The village my wife is from had a fiesta this weekend, it was pretty cool to experience. My wife has a ton of family but was able to meet many more as they traveled to the village. Not sure how things work but it seems my in laws were responsible for the main festivities this year, totally amazed how many people stopped by. Being Easter Sunday also had to go to a very small chapel, where the wife went to church as a kid, to burn some candles. Honestly unclear what the purpose is as I am not Catholic, but it was interesting. We also stopped by her cousins house as it was his birthday; he turned 27 today, good guy. He was one of the workers on our house and had no previous construction experience. He built himself, and family a pretty solid local style house. He starting building things on his day off or in the evening from the salary he was getting when working for us. I'm really impressed with what he did and had a good time hanging out at his home. It was a really fun weekend, I may be the exception but have a good relationship with Cherry's family and really enjoy spending time with them, the intro to some folks I had not met previously was great. One of the highlights was a 68 year old retired salesman whose passion is farming now. I must have spent 2 hours talking and drinking beer with him today; successful in his life and says things straight. I know little visayan but he gave Cherry a good lecture about being a good wife. We will definitely be visiting them soon to check out their farm and probably quite a few more beers, he told me today I needed to catch up a couple times and I think I can put the beers back pretty good. Shawn
A good job reporting on what many of us do miss out on here. Integrating into the cultural aspects of society here is difficult unless you are married into it. Thanks.
Having an open mind and experiencing different things is pretty important in my opinion. I normally have a great time when interacting with the family, great folks that have treated me as family from the beginning. Shawn
Not Always Dave. Although we shop mainly as others in Town or Robinsons, we use our local Sorry Sorry a lot. I have my 2 Smb's daily there and have made many friends among the Barangay Locals. so much so that we get Invited to many Things, in fact we have a Wedding to attend on Saturday of a local girl, Azon was amazed at how many things we get invited to around our area, I don't' know these Families she says How do you know them. I wink and say well babe, I am a nice guy and people will trust those that take time to ingratiate and take part, Even as a Foreigner I feel at home with them and it can and does make our life here an awful lot easier. Sometimes the locals only see foreigners from the Perspective that sometimes gets written about or reported. Getting among them and showing not all, are as they think, is easier than you think. Moral Is: Get to know them and Fiestas and things will follow.
Well said Jack. Folks would be amazed how far a smile and a "hello" goes. They are not too many expats in Tanjay compared to other places so you will find some folks nervous to start up a conversation, especially in the village. The fiesta the in laws put together brought people in that I had not previously met in the almost 7 years I've coming around. I think it is an initial shock when I have a dozen kids come running up yelling "Uncle Shawn" when I show up and wanting the blessing, hugs and just to hang out a bit. And then they see the interaction I have with the immediate family they figure out I must be OK and will then have folks wanting to talk (over a few drinks this past weekend also breaks the ice). It was a good time and always enjoy my time in the village (except for the dogs there). Having an open mind and treating people with respect goes a long way in their eyes and really makes things to be quite enjoyable. I'll be in the village tomorrow as I found out some of the receptacles installed when we re-did her parents house a few years ago are "weak" and plugs are falling out. They never told me that and figured it out when I tried to plug the iPad in (my music is better than their's). So I will replace them all as well as adding some to the kitchen since they did not have the appliances then that they have now. They would never ask me for this, but when I figured it out and said I would change them out they were really appreciative, good folks. Shawn
