Yesterday, the kids and I ventured out a bit. We went to the grocery store where three ladies stared at our hair and kept talking to one another in Tagalog. Finally, the older lady asked if she could touch my hair. I said yes but she couldn't reach me because the stroller was in the way and I wasn't trying to move it. Then, she asked Danae if she could touch hers. Danae said "no, you cannot touch my hair". That was too funny but I told the lady she could if she wanted to. The lady said "no ma'am she doesn't want me to". Then she asked if she could touch Brayden's hair and I said yes. So she started massaging my baby's head until he knocked her hand down. I had heard before I came here that people would do that because they've never seen black folks hair before.
We ate lunch at Wendy's. They have about 4 of the same meals as the US. But, they also sell shrimp sandwiches, fried chicken, and rice of course. The kids ate fried chicken and rice. I ate a chicken sandwich meal. My kids tore that rice up too. An older lady asked me what was my nationality. I told her I'm American. She then stared at the kids for a while. Then she asked "what about their father's nationality". I said he's American too. She looked so shocked. I told her there are black people in America. She said "really I didn't know that". LOL!
Filipinos have no concept of personal space and will ask anything that comes to their mind. It's nothing to be asked your age, clothing size, family info, etc.
It's very common here to have some kind of domestic helper: driver, maid, cook, nanny. We don't need a maid because this building has people come to straighten up the apartment every day. We're being assigned a driver because Dwayne's company doesn't allow their employees to driver over here. But we are thinking of hiring a nanny or yaya as their called here. We interviewed a lady named Betty yesterday. She seems nice and the kids liked her. I've scheduled another lady name Lucy to come today as well. We'll see how that goes. Although we have a maid's quarters in our apartment, I really don't want anyone living here. We Americans like our privacy.
We ate lunch at Wendy's. They have about 4 of the same meals as the US. But, they also sell shrimp sandwiches, fried chicken, and rice of course. The kids ate fried chicken and rice. I ate a chicken sandwich meal. My kids tore that rice up too. An older lady asked me what was my nationality. I told her I'm American. She then stared at the kids for a while. Then she asked "what about their father's nationality". I said he's American too. She looked so shocked. I told her there are black people in America. She said "really I didn't know that". LOL!
Filipinos have no concept of personal space and will ask anything that comes to their mind. It's nothing to be asked your age, clothing size, family info, etc.
It's very common here to have some kind of domestic helper: driver, maid, cook, nanny. We don't need a maid because this building has people come to straighten up the apartment every day. We're being assigned a driver because Dwayne's company doesn't allow their employees to driver over here. But we are thinking of hiring a nanny or yaya as their called here. We interviewed a lady named Betty yesterday. She seems nice and the kids liked her. I've scheduled another lady name Lucy to come today as well. We'll see how that goes. Although we have a maid's quarters in our apartment, I really don't want anyone living here. We Americans like our privacy.
Comments
Ayana
Girl that is too crazy. Interviewing for a Yaya huh. I guess you are moving on up to the east side. You might just be a little too boojy for us when you return back to the states.
deidra
There is sooo much going on in you alls life now. A yaya,wow, so if you get a yaya what are you going to do during the day? I don't know if I could deal with all the questions and personal space invasion.
Keisha
so many questions, so little time! this is such an amazing experience for you. take lots of pictures and live it up for us!
xo
Jenise