Objective Jerk
I use my MIC and my platform as a form of "therapy" or "medicine" for myself.
Objective Jerk
THRIVING IN THE RING OF FIRE: The Surprising Allure of Expats in the Wild Streets of the Philippines
Imagine navigating the bustling streets of the Philippines, where every drive feels like a high-stakes adventure. I take you through my personal journey of living in this vibrant country for over four years, highlighting the everyday charm and the inevitable frustrations. From the chaotic traffic to a healthcare system that's still catching up, I share the unvarnished truth about what it's really like to call the Philippines home.
Weathering the humid climate and missing the cold seasons might sound daunting, but I reveal how these challenges have shaped my lifestyle, influenced by my past experiences in Iraq. Despite these hurdles, I explain why the Philippines offers a simpler, more relaxed way of life, which is becoming increasingly attractive to expats. Join me as I uncover the unique blend of comfort and challenge in the Philippines, and why more people are choosing this tropical paradise for a less stressful, community-oriented life.
What's going on, how's everybody doing? Hopefully not getting too crazy with the politics and everything I was gonna. I saw some stuff, more information and some more the. You know the recent shooter for Trump, the. What's his name? Ryan, ryan, uh, ralph, or whatever, ryan, wesley, ralph. Why do they always have middle names? You know what I'm saying? Um, I mean, we all have middle names, but you know what I'm saying? Um, he, you know, they released a letter which looks funky to me, but anyway, that's what I was going to talk about.
Speaker 1:But I'm like I've been talking about that crap a lot lately, so I figured I'd kind of change it up and hopefully, you know, I mean, there's probably some of you that are like, well, that's what I. That's why I listened to. Listen to you is because you know whatever. So, if that's you, I'm sorry but I don't know. I just kind of wanted to have a different subject instead of everything you know on my, my, my, my podcast, cause, like I said, I don't. You know, I'm not a political commentator, I'm not a historian, I'm not a, you know, I'm just. I'm just a normal idiot that just talks about whatever. So, um, so, yeah, so actually, you know, so, yeah, so actually, you know, I've gotten a few questions, seems like recently too, like about what, how, how I feel about living here in the Philippines and everything. And I've been seeing sort of the phone man, google and all that crap listens to your conversations. I mean, they do keep track of what you look up, that's for sure. But um, but yeah, I thought I would just kind of talk about and some people that have listened to me before know already. But anyway, I just had a conversation with somebody and basically that's what I'm going to talk about.
Speaker 1:So I've been been living here in the Philippines for four years now, well, over four years, like four and a half now actually. And you know, I have some family members that grew up here but live in the States now and they're concerned that I'm staying here because of, like, the health care. Yes, the Philippines, you know, has the health care they have doctors and hospitals and stuff, but it's not quite as good. You know, I always say the Philippines is, like you know, 50 years behind America, sort of in some ways. But actually that's kind of like what I like about it, though you know it's just it's a more simpler life, like what I like about it though, you know it's just, it's a more simpler life. You know it's like I always say it's like what I, how I picture America was in the forties and fifties. You know, and um, but I mean, you know America is not perfect either. You know America is a great country but it's crumbling, it's going down, it's not going to last forever, but yeah, so you know, I've lived here four years. There are some things that I don't like or agree with so much and some things I love, but generally there are two things that I hate about living here, and if these two things could you know poof, be gone, I would be, I'd be happy.
Speaker 1:The first thing is, as some of you know already is is the the way they drive here? They just it's just. Every single time I go out and drive anywhere, it's just, it's just horrendous. Man, I had a good analogy I thought about the other day, but now I can't think of what it is. But you know, you know how it's just.
Speaker 1:You'll run into that driver every once in a while in the states where they're just you're. You're thinking yourself is this guy an idiot? What that? You honk at him. They're like what is this guy doing? You know that happens like I mean, depending on how much you drive and stuff, but maybe once a week or even once a month or every every other week or something like that, but here it's, it's every day. It's every day, multiple times a day. You get by one idiot and then you get stuck behind another idiot, like it's just, it's. It's just, it's so crazy. And the thing that sucks is they have like driver's ed here and they're making people go to the driver's ed classes and stuff, but if people fail they still just they give they give the person a little extra money and they pass them and they're good to go. So it's like it's pointless. You know, it's just another way for people to pocket some money. So it's kind of annoying. It's kind of I sometimes wish that I could just get a job being the instructor here and I would just they wouldn't like me. But because it's just it's insane, it's just, you know, just think about like the worst driver that you've dealt with recently and then now make that driver basically 90% of the people on the road every day. That's what it's like here. It's just, it's insane.
Speaker 1:It's just they have no concept of right-of-way at all and their idea of right-of-way is like the complete opposite of what it should be. If you're on the main road, you have the right-of-way. But that's not how they see it. You know they like if someone's on the side of the road, like if you're going to turn and pull into traffic, you got your blinker on, you're looking, you're waiting for that gap, right, and then you'll pull in here. They just turn on their blinker and they just start merging and they're like, oh, they'll get out of my way. And it's just like dude, what the crap, man? They have one turnaround, or roundabout, turnabout, whatever they are and they do it the opposite you have when you're inside the circle. They all yield to the people coming into the roundabout, instead of once you're in the roundabout, you have the right of way. You know what I mean. It's like it's all the opposite. It's just insane. And then they do the opposite of. They don't look at it. So, basically, they start to pull into traffic, then they'll look and then they'll turn on their blinker instead of turn on your blinker, look in and then, pulling into traffic, they do the exact opposite. I don't know how many people I've almost hit because they don't look. They just start pulling in first and then they're like, oh crap, like it's just, it's insane.
Speaker 1:I've talked about this before. I'm sure some of you are like, dude, we get it. But you know there's some people that haven't heard me bitch about it before. So, um well, yeah, it's just so. We have like a little electric golf cart that what's cool is like we can. You know, it's not registered, there's no license plate. I mean, it's got lights and everything and a horn, blinkers and stuff. But we use that to drive around town because it's just, it's so much easier because the roads are a lot narrower and smaller and there's nowhere to park ever, so it's a lot easier to get around on that. So when I'm in town I like to drive that, unless it's like piss and rain and then you know.
Speaker 1:But it's just, man, every time I go somewhere, every single time, there's somebody that just does something and it's like, you know, like even on the highway, man, when people like you know, when you or at least how I was taught and grew up and how it's generally in the States when you are pulling out into a highway, a road that has like a certain speed limit, you get up to speed quickly, quickly so that you don't interrupt the flow of traffic or anybody else here. They'll sit there like there'll be like a huge gap and they're like kind of creeping out and they're waiting to make sure that like I will slow down and then there'll be like, okay, now I'll come out, and then they just creep out. It's like, dude, hurry up, get go, what are you waiting for? It's like, oh my gosh, it's just, you know, and I'm not I'm not like an aggressive driver, I'm not, you know, a speed demon or anything, but it's just like there's so many people that just ruin the flow of traffic and there's no turning lanes and stuff, so it's like you get stuck behind somebody. Sometimes you'll get stuck behind like a tricycle driver that is going slow. It was going so slow, and they're on a highway. They have a shoulder that they're supposed to be on, actually, but it's like they can't sit there and like, oh crap, here comes a car, I'll get over, let the fast cars go. And there are actually some signs that say you know slow vehicles on the shoulder, but they don't care, they don't, they just don't care. You have to sit there and honk your horn, get the fuck out of the way. Before that, you know, and it's just like, ah, there's no consideration of other people on the road. It's just, it's so infuriating and that's everybody, man, that's like 90%, I think.
Speaker 1:I keep going up. I started off saying like 75 and it was like 80, but so many people and I'm like I'm, you know, I'm not the most, um, social person. So I do have a few acquaintances, a few friends that I, I like and I respect, and I don't want to ride in a car with them driving because I'm afraid I'm going to see them drive like an idiot and I'm going to lose my respect for them. So I try to avoid. You know, like if we go somewhere, I'll be like I'll drive, I'll drive, but you know, I don't really it doesn't happen very often. Usually it's like they'll come here, I'll go there, or whatever.
Speaker 1:But yeah, so the way they drive, you know, it's not even the traffic. I mean, yeah, manila has crazy traffic, there's so many cars, so it's kind of understandable, but here, where I live out in the country, there's no reason for it, man. I mean, there's still, at times there's a lot of traffic, but you know, between people not knowing how to drive, and there's the roads aren't set up right, set up right and the individuals that do the traffic the traffic controller, traffic controllers, the traffic individuals they suck too. They don't know what the hell they're doing. Intersection with a light in like this whole area, like within hundreds of miles that I know of, is here in our town because I can drive from here and go south I haven't been on the east side of of luzon yet but take this highway, which is highway 2, and I could take it south to go to manila and I could go for hours, hours and not see another traffic light. Like it's crazy and, to be honest, it's not really needed. You know, like in the States, there's traffic lights all over and they have people that study traffic flows and this and that and the speed limits and like if we adjust this and I have this light and make this light longer or shorter or whatever, you know what I mean. Here they don't have that, but they did the one traffic light that they have.
Speaker 1:They recently installed new lights which I think have the sensors. You know, like in the States, a light will stay green on the main road and then when a car pulls up, you know it fills the weight and then it'll click Okay, then the lights will turn yellow or whatever. And so I think they added that and they put like actual lights and they have lights for the people turning right, cause you have people who you know the opposite direction or like okay, no, like you're at a light right and the people across from you that are coming towards you, they have a green light to go straight and to turn left. Well, in the states you're taught on a red light you stop and then go right. You have to stop on a red light to turn right. Here they just, they just do whatever. But they did add a light for those people, but I don't think they understand what the hell's going on. And then they have actually the lights for the people to cross the street, because it'd be the same thing. You're sitting here waiting forever because people are idiots, and then finally the light turns green and then people decide they want to cross the street, so then they're stopping.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean's? Like what the crap? Why didn't you cross the street when it was green? This way? You know? I mean just just the certain fundamentals that you're taught in the states. They just have no clue here and it's annoying, but it's like you know they're just, they're not, they're not, they're not taught, they don't know so but the thing is they're trying to teach it now, like I said in that class, but then they're just letting people fail and then they still get their license. So it's like it's never going to change. It's just kind of annoying.
Speaker 1:So that's the one thing, one, one of the two things that I hate about the Philippines. The other, like I said, the other stuff is is, you know, trivial, kind of yeah, this would be cool or whatever, but it's not a big deal. But like the way they drive drives me nuts. It really does, um, but then the nice thing is like once, like six o'clock comes around seven o'clock at night, there's not too many people on the road, everybody's. You know what I mean. So it's like, usually that's when I like driving more in the evening, when there's less, less people. Um, and then the other thing is the humidity, not the heat. It doesn't really get that hot. It's it's in the 90s which is hot, I guess. But um, but yeah, it's the humidity, you know.
Speaker 1:And yes, I knew that coming into moving here, I knew you know, I came here to visit before and I knew, you know, it's going to be hot and I'm not built for heat. I'm just not. You know, my ancestry is all from England and Norway, so I thrive in the cold. I can deal with cold way more easily than the heat, and then on top of that I can deal with dry heat much better than humid. So the humidity here just oh. You know, there are times when I got all these plans, I'm like I'm going to do this, I'm going to get up early and I'm going to get some stuff done, and then I start going out there and it's just already I'm like dying, sweating like crazy, and I'm just like, oh, my God, screw this, and I go back in my room with the AC, you know. So it kind of sucks, it kind of hinders my productivity.
Speaker 1:Productivity I sounded Canadian there Productivity, whatever At times. But, like I said, I knew that coming in. But I kind of thought that I would get a little more acclimated than I have, and I may be more acclimated than I realize. Um, I'm sure, if I went to the States right now, or especially, you know, maybe in October or November, I would probably go and I'd probably be freezing when everyone else is like dude, what's wrong with you? Because I'm used to it here, so I'm sure I am a little acclimated, but still I have not acclimated to where I would hope you know what I mean, would hope you know what I mean. So it's like I don't really start getting my most productive doing yard work and being outside, and stuff is always October through like February, you know, um, and that's it.
Speaker 1:And then after that it's like I, yeah, some days, you know, if it's, if it's cloudy or it's a little rainy, I might be outside doing something, but it's just I just I can't stand it man, I just sweat like constantly, I sweat so much and so, yeah, that was if, the if it was a little cooler here, and there are parts of the Philippines here that there are, you know, maybe up a little higher elevation and this and that that are a little cooler than where I'm at. But this is where my wife grew up and this is where we're going to be, so can't change it. But you know, as much as I miss the cold, I don't miss shoveling snow or anything like that. So and I don't miss breaking out the wardrobe for winter and then putting away the summer wardrobe and then switching it every time. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:I basically wear the same t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops year-round. You know, I do dress up a little bit when I go to mass and, you know, to weddings or something. Sometimes I'll kind of dress up a little bit, but I have yet to be like, oh man, I wish I, uh, I had a hoodie. I do wear a hoodie sometimes to bed, but my room's a lot cooler and I'll just kind of wear a hoodie. But you know, the sleeves are cut off and it's just kind of comfy. I'm not really cold, I don't know. It's just I don't know.
Speaker 1:But yeah, I think the first year, the first Christmas here, it was kind of cool for here, but I wasn't. I was comfortable but I wasn't cold. But I went and put on a hoodie cause I just wanted to, I just wanted to be, I wanted to be. You know, on a hoodie because I just wanted to, I just wanted to be, I wanted to be. You know, it doesn't feel like Christmas unless I'm bundled up. You know what I mean. And uh, I put on a hoodie and it was like I started sweating after a little bit so I had to take it off.
Speaker 1:I mean it still does cool off, you know, during the winter, but not enough, man, not enough for me. Um, it's, it's just kind of funny because, like my wife's, you family members and stuff will be wearing coats and all this stuff and I'm just like wearing my same thing I wear during the summer, you know, and they're like freezing and I'm just like. I mean now, granted, I still like a hot shower, you know. But, um, yeah, it's just, I just I kind of wish it would be a little bit cooler. I think if it could just drop down a few degrees, 10 more degrees than what it does, I think I would be. That would help me be a little more. But again, it's, it's just, you know, those are some of the pros and cons, or that's what I have to deal with. You know, I don't, I'm retired, I'm 46 years old and I'm retired.
Speaker 1:Basically, I have a comfortable, nice home, it's a little older, still working on some things. I can't complain, I got some. I don't know, it's just, it is great living here, you know. So I see a lot of people talking about living here in the Philippines and they, you know, it is different, that's for sure. I mean, I'm used to it. Now four years.
Speaker 1:But, like I think I said before, you know, I spent some time in Iraq and I think that helped me. When I came here because I use that as a template when I came here, I was like I was thinking Iraq. And then when I came here because I used that as a template when I came here, I was like I was thinking Iraq and then when I got here, I'm like, oh well, this ain't nothing like Iraq. So, um, I mean, iraq right now, I think, is a lot better. But at the time when I went, you know, the beginning of the war, it was pretty crazy. But I don't know, it's um, it's nice and I I think I guess a lot more and more people are starting to to, you know, venture out and move to other countries.
Speaker 1:You know us citizens, expats or whatever. A lot of people are going to the philippines. Some people are going to you know, um what? Taiwan, maybe indonesia, maybe? I don't know some of the. You know what Taiwan, maybe Indonesia, maybe I don't know Some of the. You know other countries and stuff.
Speaker 1:But yeah, there's lots of like, there's lots of stresses and headaches that you have living in the US. That is really not needed. You know what I mean. Like it's almost pointless. So I have no, I have no desire to move back to the States. I don't even desire to go visit. You know, I have some friends and family that they're like, man, are you going to come visit? And I'm like, I don't know, someday maybe I don't know, but it's like, dude, I've been to the States, you haven't been to the Philippines. Why don't you come here? You know, um, so I got some, some friends that are looking into it and they're going to come visit. I even got some friends that are looking to maybe move here as well.
Speaker 1:Um, cause it is, it is it's an easy life, it's you're like, okay, you know, it's like I have a pretty decent sized property, uh, a nice big house that's paid for. You know, I don't have like a 30-year loan that I'm paying on or anything like that. Yes, I have to pay property tax every year, but it's a lot less than what you know in the states and everything. But it's um, you know you, you do have to make some adjustments, you have to accept some things and, um, but again, it all depends on where you live, though, too. I mean, you know the further South, if I was to live closer to Manila, there's probably more options.
Speaker 1:Like one of the you know biggest differences is like um, restaurants and places to eat. There's lots more options. Like one of the biggest differences is like restaurants and places to eat. There's lots of people you know there's not like a bunch of sizzlers or anything like that. You know people will open up their own little eateries and most of the time they're Filipino food.
Speaker 1:But people are starting to kind of open up different types of trying to incorporate other you know cultures and cuisine and stuff. Like there's a german restaurant up north that every time we go by I always try to stop by to eat but they're always closed every time and they're open but like I just bad timing or something. It's like sunday or whatever I don't know, but so I haven't yet to go there. But I mean they have. You know they have some. You know they have some. You know they have Shakey's Pizza, they got McDonald's here, starbucks, what else they got.
Speaker 1:I'm trying to think of what they have that's here, that's in the States. They used to have Pizza Hut but it closed not long after we got here and then the other stuff is kind of more filipino style kind of whatever. There's a individual I know that he has a restaurant nearby that's like smoked food and it's kind of more like american style, you know southern smoked and a little bit of cajun, whatever this and that. So that's, that's pretty good. So there aren't. You know there are options, but it's just not like in the excuse me, in the states where you can go, where you have, you know, italian, mexican, all these different whatever options, chinese, this, and that I mean they do have a Chinese restaurant here, um, you know, but it's just the one type. Well, no, there's that one in the walk too, I guess. But you know and like.
Speaker 1:So every time I go to manila manila is the only place that has a little bit more options, especially something that's similar to the state. So usually I'll go to texas roadhouse. Um, we went to olive garden. Last time they got a Wendy's there. You know they got Burger King, taco Bell, which the fast food stuff I really don't miss, except I do kind of miss Jack in the Box sometimes um, but it's not like, you know, the end of the world or anything. You know, once a year generally I'll go, I'll get some Texas Roadhouse or some Olive Garden, and I'm good, you know, once a year, generally, I'll go, I'll get some Texas Roadhouse or some Olive Garden and I'm good, you know, it's all I need.
Speaker 1:I don't. I don't know. I'm good, so I don't know. So I didn't really get to discuss as much as I was looking to talk about, and I talked about the two things I hate. Everything else is either I love or it's fine. I don't care, it's one way or the other. But yeah, I don't know. If you're looking to move overseas, specifically the Philippines, make a comment, send me an email, whatever. I can tell you what I know. But yeah, that's it. Thanks for hanging out, god bless, and I'll see you guys next time. All right, bye.
