I think hygiene is different for every person. It's not something that's because of culture or race or what. Just in the Philippines alone, plenty of unhygienic people everywhere. My mum-in-law will not let me hug or kiss her in the cheeks whenever she has cold because she doesn't want me to get it. Keith would also cringe being with someone with cough/cold/or whatever virus they have whenever we see someone because he easily catches it and it buggers his health for days. One example was when we went to Singapore and he wanted to go to Mustafa Centre (a big Indian shop) because it's cheap to buy stuff there. I told him I never liked the place because it's really crowded and I hate the smell. But he insisted. That same night he had fever and it ruined our week in Singapore because he was sick the whole week.

Another instance of hygiene related stuff is that hubby's family will always tell me how to eat cooked shrimps/prawns with shells on it. I always use my spoon and fork and would never use my hands to remove the shells because that's the way my dad has taught me (and my siblings) while growing up. They said that I'm doing it wrong and should use my hands to remove the shells, but I have never change the way I eat. My dad never liked it whenever we used our bare hands while eating. He says it's unhygienic. In the Philippines, you will always see someone using just their hands to eat (nagkakamay), but my dad refused to do the same (although my siblings and I know how to). So, hygiene is definitely not the same for everybody.

The English language, well it really did originate from the English people. You can't contest about it. I used to get lots of comments about my "American" English accent too, but these people also appreciate that they can clearly understand me, being a foreigner to them. My hubby and I had always had silly exchanges of how I say it and how it should be pronounced or spelled according to him. But I always take it as a new knowledge rather than get offended by it. Accents also play a big role in how the people here in the UK speak. Also, you will notice that a lot of the youngsters are the ones who don't really appreciate how they talk, spell, or what. Mind you, Filipinos are way more critical than the British when it comes to language.

Treating adults as child, well definitely a family way rather than culture and race. My hubby does and knows a lot, but are restricted because of his health. My in-laws hated it when their grand kids are useless, especially when it comes to money. Keith's kids are living with their mum and they didn't get the proper upbringing when it comes to education, money, work and other stuff. Why? Because it's how they've seen it and got accustomed to while living with their mum. And my mum-in-law has always pointed that out to me because she said it will not be the case if they lived with them..hahaha..

You see, if you will really be critical of the people and lifestyle here in the UK, you will notice every single thing. I was like that at first (particularly the way family relationships, which I found not very the same in the Philippines). But then, I got to think that there are people/lifestyle/manners like that in the Philippines and other countries as well, that made me stop being that critical and resisting the changes that I'm encountering. Life is too short to be bothered with all the changes that won't always conform me. If it's not a matter of life and death, then I couldn't be bothered.