Thought for the day.

[sonjack2847]

I have no problem with people complaining about the way of life here, sometimes a little constructive criticism can work wonders. What I do have a problem is when people who have been here many years dig up the same topic again and again. We have a 12 hour brown out on the 6th of June and the same people are complaining. If you are that bothered by no power( to improve the system) Get a back up power source. Remember you came here because you didn`t want to be there don`t try to make here like there.

Edited May 29, 2021 by sonjack2847
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[manofthecoldland]

For certain types of individuals, complaining about things is part of who and what they are. For whatever their reason, they feel better when voicing their dissatisfactions openly to any willingly receptive audience.  

That's a normal trait, but the level and degree to which they voice their disapprovals run the range.  I think a lot of it is culturally learned behaviour.  Here in the PI people are not openly rewarded for and encouraged to complain and whine incessantly about things beyond their control.  They take action when possible to improve what they can and stoically accept what they cannot. 

Few people here feel entitled to a perfect, or even a much improved, existence.... to be provided by govenment or other social institutions.  They don't expect too much, are pleased with small improvements in their lives, and just soldier on.

That life philosophy seems to work for them in terms of maintaining a positive nature and keeping the smiles coming, despite all the problems they encounter in their lives. 

 I enjoy living with that kind of people and prefer dealing with those who aren't always  focusing upon and directing the conversation into ongoing grievances of a personal or political nature.

My local expat associate/social group, like most, has new arrivals and departures regularly with all meet-ups in flux. Most know why they came here and what they don't want to deal with, so its always interesting to see what happens when a 'toxic' personality type joins in.  Constant complainers and 'know-it-alls' usually destroy the groups, so many re-meet in other places with smaller, and more selective groupings. Most guys living in the PI are very careful and selective in their choice of associates, for good reason.

[hk blues]

Two excellent posts.

I'll admit to having the odd grumble from time to time - I'm only human - and do become frustrated at the stoic acceptance of locals at times but I haven't had to walk a mile in their shoes so...

I will say that things have improved a fair bit since I landed 6 years ago - 40mbps unlimited internet with practically no disconnection was a dream even 2 years ago. Power supply that almost never goes off unplanned for more than an hour - I'll take that. Scheduled outage for 12 hours - I'll plan my day around that and appreciate that they're working on making things better.

I don't do a balance sheet of pros and cons to decide if I should stay, in my current situation I'm not sure returning to the UK would be viable so it's not an option to be mulled over.

I avoid ex-pat groups the same way I tended to avoid groups in the UK and Hong Kong, it's not my thing. That said, they can be both a source and solution to some problems here.

[Queenie O.]

Other than the occasional brownout, or the usually great water pressure cuts out for no good reason, I'm pretty chill living here.

The ongoing pandemic and upsetting happenings around the world, for me has really rearranged my priorities, and what is important to me, and what were stupid things that might have upset or annoyed me in the past.

Being rather an introvert, and because the pandemic has tended to keep me more at home, and often to myself more than in the past, I've spent more time just trying to  be more in the moment, and accepting things or adjusting to and/or appreciating little things more. This may sound corny and cliched, but it's true for me.

I see a definite learning curve in adapting to living here. I've been here seven years now, and can remember how I've had to  change and adapt sometimes and learn to overcome or accept things that frightened me or bothered me in the past. I really feel content living where I am in Cebu, and am grateful to have landed here.

Getting my complete vaccine would be "golden" for me, whether it works out well for the Philippines. or we all just lope along the best that we can. Nothing would seem much of an issue to me if I get it! I have a feeling that we'll all land on our feet.

Often this song pops into my head--it sums it up for me!

 

[Mike J]

No country is perfect, including the ones we came from. 

[BC57]

23 hours ago, sonjack2847 said:

I have no problem with people complaining about the way of life here, sometimes a little constructive criticism can work wonders. What I do have a problem is when people who have been here many years dig up the same topic again and again. We have a 12 hour brown out on the 6th of June and the same people are complaining. If you are that bothered by no power( to improve the system) Get a back up power source. Remember you came here because you didn`t want to be there don`t try to make here like there.

And I thought our 8-9 hours scheduled brownouts were bad enough, glad we don't have 12 hour brownouts like you get.

[Dave Hounddriver]

27 minutes ago, BC57 said:

glad we don't have 12 hour brownouts like you get

Theoretically they get more done in a 12 hour brown out.  Fortunately I only remember the ones that start at 8 am and go to 6 PM.  They were only 10 hours and quite often they would finish early.  With a back up power supply they really were not a problem.

[RBM]

20 hours ago, hk blues said:

Two excellent posts.

I'll admit to having the odd grumble from time to time - I'm only human - and do become frustrated at the stoic acceptance of locals at times but I haven't had to walk a mile in their shoes so...

I will say that things have improved a fair bit since I landed 6 years ago - 40mbps unlimited internet with practically no disconnection was a dream even 2 years ago. Power supply that almost never goes off unplanned for more than an hour - I'll take that. Scheduled outage for 12 hours - I'll plan my day around that and appreciate that they're working on making things better.

I don't do a balance sheet of pros and cons to decide if I should stay, in my current situation I'm not sure returning to the UK would be viable so it's not an option to be mulled over.

I avoid ex-pat groups the same way I tended to avoid groups in the UK and Hong Kong, it's not my thing. That said, they can be both a source and solution to some problems here.

HK may I ask, how much of a factor does the weather play in your decision to stay or return to the UK. 

From my own 2 year stint there its worse than South Island NZ....Major factor in my decision to stay on here, regardless of hiccups.

[jimeve]

It's the unscheduled brownouts that do my head in. Had one the other day I got up at 2:45 am to watch my favorite football team and lo and behold we had a brownout at the very end of the game. Brownout lasted 5 hours. I have battery back up but connecting it up in the dark is a pain in the arse.

Lost the game 1-0 in a European cup final.

[Snowy79]

I'm seeing with the advent of technology and the recent issues with covid more locals are realising that complaining gets things done.  Maybe it's the Raffy Tulfo effect.  Things are improving and less are telling foreigners to go home if they highight an issue and a solution.