By Lurenda Suplido-Westergaard, M.D., Contributor
INQUIRER.net
15. TAKING a taxi out of the supermarket — First of all, taking a taxi is very expensive (more about public transport later), but what 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. 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.
14. Being able to drive — First, no license. Second, can’t afford to buy a car (at 200-percent tax, never mind). Third, I easily get lost (one open field looks just like any other). Fourth, I can’t imagine myself filling up at a gas station (me holding the gas nozzle? Ewwww!). Fifth, I wouldn’t know what to do if there’s a solid sheet of ice on the windshield.
13. Taking two minutes to dress up Alex in sando (undershirt), shorts, and sandals — Here: underpants, long socks, normal socks, long pants, t-shirt, long sleeved shirt, sweater, gloves, winter coveralls, boots, hood. Minimum: 30 minutes. If he’s not cooperative, this takes an hour. Pagod na ako, hindi pa kami nakakalabas ng pinto (We’ve not gone out the door and already I’m tired)!
12. Being able to blend in — Almost the entire indigenous population is blonde, and I get a sense that all women are at least 5′8″. People don’t stare (as we do at foreigners in Pinas, out of a naive curiosity rather than rudeness), but it is not possible to just pass through here unnoticed. This is especially uncomfortable for someone with a self-conscious streak. Of course there are deeper issues here: It’s about being in the minority. The last place where I lived abroad for an extended period was
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? 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.
10. People with a more friendly sense of personal space — Having grown up riding jeepneys (and buses on pre-MRT EDSA), I think nothing of being packed like a sardine in public transport, thighs squished together on both sides. One time I sat beside an old man on a public bus, I swear he gave me an elbow (okay, he might have had Parkinson’s). But there was another time when I reached over to press the stop button and the lady beside me raised her arms in a defensive move, like preparing for a karate chop (okay, maybe she was physically abused in the past). In a half-full bus, I see people electing to stay standing. Those who sit together in the two-seater row are friends, not strangers.
9. Minimum fare of P7.50 — Here it’s P96.00 (that’s on buses/trains where you can have unlimited transfers within two adjacent geographical areas over one hour; but you still pay the same minimum fare even if you’re just going for a five-minute ride).
8. Temperatures above 20 degrees — This is a country where the average annual temperature is seven degrees Celsius. Haaaay! Apat na patong ng damit, nanunuot pa rin ang lamig. Bawiin ang Nobel Peace Prize ni Al Gore (Four layers of clothes and the cold still seeps in. Get back Al Gore’s Nobel Peace Prize)!
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).
6. 12-percent VAT — That sounds good if you now have to pay 25 percent.
5. McDo, Pizza Hut, Don Henrico’s, Jollibee, Max’s, and all restaurants who deliver even if you’re just ordering food for one. Corollary to that is having hot meals three times a day (at least). — Here, it’s buttered bread and yoghurt for breakfast, cold cuts sandwich for lunch, and a hot meal for dinner. Ack! Walang ginataang bilu-bilo na meryenda sa umaga at walang pancit malabon na meryenda sa hapon (No Filipino snacks in the morning and afternoon)!
4. Going to the movies — This is a country with the most expensive movie theater tickets in the world, and the theaters are far from where I live (well not really far, but I would be spending more than minimum fare; add that to the cost of movie tickets.).
3. Filipinos — I’ve only seen one Pinoy (plus two on many previous visits) in the streets. This is not a preferred destination for overseas workers because taxes take out at least 40 percent of your income (closer to 60 percent total), and then there’s VAT. It’s great if you live here, retire here, and your entire family is supported by the social system (with free education and health care), but it’s near impossible to send money to relatives back home.
2. Filipino the language — The sound of Filipino is heavy on hard T’s, K’s, D’s, and short A’s; what you hear is what you spell (and the other way around). Here there are all kinds of rolling R’s and soft D’s; H’s and V’s that are barely there. Sabihin mo nga sa akin kung paanong naging “mal” ang pagbigkas ng “meget” (Just tell me how “mal” becomes “meget” when spoken)? I’m told that everyone understands English, but they won’t volunteer that. They will speak their language until you say that you can’t speak it yourself.
1. Daylight — Alas-tres pa lang madilim na (It’s just three o’clock in the afternoon and it’s already dark)! Now the days are at their shortest (supposedly seven hours, but it’s really not daylight, more like dusk all day). Losing light is like being hungry — I feel crabby, tired, and a bit sorry for myself. I never knew I subsisted on photosynthesis. There are gadgets for sale that simulate daylight. There’s a new alarm clock on the market that comes with a big wakeup light that’s supposed to be like the dawn. I think this is the hardest for me to get used to. It’s not about being afraid of the dark, it’s about not having the sun streaming through the windows when it should. Someone told me that when there is light, I should go out and soak up as much of it as I can. Pero kung balot na balot naman ako, eh di noo at pisngi lang ang pwedeng mag-sunbathing (But if I’m covered in clothes, it’s just my forehead and cheeks that get to sun-bathe)!
January 6th, 2008 at 2:55 am
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.
January 6th, 2008 at 12:31 am
[...] 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 [...]
January 6th, 2008 at 12:28 am
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!!
January 5th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
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.
January 5th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
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!