POLL- WHERE WILL YOU LIVE?

[z_k_g]

So where are all the foreign brides being taken?

[Dave H]

Hey z_k_g,

Not sure how to answer. I am thinking "ALL OF THE ABOVE."   Our immediate plan was for my wife to live in my country (US) (Bring Her Home!), which she did for 8 years. Our future plan was to live in her country (I'm Moving(ed) To Her Country) which we have been doing for the past year and a half. We would like to "Both Live Partially In Each Countries" (difficult to do when you have school age children). After we win the lottery, we plan to buy our own country to live in (We Both Are Looking to Move to A Third Country).

Personally, I think it is best that your new bride from the Philippines first lives in your country, becomes a permanent resident, and eventually a citizen. The doors of the world really opened up for my wife when she became a US Citizen! No more Visas to visit various countries, higher pay if working abroad, the option of getting paid 25 times more for doing the same job in the US as opposed to the Philippines, etc. I see too many guys who marry and retire in the Philippines, have children and don't even bother to report their marriages or register their children as US Citizens. When the proverbial sh-it hits the fan, the wife and especially the children are screwed!!! Should he die or disappear, the wife and kids are often no better off than the average Filipino, often worse! I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the cases that I know of! I hope these foreigners spend an eternity in sweltering heat, getting durians shoved up their butts! What good is it for a mestizo kid to be called "Kano" while he lives in a broken down nipa hut, selling sorbetes in the street to feed his family, and can't even afford to go to public school?

Dave

[Jeff S]

We've been living here in the US but plan on living 50/50 in a few years.

[Ray]

I hope these foreigners spend an eternity in sweltering heat, getting durians shoved up their butts!

Now that should make for some interesting smelling farts!   

[thekfc]

A couple of years here in the USA first....then 40% in the US, 40% in her country & 20% traveling to different places.

[robert angel]

Here now, but in her country, probably 80% of the time in 6 to 8 years, if all goes well.

The way things go for her at her jobs, the way she outworks and out 'nices' everyone there and advances so quickly, if she got into a first rate corporate entry level job here, she'd probably work her way to the top in a few years, make big money and ironically, that could 'screw' things up---keeping us here longer and maybe even lessening her vacation time---who the hell really knows?

[Ray]

For now anyway, we're firmly planted here in Mexifornia...

[Bob_S]

Here for now with Ray in the Soviet Socialist Republic of Mexifornia, at least until the Politburo drives my employer out of the state for good, or until I retire and can get the eff out of here to my wife's country, whichever comes first.

[jm21-2]

We plan on staying in the US until we hit around $400k in assets, then retire to a third country. Long ways off.

[Capstone]

As much as I would like to do a 50-50 split of our time in each country, the kid factor does not really make that too practical. We are probably looking at spending 75% of our time in the US and 25% in China - we will probably spend each summer in China while the kids are on their summer vacation and then also another 2 weeks in China during the Spring Festival is the most likely scenario. We will more than likely start doing this 2 summers from now - we already have a big trip planned for our baby's first trip to China with my parents and sister also in tow next September for the Mid Autumn Festival.

[Henry]

We plan on staying in the US until we hit around $400k in assets, then retire to a third country. Long ways off.

By that time, US $400K will then be worth $150K.

[william3rd]

I am planning to spend at least 50% of my time in Thailand. Part of the answer depends on what my kids are doing.

Next year, it will be 10% abroad. Which is less than I was doing when I was working overseas-I was at 25% for a number of years between Russian and Thailand. I need to set up some viable business interests overseas to make it worthwhile.

[Dave H]

I am planning to spend at least 50% of my time in Thailand. Part of the answer depends on what my kids are doing.

Kids were the biggest factor in my case. My oldest son was on his own. We waited for my second son to graduate high school and join the Navy before moving to the Philippines.

Dave

[Jeff S]

Anything she misses about the US now that she's back home?

[Ray]

The weather?

Rice without gravel & rat terds in it?

 

[z_k_g]

The weather?

Rice without gravel & rat terds in it?

 

The Truth!!  You can't handle the TRUTH!!   ROTFLMAO!! 

Ray you are raw! But classic!!

Zulu

[Dave H]

Now that should make for some interesting smelling farts!   

Hey Ray,

Very true! It may also be quite painful to fart with a durian blocking the ol' "exhaust pipe!" 

Dave







Hitler only got pineapples.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YssMT0qXYOw

[Jeff S]

Glad to see he guratees they're good!

[Dave H]

Anything she misses about the US now that she's back home?

Hey Jeff,

There are may positive things about living in the Philippines, family being at the top. Most kids are well behaved and polite. The schools are excellent and private schools are very cheap. We are paying just over $10 per month tuition for our daughter who is in one of the top private schools. She is in first grade and has over 10 subjects (a few are combined like MAPEH), including 2 languages. She can speak 4 languages (English, Filipino, Cebuano, and Spanish). Students learn to read before entering 1st grade. My daughter is already doing multiplication. The food, especially really fresh and cheap seafood is also big plus...although my wife misses king crab legs!  Living expenses are generally much lower in the Philippines, cheap housing, inexpensive carpenters, mechanics, plumbers, etc. My wife does miss the US in many ways. These are some things that I can remember her mentioning before.

Clean air, smoking and anti burning laws that are enforced, clean water, very little litter, great garbage pickup, her nice car, much better drivers, great roads, frozen food, coupons, supermarkets and stores full of choices, instead of the usual "No stock!", stores open longer hours (including 24 hours), better quality merchandise (here you pay a premium for "imported" goods and can't find many items) clean restaurants, our house, central air conditioning, our modern kitchen, 3 bathrooms, hot water throughout the house, privacy, peace and quiet, sealed and clean hospitals without cats and rats walking down the hallways, the readily available and better health care overall in the US (while most healthcare is reasonably priced here, very advanced 1 st world class healthcare costs a pretty penny here and is paid by cash!), misses our US health insurance, shorter waiting time for doctors, no ATM fees, much higher salaries, Disney World and Universal Studios...oh and "Rice without gravel & rat terds in it?"   Thanks Ray, I almost forgot! She is already talking about moving back to the US, at least for a while. She is especially worried about my health and that of our kids here! The constant burning of green leaves, plastics, and garbage has giving me and the kids some bad episodes of asthma. We really need to live on the beach with a clean sea breeze!

Dave

[Dave H]

Glad to see he guratees they're good!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F41qBx5xSOc

[z_k_g]

I have been reading quite a bit about living in the RP and many who move there rent.

If you ultimately decide to build or purchase a home, one of the main concerns that have been mentioned is security. 

Of course it depends on what island that you reside, some are better than others and your wife's family (prestige and influence) will play a greater role than anything concerning any "issues" you many have.

But in general, is it necessary to have:
-bars on your windows 
-security fence around the perimeter
-security system with alarm
-weapon

Just some thoughts.

Zulu

[robert angel]

Zulu,,

As I recall, a non Filipina caught with a firearm in the RP results in severe penalty, I'm sure some of the other guys here know a lot more about the particulars, including the level of enforcement.

But while I'd love to have my firearms, even if just a sawed off Mossberg 500 'Street Sweeper' 12 Gauge w/  pistol grip w/ a fold up stock, a Taurus pistol--"The Judge" revolver that shoots both 45 caliber AND 410 shotgun shells interchangeably, and then a Springfield XDM 45 caliber semi auto pistol, I'd do my self in before serving years in an RP prison.

And while I have some mighty fine knives, Filipinos are widely regarded as some of the, if not THE best, knife fighters, so what'd that leave me with? A stick--a bat? I guess maybe a chainsaw, but they take a while to start.

Anyways, you never want to show up at a gunfight with just a knife or a chainsaw!

I have sadly decided that when I am ready to make the move, my sons will hold onto my nice collection of firearms and most of my knives too. A couples of SOG knives, a couple of benchmade automatic knives I'll bring and of course, my trusty Filipino Bolo knife, in it's wooden 'belt' case.

I dunno about security--bars on the windows and good locks yes, maybe an electronic security system --but the power's  real irregular there--maybe a well trained German Shepard...

[thekfc]

Dave H, I had my first "encounter" with the Durian fruit when I was in Bohol.
We went to a supermarket & they had the fruit in the produce section & a guy cut one open for a lady while we were standing there.
Ahya was there laughing at me (my reaction to the smell).

[thekfc]

maybe a well trained German Shepard...

I did see a pitbull while in Manila. 

[z_k_g]

As I recall, a non Filipina caught with a firearm in the RP results in severe penalty, I'm sure some of the other guys here know a lot more about the particulars, including the level of enforcement.

Let's not digress, this was my last option in my previous post, but....as a matter of fact...

You can, as a citizen, legally own a weapon in RP!   I plan on becoming a dual citizen if I decide to move to RP for this reason!!

It has to be permitted by the authorities and "low power" , ie 22cal, 32cal pistol or a rifle or shotgun of low power and it cannot be carried on your person and MUST be kept in your home.

There are no gun ownership rights in the RP as we have here in US, that is true.  

But with the right permitting you (foreigner) citizen can posses a weapon, just not carry it anywhere outside of your home on the streets, not sure about on your property outside of home.

I don't want this thread to turn into a gun ownership treatise!

Zulu