filipinos, we are in fact smart and competent. 9 of my friends remain in NC - 2 of them were elected to the outstanding RN’s of the year fame.

Like most Pinoys abroad, I feel sad during the holidays, Christmas is never the same as back home. I miss the parols, the carolers who just appear in your frontdoor without notice, I miss the sidewalk vendors selling sliced bread, paputok and fruits during the holidays. I miss inasal and Manokan in Bacolod. I miss walking early morning to capitol lagoon and having breakfast in McDo across the road. I miss the wet and dirty Burgos public market near our boarding house. I miss a nursing attendant back home who would give us back massage, in exchange we would overlook her being missing from work for an hour or so, so she could vend her inasal to other nursing units. I miss the collectors who would show up during pay day. I miss Lola’s mahjong session every afternoon and the pan de siosa she served to her classmates. I miss sinugba nga tuloy or lagaw (broiled fish). I miss Christmas party after Christmas party, maski New Year na, Christmas party pa rin.

Currently I am in NYC, where I am more comfortable with its diversity and convenience. I have not been back home for fear of being raided and striped naked by my inaanaks

Goodluck to you and your family. May you retain the spirit of resiliency, humor and faith in God.

Bernie: “If you feel she’s mistaken about something, then pls keep it to yourself ok?” That argument makes no sense. If someone is doing something wrong, why should we keep silent? Why shouldn’t people challenge ignorant or incorrect or unsustainable assumptions?

This is the nature of the blogosphere: If you put something out here, you and your writings are fair game.

I am living in Denmark now same as her and I can also see and feel what she feel and I totally agree in everything that she wrote in here. If you will live in Denmark you will see and understand her. More Power to you and Thanks for your contribution. It’s very well done.

Hi Dr. Lurenda,
Welcome to Denmark. Its too early for you to make comments. Nobody is forcing you to come to Denmark. You have to take the consequences. I am a doctor working in Svendborg and I arrived in Denmark 1999.We know that to be a doctor in the Philippines is a prestige profession. I just want to tell you that if you will start working in the hospital nobody will call you doctor or professor.What is important is to integrate , learn the language, culture, country, goverment, health system, etc. Learn to speak danish as fast as possible so that you can practice your profession as a doctor.Denmark is in need of doctors. Good luck, good health, god bless you.

Hello Dr. Lurenda,

You are a true Filipino/Filipina…..I admire you…Not every filipino working abroad talks about all the things they miss in the Philippines…most always talk about how behind we are compared to the countries…

I am an OFW myself…roughly more than a year already…and until now, i still miss a lot of things about the Philippines (I spent 1 month vacation last dec and still its not enough hehehe)…and everything you wrote..I couldnt agree more :-)….In this country, they also dont speak english…and true enough, i have to learn to speak the local language…NOT TO BLEND IN…BUT ONLY TO BE ABLE TO CONVERSE WHENEVER NEEDED…I DIDNT HAVE AND STILL DONT HAVE TO FORCE MYSELF INTO BLENDING IN AMONG THEM…HECK…I DONT REALLY CARE hehehehe Being a filipino is more interesting than being like them or any other nationality..

The only thing I tell myself everyday before I go to work..is that…I HAVE TO DO MORE THAN GOOD IN MY JOB…TO GAIN RESPECT…not just for myself..but for the entire filipino race..(at least doing something in my own little way) And with the help of the Almighty, I believe these people I work with already have a pretty good idea how GOOD we are in doing our jobs!!

As for you Dr….I wish you success in everything…and never forget…

WE ARE FILIPINOS!!!! AND WE ARE MUCH BETTER THAN ANYRACE THEREIS!!!

This is a much better blog…compared to the other blogs here…specially the one where they talk about Philippine Politics…well theres actually nothing to talk about Philippine politics…everything is the same…hehehehe

Here, after 2 years of working you can already apply for a citizenship…and I always surprise people everytime I tell them that I AM NOT APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP…I WANNA BE A FILIPINO….AND IM NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT OR APPLY FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP…

I dont know if being a hardline patriot or loving too much my nationality is a bad thing…or a good thing

Mc: Its depend on what you want in life. If you want a better life for your family I’ll say, Become a citizen of the country where you are residing.
But make sure you really want to live in that country tell the rest of your life. Here in America you must live here for five years before you can apply for citizenship. I think thats a good idea. Because being American citizen you can benifit lots of things. My mom never change her citizenship because she said one of these day she’s going back home to retired. I still think she’s wrong! because you can still retired in the Philippines even though you are American citizen.

Salina,

I want to be a FILIPINO till i take my last breath….I am proud of my being FILIPINO..and I dont believe that by changing my citizenship or adding another citizenship would benefit me more….

MABUHAY ANG LAHING PILIPINO!!!!!!!! MABUHAY ANG MGA CEBUANO!!!!!

Hi,
I would like to order made-to-measure shoes from Marikina on-line.
Can you help?
Many thanks
jt100@btinternet.com

Some people are missing the point entirely. They are telling the writer to go home (since its better in the PH) or that she is “whining” — but she is simply highlighting the things she “misses” about the Philippines. Of course it will sort of overshadow Denmark over the Philippines, else what’s the whole point of the article?

I don’t think a local newspaper would want to publish “Why I love Denmark more than Philippines” on balikbayan season.

[...] 1, 2008 by cocoy826 By Lurenda Suplido-Westergaard, M.D. INQUIRER.net Editor’s Note: The author migrated to [...]

Nice article. In my travels abroad, I miss the chaos of Manila the entire time - so imagine I almost pissed my pants happy to find Lucky me Noodles and San Miguel Beer in a tiny Southeast Asian shop in a country town in Korea back in May. I can totally relate. Philippines rocks!

I guess you’ve been pampered much back home. True, the bus fare, the weather and the food suck. However, there are also a lot of good things about Denmark. First, there is equality here. A person is not judged by his/her social status or gender. Everyone is given freedom to express himself and live his life the way he wants it. The tax is high but you can see where it goes to (nice roads, free education, etc.). You chose this place. Try to like it. Otherwise, stop whining…

You’re website looks very good, it was a pleasure to be on you’re. Keep on the good work