adiiann

I'll combine two culture. I will give two first name then my middle name and surname.

Hey Gretchen...I'm glad Darren is the last person on the planet you listen to regarding diet.

Maybe thats why she have dilemma with the food here, he's been feeding her fastfood #######. She should cook, more healthy than fastfood or resto.

I applied for sss id sept 2011 and until now i still dont have it...

Wow. Thats odd, I remembered I went to sss office and applied for sss number, they gave me pink paper copy and then by afternoon, I hand over an id picture, they laminated the id, and got the card same day. That was 2004 when I started to work.

Commonly, Filipinos don't collect things because the hard earn cash is spend for the family than spending it to something not useful for daily living. I only know few who collect things and they don't buy it, usually given.

Filipinos spend money first for food, clothing, shelter and then likes or hobbies if it is affordable. Usually, Filipinos make things than collect.

Hello Adiian...how long did it take you to get the SSS ID? Thanks

Joybel get turned away again today by the dfa in Manila. This is her third try. She has postal ID, voter's registration, NBI, birth certificate, police certificate, and school transcripts. They are telling her that she has to have the SSS or Voter's ID.

We are confused because the people commenting on this site seem to not have this kind of trouble. Joybel was told that the SSS and Voter's ID's take a long time to get.

Thanks

Hello Adiiann, what travel service did you use? Thanks

Hi. I got my sss card right away when I applied, did it in QC too. As for travel agency, I can't remember the name anymore as its the travel agency used by the company I worked before. But they're located in Makati City. But you can search travel agency on the location, there's a lot. Sorry, I wish I can be more helpful.

I went to St. Mary and they didn't ask any documents from me. They interviewed me after their video seminar which was very outdated. I could still remember some of the questions like, how we met, my age and my husband's age, and his profession, took less than 5 minutes and then I paid for the certificate and sticker on other building. But I saw some women there that their interview took so long.

Just my opinion, if during the interview, you don't feel confident and you raised a red flag, I guess that's all the BS coming because they will ask for more documents.

My two cents about the CFO, it was really outdated and for me it serves no purpose. They gave you list of phone numbers and places to go in case something happen to you. But they failed to educate Filipino on what exactly they need to do if bad things happen. Like the moment they got here, as side from 911 and they need to know who to call in their specific area in case bad things happen. They need to have some money in their pocket that they can use to mobilize while looking for help. They need to let them know what steps in immigration they need to do to protect themselves.

During the CFO, they didn't even ask me what preparations I did if BS happens when I get, I was expecting they will ask me as part of their protocol. I am confident that I am marrying a great guy and I love him but it doesn't mean that I know everything about him. I still have 10% worry when I flew here in US. I brought some extra money with me to buy me a ticket going back home, just in case our relationship will not work (though, I doubt it, but still). But after few hours after I got here in US, and have the taste of great burger and onion rings with root beer, I must say that my 10% worries gone.

Damm #######??? I was talking to my fiancee last night as she was at her local City hall yesterday to get the "Concent to Marry" form signed. The attorney or Notary needed to sign the doc wasn't there and would be the next day. I told her to get that form signed and have her mom hand write one and have him sign that as well(Just in case something happens and mom can't be there). I also told her to tell her mother to plan on attending the CFO with her as this seems to be the best option. We are going to do do the medical and the CFO the day after, just in case they %^%$ with us before the interview.. I will include my ^%&*)%$ water bill just to make sure they have everything..

I have friends who are married and live in the Philippines and their wives have traveled to the STates to visit on a tourist visa and they have told my fiancee about this &^#$%@ up class and how its a bunch of BS. So last night she got a little hot after I informed her of a few issues people are having and she said her and her mother will make sure there are no issues and will give them a ear full. I had to tell her to be polite and sweet and give everything they want until they ask my underwear color and then free rain to unleash the filipina fury..

But seriously, I know my "bride to be" is young and maybe a little extra questioning isnt out of the question, but when the parents are there and all the required doc's are there and they are going to have the attitude that they know more then the girl's parents?? BS

QC Hall have notary public without BS, when I was in college I went there to have my documents notarized and I only pay 10 pesos as I am a student back then..... Hehehe.

I have mine processed by a travel agency as they have some sort intended windows in dfa. They asked me to show two valid id, got sss and work id, I met travel agency staff to assist me in dfa since they required physical appearance. I didn't have to go thru the lines. I paid 1000 pesos and got it within 2 weeks.

I didn't have any BS at all when I had my CFO. Just get bored and wasted time on their outdated seminar. Paid something that served no purpose. Hehehe

Getting the GC was a huge deal for me since I needed it to start school.. but they are both huge milestones

2 years till next filing. Congrats.

I just happened to be attracted to someone with a like mind. I wasn't after marrying a child. What I wanted was an equal to share my life with. My shortfalls would be over analysation and attentiveness to situations that border on an OCD.

So when I say that in many ways I believe she is over all better and more intelligent person than I am ...... What I am saying is that she is a great and smart woman and I don't foresee any problems with her accomplishing something as simple as driving, and doing it much better than the thousands of teenagers we license every year.

Agree to this 100%!!! Hahaha. Same reasonings, I heard from my husband, esp when I have to be a breadwinner and he has to be a student. I didn't feel bad for him as social morm, man is supposedly a breadwinner.

sounds like you managed to "marry up" and find someone better then you..... congrats. Hopefully, she will keep on tolerating your "shortfalls" while helping you to know when to "come out of the rain" common sense. Glad she has done so well....

Does it make him less than a man of what you think you are because he married someone better than his self? I don't think she needs to tolerate his shortfall because I am pretty sure that she accepted him for who he is because she loves him.

You got a lot of machismo there. LoL.

The language thing could be a good consideration. I'd want our kids to be fluent in my native tongue, and a Filipina au pair would help with that.

Yep. I primarily wanted my kid to learn tagalog and have filipino culture as well as being Catholic. I don't like the Catholic practice here, I find it too hypocrite. Having a Filipino nanny would help to develop Filipino culture on them.

The language thing could be a good consideration. I'd want our kids to be fluent in my native tongue, and a Filipina au pair would help with that.

Yep. I primarily wanted my kid to learn tagalog and have filipino culture as well as being Catholic. I don't like the Catholic practice here, I find it too hypocrite. Having a Filipino nanny would help to develop Filipino culture on them.

My wife needs a pillow to get her feet on the floor to lol. She has learned to handle our SUV though, which is a big accomplishment in my view. But it will still be a lot easier for her to drive something smaller for the test. We're probably going to buy her a Ford Focus for her first car here. Thanks for the pointer on the downhill parking. There's uphill parking to that they may bring up. But I'm expecting the instructor to be up on those details. She brought up last night concentrating on what she needs to get through the test. That will probably leave me to do the freeway training though. Its not my favorite option, but I understand her point. Saturday is her first driving school day, I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes for her.

Good Luck! Tell her try not to get too nervous in the freeway. She will do fine. One more pointers, by the way, tell her that never forget to turn signals when turning and who have right of way in a 4-way street when she's having her driving test because sometimes when too nervous, you intend to forget. Hope to hear she have her driver's license soon. Ford focus is a good starting car, I like it, I wish I checked it before we bought mine, oh well.

I will just talked about my own experience.

As for me....

The benefit of integration with the new environment (I don't regard it as new society as we all living same society, just different environment amd culture), is that you live comfortably since allowing oneself to integrate to new culture and environment would give you awareness and better understanding around you. You connect with human being that you may or may not share same things in your life.

I don't agree on isolation of immigrants will works because its human nature to integrate no matter how long it takes.

At this point, I don't consider culture or society as my criteria for citizenship rather than what advantage it can offer to my family and their future.

That is exactly why I'm getting a paid instructor at this point. I've given what instruction I can on the differences in driving between the Philippines and here. Also I have a big SUV, which is way to big for her, her heal doesn't even touch the floor with her foot on the gas. I'm surprised she's done as well as she has on suburban roads under such conditions. I can't imagine her passing the driving test in it. The driving school has Honda Civics, a car sized much better for her. And they'll take her to the driving test in the same vehicle she'll learn parallel parking in. If I had a smaller car to teach her in I'd probably be tempted to do it, but considering a spouse will also learn better from a possessional instructor, it was an easy choice for me.

My husband taught me to drive with the help of his friends. I learnt during winter season and have to be very attentive because road ia freakin' slippery and yes, have to follow my husband's instruction even though sometimes it drove me nuts. I failed in my first attempt of my driving test because my husband forgot to teach me how to park downhill, we concentrated in parallel parking but they never asked me to do parallel parking.

For my experience, better to learn in sedan type of car than SUV. Hehehe, seems SUV made for taller people. I have to put pillow on my back whenever I drove our SUV because I can't to lower the seat any further to reach the pedal. And also I always feel its too big for the road and I have to be cautious driving it, not to drive on lines. Or maybe its just me, got used to coupe, smaller car.

Adiiann,

Darn I wish we were just a neighbor coz I am looking for a job.stay in or out,taking care of baby is my first option.good luck for finding.

Masipag

I wish too. I would really prefer Filipina but doesn't know anyone here in my area.

Yep. Au Pair for taking care of a child.

Though, would be nice to find Filipina in my area that wanted to work as child care.

I am thinking of using the Au Pair agency that is certified by US Dept. of Labor. Would it still be impossible? I guess I am more comfortable for Filipina than from other country.

I wonder if anybody here in visajourney have an idea about Au Pair.

I wanted to hire Au Pair in the future, and wanted it to be Filipina.

Is my expenses for Au Pair tax deductible?

Would be nice to read some insights.

That is my wife on the freeway! I kept telling her to speed up and she kept going for the brake pedal. I tried explaining that you rarely need the brake on the freeway, but every lane change and every car going by her and she's pushing on the brake pedal. She drove in the Philippines, but it was always on low speed city roads. She's gotten pretty good on regular roads, but I'm nervous about getting her back on the freeway and don't want my reactions to freak her out and scare her from freeway driving. So this Saturday she has her first behind the wheel driving class. I'm going to tell them to focus on freeway driving, parallel parking, and review the things she needs to pass the test. I'm pretty sure they'll see she's competent on all driving except the freeway and parallel parking.

From my experience, hope this helps her. When driving in freeway, tell her to have so much distance from the car in front of her, that way she doesn't have to step on brake, instead, just off the gas pedal to slow down. She can use cruise control in freeway, that way doesn't have to keep controlling the speed.

She has her learner's permit. She can four-wheel drive in the woods on all kinds of machines but town is vastly different, and far more dangerous.

It may not be a big surprise, but before we left the property I had one condition: when I say "slow down", you take your foot off the gas, you put it on the brake. I don't care if you agree. You are wrong. Do it immediately. She cooperated, and practiced. Overcoming sheer stubborness.

Town was crazy traffic today, but we had Kim Chee withdrawal. Made a run to get the Korean powder and fish oil to make a batch & get other supplies. All the churches had let out and people went shopping. In a bad spot I said "slow down". And incredibly, some idiot in oncoming traffic turned right across heavy moving traffic and the only reason why we could stop in time was because someone slowed down. I mean it was screaching tires for all of us, with the guy on our right too. It could have been really bad.

So she's downstairs making Kim Chee instead of pulling glass out of her forehead.

Have her drive in the back roads where its not a heavy traffic, still have stoplights and stop signs but less cars. Thats where I practiced when I tried to learn how to drive. Then, I chose middle of weekday to drive in the highway when it was less traffic, just on/off the same ramp until I learn to merge better in the highway.

Totally different... be it a dog or a person stranded along side the road I would stop to help, and have done it many times. But the situation of the OP is not seeing a stranded person or dog, it more like seeing a rabid dog... best not get too close.

I agree with you. Me and my husband saw a dog on the side of the highway, its dangerous to stop on that area, so I called police and asked if they could pick up the dog. After few minutes, I got call back that their officer for animal control is not on-duty anymore but they said that there's a very close animal shelter in the area and they will pick the dog. I was worried for that dog. The next day, when I drove on that highway again, I saw no blood splatter from any animals, I am really sure that the dog is safe.

I don't exactly know what you mean, but if Im picking this up the way you mean it.. Like what I said in the my first post, I never had a knowledge that she was chatting, or seriously considering to marry a kano, until the live in partner went ballistic on me one day, and assaulting me in my own property! (maybe because she was too embarrassed to share to me her intentions) After that bittersweet scenario, I totally stopped talking to these people, its only lately that I new about Maria's marriage to a kano and still naughtily visiting the live-in partner.

Why I even thought of reporting her to the right people? It's because I think the husband deserves a better woman than her, that he deserves the truth, that if we don't consider doing the right thing for people, we won't be reciprocated for our deeds.

Opppsss... what I mean is if you know the American guy's whereabouts, you could tell him anonymously about the relationship and to warn him the possibility of fraud. Or just let it be and just pray that the American guy will find out about it before its too late for him.

I hope I make sense now....