Things your wife/fiancee found strange about the states

[rlogan 2,036]

On the good side, she has now encountered and learned the benefits to a culture that is:

Thinking and planning ahead. Paying attention. Focusing.

Being precise, speaking in complete accurate sentences, enunciating: exercising clear communication etiquitte and skills.

Being punctual, true to your word, and trustworthy to follow through.

Working your butt off. 110% effort.

The concept of saving for the future instead of living from crisis to crisis.

One thing about americans as people - not their government but as people - they are not wealthy because money fell from the sky. They are productive. They work. They work smart. For them, time is money.

In her province, if you asked someone what time it was while the clock was showing 8:07, they might tell you 8:00, and they might tell you 8:15. But not the actual time. What difference does seven or eight minutes make? Why would anyone need to know time to the minute? Why do you need to know the actual location I live in when you ask me? Isn't the largest city in my province better? Why pay the bill now when the service won't be shut off for a month? Why are you leaving money in the bank instead of spending it? Why do you arrive at meetings before they start?

Ha ha! It is so rewarding to see my wife getting annoyed with people there doing the same things she used to do!

These are third-world to first-world kinds of strangeness to encounter. In her province the myth is that if you married an American then all your troubles were over because you were rich. But instead, for her at least, it is a different way of thinking and acting.

[jrmejia 31]

This thread is so cute! Yehey!!!

I cannot wait to post what mine will find strange. Maybe the fact that we don't eat rice for breakfast? Just kidding!

I will keep you post it, I am sure you guys cannot wait for it.

[DanNNina 5]

At a 4-way stop. Everyone stops and takes turns very orderly.....She was shocked.

[PAGE 11 14]

At a 4-way stop. Everyone stops and takes turns very orderly.....She was shocked.

Yes, that amazed me too on a previous visit. Boy, was it scary driving in the US after years of driving in the anything-goes mayhem of Manila traffic. It was unnerving trying to follow traffic rules for a change!

Other things that amazed me (in California)

- wonderful, red, ripe, fresh cherries

- wild looking, initially mysterious, eventually delicious artichokes

- mourning doves cooing non stop in spring and summer

- Canadian geese honking overhead

- huge portions at the restaurants (and sadly, many huge people too)

- so many beautiful national parks!

- still so many hippies 40 years after woodstock LOL (at least in the bay area)

- Pinoy stores selling Chippy and johnson's baby cologne

[joyjohn 18]

I send my wife pictures of the house..........she asked wheres the concrete wall? and razorwire!!!...

i told her before getting her DL here.......yes stop signs mean STOP!! no horns, no playing chicken.....

[honey_me 7]

Mine are: (first 3 are on my day 1 in US)

1. It's 7pm and it's not dark yet. I didn't really understand longer days 'til I got here.

2. US flags(big and regular) everywhere.

3. No people walking on the street, maybe one or two that's it.

4. Drivers seldom honk their horns.

5. Half an aisle of spices on grocery stores.

6. Leaf blower.

7. Freeways.

8. Signs giving exact bridge clearance. e.i 20.1

9. Lots of four way stop.

10. Laundromats. I like them.

11. Drive-through banking.

12. Difference between who shops at Wholefoods and who shops at Walmart.

13. Movies cost more. Can only watch once. Can't bring food too.

14. Students are wearing shorts to school.

15. A wreath on someone's car during Christmas time.

16. People say "hi" a lot.

17. Some people stealing grocery carts.

18. Beggars with nice clothes on the street.

19. Buildings have addresses on their walls.

20. Apartments giving one month free.

Yeah, I have asked my husband a lot of whys and hows in the first few months. I still do sometimes.

[honey_me 7]

Added:

21. Red blinking lights on tall buildings to warn aircraft.

22. Street lights high in the sky.

23. Roads have so many reflectors.

24. Street signs are huge.

[ezzie 7]

Boy, was it scary driving in the US after years of driving in the anything-goes mayhem of Manila traffic. It was unnerving trying to follow traffic rules for a change!

I know..This was my one major change. Been in and out of the US, but the relatives were the ones driving. It looked so easy, knowing I could easily navigate the jungles of Manila. But when it was my first time, my then fiancee and now husband kept getting mad at me for all my wrong moves. It's hard to teach an old dog ( hey, I am not yet old though) new tricks! But because we are Filipinos, we can adapt easily.

I became a disciplined driver, but I am now back in Manila; kept having a heart attack with the way my sister was driving from the airport. But then I drove here on my second day, and I was back to how I was. Now my sister is telling me not to drive here anymore.

[kev_n_jena 89]

A couple little things I found funny, one came up today. Jena's been here 4 years but every once in awhile she'll tell me about something she found strange when she got here.

Today we saw a sign that said "Watch for ice on bridges". She said when she first got here in July, she couldn't figure out why the signs were there but never asked me about it. After traveling on the snow and ice a few times she figured it out but she never mentioned it until today.

She also said, lots of people she knows in Phils thought the snow made it cold outside, she figured out it's the other way around.

Kevin

[Impatient Cupcake 10]

1. Portion sizes, no rice, and no delivery at McDonalds, etc.

there is no mcspaghetti

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

For Anna it was:

Mail:

* - Almost every day? Really?

* - You're joking right? Just put a stamp on and leave it in the mail box to send it?

The washer, dryer & dishwasher.

The fridge is so large.

The only restaurants she can get rice the way she likes it are Asian.

High School girls wearing "Pek Pek Shorts" everywhere.

A 2,900 sq ft house occupied by just 5 people.

Central Heating & Air.

People actually TALK on their cell phones.

Unlimited Texting on cell phone plans, how do they make any money?

Seeing parents ask their kids to Please behave and not act like insane wild animals in public, "In the Philippines the parents would just smack them if a child ever acted like that"

Getting a receipt for service calls, repairs & installations.

Really? I can just return it if I don't like it?

The manager cares that we waited 30 minutes for our lunch to be served and comped us our meal!

The brand name stuff is legit and counterfeits can't be found in every corner.

The power grid is reliable, why don't we have black-outs every other week?

The list goes on...

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

We have multiple accounts and we make multiple deposits. Some of the deposits are direct and some of the checks come in the mail. So we still use deposit slips sometimes.

Actually, PI have this one, too...

We have this in PI. We call it bottomless...

Same with this one...

Edited June 25, 2011 by ~happyndinlove~

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Mine isn't here yet, but we have talked about banking a bit... she was amazed at the lack of deposit slips (I haven't filled out one in more than 10 years), and how I move thousands of $$ around and spend, without ever touching cash or checks. (She doesn't have checks, and I write about 1 every year or two).

Can't wait to see what else she finds amazing, but love reading your lists!

[Steve&Fe 13]

I found it strange that many Americans are way friendly than a fellow Filipina(s).

I find it odd (and mostly feel sorry) that many senior citizens are still working, pushing carts at the grocery stores when they should just be home resting.

Most Americans want to work..I personally plan on working as long as I'm able..even if money isn't a factor. Sitting at home 'resting'.. usually alone.. leads to an early death. So don't feel sorry for the old man passing out carts at Walmart..chances are, he wants to be there. Remember, elderly Americans have Social Security averaging around $1,000 month and most are elgible for food stamps and other government services. But a lot of senior citizens are too proud to accept free hand outs and would much rather work. But one sad aspect of Americans is most children do not feel an obligation to take care of their parents...the nursing home industry fills that void (unfortunately).

[JoBri 545]

1. I remember when she got here she didnt use ice in drinks. Now she does.

2. She feels guilty to return things to a store. Today she still wont.

3. Everything seems so clean here. She said in the Philippines she got "colds" 3 to 4 times a year (maybe allergies to the polution?). Now she rarely gets sick.

4. No honking horns.

5. No security at the bank or malls.

6. In the crowded streets of Manila she would keep a dead, emotionless face on, and look neither to the left or right and not make eye contact with others. She would not talk to people when out in public. Now she is relaxed and a pleasant look on her face in public.

7. Only after being here 4 months in 2009 she briefly went back to the Philippines, and already she did not like the crowds of people when walking. She said she almost was pushed over.

1. I remember when she got here she didnt use ice in drinks. Now she does.

2. She feels guilty to return things to a store. Today she still wont.

3. Everything seems so clean here. She said in the Philippines she got "colds" 3 to 4 times a year (maybe allergies to the polution?). Now she rarely gets sick.

4. No honking horns.

5. No security at the bank or malls.

6. In the crowded streets of Manila she would keep a dead, emotionless face on, and look neither to the left or right and not make eye contact with others. She would not talk to people when out in public. Now she is relaxed and a pleasant look on her face in public.

7. Only after being here 4 months in 2009 she briefly went back to the Philippines, and already she did not like the crowds of people when walking. She said she almost was pushed over.

Brian in Tennessee