Cielo, I think you have made some very interesting points and I think you are really helping some of us here, as that is one subject that is not really talked about, how to make our girls first few months comfortable, I know no amount of castles, scenic views will make up for the Philippines, and what is it with you ladies, Rockman's Mrs went straight out and bought a pair of high leg boots, what is it with that ?Shopping for my very first pair of high leg boots made England truly merry! :lol:
Perhaps you can answer that question for us...but you are right of course, Henley Regatta, Wembley concerts, etc, they are fantastic days out, and i hope to take Gina to those things, but you touched on a very important point.
What to do for your loved one when homesickness strikes ?
I noticed recently that a German Guy on the Asawa Forum lost his wife to homesickness, in the end she returned to the Philippines, the marriage almost over all but in name, I guess she didnt like Germany, and to be honest, its hard enough for Europeans, and I have lived in Germany with the British Army, I think maybe Keith our Forum Host has also lived in Germany, even for us its hard because you need to speak German really to get on there, its the same in France, you really need to speak French, to get on in French towns.
But in UK although most of the Girls speak excellent english, you cannot legislate for the homesickness, I have heard so many stories of Filipina's curling up on the sofa, crying when the hubby is out the door to work, then she is clinging to the curtains watching outside, of course as you know the view outside is not like most places in the Philippines, no lots of tricycles going past, and in any event most Filipina's are at work, or at the mall, shopping for fish, as you have said, for one thing it really worries me, as I know how much Gina loves Banggus, where the eck am I supposed to get that from ? I am already looking at different kinds of rice at Sainsbury's Tesco etc, plus Oishii (Paul Thomas) has located a supermarket in Edgware road which is Filipino, also we know about Manila Supermarket in Earls Court, but they are so far away, it will be a day out to visit them, I dont know of any Filipino supermarkets in Essex where I live, there is of course the Chinese Warehouse in North London which we can use, but what about really Filipino Foods, I guess Gina is just going to have to be inventive in her cooking and make these things for herself.
But you know you are right about the 1st year here in UK, it must be really hard, and I bet there is some crying along the way, missing freinds in the Brgys, the fish markets, or public markets, although we do have markets here, they are not the same I agree with you, lets be honest its all about missing the country you are used to, even when I am in the Philippines, I get itchy feet and want to go back to UK after 2 weeks, and often I am in for 3 or 4 weeks at a time, I get fed up with being frisked everytime I go in a mall, having to constantly smile at everyone, having to take taxis everywhere when I miss my car, having to face up to mountains and moutains of bureacracy when dealing with the Filipino authorities, you know Cielo there is good and bad on both sides, I am a guy who is very slow to loose my temper, but boy geeeeeeeze do I loose it in he Phils, thats why I was glad to get home, I promised Gina that she will be able to go back in 3 months to visit and at least that will begood for her, until she settles in.
I hope that does the trick, but now that we have you on the Forum, I would like to ask you to write a peice for us on how it was for you when you first came, Im sure lots of the guys would love to read it, so go on cielo give it a go will you.
