Steve White.net

So I Amy and I went shopping at Gaisano a few days ago (the local equivalent of Walmart, basically). We had to buy plastic coat hangers for the laundry. When we found them there were bundles of two different kinds — really crappy square-shaped ones, and much nicer rounded smooth ones. Both were made out of the same kind of plastic, with the same color selection.

I immediately grabbed the nice rounded ones while Amy grabbed the square crappy ones. Hers had many sharp edges that would snag on your clothes, mine didn’t.

So of course I asked why she grabbed the square ones. “Oh, this bundle has more than the rounded bundle.” I counted and they both were bundles of 12, exactly the same. “Yeah, but those are more expensive.” I check the price tag and they were both exactly 36 pesos (roughly $0.80 USD) per bundle.

It’s important to note that I could have been wrong on both accounts — mine could have been more expensive on a cost/unit basis.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Americans will always immediately try to find the better quality stuff, while Filipinos will always immediately try to find the least expensive option. We both have our blinders on, but we’re seeing completely different things.

I know I haven’t saved the world or anything, I’m just sayin’.

Since typhoon Fengshen the power has been out in the part of Cebu that I visit (Daanbantayan). But I got a hold of Amy the other day on her cell phone and everyone up there is fine, the house is fine, my car is fine, etc. She said many coconut trees have fallen down, there is still no power or telephone. She’s going to stay with relatives in the city for a few days.

Coincidentally I’m on my way back there in a few days myself. If you want to donate some disaster supplies to some of the families there let me know. I’m sure they can use the usual stuff, rice, clothes, toothpaste, bandaids, etc…

Yep, bizarre how life works. In America, I would never consider buying a house in a subdivision. Cookie-cutter McMansions on postage-stamp sized lots? The homeowners association gets to decide what color my curtains can be? That’s just plain madness. For years I’ve been laughing at people who sign their home-owning freedoms away and pay monthly for the privilege.

But in the Philippines it might make sense. The major issue is a simple matter of security since, at least for the time being, I will be traveling back and forth to the US for business. If I need to be in America for a few months, I don’t want to worry about my house being disassembled piece-by-piece and carried off to be processed into napkin holders or hotdogs or some such.

A problem specific to the Philippines is the videoke phenomenon. Essentially, videoke is the name Filipinos use for karaoke. But they like it really loud. And in general Filipinos can’t quite sing as well as, say, William Hung. Remember him? Videoke bars are commonly just run from within a family’s living room, and whoever can afford to buy a videoke machine can open up a new bar. That person might just be your neighbor, and it might just go on all night, unless you happen to live in a subdivision with a homeowners association that has rules preventing that sort of thing.

Plus I can probably park my car there for a few months and not have to worry about it too much. Subdivisions also seem to have the best chance of high-speed internet too.

So you add it all up and suddenly buying in a subdivision makes sense. Give a guy a wedding and he goes right down the tubes, doesn’t he?

Just for the record, we are officially the happiest husband and wife on the planet.

Due to the recent engagement, wedding, and honeymoon activities here, I’m way behind on my work. I just wanted to let everyone know that I am now a married man. All you single girls can stop calling me now.

I will try to fill in more details later.