biggish data

Any MD's here? Or anyone in the know?

QUOTE (ryandgracey @ Oct 12 2008, 02:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This idea just entered my mind while I was browing a site of jobs for physicians. When I registered on the site, I was asked my visa status. Does being on an IR/CR visa have any bearing on the chances of getting into any residency program?

Hi baby. I love you.

Just thought of checking with teh Phil-Am group. Send them out an email or those contacts that I sent you. Am sure one of them can answer the question or send youin the right direction.

I miss you and the baby so much. MWAH!!!!

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-13 10:03:00

CASE COMPLETED AT NVC

our baby girl's petition is completed as well. Which was our most major concern...but all is well. just waiting appoinment date.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-15 19:24:00

Waiting for appointment schedule

You hobby can be to love me, baby:)...just as I love you each and every day.MWAH!!!!

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-22 21:32:00

Yeeeeeeeeeeheeee!!!I got my visa

Congrat!!....I envisioned my wife doing the same when she gets hers

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-27 20:28:00

Interview Experience

Grae and i had a recent conversatin about the DV cost and..yes..I did notice the question that she was asked. But I am sure that processe' will be prompted about paying the DV cost....i do presume.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-16 20:42:00

Interview Experience

First of all, congrats on completing the process. We all know how trying it is.

And thanks, also, for the detail of your interview process. it will help my wife and others to emotionally prepare for their interview.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-16 19:34:00

QUOTE (my_panacea = Greg @ Oct 26 2008, 09:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gracey and I talk more often than not, and I believe that she is indeed gifted of great English so she passed it on to Alex.
Not to mention esp when the parents speak English as first language.When a kid attends an expensive school here in the Philippines more in likely the kid mingles with "advanced kids" too. So when Alex gets to US, she will not have difficulty on interacting to kids at her age since she can express herself easily talking in English. Alex will be fine, she is a smart little girl.

thank you for your kind words about my wife and child.

yes, they are both incredible and I am madly in love with both.

.....And Alec is a brilliant child..I miss her so much.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-28 22:56:00

QUOTE (livelife @ Oct 24 2008, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What's important is that the two of you are there for her to guide her;she is still young and will able to adjust easily and would learn to speak with your accent as well.If you will live in CA or Las Vegas,there are Jolibee;if not there are alot of Asian market/grocery stores across US that your wife can find ..from alamang,achara to chippy..anything is there.When i first went to US,my husband right away find an asian store for me to go to and subscribe to a Filipino channel so that i will not be bored in the house watching US channels...I'm sure your daughter would like to have a Filipino channel,check dish network and Direct TV provider. Good luck on your new journey to life .

I had no clue that Jollibee was in the States. In Ohio, surely there are none...I have already located two Asian stores and have connected with the Fil-Am Society in this area. I don't want them to feel isolated here.

QUOTE (livelife @ Oct 24 2008, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-24 15:50:00

My wife and child's first language is Enlish. So, that is not an issue. In fact, Grace speaks english better than anyone I have ever met in my life.

I would not want her to lose those culture aspect. Such as use of the spoon. I am sure that with time and infusion into American culture, she will...but it saddens me to think of it. It is part of her culture and I do not want her to lose that.

I live in Ohio, so the weather will indeed become an issue. Grace and Alec will arrive in early April, so it will be warming, but still cold for them. My mother and I will ensure that they have proper clothing for the cold.

School Is a concern for me. Every school that I visit I ask about diversity amongst the population. America is a melting pot and it would not be unusual to see Asian children within an American classroom...but once the speak the difference will be obvious. I am a bit concerned about that...not greatly, but a tad bit. I would be an enraged father if either of my ladies have to suffer racism. I won't tolerate it.

And how have the women taken to the changes; Whether from the province or the city?

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 20:54:00

and also....how have they adjusted to school in the States.

both academically and culturally. Do, they tend to excel in schools here and do you find they have no cultural problems in school?

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 19:44:00

I am curious to know how children have adapted to the change from The Philippines to the U.S.

Grace and i have a beautiful 5 years old baby girl. I love this child with all of my soul. I would do anything to protect her.

I have a small fear that teh adjustment to the American culture might be rough on her. Perhaps, I am mistaken in this, but I would rather be as prepared as possible; to help her negotiate the changes.

Foods will definetly be a change. A significant change for her. Yes, her mother can cook and will continue with many of those foods..but something simple..like say...Jollibee; that will be gone. A small change, but a change none the less.

How have the children adapted to the American culture? Do they take to it like water or have any of them had difficulties?

I would love to hear yoru stories and get some feedbacl.

My wife and child have always lived in Metro Manila. In fact, I do believe they will find Dayton, Ohio a bit boring and uninteresting.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 19:31:00

IF YOU COULD COMPARE ...

neither Grace or I drink...so, i geuss I will have to choose something else.

Grace..I would say is something like a Green Mango drink. So yummy, but just different enough to stand out among the crowd.

for myself...hmmm?....I would say that I am something like C2. Nothing special, but JUST tastey enough to be memorable.

My incredible wife may differ, from these and would be ineresting to know her own responses.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-11-17 01:07:00

How do you print chat transcript from YM?

you will hafta cut and past your conversations from YM archives onto ms works or wordpad or someother word processor. then you can print the full lengthof those...it takes times and is a pain the hind parts, but its what has to be done.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-11-06 12:09:00

filipinos in louisiana

Shreveport, Ville Platte, St. Francesville........all my former stompin' grounds....enjoy the Cajun culture, which is more close to the gulf coast versus where St. Francesville is. Anyhow, enjoy the southern hospitality.

Any a Did you Know....the first Filipino community in the U.S. was established in southern LA. check it out on Wikipedia.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-12-29 21:26:00

Days Hotel Tagaytay

have you checked into stay in a lakeside bungalo or house? I did alot of research and there are many for rent at very reasonable prices. I had intended on renting an entire lakeside house for only $120 per night and that included meal servicest too. The next time we go, we wil be doing that.

It is our intention to eventually own some property there. It is a gorgeous area and teh views are incredible.

If you decided to take a boat ride to the volcano, be forwarded that the natives who live on the lsland will try to push gloves, maks, and beverages onto you..REALLY hard too. but none of that is needed. Even if you are taking the horse ride to the volcano...its not needed. Don't be fooled.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2009-01-11 15:42:00

Days Hotel Tagaytay

In regards to the Boat sign in your hubby's face....Grace and I hired a driver and had him stop a couple times and ask their prices. Of ocurse, when they saw MY face, their prices wnet through the roof. We were told of this before leaving QC. They acutally chased down the car with lower prices when we said no. YEs, EXTREMELY persistent.

Sonya's Graden is very nice, but its away from the lake and Volcano. Next time we go I would want something with a view of both.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2009-01-11 10:25:00

SUPER BOWL

Kurt Warner is a good guy...a good God fearing man and has been since he has been in the league. Plus those poor Cardinals have been beat up for over 60 years...So, I am cheering for those Cardinals

Although, I am a New Orleans Saints fan.......GEAUX SAINTS!!!

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2009-01-20 11:03:00

That is REALLY uncalled for. Please terminate the juvenile references please....or at least take them elsewhere

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 22:54:00

I miss the Ube ice cream and hopia.

but, of course, I miss that world famous Filipino mango...OMG!! I could eat that three times a day.

Durian(spelling?)...you can keep that stuff..YUCK!!!

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 22:34:00

QUOTE (bratikicks @ Oct 23 2008, 10:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Boorai,

I like the link u sent me.....that's cool

Anyway i am proud being pinay.....that's the culture we had....and u can only find it with pinoy people
i should say pinoy are fast learner
they can easily adopt cultures/traditions
with sense of humor
u can't get bored around them
hospitable
lovable
very caring
and most of all "BEST WIFE IN THE WORLD"(based from what i read)

and that's true i want our kids grown up with pinoy culture....well it's actaully mixed culture, but i want them to grow with love and respect to their parents....or elderly...or else grrrrrr hehehehe lol...

Brat,

thanks for the reply. i felt every word you said. Indeed, Filipinos are unique unto themselves and you have to make no effort in convincing me of their fine qualities. I married a Pinay, so I agree completely.

Interesting, my wife has said on several occassions "You are Filipino now". After I took a Filipino trait and used it myself(like pointing with my lips)..LOL. But to bestow that too me makes me very proud.

And like I said before our baby girl is Pinay...so, being certain that she grows with a pride in her heritage and culture is extremely important to us...in fact, its a mandate. When Grace and I have a child this Fil-Am child will also know its roots, respect its roots, and be proud to be Fil-Am. Because our home will have an atmosphere of respect for both cultures.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 21:48:00

Grace, my wife, is crazy over sausage. Apparently, that is hard to find in The Philippines. So, on my last trip there..I had bought about 20 pounds of various types of sausage..frozen them, froze some Igloo freezing packs...placed it all inside an Igloo cooler and stashed it in my suitcase. It made it there still frozen..and this was with an additional 27 hour lay over in Beijing.

What I am somewhat worried about is our 5 year old adjusting. Yes, I know that children are resilent..but I am worried about her having to deal with a major change in diet...and a bit of a culture shock as well.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 19:21:00

QUOTE (jom @ Oct 23 2008, 06:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Boorai @ Oct 23 2008, 04:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (jom @ Oct 23 2008, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You may be married to a Filipina If... (written by an American guy who loves his Filipina wife in spite of the numerous irregularities):

Well, these are not set in stone..nor are they absolute for everyone...don't take it very seriuosly.

I would love to see a list like this, but from a Filipinas prosepective about her American man. Any takers???

I know, just stating some facts about my wife because I'm married to a Filipina. It is funny though. And i forgot to include that she eats dried fish and rice ( i call it bait fish

with her hands, dip it with vinegar with garlic. I just love watching the satisfaction on her face.

I am extremely proud to 1)have fallen in love with my wife 2)that she is uniquely Filipina.

I have maade 3 trips to the Philippines; spending no less than 3 weeks each time and find it to be an amazing culture. For Americans it is a community like none we have experienced in the States. And I certainly appreciate all the experiences I had when there and the INCREDIBLE hospitality that is offered when there.

I would do nothing to offend both of the Filipinas in my life...My gorgeous wife and our darling, intelligent, beautiful daughter. I am in love with the both of them and I miss them incredibly. I have tried to busy myself with working as much over time that I can as well as preparing their home for them. Our baby girl asked for a "princess bed"..(she wanted a canopy bed with curtains to close as she sleeps)...so, i built one for her. But its not enough to shorten the time, shorten the distance. SIGH....i miss them so much.

We are fortunate that our CR1 has processed very quickly, but i don't think it can ever be processed quickly enough for anyone of us. It is very likely that VISAs will be issued by early to mid december, but we are allowing our baby girl to finish her school year there. So, we add another 3 months to the wait....for her.

Anyhow, I am rambling.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 17:49:00

QUOTE (jom @ Oct 23 2008, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You may be married to a Filipina If... (written by an American guy who loves his Filipina wife in spite of the numerous irregularities):

* Your refrigerator is always full but you cannot find any food that you recognize -NOT ENTIRELY TRUE

* Instead of a dowry, you got the whole bill for the wedding and honeymoon - HER PARENTS PAID FOR HER WEDDING GOWN AND WILL PAY FOR THE WEDDING CELEBRATION WHEN WE GO VISIT NEXT NEAR

* Most of the decorations in your house are made of wicker - NOT TRUE

* You are expected to be able to read her mind just by watching her eyebrows move up and down and by the way her lips are pointed - SHE TALKS

* All her relatives think your name is "Joe" - WELL MY NAME IS JOE LOL

* The instant you are married you have 3,000 new close relatives that you can't tell apart - MAYBE LESS THAN 20

* Your house isn't really on fire, you've just got a very charred fish on top of the stove burner - SHE HAS NOT BURNED FOOD YET ( KNOCK ON WOOD!)

* All the desserts are sticky and all the snacks are salty - TRUE WITH THE SALTY SNACKS BUT I LOVE NAGARAYA TOO

* She eats her fruit with giant salt crystals and her fried chicken with ketchup - SALT WITH HER PINEAPPLE BUT SOYSAUCE WITH KALAMANSI, ONION WITH HER FRIED CHICKEN. SHE ONLY USES KETCHUP WITH HER FRENCH FRIES BUT MIXED WITH MAYONNAISE

* Even the ketchup tastes weird...very weird

* You throw a party and everyone is fighting to chop the leathery skin off a dead pig - HAVE NOT DONE THAT YET. I DID A FRIED TURKEY AND OUR FIL-AM FRIENDS LOVED IT

* All your kids have 4-5 middle names - NOPE

* Your in-laws take 10 years to acknowledge your existence and to call you by something other than "that white guy" - ENTIRELY FALSE. MY IN-LAWS CALL ME BY MY NAME AND USE MY NAME WHEN THEY REFER TO ME TO THEIR FRIENDS BACK IN THE PHILIPPINES

* You try to call her up on the phone and someone tells you "for a while" and you want to know "for a while, what??" - SHE USES "HOLD YOUR LINE PLEASE"

* You are trying to go to sleep and she keeps asking for the comFORT'r, and you ain't got a clue what she's talking about - NO CLUE

* Your first Christmas present is some funny looking, baggy, see-thru shirt made out of leftover lace doilies - SHE GAVE ME GLASS COASTERS WITH OUR PICTURES ON EACH

* Your phone bills are composed mostly of international and calls that average 3 hours each - SHE USES A $50 PHONE CARD THAT USUALLY LASTS 2 TO 3 MONTHS. MOSTLY SHE TALKS TO HER FAMILY IN THE PHILIPPINES IN YAHOO CHAT AND MICROPHONE

* She sweeps with something that witches usually fly around on - SHE USES WHAT IS AVAILABLE HERE BUT SHE DID SAY SHE MISSES THE BROOM STICK BECAUSE IT CLEANS BETTER ESPECIALLY THE DRIVEWAY

* Her idea of classy, expensive champagne is Asti Spumante - SHE DOESN'T DRINK ALCOHOL

* The rice cooker is on 24 hours a day and uses up 50% of your electricity and food budget - WE EAT RICE LIKE 3 TIMES A WEEK

* On your first trip to the Philippines, you have 18 giant boxes that weigh 1000 pounds each and your "carry on" luggage requires a small forklift truck - NOT TRUE. I BROUGHT SOME STUFF THAT FIT INTO MY CHECKED IN LUGGAGE. SHE OR HER FAMILY DIDN'T EXPECT FOR ME TO BRING ANYTHING.

* The same luggage is over filled with things that cost an average of 15 cents each like old magazines and M&Ms -- the worst part is when you get off the plane, the same stuff you've been hauling around half way around the world is available in every store in the airport for half the price! - NOPE

* All her pajamas look like they were worn by the Dalai Lama until they got too faded and he discarded them - SHE USES NIGHTIES

* The first time she's pregnant you have to go out at 4:00 in the morning looking for some weird type of greasy sausages, green mangoes and bagoong - NO BIOLOGICAL KIDS TOGETHER

* You buy a new $500 freezer so she can store 200 pounds of SPAM and CORNED BEEF that was on sale - SHE DOESN'T LIKE SPAM OR CORNED BEEF. SHE LOVES BACON!

* Everything in your house was bought on sale, even if you don't need it ... that it was a "bargain" is all that matters - SHE ONLY SPENDS WHAT WE CAN AFFORD AND IF WE REALLY NEED IT.

* She gets really excited by sucking the fat out of pig knees - HAVE NOT SEEN HER DO THAT YET ALTHOUGH SHE LOVES MUNCHING DEEP FRIED CHICKEN WING ESPECIALLY THE BONE

* Your daughter gets her ears pierced when she's 2 minutes old but your sons are not circumcised until they turn 21 - MYLA TOLD ME MOST FILIPINO MEN ARE CIRCUMCISED WHEN THEY ARE BETWEEN 7 TO 10

* All your postage bills instantly double - SHE USES EMAIL UNLESS ITS A SPECIAL OCCASION THEN SHE SENDS A CARD

* You hire a Ya-Ya because your wife ckeabs mirrors with soap and a sponge and the Ya-Ya seems cheaper than a divorce - I CALL HER DONA BECAUSE SHE GREW UP WITH HELPERS BUT MY LUCK BECAUSE SHE IS A NEAT PERSON AND DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM DOING HOUSEHOLD CHORES. .WE DO MOST OF THE HOUSE CHORES TOGETHER AND ITS FUN

* The only "white meat" she likes is YOU. And that's if you're lucky... - I HAVE NO COMPLAINS

* Her favorite sauce is called "patis." Americans call it turpentine - HERS IS SILVER SWAN

* She actually thinks that bowling and golf and billiards are real sports and are more important than baseball and football - SHE LIKES TENNIS

* You were married 5 years before she explained to you that "ARAY!" doesn't mean "ooh, baby!"

* She prefers bistek to beef steak - SHE COOKS BEEF STEAK BUT LOVES THE STEAK

* Her idea of new upholstery is rinsing the bagoong stains out of the slip covers - SHE DOESN'T EAT BAGOONG BUT MUST HAVE HER ALAMANG ( I had to let her write the spelling lol)

* She can eat and talk at the same time; in fact that's her specialty! SHE DOESN'T TALK WHEN HER MOUTH IS FULL AND CHEWS QUIETLY

* Her favorite meal is leftovers, her favorite fancy dessert is Jell-O mold and for something REALLY romantic, she'll offer you a halo-halo with 2 straws - SHE LOVES LECHE FLAN

* You still don't know the difference between manong and manok - I CALL HER OLDER BROTHER MANONG AND I LOVE HER CHICKEN TINOLA, LOL

* She and the kids are always saying "Daddy made utot" and you still don't know what it means, but they think it's pretty funny - WE ARE GOOD FARTERS

* Other than eyebrow raising and lip puckering, her next most expressive form of communication is grunts and pssst's - SHE DOESN'T DO THE PSSSSTTTTT

* She goes to the movies just for the AC - WE HAVE AC AT HOME

* Her homeland has more Megamalls than islands - SHE SAID PHILIPPINES HAS 7,300 ISLAND DURING LOW TIDE AND DOESN'T BELIEVE THERE ARE AS MANY MEGAMALLS

* Before every holiday and visit, her sisters fax you a 10 page "bilins" list which says "suggestion only" - NO

* Your kitchen table has a merry-go-round in the middle - NOPE

* All the vegetables she buys at the Filipino store look like they were grown at Chernobyl

* Her friends are named Chinky, Girlie, Boy and Bimbo and NO, you are not allowed to smirk - NOPE

* Her home economics course only taught shopping, eating and siesta; cooking, cleaning and sewing were not electives - NO CLUE

* Her idea of edifying reading is gossip magazines - SHE READS NOVELS BY JOHN GRISHAM, NORA ROBERTS, ROBERT LUDLUM, TOM CLANCY AND JUST READ ABOUT CELEBRITIES IN THE INTERNET

* All your place settings have the silverware backwards and there are no knives - YES THEY DON'T USE KNIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES WHEN EATING. ONLY FORK AND SPOON

* She washes her hair with a bucket and her car with a broom - HAVE NOT SEEN HER DO THAT YET

* Her favorite book (she has 3 copies) is "1001 New Recipes for Pig Parts You Were Gunna Throw Out" - SHE LOVES NOVELS

* You are the only family in a 200 mile radius with 2 Betamaxes, 3 televisions - NOT ENTIRELY TRUE WITH REGARDS TO HER FAMILY BACK IN THE PHILIPPINES. ALL HER NEIGHBORS HAVE TV AND DVD

* She's done her best job planning a surprise party for you if she manages not to tell you about it until a week or two before

* She "cleans" her closet by throwing all the ####### into your closet - NOT TRUE. SHE CLEANS MY CLOSET BECAUSE SHE DOES BETTER IN FOLDING AND ARRANGING MY CLOTHES

MY WIFE COMES FROM THE ISLAND OF MINDANAO , CALLS HERSELF A PROVINCIAL GIRL AND PROUD OF IT.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 16:51:00

QUOTE (sunlyk @ Oct 23 2008, 01:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Boorai @ Oct 23 2008, 09:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (bratikicks @ Oct 23 2008, 10:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

funny but its true to pinay!....i was laughing while reading this....this is cool.....

Oh wow. The intent was not to offend anyone. I will apologie if some find it offensive, but it obviously was written with a breath of humor to it.

I do believe these were observed and written by an American male who found these differences to be interesting and unique.

I don't get offended with this as other culture has this characteristic also if you happen to observe. The only thing I don't like is making fun of people instead of teaching and educating them what the proper way to do it. I even argue with my husband or others here who say nothing but bad to Filipino/Philippines because I wanted that my children if I have one to grow up being proud of his heritage.

I welcome my wife's culture into our home. It is VERY important too me that our children know they heritage AND their culture. So, we are in agreeance.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 12:45:00

QUOTE (bratikicks @ Oct 23 2008, 11:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't worry! I find it cool,this is what i observed with pinay....i am also pinay but i am not that old school.....
i grew up in the city!!!!!!!!!(manila)

i and my husband were laughing about it....and he was teasing me......and i said i am not that old school hello???????????//

anyway i like it......

This is the link to the website I found the list..along with alot of other interesting things.
http://www.filipinawives.com/

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 10:17:00

QUOTE (bratikicks @ Oct 23 2008, 10:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

funny but its true to pinay!....i was laughing while reading this....this is cool.....

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-23 09:37:00

Perhaps the American men will find these more humorous than the Filipinas. Guys, be prepared for some change in your life when you get here home....

You may be married to a Filipina if...

While this has circulated on the internet for quite some time, I have no idea who originally wrote it, though there can be NO doubt that the fella has a Filipina wife...by the way, this is all in good fun, so I hope no one is offended by some of the broader generalizations here. Some of these items I didn't understand myself, but most struck a familiar chord, and my wife enjoyed it (well, most of it), so I figure it's safe for public consumption.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may be married to a Filipina If... (written by an American guy who loves his Filipina wife in spite of the numerous irregularities):

* Your refrigerator is always full but you cannot find any food that you recognize

* Instead of a dowry, you got the whole bill for the wedding and honeymoon

* Most of the decorations in your house are made of wicker

* You are expected to be able to read her mind just by watching her eyebrows move up and down and by the way her lips are pointed

* All her relatives think your name is "Joe"

* The instant you are married you have 3,000 new close relatives that you can't tell apart

* Your house isn't really on fire, you've just got a very charred fish on top of the stove burner

* All the desserts are sticky and all the snacks are salty

* She eats her fruit with giant salt crystals and her fried chicken with ketchup

* Even the ketchup tastes weird...very weird

* You throw a party and everyone is fighting to chop the leathery skin off a dead pig

* All your kids have 4-5 middle names

* Your in-laws take 10 years to acknowledge your existence and to call you by something other than "that white guy"

* You try to call her up on the phone and someone tells you "for a while" and you want to know "for a while, what??"

* You are trying to go to sleep and she keeps asking for the comFORT'r, and you ain't got a clue what she's talking about

* Your first Christmas present is some funny looking, baggy, see-thru shirt made out of leftover lace doilies

* Your phone bills are composed mostly of international and calls that average 3 hours each

* She sweeps with something that witches usually fly around on

* Her idea of classy, expensive champagne is Asti Spumante

* The rice cooker is on 24 hours a day and uses up 50% of your electricity and food budget

* On your first trip to the Philippines, you have 18 giant boxes that weigh 1000 pounds each and your "carry on" luggage requires a small forklift truck

* The same luggage is over filled with things that cost an average of 15 cents each like old magazines and M&Ms -- the worst part is when you get off the plane, the same stuff you've been hauling around half way around the world is available in every store in the airport for half the price!

* All her pajamas look like they were worn by the Dalai Lama until they got too faded and he discarded them

* The first time she's pregnant you have to go out at 4:00 in the morning looking for some weird type of greasy sausages, green mangoes and bagoong

* You buy a new $500 freezer so she can store 200 pounds of SPAM and CORNED BEEF that was on sale

* Everything in your house was bought on sale, even if you don't need it ... that it was a "bargain" is all that matters

* She gets really excited by sucking the fat out of pig knees

* Your daughter gets her ears pierced when she's 2 minutes old but your sons are not circumcised until they turn 21

* All your postage bills instantly double

* You hire a Ya-Ya because your wife ckeabs mirrors with soap and a sponge and the Ya-Ya seems cheaper than a divorce

* The only "white meat" she likes is YOU. And that's if you're lucky...

* Her favorite sauce is called "patis." Americans call it turpentine

* She actually thinks that bowling and golf and billiards are real sports and are more important than baseball and football

* You were married 5 years before she explained to you that "ARAY!" doesn't mean "ooh, baby!"

* She prefers bistek to beef steak

* Her idea of new upholstery is rinsing the bagoong stains out of the slip covers

* She can eat and talk at the same time; in fact that's her specialty!

* Her favorite meal is leftovers, her favorite fancy dessert is Jell-O mold and for something REALLY romantic, she'll offer you a halo-halo with 2 straws

* You still don't know the difference between manong and manok

* She and the kids are always saying "Daddy made utot" and you still don't know what it means, but they think it's pretty funny

* Other than eyebrow raising and lip puckering, her next most expressive form of communication is grunts and pssst's

* She goes to the movies just for the AC

* Her homeland has more Megamalls than islands

* Before every holiday and visit, her sisters fax you a 10 page "bilins" list which says "suggestion only"

* Your kitchen table has a merry-go-round in the middle

* All the vegetables she buys at the Filipino store look like they were grown at Chernobyl

* Her friends are named Chinky, Girlie, Boy and Bimbo and NO, you are not allowed to smirk

* Her home economics course only taught shopping, eating and siesta; cooking, cleaning and sewing were not electives

* Her idea of edifying reading is gossip magazines

* All your place settings have the silverware backwards and there are no knives

* She washes her hair with a bucket and her car with a broom

* Her favorite book (she has 3 copies) is "1001 New Recipes for Pig Parts You Were Gunna Throw Out"

* You are the only family in a 200 mile radius with 2 Betamaxes, 3 televisions

* She's done her best job planning a surprise party for you if she manages not to tell you about it until a week or two before

* She "cleans" her closet by throwing all the ####### into your closet

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2008-10-22 21:39:00

It's about time..

Three days and my wife and child will be here in the U.S. and its about time. Has been nearly nine months since I have seen them. Our VISA process was really fast, but we decided to let our baby finish prep. But here we are....3 days away.

This site has been incredibly helpful...discoverd by a vague search for VISA info. But in the end, the most useful tool of all of them.

Just wanted to offer my thanks to everyone who help up along the way and offere a word of encouragment to those still processing. Hang in there, keep you hopes up and...read, read, read...if you are doing it right, you are research your behind off. I cannot count the hours I have spent reading posting, posting posts...and fretting about all the little details. But we made it.

God's love to all.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2009-04-04 23:02:00

Girls, this is it!

Well, if I may:

When did I know that I loved Gracey? That is a tough questin, because I cannot remember when i did not. I was married for 12 years and was stung badly by my ex-wife. So, I was EXTREMELY hesitant to even commit to a girlfriend; married was FAR frommy mind. Then I met this incredible woman who has the ability to express an intelligent thought(seems that is hard to find now-a-days)..anyhow, I thrive on good conversation and that is how we began. Spending countless hours....talking. We learned much about each over then and soon she was expressing some affectoin towards me.

Well, i felt the same, but did not want to be hurt again...so, I remained behind my protective wall. Being that we both had been through tough realtionship before and that we were both mature...we expressed our feelings openly. I told her of my hesitancy and she told me of her feelings. So, we proceeded from there. I sent her many music CDs, with romantic R&B to express my feelings when I was not ready to do so myself.

Eventually, I could no longer contain myself...my fears were wiped away and my "Luv you"..became "I love you"...and I flew to PI. We both know that our future was together...in fact, we bought the engagement ring..BEFORE I proposed to her.

Anyhow, my Gracey is nothing short of incredible..a woman in eveyr sense of the word. Beauty that is unrivaled, beauty that is unmatched, and a heart big enough to love even me. I have never known anything as pure as her heart..I have never been so accepted without prejuidice. I have deamt of a woman my entire life and Gracey Love is it. I have dreamt of a daughter and our baby girl is that daughter.

So, if you ask eme when I knew...I would have to say that I knew my entire life.

Boorai

Male

Philippines

2009-04-06 10:15:00

Requirements for a childs pass port

Hello...
In general, the child and BOTH parents must be present to apply for a PASSPORT for a child. (I am going through this currently with my fiancee and the father of her child.) This is not really a huge problem because the Passport still does not permit the child to immigrate to the USA.

AFTER the Passport is obtained, the problem becomes: Obtaining a "permission to leave" the country from the father. Many times, the so-called "father" wants to be "in control" and "macho" so he uses this to his advantage. Sometimes a monetary "negotiation" is needed to obtain this permission from him...so I'm told. So, to summarize:

1) Get the PASSPORT for the child.

2) Get the "permission to leave" from the father. (Or mother, as the case may be.)

Best Wishes and Good Luck,

Franc

FrancElsie

Male

Costa Rica

2010-03-27 09:25:00

when can icall for interview

Perhaps that's how things work for Costa Rica, but in Manila there is no Packet 3 sent out, there's no OF-169 faxed and the USC or Beneficiary can schedule the interview using a toll free number funded with a PIN. The embassy Manila supposedly sends out a letter that tells you to call and schedule an interview and gives you a link to the docs needed for the interview. Some folks have received this letter and some folks haven't.

You can begin calling for an interview a few days after the embassy received your petition from NVC.

Yep...that is the way they do it in Costa Rica & Colombia. I stand corrected. Thanks for sharing this information.

So, the Manila Embassy sends out a letter to the USC and they can call to schedule the interview for the beneficiary. Very interesting way of doing things. And this is a "hit or miss" proposition...some USC's receive this letter and some do not. I guess that I thought the USC was pretty much removed from the process once the file reached the Embassy in "whatever" country. My fiancee' and I are at this same juncture...our file is at the Embassy. I "helped" her with the forms needed to FAX to the Embassy but she has to fill in the other blanks, sign the appropriate forms and send in the OF-169. So, I really appreciate you bringing this to my attention.

OP...please listen to Johnny regarding to your posting. He knows more about the Philippines than I. I only know about Costa Rica and Colombia. Sorry if my post confused you.

Regards, :thumbs:

Franc

FrancElsie

Male

Costa Rica

2010-04-04 19:10:00

when can icall for interview

Can I make a interview appointment before she gets the package from the embassy?The embassy already got our petition package form the NVC last week.

Typically, the fiancee' receives the Packet #3 from the Embassy with a list of instructions as to what is needed prior to the appointment being scheduled. When she has these things in hand THEN she faxes an OF-169 (plus some other pages) which basically say..."OK, I'm ready now...schedule an interview date." At this point, you as the USC have little control as she must take care of things on her end. Once she has the interview scheduled, you can make your plans accordingly...going to the interview with her, flying back to the USA, etc.
Best Wishes and Good Luck :thumbs:

Franc
PS Just a reminder...the guides suggest that you NOT purchase (non-refundable) tickets for her to return to the USA with you until AFTER she is approved at the interview. Worst case scenario is that you buy tickets that can't be used because of some "SNAFU" at the last minute.

FrancElsie

Male

Costa Rica

2010-04-04 16:26:00