Expenses and first impressions

Is it less expensive? Well, some things are cheaper. The rent for our 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment is 8000 pesos, which is $182, but we live in Pateros. Pateros is the smallest municipality in Metro Manila.  We don't have hot water, and I would not be able to go anywhere without Jackie or Joan, because it is a maze. (my friends are twins)

Pateros, Metro Manila, PH

Municipalities of Metro Manila, PH

To live in Makati or other "International business" areas would cost
22,000p ($500) or more for a studio.

Malls here are at lest 4 levels and a mile long. There are LOTS of malls.

3 of us ate at a chain sushi place at a mall in Makati for about $20. Jackie orders food like
Lucy in "Two Weeks Notice." We were all stuffed and had food to take home.
No, we didn't eat sushi. Chicken Teriyaki, various tempura, a bento box, dumplings, and of course Joan ordered extra rice. It is amazing how much such small people can eat. Neither of the girls had eaten there before, so it was fun to watch them try new things.

There are lots of police officers and security officers every place. You form two lines, males on the left, females on the right to be checked when you go in the mall. No one is afraid to go talk to officers or ask directions. To go into the bank, the security officer on the outside of the door checks you, the officer inside the door unlocks it to let you in. Both are armed with automatic 12 gauge shotguns.

Sorry for the Faulknerian writing. Back to expenses...We have to pay for drinking water, delivered to the door in large plastic jugs, which look like they are bigger than 5 gallons. We use propane to cook on a single burner. A cylinder the size you use on a gas grill lasts 3 months.

Internet is 1000p If the exchange rate changes, that could be $21.74 or it could be $22.73 A strong dollar is definitely a good thing for the expat. I am waiting for the cable guy to come upgrade our internet today, so hopefully I'll be able to upload pics soon. ...I found out that cable internet is not available where we live. the sales person didn't know, but the installer did, so they just didn't show up.

If you insist on American brands, you pay American prices. I'll have to see what KFC is charging next time I'm out. There are many US chains here, from McDonalds to Dunkin Donuts. We eat at home most of the time because it is much cheaper. At American chains though, substitute RICE for french frys or any kind of potatoes for that matter, and there will be many things you don't see on the menu in the US.

American prices are also required to get typical American amenities like air conditioning, scrupulous and obsessive refrigeration of food, hermetically sealed and plastic wrapped food, hot water, etc. If you like camping and don't mind feeling a little grungy now and then, you can live like a local and save a bunch of money.

There are 6 Belza sisters and six brothers. Jackie is my internet friend, and she is joined at the hip with her twin, Joan. Their 17 year old sister Liberty usually shares the double mat on the floor with them. Sometimes they ask their older sister to cook, and she will stay over night.  People can't work until they are 18, so Liberty is in limbo land until her birthday.

Joan has a 3 year old daughter, Jayann, who usually stays with Joan's mom, but sometimes she stays here too. I am her big, and to her, dumb, teddy bear. She is disappointed I don't talk to her, and gives me a "you big baby" look. My vocabulary is terribly limited in Tagalog
(pronounced ta ga log)

So at times there are 5 Belza girls in one bedroom, and big old me in the other. They think Veng is the best cook, but I think Jackie does a great job.

Electricity is expensive here. We don't have 1/4 the typical US stuff, and the bill was 1200p last month. Water for bathing and laundry is another 1000p We anticipate both of those doubling with me here.

Jackie and I did the budget last night, and she thinks we can pay all the bills with 20,000p I just remembered that she left out taxi and bus fares, so I think it will be more.