Learning my fiancee 's culture

[lbounds 16]

I broke my leg in 3 places and my arm at the same time. I have screws in my leg and arm and a metal rod in the bone in leg. This has been many years ago, most of the time I forget that even happened. It hasn't affected my life in a negatitive way. I put my faith in God a lot during the tough times. Like the other posters said it will get better. I'm sure everyone at VJ wishes you the best.

[Tahoma 2,292]

I broke my leg in 3 places and my arm at the same time. I have screws in my leg and arm and a metal rod in the bone in leg. This has been many years ago, most of the time I forget that even happened. It hasn't affected my life in a negatitive way. I put my faith in God a lot during the tough times. Like the other posters said it will get better. I'm sure everyone at VJ wishes you the best.

^^^Hey...thanks Leo.

@Robert...get well soon.

@krikit...chill...I'm enjoying this thread.

[mikeuday19 0]

man this is so funny! i actually had cramps,

question: you don't have money for a movie?

answer: yes

nyahahahhahaah

what's worse is this:

question: you don't have money for a movie?

answer: yes?

[rlogan 2,036]

Thanks for the well-wishes. It isn't my first broken bone. Over twenty years of combat sports has left me with a lot of them. This one is just a really bad set of commudal fractures on both tibia and fibia.

The thing that I miss is hiking in the forest and all the wildlife.

It is a little baffling finding the necessity to point out that the risks one assumes in Mindanao or anywhere for that matter vary considerably depending on which specific area one is talking about, how you conduct yourself, what events are transpiring at the time, etc. Even within a city there are vastly different micro-cultures, and again that would be true even within a U.S. City.

Regardless, doing research before you go is paramount not just to your safety but also to your enjoyment and to the understanding of the people you will meet.

There are a surprising variety of cultures, even on individual islands with different ethnic groups and languages. Sometimes the influence of the Spanish rule is dominant, and in some places like ARMM is is nonexistant. Some places view the U.S. as a dear friend, and others a mortal enemy - especially in areas of the heaviest fighting during the Phipippine-American War. The Moro people for centuries fought the spanish, the americans, the philippine government, and were never conquered by anyone. They have their own autonomous region on Mindano (the ARMM).

Someone may have brought up the "quack doctors" already. I did a lot of jungle expeditions in South America and Asia where historically the shamans actually did have substantive knowledge of the healing powers in various plants and herbs. They had some very interesting hallucinogenic potions as well. But I have not found that to be true of the "quack doctors" I have encountered on the philippines.

My wife's family has had them do some things I figure are harmless, and you need to choose your cultural battles wisely. So if they want to put a piece of lint on my son's forehead, well - so be it. I couldn't figure out where that was coming from at first. I removed it a couple of times before I saw my mother-in-law putting it back up there again.

They were actually right about the medical profession being incapable of diagnosing or treating my wife's migraines. But their belief in the quack doctors was equally in vain. Ultimately our own research led us to the right diagnosis and treatment.

Maybe there was a time when the quack doctors had substantive knowledge. My experience so far has been that it is the right name for them.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Maybe there was a time when the quack doctors had substantive knowledge. My experience so far has been that it is the right name for them.

That may be quite true. So far, I have yet to me any Filipino doctor, nurse, dentist, therapist, or medical technician, that was as good as the opinion he/she holds of his/herself. Talk about arrogance! Make the slightest suggestion, or question the diagnosis, he, or especially she, goes all attitude! They never make mistakes.

[Markieboy 104]

Have you actually tried that? What's worse - putting up with someone yelling, "Hey Joe!" at you on the street, or spending a few years in a Filipino prison for assaulting a Filipino?

I doubt it. Filipinos, in general, are very sensitive...especially to foreigners trying to intimidate them. It is understandable due to the years of occupation and oppression from the Spanish, the Japanese and the Americans.

Punching someone, in the manner he described, would likely result in a stabbing or shooting. People can easily disappear in the smaller barangays.

My advice is definitely keep a low profile, especially in the provinces. An arrogant and cocky American doesn't impress the oldschool folk.

[Pinay Wife 47]

I doubt it. Filipinos, in general, are very sensitive...especially to foreigners trying to intimidate them. It is understandable due to the years of occupation and oppression from the Spanish, the Japanese and the Americans.

Punching someone, in the manner he described, would likely result in a stabbing or shooting. People can easily disappear in the smaller barangays. My advice is definitely keep a low profile, especially in the provinces. An arrogant and cocky American doesn't impress the oldschool folk.

Couldn't have said it any better.

[Atencio 43]

That may be quite true. So far, I have yet to me any Filipino doctor, nurse, dentist, therapist, or medical technician, that was as good as the opinion he/she holds of his/herself.

I have had probably 50 Filipino and Filipina nurses work for me in the last 12 years and every one of them was an excellent nurse. They work hard with their patients, don't take shortcuts in their care, and rarely call in sick.

[Tahoma 2,292]

That may be quite true. So far, I have yet to me any Filipino doctor, nurse, dentist, therapist, or medical technician, that was as good as the opinion he/she holds of his/herself. Talk about arrogance! Make the slightest suggestion, or question the diagnosis, he, or especially she, goes all attitude! They never make mistakes.

I have had probably 50 Filipino and Filipina nurses work for me in the last 12 years and every one of them was an excellent nurse. They work hard with their patients, don't take shortcuts in their care, and rarely call in sick.

Based on Chinook's experience as an RN in the Philippines as well as her experience as an RN here in the U.S., I completely agree with Atencio.

Chinook currently works with several Filipino RNs, LPNs, and NACs. They are hard-working and don't have attitudes.

I'm left wondering how many Filipino doctors, nurses, dentists, therapists, and medical technicians ########## knows.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Based on Chinook's experience as an RN in the Philippines as well as her experience as an RN here in the U.S., I completely agree with Atencio.

Chinook currently works with several Filipino RNs, LPNs, and NACs. They are hard-working and don't have attitudes.

I'm left wondering how many Filipino doctors, nurses, dentists, therapists, and medical technicians ########## knows.

Not 50 for sure. But I am still waiting to meet the one the lives up to your expectations.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Not 50 for sure. But I am still waiting to meet the one the lives up to your expectations.

Where did I mention that I had any expectations?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Where did I mention that I had any expectations?

They are hard-working and don't have attitudes.

[Tahoma 2,292]

^^^Those are observations, not expectations. There's quite a difference, wouldn't you agree?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

^^^Those are observations, not expectations. There's quite a difference, wouldn't you agree?

We most often see what we expect to see.

[Atencio 43]

We most often see what we expect to see.

Managed many people have you?