I always wondered why some immigrants choose to continue living here in America despite the hardships and changes in lifestyle. We always claim that life in the Philippines is so much better... with the maids, the presence of friends and families, the freedom to go out in "gimmicks", etc.
But now, I begin to appreciate what others saw in this land. Even though there are many household chores to do, there are also many ways out there to make ones life easy. You can do the laundry and dry your clothes while you watch TV. You can do the dishwashing while you check your emails and tinker with the computer. The kids are beginning to be more independent compared to the lazy kids I have in the Philippines who constantly call out to their "yaya" for something as simple as a glass of water... and my older daughter's reason is... "because now there's a filter on the faucet"... which makes it easier for her to get a glass of water. Even mopping the floor is swift... with the Swiffer.
There is also so much to do for free. The Public Library is just everywhere. You can reserve books online and pick it up when prompted. There are DVDs, CDs and all sorts of multimedia that you can borrow. You can access your account online and even the kids have their own accounts and play educational games online. There are shows in museums and zoos. There are even free movies.
Cooking is also made easy. There are lots of ready-to-cook items in the grocery. Frozen, chopped vegetables are available if you have limited time to prepare food. You can leave your house while your crockpot cooks dinner and come home with a hot meal ready to be served. There are so many choices for meat products.
Home decoration is do-it-yourself stuff as well. We visited Home Depot yesterday and the choices are simply endless. There are even timbers and lumbers for sale that are already pre-cut and pre-treated. Your creativity and skill are the only limits to what you can do with your home.
Yesterday, my husband and I took the driver's license written exam. It is just as impressive. We just got the booklet from the Bureau of Motors and Vehicles and studied it for one week. It contained all the rules you need to know in order to drive safely here in Ohio. You can just appreciate why you rarely see delinquent drivers on the road who would swerve or obstruct the way like you experience in Manila. Because all the drivers need to pass the written exam. It is computerized so there is no way you can cheat. You immediately see your results. Even when you make mistakes, the computer shows you the correct answer. From the start, drivers are already filtered. If you do not know the rules, stay off the road. After the written exam, there is still the practical exam which will test your driving skills. No bribery, no pulling strings under the table, no underhanded tactics.
Most of my friends here would tell me that you will grow closer as a family because you have only each other to depend on. So if you do not like your family or you do not like your spouse, living in the US can be suffocating for you because you will see them day in and day out. If you are used to drinking sprees and night-outs with friends, stay in Manila. This place is not for you, unless you're single. You can opt to live in New York City and maintain that lifestyle.
Of course, it's still too soon to tell. We have not yet gone to the routine of going to work, sending the kids to school, coming home to the family and household chores, etc. We are just starting to settle down. But so far, no regrets. And what I liked most in this place even with the absence of maids is also the absence of pests. No rats, ants, cockroaches and mosquitoes. There are occasional flies and they can be quite large but being large, they can be easily smashed.
I guess I am just the type of person who loves space, cleanliness , order and silence. Being here in this suburban place is just a complete blessing. And it is with complete gratitude to God for this opportunity that I opened my mail and took out a card which indicated "Permanent Resident" in white font against a background of green.... I just received my Green Card! :)
But now, I begin to appreciate what others saw in this land. Even though there are many household chores to do, there are also many ways out there to make ones life easy. You can do the laundry and dry your clothes while you watch TV. You can do the dishwashing while you check your emails and tinker with the computer. The kids are beginning to be more independent compared to the lazy kids I have in the Philippines who constantly call out to their "yaya" for something as simple as a glass of water... and my older daughter's reason is... "because now there's a filter on the faucet"... which makes it easier for her to get a glass of water. Even mopping the floor is swift... with the Swiffer.
There is also so much to do for free. The Public Library is just everywhere. You can reserve books online and pick it up when prompted. There are DVDs, CDs and all sorts of multimedia that you can borrow. You can access your account online and even the kids have their own accounts and play educational games online. There are shows in museums and zoos. There are even free movies.
Cooking is also made easy. There are lots of ready-to-cook items in the grocery. Frozen, chopped vegetables are available if you have limited time to prepare food. You can leave your house while your crockpot cooks dinner and come home with a hot meal ready to be served. There are so many choices for meat products.
Home decoration is do-it-yourself stuff as well. We visited Home Depot yesterday and the choices are simply endless. There are even timbers and lumbers for sale that are already pre-cut and pre-treated. Your creativity and skill are the only limits to what you can do with your home.
Yesterday, my husband and I took the driver's license written exam. It is just as impressive. We just got the booklet from the Bureau of Motors and Vehicles and studied it for one week. It contained all the rules you need to know in order to drive safely here in Ohio. You can just appreciate why you rarely see delinquent drivers on the road who would swerve or obstruct the way like you experience in Manila. Because all the drivers need to pass the written exam. It is computerized so there is no way you can cheat. You immediately see your results. Even when you make mistakes, the computer shows you the correct answer. From the start, drivers are already filtered. If you do not know the rules, stay off the road. After the written exam, there is still the practical exam which will test your driving skills. No bribery, no pulling strings under the table, no underhanded tactics.
Most of my friends here would tell me that you will grow closer as a family because you have only each other to depend on. So if you do not like your family or you do not like your spouse, living in the US can be suffocating for you because you will see them day in and day out. If you are used to drinking sprees and night-outs with friends, stay in Manila. This place is not for you, unless you're single. You can opt to live in New York City and maintain that lifestyle.
Of course, it's still too soon to tell. We have not yet gone to the routine of going to work, sending the kids to school, coming home to the family and household chores, etc. We are just starting to settle down. But so far, no regrets. And what I liked most in this place even with the absence of maids is also the absence of pests. No rats, ants, cockroaches and mosquitoes. There are occasional flies and they can be quite large but being large, they can be easily smashed.
I guess I am just the type of person who loves space, cleanliness , order and silence. Being here in this suburban place is just a complete blessing. And it is with complete gratitude to God for this opportunity that I opened my mail and took out a card which indicated "Permanent Resident" in white font against a background of green.... I just received my Green Card! :)
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