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In the Philippines....
1. They love their sugar. During my first week I tried Bikotso. A snack that was waiting to be eaten. Its bread with butter and sugar. Not only bread do they use but in their main meals. One evening I had Ticino, which is pork using sugar giving it a ham like glaze. Delicious. My favourite meal so far.
2. They have a snack called Suman. You'd often find them wrapped in the shapes of hearts. Its simply sticky rice steamed with banana leaf topped with brown sauce or sugar. I don't like banana but with sticky rice, its actually not that bad.
3. The mosquito's have the power...no spray or net stops them from getting their itchy, bump making, salivation to my legs, especially my ankles. If my ankle swell up making it look like I've got edema (a common cause in elderly people and I'm not 70 yet) then they love my ankles. Blood sucking pests.
4. Luxurious showers and bathrooms no longer exist. Everyday, we take a bucket and pour it over our heads to get us clean. Not only that, but filipinos clean their behind with water and their bare hands after having a bowel movement. Not to worry, there's a lot of cleaning agents lying about, especially bacteria hand gel. Speaking of cultural differences, they probably find toilet roll disgusting.
5. Balut. Its always been a delicacy among Filipinos. If you don’t know what balut is, it’s duck egg that has been incubated seventeen to twenty days that there’s a developed fetus inside it and then its boiled alive. Once you open it, and have seen the unhatched duckling in all it’s gory glory, you’d probably include it in your list of the worst gross out food you’ve ever seen. This is probably why it’s sold at night in the Philippines. So balut lovers won’t see what they’re eating.
6. Jeepneys. You have to give the Filipinos their endless creativity, innovatiness and ingenuity. The Jeepneys shall remain in its angular and boxy construction. Since the world war the Jeepneys are immutable, uncomfortable, gas geekery and severely lack in safety features. Its clearly unadaptable to universal safety and seat belt regulations. Its boxed interior is designed to cram up as many passengers as possible. Even, one filipina admitted she wished she had buses. No more travel complaints from me, starting in December.
7. The hand is seen to have the power of control.....of motorbikes, Jeepneys and taxis. Whoever's idea thought it would be okay to put your hand up as a stop sign had a thrill for near-death experience. I never thought I'd say this but I miss traffic lights.
8. They heavily depend on illegal films in the market. I don't know the last I've seen a legal like case or cover. Even the deaf Filipinos watch the latest western films. I am reading a book called "The maze runner" which was screened in cinemas in September. Now it's October I found my Filipino counterpart watching the film in French captions. I asked " why watch a film with no English subtitles?" She said "It's what I see." It amazes me how much they settle with what they've got despite barriers they're aware of. Films is one of many. So for us British Deafies, we do have far more access than we like to admit. And of course they're legal.
9. Beggars. It's all for the taking, no appreciating. And how can they? Despite giving a bag of rice, we still have a much better quality of life than they do. After a while, they are seen to be the worse people in the city, they ll guilt trip you in ways you wouldn't imagine. Picture this, an air con van is riding along the road, an old lady touches the black windows with an expression that turns your stomach into knots. The first time you see this, it's like "s***.....here!" But eventually it's like "For goodness sake! You don't even know who's in the van!" Money is sure evil...
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