How close are you to your Philippine immediate family and relatives?

[Gratefuled]

I do not think you are alone in your feelings. However, we all have different in-laws. Many are shy because they cannot speak English and carry on a conversation with us.  We do not live close enough to my wife's relatives to visit often. My wife visits her parents and visits with her grandmother. Her grandmother by the way turned 99 years last Saturday. They had a big celebration. No, I did not attend. 

I'm not anti-social but like I've mentioned before, I am not a party animal nor a social butterfly. I go where I am comfortable. I have more in common with my neighbors as far as socializing. They all know me and they all speak English. Well, kinda sorta but we understand each other. 

When we go away for the day or over night or even for the weekend, we get her mother to take care of our house and feed our cats. We have 5 now. Four from mama cat's litter and mama cat. No, we do not take advantage of her mother. We have an arrangement where she received part of the rent from my wife's boarding house. It's on her property.

I like the arrangement we have. Don't get me wrong. I like her relatives and I think they like me but neither of us like awkward situations. 

Good topic, by the way. I'm sure you are not alone in your thoughts and feelings.

MABUHAY

Edited March 4, 2017 by Gratefuled

[frosty (chris)]

Thanks for your posts Queenie as always excellent reading and to the point. I can only speak for myself but sometimes I feel exactly what you describe. In the land of Oz there is a word that describes most of my partners family, I call them bludgers probably the worst thing you can say to an Aussie. Again thanks for the post.

[stevewool]

I dont really know the family in the Phils, as its just holidays and what Emma has told me about the family and what i have seen with my own eyes and heard too.

Emma has 2 sisters and 2 brothers and she lost her mum a long time ago, here father is a great man i have so much respect for him and we will do anything we can to help him.

The sisters are older and they both  got married early in life and Emma was left behind, and reading between the lies she seemed to be the one who had to go with out and be the one to help there mum and dad and then help the sisters with there kids and so on, but Emma does not see it like that,

Emma's brothers one works so hard to support his family but never earns enough, the other one does not work but the world owes him everything it seems.

We met when Emma was 32 and started chatting away on line, i was her first real boyfriend, we meet we married and she is here in England working very hard to save for our future.

She has been called the queen , and who does she think she is now,  her sister has not spoken to her  for not sending money , i could go on and on.

I married Emma and like i have said here father is part of my family, it was Emma who built him his new home after the rest agreed to help but never did, it does not bother me if people dont speak to me , but it will bother Emma.

My biggest problem is if we move to the Phils is how will Emma be and i dont want her to have to chose between me and her family if i have to say something i dont want to do but they family think i should .

But hey i have enough to move on if it came to it.

Must add there has been some great responses to this thread

[bigpearl]

Great and reassuring post, one we can all relate to, I don't feel alone in my opinions and thoughts any more, thanks. I am going to ask my better half to read this thread in it's entirety so he can see things from a different perspective also and understand why I pull the reigns in at times.

Cheers, Steve.