This is funny...kinda....I guess
Hi all,
I haven't posted here in a long time. Had my surgery a year ago New Year's Eve, have lost 100 pounds since surgery, but a total off 130 pounds since I started the whole weight loss surgery journey. All I ever wanted was my health back and to feel "normal". I have accomplished everything I wanted, I am so happy and feeling so good!! So, I moved to the Philippines in July, and when out shopping I find that I now must buy "Plus Sizes" again!! The ladies here so small that it totally throws me into the fat girl category again!! AND, according to their weight/height charts I am obese again!! Well, kind of depressing....but I guess it is like comparing apples to oranges......I am a different nationality with different traits, etc.....anyway...just wanted to share with you guys!! Now I feel like I need WLS again over here!!!
Marie
My husband is from the Philippines and we moved here so I could "retire" at 44 and have a live-in maid, etc.....
Anyway, at 5'2" I AM tall by their standards!! Yes, they probably see me as blonde, too, since I am brunette and not dark brown/black. I wear large shirts (because I am still carrying H cup boobs), and size 12 pants (could probably wear smaller if I had panniculectomy). Here, I have to buy 2X shirts and I don't have a clue what size pants because I haven't tried any on, yet...but their pant sizes run by waist size (I think).
Unfortunately, they love snack foods here!! Aisles and aisles of chips and cookies are everywhere!! They are constantly snacking in this country.....they eat breakfast, then 2 hours later they what is called "merinda" (snack), then they eat lunch another couple of hours later, then a few hours later another merienda, then dinner. believe me, it is very hard NOT to snack here!!
We are currently living in Metro Manila (hate it!!)....I just sit in the seat and cover my eyes while my husband, cab driver, pedi-cab driver, or Jeepney driver does the driving!! No way can I drive here!! We are 500 miles away from that volcano, and it ceased being a threat and they allowed the people to go back home.
Culture shock is still a problem, but is lessening. Actually, when we lived in Oklahoma we lived on 2 acres, rurally, and Metro Manila is too many people, too much pollution, too many cars, too much city for me. I cannot wait to get rural again. We are moving to another island in a couple of months, it is called Negros Oriental, and we will be living in Dumaguete. It is much less populated, cleaner, and cooler there. That is where my husband grew up and he has many family and friends there, too.
They have HUGE malls here, these people love their malls!! The world's 3rd largest mall (Mall of Asia) is only 20 minutes from where we live. There are some nice hospitals and medical facilities here..but there are lots of "clinics" I wouldn't even take my dog to, but they are the only choice a lot of these people have. You don't have to have prescription for many medications here (about the only ones you need RX for are the controlled drugs...pain meds, anti anxiety meds, etc...). We don't have health insurance here, but, don't really need it (Dr. visit is only $6-$10), chest x-ray cost $6, blood work $5, hubby had an echocardiogram for $30. Got my daughter contact lenses today and there was no eye exam, they just took the reading from her glasses and handed us two bottles with contacts in them (cost $23).
Went to the salon the other day and got my eyebrows threaded, massage, shampoo/cut/style and it cost me about $13 and that included about a nice tip!! So there is a lot of good to counteract the bad.
Did I mention we have a live-in maid ($60/mo)?!! We do give her extra money at times, although we have been warned not to do that too much.
I had heard that the traffic there was organized chaos and that it took some time for westerners to get used to it and that there really isn't any road rage to speak of with the driving, at least from the natives.
So how do you like having a live in maid? At this point I'd like an every other week maid LOL. my Uncle spent a few years in Thialand many years ago (not even sure it's called Thailand anymore) and they had a live in maid for something like 20.00 a month. I knew the cost of living was really low. He was stationed there with his wife and kids. Kind of wished my dad has been military but with my luck we never would have been sent anyplace I wanted to go.
I actually listen to a radio show that broadcasts out of Manilla.
I wouldn't even call it "organized" chaos!! You might be on a 2 lane road, but there will be 4-5 lanes of vehicles!! You can literally (no kidding) reach out your window and reach into the window next to yours and pull the hair of the person in the next car!! They make left had turns from the far right hand lane, they just turn in front of everyone and everyone just allows it. Surprisingly, road rage is not a problem!! It is just how it is and whatever people do is mostly tolerated. I keep reaching over and honking the horn, though!!
Having a live in maid is different and I probably will never be used to it. But, my husband is not well and we need someone here with him when we come back to the states. If it weren't for that, I probably wouldn't even have one, although most people have a maid, driver, and yaya (nanny). I do like having someone to clean up my mess in the kitchen after I have cooked, though......I still like to cook a few meals a week, so I kick her out of the kitchen until clean up time!!
up on the retiring at 44 & the maid!
MY RNY 5-5-09 
Life is Good
