Lets take a census

[Minnesota guy]

... in response to Lets take a census, posted by tomtneal on Jan 6, 2002

Have only met one woman through my neighbors. I'm either very lucky or it's the best scam ever. I'm heading back to Manila on 1/31 and then we're heading down to Leyte to spend time with my neighbors and the rest of her family. My biggest problem now is to find a good place near Hilomos (sp?) to watch the Bears win the Super Bowl.

[Eman]

... in response to Re: Lets take a census, posted by Minnesota guy on Jan 7, 2002

n/m

[Eman]

... in response to Lets take a census, posted by tomtneal on Jan 6, 2002

Thanks to TomT for the census idea. It proved to be quite an eye-opener. Personally I'm still working the correspondence method, though without any great results thus far, so lately I have been pondering the idea of "just go there" which seems to have worked for a few of us here.

[Jeff S]

... in response to Re: Lets take a census, posted by Eman on Jan 7, 2002

Eman:

Going back a while in the archives was another census taken about how the married people had met. It turns out about 1/2 met through introductions by friends, 1/4 through pen pal means (address purchase, IRQ, etc) and about 1/4th by accident, (on vacation in the far east, while living there, in the military, etc.)

The conclusion we all came up with was, that probably the most successful technique to meet serious singles is to hook up with the Asian community in your town and ask about friends and relatives back home.

-- Jeff S.

[Eman]

... in response to Re: Re: Lets take a census, posted by Jeff S on Jan 7, 2002

Jeff - thanks for the idea. You definitely got me thinking about that. I'm frankly not sure if it would be advantageous or not. First I'm not necessarily clear on how to insinuate myself into the local Asian community. But the problem I'm encountering is not simply finding someone, it's finding someone who can be a Successful penpal. It seems a lot of people don't have the ability to really express their personality in writing/correspondence (I might be one of them, I don't know). On one hand, we have examples like our own Febtember, where her charm really shines through her written word. But most of the letters I've received barely get past a few superficial pleasantries. I try to get things rolling by being more expansive myself, and by asking some fairly searching questions, but these are mostly ignored, or dispatched with a brief sentence or 2. So it seems the medium is not adequate to advance the relationship.

[jon]

... in response to Lets take a census, posted by tomtneal on Jan 6, 2002

Over 3 years of looking and still nothing.  Of course I have not done much these past 8 months that I have been unemployed.  I did however meet 2 pinays here: one was crazy, and the other forgot to tell me she was married (what do you mean he's not your uncle?).  My method of choice is writing letters.  I visited one girl over a year ago but nothing clicked (on either side).

Jon (now in FL)

[Jeff S]

... in response to Re: Lets take a census, posted by jon on Jan 7, 2002

Hi Jon & welcome back! Are you employed again? Down in Florida, huh - maybe you should hook up with Dave H!
-- Jeff S.

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Re: Lets take a census, posted by Jeff S on Jan 7, 2002

Hey Jeff,

I hope Jon has a job, because I don't. Somebody has to pay for the San Miguel. ;o)) Tito Matt and Jay-wolf are also neighbors. We need to plan a S. FL. meet.

Dave H.

[jon]

... in response to Cool..., posted by Dave H on Jan 7, 2002

I've been in Tampa a few days now.  No, I am not working.  Just found out that I did not get a potential job.  I will be going from high tech to you wnat fries with that? It's been 8 months and I figured I might as well be warm.  Also, the friend I was staying with up North is selling his home.  I am shacked up with a friend of a friend.

Dave...you retired, right?

Jon

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Cool..., posted by jon on Jan 7, 2002

Jon,

Sorry to hear that the potenial job didn't work out. You're right, you might as well be where it's warm...well, warm except for this past week. I retired 5 years ago at 39. They gave me an offer I couldn't refuse..."disabled in the line of duty."  ( I will probably start a business one of these days... Let me know if you get down to Lauderdale. Good Luck!

Dave H.

[Jimbo]

... in response to Re: Lets take a census, posted by jon on Jan 7, 2002

Hi Jon,

How are you doing? Are you living in FL now?

Sally

[jon]

... in response to Re: Re: Lets take a census, posted by Jimbo on Jan 7, 2002

See my post above. Send donations to....

Jon

[SteveG]

... in response to Lets take a census, posted by tomtneal on Jan 6, 2002

As most of you know, I went whole hog for the penpal method (yep, Jimbo, 265 of them LOL) and as a result have been married for 7 1/2 years now.  It's been mostly mostly happy except for the infrequent beatings she gives me......   (If I get a phone call in a few minutes, I'll know she's reading this.  LOL)  

 Seriously, I have no regrets at all.  I can't imagine life without Melly now.   Having penpals as a method to meet women has gotten some undeserved bad press here lately in my opinion.  I see no more risk using that method than any other.  After all, just because you first got acquanted as penpals, that doesn't prevent you from spending whatever time it takes later on, together in person, to decide if you are right for each other.

                                     SteveG

[SteveG]

... in response to I took the penpal route....., posted by SteveG on Jan 7, 2002

Tom,
 I feel it is significant for the purpose of this census that I mention my other experience with a penpal whom I was engaged to prior to marrying Melly.   Most people here are at least somewhat familiar with my story about Arlene so I won't go into it in any detail here except to say that getting to know her from letters and phone calls prior to meeting gave me a very real view of who she was.   There were no surprises when we actually met - if anything can be said about why we fell apart (other than the Iglesia ni Christo) it would have to be my ignoring the fact that we just weren't very compatible in the first place.  I fell victim to the long black hair and dark sleepy mysterious eyes disease I suppose.  

 However, and this is a very significant however, she certainly wasn't out to use me just to come to the US.  In fact she begged me to move to HongKong with her.  She even payed for everything we did the first 3 days when I first visited her due to all the banks being closed.  She did this without hesitation.  

 So two penpals visited and two good ones has been my experience.

                          SteveG

[JephW]

... in response to I took the penpal route....., posted by SteveG on Jan 7, 2002

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