What Do You Do Day To Day?

[manofthecoldland]

   I'm not sure exactly what it is, but many of the things I would do back in my home country, I don't and won't even try to do here. Maybe its the mid-day heat and high levels of humidity which sap me of initiative.  We don't have A/C, only good sea-breeze and fan, but I doubt that it would make a difference. Dealing with the poor-infrastructure makes many hobbies much more difficult to pursue here. Availability of things poses some problems. I'm in a totally different culture and mode of life here, so I just go Pinoy. Even there..... since I'm obviously not a local.. it produces more problems.

   Gardening is good here. So is working bamboo or hardwood. No libraries, but we have a kindle, a nook and the internet. I do like going to the used book store, but it's hard to browse through more than the surface books, since many are buried and you'd have to get down on your knees with a flashlight to see whats in the lower bins. Screw that.... I'm an old man and not that desperate for a good read. Thank God we swap books at expat get-togethers.

   I guess a determined man could do anything here, but you are usually working with one hand tied behind your back for many things and when you are older..... well, for me at least,... its easier to find the lower hanging fruit.

   Cooking is a great hobby. Unfortunately for me, my wife was the chief cook at a local HS, so she wouldn't think of having me do anything in that area. Her cooking is her love for me... and I always deeply appreciate it. But you can get involved with advising on new recipes, etc.

   For many older men here, all we have to do is to wave our magic wand (ATM card) and produce pesos magically. The wives are happy to do everything else.... grocery shopping, cooking, house cleaning, bill paying, gardening, etc. Having a good woman here can make you almost on par with an invalid. They do it out of love and they have full, meaningful lives. Your job is to stay healthy and find ways to pass the time in ways that allow you to feel that you are living a meaningfull life.

   I picked up and forged ahead on my genealogical research that I put aside for a 40 year hiatus, via the new internet access. That was an exciting adventure.

   House building is another, whether large or small.

   We have 4 sentry dogs... so dog care and training can be another area of development.

    You could always go the youtube cultural journalist route to fill the hours and make a little money if you're extroverted and like to share your life with strangers.

   Wrapping it up.... be forewarned.... you probably won't be pursuing you current pastimes here like you do in your home country if you move here. But if you're moving here, you're probably looking for change. You WILL get that here. Good luck and best wishes.

[Petey]

I agree with the heat and humidity. We had a day a couple of weeks ago and it was gray and over cast... really sliced the heat and make it feel like a British summer. Most welcomed.

 

Most of my personal stuff was damaged when the floods hit, and replacing it is impossible. Lots of studio equipment that i collected over the years damaged or destroyed. 1000's of vinyl and CD's either damaged or destroyed... some cleaned but cannot use as the main equipment useless. All of this was collected of 15yrs and to have it sitting here totally useless is heart breaking. I cant bear to throw it away knowing some little scrot will make money out of it. Guess its sentimental value is too great for that.

 

My father and i have a P10 US Navy model boat built to scale. It got damaged in transit and finding parts here to fix it are impossible. Having things shipped here from U.K is pretty expensive. I learnt my lesson after buying a ballet outfit dor my daughter, 3 DVD's and 2 PC games... then i had to pay import tax based on the reciept in the box which was in AU $. I had to pay about P11000 to actually get my stuff, dispite already having paid the duty tax when the items were sent.

 

I know there is plenty of thing to do here, but its things that "I" want to do. I don't care for bars and KTV, alcohol for that matter lol.

 

I use to sit in my chair in U.K and suddenly get the urge to do a little night shopping at 3am. Get a dvd and chillout back at home. Its that sort of thing i miss.... access to doing stuff as and when you want. Its actually things "I" took for granted while in U.K.

 

Maybe philippines should set up a 24hr supermarket like Walmart that sells everything. SM Hypermarket sells everything but DVD's and games, and closes at 10pm.... Damn me for wanting to be a late night shopper :1 (103):

[Thomas]

 

 

I don't understand people, who have to litle to do

I guess it's because I have very little free time. Been working 84 hrs per week (12 hrs everyday)for the last month. I guess I better start making a list of things that could keep me interested.

Well. It's EXTRA important for the health and mind to have some hobby to relax when working much.

(I work hard in periods.  During one of my EXTRA hard working periods I worked 109 hours one week (I counted because it was extra much) I made time anyway to go to ice hockey, look at some TV/video, played one league chess match and went to a dance :)  

I hate the heat and humidity so I'm indoors a lt when in PI. I enjoy the malls. I drink very little booze. I prefer coffee.

If I remember corect, BOTH alcohol and coffee are diuretic, which don't suit so good in hot climate  :) 

I use to sit in my chair in U.K and suddenly get the urge to do a little night shopping at 3am. Get a dvd and chillout back at home. Its that sort of thing i miss.... access to doing stuff as and when you want.

You can do it it Phils too. You just need to think ahead some and get some extra in store at home for FUTURE use, when you will feeöl for it. Then you can fullfil suddenly needs too   :)

((My house in Sweden is in the "bush" and the closest towns are rather small, so some things can't be bought there, but when I passed such I had as habbit to "clean" bargain shops of things I could want sometimes in the future.  Some comented I had more stored at home than they had in the shop  :mocking:    So now I have had hard work emptying it, selling, throw away and give away things which aren't worth the transport cost bringing it to Phils.))

[superenergyneo]

For me its work and work...lol