What's Da Buzz?

In this entry, I am going to introduce a number of topics that are common misconceptions about living in the United States. What you see coming from Hollywood is nowhere close to what life is like here.

If you ask me why, I know there is this misconception that life here is like Hollywood or at least greener pastures exist here. The American dream and a desire to help our loved ones are the biggest reasons you will hear from Filipino’s coupled with being hopeless that our Philippine government will ever get their act together. All these reasons and a willingness to do anything for the family are the core reasons.

Let’s be honest first. To most Filipinos in the Philippines, living in America would be a dream come true. We all knew that majority of Filipinos want to get a US VISA. Some would spend their wealth for paperwork just to get tourist visa. I will go into further detail later but as honorable as the goals are it is hard to take into account what life is really like here. It is arguable as to where life is better.

The road systems are safer here, dental care is better, health care technology is better but expensive and you are less likely to die from a bomb. (FYI- I was born and raised in General Bombing City- este Gensan hehe!) Beyond that though is where many misconceptions lay.

In the USA, the corruption in the government is better hidden as great lengths are taken to disguise it and con the people into thinking it is normal. You do make more money as compared to the Philippines but all of the costs of living here are far greater too. It is common that you do not make enough working a job to be able to afford all of the basic requirements of living here. A job definitely does not make you rich!

If you want to come here, be ready to start and run a business of your own if you want to get ahead financially. Or plan on returning to the Philippines to retire with your savings and avoid being a homeowner here. (Why? Another topic in the future or you probably know the housing market today.)

The freedoms that are heard about in the USA due to their Constitution are fading away. There are many groups actively working to remove them and using the government to do so. The US Constitution is often being ignored by the very government it created.  (contribution from thematurekid)

In the Philippines, the middle class can afford a yaya or nanny. A housemaid can be hired relatively easily. If you live here, have a job and live in a home, you have to have a car, fill your own gas, drive yourself, take care of the laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, mowing the grass, planting, shoveling snow if it snows where you live while holding down a job and raising your family.

This doesn’t cover all the other things you need to do for the house and if you marry a lazy self-centered guy- you’re on your own. So please be very careful in choosing who you would want to spend your life with. This is just the beginning of this topic. I’ll be writing a lot more on it. You may disagree or agree with me and that’s fine. But there are many, many days where I wish we were living in the Philippines.

Ta ta for now,

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