Culture Reverses

[Dave Hounddriver]

I noticde a couple of instances where 'her' culture is the reverse of 'my' culture.  Perhaps others have noticed this?

 

Water in Fridge:  We have two jugs of cold water.  When one is empty I fill it, push it to the back and bring the cold jug to the front.  When she goes to get a cold glass of water she pushes the one in front out of the way and grabs the one from the back, assuming it is colder?

 

When there is too much junk lying around I go out and buy more shelves.  The idea is to get more space to store the junk where we can find it.  When she sees more shelf space, she goes out and buys more junk as she cannot stand to see empty shelf space.  Same goes for space on the wall, space for furniture, space in cupboards.   :1 (103):

 

Any more reversals out there?

[jon1]

How about making ice as you take some?

 

Buying food for a week minimum vs every day.

 

Doing preventative maintenance on vehicles (oil changes, tire rotations, etc.).

 

Paying bills when you receive them or in advance vs on the due date.

[Thomas]

Buying food for a week minimum vs every day.

I believe that has to do with traditionaly they are not used to have refrigirators/freezers. 

Paying bills when you receive them or in advance vs on the due date.

Well. Yes, better not paying the LAST day when it can be extra long queues if many have deadline the same day,

BUT why pay bills long before that???

specialy in a country where capital in many cases cost 20-40 % per MONTH   :)  

Water in Fridge: We have two jugs of cold water. When one is empty I fill it, push it to the back and bring the cold jug to the front. When she goes to get a cold glass of water she pushes the one in front out of the way and grabs the one from the back, assuming it is colder?

That seem to be an error in BOTH your cultures   :)   If drinking cold water the body find it to cold and start a HEATING process, which stops LATER than it has heated up the cold water, so the body become WARMER by drinking cold water.  It's good for a heated body to use cold water at OUTSIDE of the body, but better DRINK room temperature water  (=around 25 C). So I have my two jugs at my desk instead  :)

[jon1]

jon1, on 02 Jul 2015 - 3:09 PM, said: Paying bills when you receive them or in advance vs on the due date. Well. Yes, better not paying the LAST day when it can be extra long queues if many have deadline the same day, BUT why pay bills long before that??? specialy in a country where capital in many cases cost 20-40 % per MONTH     

 

I usually pay my fixed costs (Internet and Cable) up front 3-6 months at a time. My cable gives me a 10% discount by paying in advance. So I save 1000p annually by doing that. I mostly do it so the wife doesn't have to run around paying a bunch of bills. Usually each month we only have to pay the water (at the bank while getting our monthly budget) and electric.

[Gratefuled]

We have 3 liters of water in fridge. One for each of us, color coded. We also have a water dispenser. I buy my food a week in advance. She buys theirs daily. I pay our utilities as I receive them. It gets me out and about. Avoiding "cabin fever".

As for "JUNK". Yes, she cannot pass up " Buy one take one" offers or 50% off worthless junk. When I threaten to get rid of it she says that she will give it to her relatives. Ok, but if it's still here in 6 months, it's gone.

[scott h]

I believe that has to do with traditionaly they are not used to have refrigirators/freezers.

 

I believe it is because they are WOMEN, they belong to a completely different tribe. And if you do finally, finally understand them, they will find out you do, AND CHANGE AGAIN!!! :1 (103):

[Jake]

Time and budget management -- a concept that most Filipinos meet with total disregard.  And thus, the term Filipino Time and borrowing pesos on a daily/weekly basis is a lucrative business among the 5/6 operators.  

[Dave Hounddriver]

Time

 

Yes, that was my pet peeve today.  Filipinos tend to think you will aways be home, waiting by the door or the phone so they can show up to do business with you.  Yesterday it was PLDT showing up on a whim.   The day before the aircon repairman showed up unannounced.  Today its the water delivery guy.  We know these people are coming, but we don't know when.  No one ever texts to say when they will be there and they just expect you to be there when they arrive.  They must know that my time is absolutely valueless and I have no intention of going shopping or going for a walk or going visiting friends.

 

But to be fair, we have had tradesmen show up unannounced before and they just stand at the gate, stymied, wondering why no one is answering their call and patiently waiting for hours for someone to show up.  Then there are others who call or come by when you are not there and you never see them again.  Strange culture this is.

Edited July 2, 2015 by Dave Hounddriver

[earthdome]

 

Time

 

Yes, that was my pet peeve today.  Filipinos tend to think you will aways be home, waiting by the door or the phone so they can show up to do business with you.  Yesterday it was PLDT showing up on a whim.   The day before the aircon repairman showed up unannounced.  Today its the water delivery guy.  We know these people are coming, but we don't know when.  No one ever texts to say when they will be there and they just expect you to be there when they arrive.  They must know that my time is absolutely valueless and I have no intention of going shopping or going for a walk or going visiting friends.

 

But to be fair, we have had tradesmen show up unannounced before and they just stand at the gate, stymied, wondering why no one is answering their call and patiently waiting for hours for someone to show up.  Then there are others who call or come by when you are not there and you never see them again.  Strange culture this is.

 

 

This may have more to do with the fact that rarely is a filipino home empty. There is almost always someone there to make sure none of their possesions grow legs and walk away. Therefor others always expect that someone will be home.

[expatuk2014]

The word Junk is my little peeve ! we have just finished rebuilding our home.

leaving piles of " junk " all around the garden, you know piles of wood- bags of earth-piles of metal roof sheeting etc etc

 

Me I would burn all the wood, sell the metal sheets and use the bags of earth to level the garden. :1 (103):

 

I mentioned burning the wood " we can use that later ! " came the reply Ok I will give her that one ! :bash:

but it was used ( or some of it ) to build a Bayo Kubo ! not the Traditional Bayo Kubo mind you

our one is almost as half the size of our new house !!  the metal sheets went onto that as well !

but this still left piles of wood of various lengths , ( she goes to the market and comes back with 3 potted plants ! )

plants need shelves dont they !! our builder arrives and he constructs shelves for the plants and then constructs 4

trestle like tables ( funny I thought ) suddenly over the next few days more potted plants !! :thumbsup:

 

still the garden looks a bit better ! then a framework appeared for growing Bitter gourds !

the remaining hollow blocks became a large flower pot and that was plastered using the remaining cement and earth !

 

and to think I would have had a big bonfire if I had had my way !!

I hate to think what she has in mind for all my empty san mig bottles !!

 

and then theres the culture of having two of everything ! but thats another topic I think !

 

but then again guys I love the little woman and its all about seeing that little smile of hers  isnt it ?