Over the course of time that we have been back here in the Philippines, almost 13 years ago now. I have been posting every now and then about my adjustments and re-adjustments of living back here.
Been thinking lately of the life that Bob and I created here for our family. Really, overall we did the right thing to move back our family here in the Philippines. Thank God for the good advice of the kids’ pediatrician (Dr. Juan Rivera) in the States. He told us to move the kids at a young age. That’s what we did and it turned out really good for us and the kids. Best advice he gave too was to bring along almost everything what our kids had there so that they still felt at home when adjusting to the new place.
We brought with us almost all the stuff in their bedrooms and the toys. I think it really did help our kids. Our oldest son at that time was 8 years old and our second was just over 3 years old, our youngest was just over a month old. So no memory of our youngest child of the life we had in the States. But to tell you guys frankly, he is the one that truly had the Western blood, he is the one that had a hard time adjusting to the heat here, even now. Not sure if its because he is the one that had the lighter skin among our boys.
Bob and Feyma at Sarangani Highlands
I can truly say that all of us in our family really love living here in the Philippines now. We could have moved back to the States anytime if we want to. But we like it here. My family (sisters and other members of the family) come here to our house once in awhile to visit. Our kids especially Chris likes to visits our farm in Sarangani Province or they go to my cousin’s (who lives in Kidapawan) for a vacation. Our kids are really close to their cousins and aunties and uncles. I could also say that the best thing that Bob ever did to while living here was learning the language. At least he could go anywhere he wants to go without asking help from any of us regarding communicating with the local folks. I am so proud of him for that, and the willingness in his part to learned the language. It was not easy but he was so motivated to learn and he did.
I am not saying all of this for everyone to follow what we did. Each of us have different tricks on what and how to deal with living here. I am not going to sugar coat here. Living back here is not easy, it’s so difficult talking about adjustments now. I am not going to tell you guys to follow our path on dealing how to live here. I am just telling here how we adjust to the life here. Luckily nowadays you can read so many materials on line on how to deal living here. Bob and I did it through trial and error. But we are happy that it worked out good for us. I’ve seen some that had a hard time living here and end up moving back. I am not blaming them, just feeling sorry for them because they have to start their life all over again.
Been hearing people that are so negative of living here. I’m sure while adjusting to living here we had that kind of attitude. But if living here for years and still had negative thoughts and attitudes towards living here, I think it would be better off to go home to the country where the person is from. It will not do anyone good to stay here and not happy. It will just drive the person crazy and bitterness towards the country and the people around them. Later it could turn the person in big trouble. I’ve heard some foreigners go ballistic and end up dead at the end.
I guess at the end of the day, no matter what part of the world you are living, still you have to adjust to the people you are with. Happy to have the bi-culture household. Both are learning new things everyday. Adjustments, more fun living in the Philippines.
Mabuhay!