I am having a terrible time trying to show my wife's family that, although I appear rich, and am rich compared to the average Philippine citizen, I am not the Sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates or Rothschild.
Some members of my wife's family are convinced that I am sending mammoth amounts of money that my wife is hiding.
I am saving money for a house, but this is interpreted as stinginess by some of her family. It is not, I believe, due to a major fault in Philippino Human nature, but rather a complete lack of experience with even moderate amounts of money. Money is so scarce it must be spent before it is stolen or lost, or the family wakes from it's dream of affluence.
Work is scarce, and wages so low that all they do is live hand to mouth, the concept of planning a better life is pointless because it is out of reach.
I worry that it is my wife that takes the brunt of the family discontent at my stinginess. The other day she spoke to me of the latest Nokia and Guess Jeans desired, nay, demanded, by her sister. Sometimes I can see the strain and the cracks in her eyes and in her voice as we talk of her family's "needs".
Sometimes I feel like I am dealing with a whole family of autistic people, ike the character Dustin Hoffman played in Rainman. How much is a Nokia $10, How much are Guess Jeans $10, How much for an Aston Martin... $10.
How much money does bill gates earn a minute $10... and how much does ate's husband earn a minute...$10
