Pinay Friend Locations

[Book Em Dano 2]

Hello VJ community,

My pinay fiance who hails from Barangay Tablon on Mindanao (outside Cagayan de Oro city) in Misamis Oriental will shortly be arriving in the United States via Seattle, Washington. I/we'll now reside in Whatcom County and we're looking for anyone that resides in either Whatcom or Skagit counties that we can communicate with. Like many others, this will be the first time their loved-one has been outside of the Philippines and so I'm looking for avenues of support and/or friends that might be able to assist in her transition.

Perhaps we'll hear from some of you?

Thanks,

Daniel

[X Factor 1,112]

Get her the book "Culture Shock USA" from Amazon.com for under $10.00. She will go through a tough time missing her folks. That doesn't mean she doesn't love you. It is a natural process and can take many months. One of my Filipina friends took about one year to overcome home sicknesss ... Let her Skype her friends and family regularly.

[Book Em Dano 2]

Yes, thanks Kennard...I appreciate your input and good advice...we'll surely do all those things. Of course it'd be nice to have a more in-person connection...at least that's what I'm hoping for.

Regards,

Daniel

Get her the book "Culture Shock USA" from Amazon.com for under $10.00. She will go through a tough time missing her folks. That doesn't mean she doesn't love you. It is a natural process and can take many months. One of my Filipina friends took about one year to overcome home sicknesss ... Let her Skype her friends and family regularly.

[gary9891 10]

Hello VJ community,

My pinay fiance who hails from Barangay Tablon on Mindanao (outside Cagayan de Oro city) in Misamis Oriental will shortly be arriving in the United States via Seattle, Washington. I/we'll now reside in Whatcom County and we're looking for anyone that resides in either Whatcom or Skagit counties that we can communicate with. Like many others, this will be the first time their loved-one has been outside of the Philippines and so I'm looking for avenues of support and/or friends that might be able to assist in her transition.

Perhaps we'll hear from some of you?

Thanks,

Daniel

I have 2 suggestions,

1. Find a Filipino store near you. They will have all her foods (you won't be able to pronounce), weird looking vegetables and frozen fish. The stores are a great place to find Fil-Am organizations and meet other pinays. My wife went inside our local store one day and met a Filipina who knew of a job opening where she worked. My wife left the store with a name and phone number. 2 years later my wife is still working there and loving it. Her best friend works there as well.

2. As most Filipino's are Catholic, take her to church if she wants. She will find many friends there as well.

My wife is from Tandag, Mindanao. We reside in the Florida panhandle.

Best Wishes.

[Leatherneck 693]

I have 2 suggestions,

1. Find a Filipino store near you. They will have all her foods (you won't be able to pronounce), weird looking vegetables and frozen fish. The stores are a great place to find Fil-Am organizations and meet other pinays. My wife went inside our local store one day and met a Filipina who knew of a job opening where she worked. My wife left the store with a name and phone number. 2 years later my wife is still working there and loving it. Her best friend works there as well.

2. As most Filipino's are Catholic, take her to church if she wants. She will find many friends there as well.

My wife is from Tandag, Mindanao. We reside in the Florida panhandle.

Best Wishes.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I have 2 suggestions,

1. Find a Filipino store near you. They will have all her foods (you won't be able to pronounce), weird looking vegetables and frozen fish. The stores are a great place to find Fil-Am organizations and meet other pinays. My wife went inside our local store one day and met a Filipina who knew of a job opening where she worked. My wife left the store with a name and phone number. 2 years later my wife is still working there and loving it. Her best friend works there as well.

2. As most Filipino's are Catholic, take her to church if she wants. She will find many friends there as well.

My wife is from Tandag, Mindanao. We reside in the Florida panhandle.

Best Wishes.

Great advice--- Also be warned the small dried fish smell really bad.

The Pinoy TV channels on Direct TV helped also.

Edited February 23, 2012 by scruffydog

[southcalhog 43]

I have 2 suggestions,

1. Find a Filipino store near you. They will have all her foods (you won't be able to pronounce), weird looking vegetables and frozen fish. The stores are a great place to find Fil-Am organizations and meet other pinays. My wife went inside our local store one day and met a Filipina who knew of a job opening where she worked. My wife left the store with a name and phone number. 2 years later my wife is still working there and loving it. Her best friend works there as well.

2. As most Filipino's are Catholic, take her to church if she wants. She will find many friends there as well.

My wife is from Tandag, Mindanao. We reside in the Florida panhandle.

Best Wishes.

[gary9891 10]

Great advice--- Also be warned the small dried fish smell really bad.

The Pinoy TV channels on Direct TV helped also.

Good call. I also forgot my wife watches "her shows" online. I will never understand "Pinoy Big Brother". I'll stick with Top Gear (British version please).

Best Wishes All

Edited February 24, 2012 by gary9891

[danver 15]

Hello VJ community,

My pinay fiance who hails from Barangay Tablon on Mindanao (outside Cagayan de Oro city) in Misamis Oriental will shortly be arriving in the United States via Seattle, Washington. I/we'll now reside in Whatcom County and we're looking for anyone that resides in either Whatcom or Skagit counties that we can communicate with. Like many others, this will be the first time their loved-one has been outside of the Philippines and so I'm looking for avenues of support and/or friends that might be able to assist in her transition.

Perhaps we'll hear from some of you?

Thanks,

Daniel

Is she from Tablon? Coz i am from Bugo, Cagayan De oro city which is about 5 mins. to tablon. Tablon is not outside Cagayan de oro.

Make sure she can eat filipino food and has filipino channel . I never experienced the what they called "culture shock" and homesick".

[Wally G! 58]

The only shock I foresee is the cold weather experienced in Seattle Brrrr!!! Get her warm clothes. To her it will be like going from the frying pan to the ice cooler. You can find many of the filipino shows online. Just search Philippines TV Shows or Pinoy Shows.

Find the local East Asian or Filipino Super-Market in your area or Seattle. You can also order from http://www.philamfood.com/. Very good Filipino Online Store.

As far communicating to her family back in Philippines. It can be either expensive or cheap. Me personally for my wife. I bought her a laptop 2 years ago in Phils. She left it there so she can webcam and chat with her family everyday. PLDT cost about $35 USD a month from me to pay. vs paying for calling cards and other methods of communication. This is just me. Not suggesting you go to that extent. Just options...

As for fellow Kabayan. The other persons advice is good to find friends and Filipinos in Seattle.

[Book Em Dano 2]

Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to respond and I agree, it would be beneficial for her to have the opportunity to view filipino cable channels or otherwise if she chooses. It goes without saying that each person defines their sense of homesickness or culture shock and how they adjust; just trying to simplify it for her if possible.

It sounds like we're talking about the same place...yes, she lives in Tablon. Perhaps it's semantics, but Tablon doesn't appear to be within the immediate confines of CDO. We've stayed with her family in Tablon, Upper Baloy, and Gusa many times, and even from Gusa traveling into CDO city center, it takes a minimum of 10 minutes by jeepney; we've never made it from Tablon in anything less than 15-20 minutes.

Anyway, I do appreciate everyone's input; it's appreciated. I threw a line out hoping to connect with either current or former immigrants that live in the general area that we will.

Thanks again.

Is she from Tablon? Coz i am from Bugo, Cagayan De oro city which is about 5 mins. to tablon. Tablon is not outside Cagayan de oro.

Make sure she can eat filipino food and has filipino channel . I never experienced the what they called "culture shock" and homesick".

[Book Em Dano 2]

Hi WG,

Thanks kindly for your input; it's appreciated. I smiled thinking about your observation regards the weather in the greater Seattle area...true, so true. You're right, she will be going from the frying pan to the ice cooler! I thought she'd be here closer to December/January so I took it upon myself to buy her some warm clothing, jackets etc. I have found a well-known Filipino store in the greater Seattle area so that will be a helpful resource getting some of the more difficult foods locally; my county is rather small and not well populated. I think I understand your idea about using PLDT, I'll check with her. We already have the resources for her to Skype or Yahoo Messenger video chat so we've got that covered.

Seattle proper is at least 2 - 2.5 hours from where I live so it's a little problematic visiting with potential friends in that area. Oh well, just thought I'd throw a line out in case there were any current or former VJ members that lived closer to my county.

Cheers

The only shock I foresee is the cold weather experienced in Seattle Brrrr!!! Get her warm clothes. To her it will be like going from the frying pan to the ice cooler. You can find many of the filipino shows online. Just search Philippines TV Shows or Pinoy Shows.

Find the local East Asian or Filipino Super-Market in your area or Seattle. You can also order from http://www.philamfood.com/. Very good Filipino Online Store.

As far communicating to her family back in Philippines. It can be either expensive or cheap. Me personally for my wife. I bought her a laptop 2 years ago in Phils. She left it there so she can webcam and chat with her family everyday. PLDT cost about $35 USD a month from me to pay. vs paying for calling cards and other methods of communication. This is just me. Not suggesting you go to that extent. Just options...

As for fellow Kabayan. The other persons advice is good to find friends and Filipinos in Seattle.

[Book Em Dano 2]

Hi Gary,

If you have the opportunity, would you kindly tell me which shows your wife watches online and what URL she goes to? I'd very much appreciate that. I have standard cable however higher tiers of service do offer one or two Filipino channels. I don't have Dish or Direct TV...yet.

Thank you.

Good call. I also forgot my wife watches "her shows" online. I will never understand "Pinoy Big Brother". I'll stick with Top Gear (British version please).

Best Wishes All

[Book Em Dano 2]

Thank you Scruffy,

Seems like I might be researching Dish or Direct TV a litle further...good suggestion.

Regards

Great advice--- Also be warned the small dried fish smell really bad.

The Pinoy TV channels on Direct TV helped also.

[duriantaste 44]

I have 2 suggestions,

1. Find a Filipino store near you. They will have all her foods (you won't be able to pronounce), weird looking vegetables and frozen fish. The stores are a great place to find Fil-Am organizations and meet other pinays. My wife went inside our local store one day and met a Filipina who knew of a job opening where she worked. My wife left the store with a name and phone number. 2 years later my wife is still working there and loving it. Her best friend works there as well.

2. As most Filipino's are Catholic, take her to church if she wants. She will find many friends there as well.

My wife is from Tandag, Mindanao. We reside in the Florida panhandle.

Best Wishes.

Very good advice. Usually those stores promote events and once you guys go to those events, she will be home free. She will meet many friends.