Forum Support Popular Post scott h Posted June 25, 2017 Forum Support Popular Post Posted June 25, 2017 9 hours ago, intrepid said: One thing lacking is to have a close friend to share some common interests and bonding time When asked by friends and family back home about this I tell them that an expat living in the Philippines must be comfortable in his own skin. Days or weeks might go by with out passing the time with a native English speaker. As other have said I get along with my in laws just fine, and seeing that my wife and I are the same age her friends and their husbands are my age also. But we just don't have all that in common. After the ritual, "How do you find it here in the Philippines" or "what do you think of Dueterte?" or things like that we run out of topics quickly. I see "white guys" in the Mall every so often but (by mutual consent it think) rarely more than a nod is exchanged. Unlike you guys who live closer together, even though I am in the big sity, most expats live up in Makati and such so no real get together. Some of the best conversations I have had have been at the BI offices. Guess misery breeds conversation 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogo51 Posted June 26, 2017 Posted June 26, 2017 20 minutes ago, scott h said: When asked by friends and family back home about this I tell them that an expat living in the Philippines must be comfortable in his own skin. Days or weeks might go by with out passing the time with a native English speaker. As other have said I get along with my in laws just fine, and seeing that my wife and I are the same age her friends and their husbands are my age also. But we just don't have all that in common. After the ritual, "How do you find it here in the Philippines" or "what do you think of Dueterte?" or things like that we run out of topics quickly. I see "white guys" in the Mall every so often but (by mutual consent it think) rarely more than a nod is exchanged. Unlike you guys who live closer together, even though I am in the big sity, most expats live up in Makati and such so no real get together. Some of the best conversations I have had have been at the BI offices. Guess misery breeds conversation They do not know what they are missing Scott, tell them you can give them references from the Phils Forum! haha 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CoffeeRulzMe Posted June 26, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 26, 2017 I spend 99% of my time with my wife. We enjoy each others company and have alot in common; right down to the exact same music tastes. She loves the fact that I stay home and seldom go out. I consider myself lucky. As far as 'going out', as a younger man; been there, done that many times. I've learned to limit friendships. Too many people have chaotic lives, messy lives, for whatever reason. Why get pulled into that mess??? Over the years, I've just learned to pull back, pull away. I'm not an introvert, I do like chatting with a few folks on those rare visits to bars where fellow expats hang out at. But as others have said; too many diverse deep-rooted opinions, beliefs, problems, fights, etc. to put much time and effort into building many friendships. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jack Peterson Posted June 26, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 26, 2017 As my Wife works full time I spend a lot of my Time on my own, Friends are important but I keep it to a fair Minimum on outings, over the last 7/8 years I have made many Acquaintances and some I would rather not have met, They say Real friends you can count on one Hand and here are two or 3 even 4 of my 5 better friends here. I have many more I am sure to meet yet but some join us and we get a new face once in awhile and hope they will get on the hand or start the other Hand in time, You know them all because you write to them all. Who are my friends? First it was Then it became and now it is We have had more but Photos never seem to have come of it but to those we know and have raised a Glass or two with you are on the List BTW the Shorts in the background belong to Eddie 1 who I know, will become a member of the growing Ring Soon (I hope.) He came down and had Lunch a few days after this Photo. To all our Friends in Dumaguete I for 1 am proud to know you all. It does us good to get things Off our Chests and I recommend it Jack Morning All 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpbago Posted June 26, 2017 Posted June 26, 2017 12 hours ago, intrepid said: However, I still would like find someone local with common interests to hang out with a few times a month. Do you mean a local Filipino or a local Kano? It seems that nobody has a local Filipino friend other than their wife. It is different cultures. I had a local Filipino "friend" for awhile but all he wanted to do was drink. He was the only one that spoke some English. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jack Peterson Posted June 26, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 26, 2017 5 minutes ago, jpbago said: I had a local Filipino "friend" for awhile but all he wanted to do was drink. He was the only one that spoke some English. with this, I go to my Local Sor Sori each day for my hour away from the House and all the silly little problems of the day, I will talk to anyone. Every now and then, I can get a great guy and we have some good Conversations BUT Sad to say, it always ends up the Same, they will say I will come tomorrow because you are my Friend And you can buy more Beer, even their kids will ask for money. NOPE! As much as I like these people and at times need them, They are never going to be Friends of mine Even my Wife's friends will try it on, lend me this lend me that I know who my Friends are. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post virginprune Posted June 26, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 26, 2017 I have met a number of expats here. We used to have regular group meet ups but that doesn't really happen much now for various reasons. Some have moved away, some still work abroad so have sporadic visits and some are just knobs so are avoided. There are a couple I meet up with on a one on one basis, a Norwegian and an Australian, I enjoy my time with them, with the Australian I tend to drink a bit too much, who would of thought!! There is a German guy building opposite me, he seems ok, we shall see how that pans out as neighbours. I spend much of my time with my partner and family members, I get on well with all of them, they all speak good English. Her brother and uncle I especially like conversing with because they are both ex seafarers and so a bit more worldly than most locals around here. Most of my time though is spent with my SO, at home. I do go to gatherings now and then but I've found that as I get older I prefer more intimate socializing to large group affairs. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post intrepid Posted June 26, 2017 Author Popular Post Posted June 26, 2017 11 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said: The reason is we all have so many varied interests that I could not think of a single person who likes everything I like, so why look for something that will limit you. I didn't mean to imply that the other person had to hold all of my interests, but one would be nice. I have a very broad range of interests and always interested in learning more on most any subject. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mr-T Posted June 26, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 26, 2017 Well i have been here going on nine years now. I have many filipino acquaintance but but no one i can call a good friend. I do not go to bars and i do not smoke. I have a different life style unlike most people i meet. Being out in the province i seldom see other foreigners. Except for one American and one German. The American when we see each other we talk but the German i just cannot stand. Guy thinks he is the smartest person on earth, boastful and a liar. When i say i have a different life style i am a health nut. I love the outdoors, nature and i am always physically active. I ride my bike (bicycle) a lot. So i am either home or out doors riding. I ride with other locals but most often ride alone. I like to relax after a ride so that does not leave much time to socialise. My wife is my best friend and we enjoy our time together. Used to have family over all the time but as i do not speak the language i am left out of the conversations. I am more or less a loner. I like people and like to entertain. The men they all like to have drinking sessions and always ask me to join but i decline. Have to ride that bike in the morning so cannot have a hangover. Plus wife do not want me to drink with them because as she says when they are drunk things can get out of hand. Me not a drinker anyway and i can't stand cigarette smoke. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert k Posted June 26, 2017 Posted June 26, 2017 8 hours ago, scott h said: rarely more than a nod is exchanged. This could be a topic all it's own. So much information can pass with the nod. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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