Arggghhhhhhhhhhh philippines!

[Arthur Little]

Yes ... I remember only too well, the frustrations encountered during my second visit: faulty ATMs (marginally better, I suppose, than being charged the equivalent of 'x' number of dollars each time I wanted to cash a single 'American Express' Travellers Cheque when I was there for the first time two months earlier) my place in the Shopping Mall queues specifically "reserved" for elderly customers (which I was) being usurped by people half my age jostling for first~come, first~served positions, ... to name but a couple of the most infuriating!!

Mind you, the seemingly interminable wait for my wife's spousal visa practically throughout the latter period, didn't exactly help matters.

[Arthur Little]

Well it wasn't for me when I was there..I love being in the Philippines despite of the bad things..You won't feel like that if you accept what you have or can't have in any place you live..Everything is just a matter of acceptance about the situation you are in. I got lots of friends and relatives living overseas for a very long time. But you would still hear them wanting to go back and live in the Philippines and would want to stay for good whenever they have vacation, despite the crisis that you guys are referring to.

s Rayna ... as I've highlighted in your response. After all, the Philippines is where you were born and bred. And you're right ... it's a question of acceptance - adjusting to ... and fitting in with, the environment - WHEREVER one finds oneself - as Graham mentioned earlier. At the present time, however, I'm receiving ongoing medical surveillance in the wake of my urological operation last November ... and any treatment arising from this seems likely to continue for the rest of my life.

So, please forgive any apparent hint of cynicism in my two previous posts; I assure you no offence is intended. Truth be told - in spite of what I said - I am a great "champion" of the Philippines ... and, particularly its people, whom I cherish as being amongst the friendliest to be found anywhere. But ... given my current medical circumstances ... I have to be thankful for living here in the UK with its National Health Service. Guess we Brits are spoilt for choice in that respect!

Mind you, the seemingly interminable wait for my wife's spousal visa practically throughout the latter period, didn't exactly help matters.

Hopefully, you'll also appreciate that I'd probably have felt the same wherever I'd happened to be in that situation.

[raynaputi]

So, please forgive any apparent hint of cynicism in my two previous posts; I assure you no offence is intended. Truth be told - in spite of what I said - I am a great "champion" of the Philippines ... and, particularly its people, whom I cherish as being amongst the friendliest to be found anywhere. But ... given my current medical circumstances ... I have to be thankful for living here in the UK with its National Health Service. Guess we Brits are spoilt for choice in that respect!

I'm not offended or anything Arthur, so no need to say sorry or anything I'm only saying that we know it's not always good wherever we go so we need not expect lots of things. It's up to us to make the journey worthwhile and not the people or things surrounding us.