Immigrant Pinay feeling homesick and lonely [split topic]

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

3 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

 

Menudo is one of my wife's favorites also, but the menudo in Tucson is Mexican .. we were at a friend's house where they were serving menudo -  she was disappointed after tasting it.   The other my wife really likes is soupas, I have mine with the egg on the side    

I love both kinds actually but I do like the flavor of Filipino menudo better in all honesty. The place where we used to get it from is a Filipino grocery that sells AWESOME hot togo food. http://www.arkofoodsmarket.com/

 

My wife did taste some of my neighbors Mexican dishes while in CA and really was not to impressed with them at all. She considered the quality and the taste to be inferior to hers and other Filipinos. One time she made Kinilaw(Ceviche) with actual fresh tuna and I took it over there for my neighbors to have for a party they were having at that time, man let me tell you that dish was gone in NO TIME AT ALL. They were surprised that she actually used tuna because they usually use Tilapia(no wonder it's inferior) and that she had added mangoes to it for a added taste. They also kept saying "We don't really like it, but can you tell your wife to make some more please", lol.

 

That is what gets me is I LOVE SISIG but I hate eggs. So I have to tell them to make it and don't add the egg on top.

[Hank_ 9,174]

3 hours ago, cyberfx1024 said:

I love both kinds actually but I do like the flavor of Filipino menudo better in all honesty. The place where we used to get it from is a Filipino grocery that sells AWESOME hot togo food. http://www.arkofoodsmarket.com/

 

My wife did taste some of my neighbors Mexican dishes while in CA and really was not to impressed with them at all. She considered the quality and the taste to be inferior to hers and other Filipinos. One time she made Kinilaw(Ceviche) with actual fresh tuna and I took it over there for my neighbors to have for a party they were having at that time, man let me tell you that dish was gone in NO TIME AT ALL. They were surprised that she actually used tuna because they usually use Tilapia(no wonder it's inferior) and that she had added mangoes to it for a added taste. They also kept saying "We don't really like it, but can you tell your wife to make some more please", lol.

 

That is what gets me is I LOVE SISIG but I hate eggs. So I have to tell them to make it and don't add the egg on top.

I don't care for sisig, most has too much fat in it .. I will take the egg.  

[Greenbaum 12,259]

My wife shares many of the same experiences that many of the Pinas here have expressed. It took her a year before she finally went for her driving test. She was so scarred. Once she passed the test, 3rd time is always the charm, she was also scarred to drive to work. We bought a car that she wanted and felt safe in and we also installed a GPS unit. I sent her off the first day with her GPS with her work location dialed in and she made with no problems. She said that she drove on the freeway but refused to change lanes and if a Semi Trailer truck passed her she was close to freezing while waiting for the truck to pass. That all soon passed after she attained some confidence and now she drives everywhere.

 

She too was homesick but she mustered up the courage and was able to overcome that feeling. She just kept herself busy, watch Filipino TV, cruised the Internet for her favorite Filipino shows and called whenever she felt it using Skype and magic jack.

 

Do a Google search for Filipino Restaurants and Stores. Chose those under yelp.com. There are two restaurants and 20 Filipino stores.

 

Get out to these stores and you will meet other Filipinos.

 

Study your driver's and Nursing so you are ready for your tests.

 

Over time you will not be so home sick.

[marriedtomrg 141]

On 3/5/2018 at 9:33 PM, Greenbaum said:

My wife shares many of the same experiences that many of the Pinas here have expressed. It took her a year before she finally went for her driving test. She was so scarred. Once she passed the test, 3rd time is always the charm, she was also scarred to drive to work. We bought a car that she wanted and felt safe in and we also installed a GPS unit. I sent her off the first day with her GPS with her work location dialed in and she made with no problems. She said that she drove on the freeway but refused to change lanes and if a Semi Trailer truck passed her she was close to freezing while waiting for the truck to pass. That all soon passed after she attained some confidence and now she drives everywhere.

 

She too was homesick but she mustered up the courage and was able to overcome that feeling. She just kept herself busy, watch Filipino TV, cruised the Internet for her favorite Filipino shows and called whenever she felt it using Skype and magic jack.

 

Do a Google search for Filipino Restaurants and Stores. Chose those under yelp.com. There are two restaurants and 20 Filipino stores.

 

Get out to these stores and you will meet other Filipinos.

 

Study your driver's and Nursing so you are ready for your tests.

 

Over time you will not be so home sick.

Oh Lord - does that ever bring up memories.  Two days after I passed my driving test, I had to drive myself to work.

 

Mind you, at the time we lived at an apartment near I-10, and the shortest distance from our apartment to the grocery store where I work is on I-10 and to the next exit (6 miles away).

 

I told my husband I was going to take the long way (read: chicken**** way), and he was practically up in arms.  I started crying.  And then he was like, well do you want me to drive you?  And I said No! I will do it myself!

 

That was the longest 6 miles I drove that morning - stayed on the right lane while not one, not two, but three semis drove past me on the left.  Never saw my knuckles so white before!

 

As soon as I got to the parking lot (I kid you not), I knelt down and kissed the ground.

 

That was also the first time I drove at night - back on I-10.  Fun stuff!

 

I am so glad I can drive now, though - very liberating!

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 hour ago, marriedtomrg said:

Oh Lord - does that ever bring up memories.  Two days after I passed my driving test, I had to drive myself to work.

 

Mind you, at the time we lived at an apartment near I-10, and the shortest distance from our apartment to the grocery store where I work is on I-10 and to the next exit (6 miles away).

 

I told my husband I was going to take the long way (read: chicken**** way), and he was practically up in arms.  I started crying.  And then he was like, well do you want me to drive you?  And I said No! I will do it myself!

 

That was the longest 6 miles I drove that morning - stayed on the right lane while not one, not two, but three semis drove past me on the left.  Never saw my knuckles so white before!

 

As soon as I got to the parking lot (I kid you not), I knelt down and kissed the ground.

 

That was also the first time I drove at night - back on I-10.  Fun stuff!

 

I am so glad I can drive now, though - very liberating!

My wife was the same way as well even now because she hated driving on the Freeways in California with all the traffic everywhere.

[John & Rose 7,239]

On 3/5/2018 at 1:56 PM, cyberfx1024 said:

I love both kinds actually but I do like the flavor of Filipino menudo better in all honesty. The place where we used to get it from is a Filipino grocery that sells AWESOME hot togo food. http://www.arkofoodsmarket.com/

 

My wife did taste some of my neighbors Mexican dishes while in CA and really was not to impressed with them at all. She considered the quality and the taste to be inferior to hers and other Filipinos. One time she made Kinilaw(Ceviche) with actual fresh tuna and I took it over there for my neighbors to have for a party they were having at that time, man let me tell you that dish was gone in NO TIME AT ALL. They were surprised that she actually used tuna because they usually use Tilapia(no wonder it's inferior) and that she had added mangoes to it for a added taste. They also kept saying "We don't really like it, but can you tell your wife to make some more please", lol.

 

That is what gets me is I LOVE SISIG but I hate eggs. So I have to tell them to make it and don't add the egg on top.

I make a killer sinigang.  I agree that Filipino menudo is better than Mexican and I LOVE kinilaw.   Sisig is OK but it depends on the protein.  I dont like the really hard bits that hurt my teeth.  

[Hank_ 9,174]

Sinigang  masarap!!    

[Phil&Mich 36]

menudo for the win! my hub's favorite too. 

[Kochansuke 1]

Hi, you can buy  Filipino goods n jungle jim international market. We always go there to buy soy sauce  and vinegar  for Adobo, my husband loves Adobo,bulalo and pork  sinigang😊

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

6 minutes ago, Kochansuke said:

Hi, you can buy  Filipino goods n jungle jim international market. We always go there to buy soy sauce  and vinegar  for Adobo, my husband loves Adobo,bulalo and pork  sinigang😊

Where is this at?

[Kochansuke 1]

3 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

Where is this at?

Jungle Jim's International Market, 5440 Dixie Hwy, Fairfield, OH 45014

 

[Balamban 113]

A suggestion to help you in multiple ways:

 

Check with your local hospital and offer to be an unpaid volunteer perhaps a few afternoons or mornings each week.

 

It would serve you in a few ways: It'll reduce boredom.  In a short time they will find that you are an unlicensed in America, licensed in the Phils RN, and a ED/ER nurse, so I'll bet that you'll gravitate as a volunteer towards the ED.  Once there you'll start to absorb + energy and support from the environment and that will entice you to do review for the NCLEX.  It will also serve to make you feel significant, which is how you felt as a nurse in the Phils.

 

A warning for any Filipino about the NCLEX:  Beware of "reverse" questions.  

 

Here's an example: Patient has symptom x, what would be the last thing that you would take care of: 1) pain relief 2) Assure clear airway 3)Check pulse

 

The answer in this made up question is 1)pain relief but Filipino nurses often choose 2) airway because we consider ABC (Airway, breathing, circulation) as MOST important and so instinctively answer what is the most important and choose 2.  But that is wrong because the question is "reverse."  It asks for the last thing you check for not the first, so the answer is 1) pain control.  The difficulty has to do with the structure of Bisayan/Tagalog versus English and your brain will trick you and use your native language rules, though in this case your brain will mislead you.

 

I suggest visting allnurses.com it's fun, free and educational.  I have noticed over the years. again and again, Filipino nurses say: "I failed NCLEX and don't know why, I had high grades and know what I should know."  Over and over, it is the "reverse" questions that throw anyone where English is not their native language. 

 

Also I suggest that two weeks before the NCLEX you avoid talking in your native language to anyone at all.  There are fundamental differences in Bisayan and Tagalog which tell your brain: "the question is this way," when in English the meaning is different.

[Hank_ 9,174]

3 hours ago, Kochansuke said:

Hi, you can buy  Filipino goods n jungle jim international market. We always go there to buy soy sauce  and vinegar  for Adobo, my husband loves Adobo,bulalo and pork  sinigang😊

I know Jungle Jim's.  My buddy goes there to shop from time to time, not sure how much it carries relating to the Philippines... but I have heard it has tons of great deals, so may be worth the trip just for the heck of it.    

[KansasDragon 1]

Have you seen this website:  http://www.philamohio.com/paso/paso-news/ , you may find some new friends and resources in your area.

Hunt for other Filipina in the area and make a few friends you can cook, talk, sing, and be "you" with.

 

You may want to check out this restaurant, too..  http://melyskainan.letseat.at

 

Gotta love Google Search...

 

 

[jskibo 588]

On 3/5/2018 at 6:31 AM, dcpa55 said:

Thank you. Therr is no choice herr but to be strong.I live in Strongsville, Ohio. 

Well you're at the other border of that state from us, as we are in Loveland, OH.  My wife was homesick at first, but we had left and ipad with Mom and they facetime'd all day for awhile.  She's been here three years and I.m sure one of these driving test she will pass   Those pesky cones!

 

Jungle Jim's has a fairly good selection down here as well as CAM International Market and a few other.  Indiana Balikbayan covers Ohio and usually picks up once a week.  $79 a box, but runs different specials throughout the year if you're looking to send stuff home.

 

My wife ended up quickly finding a couple Pinay groups and local pinays to hang out with and shop or grab lunch.  My work involves some longer Middle East trips (2-3 weeks) so its nice for her to have some local friends to hang out with when I'm gone.  She's working part time now too so more socialization time.

 

When I retire it will be my turn as we plan on moving to Palawan

Edited March 31, 2018 by jskibo
seems I can't type