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Jan, Expat in the Philippines

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Jan is a native of the Netherlands has been living exclusively in the Philippines for five years (although his first visit was over 25 years ago). His blog is an insight on this diverse country through the eyes of a Dutch expat. He covers various topics from the technical (visa issues, driver’s license) all the way to the informative (finding a job, places to eat) and everything in between (an interesting article on the Bakla or third sex of the Philippines). Be sure to visit his insightful blog if you are planning to move or even visit the Philippines, you are sure to find all the answers you need. Thanks to Jan for taking the time to contribute these insightful answers.

*If you are searching for a job in the Philippines, we highly recommend Jan’s article on the subject, which you can find here. For ANYTHING Philippines, this is the place to go.

AsianTalks: Please could you describe your blog concerning your audience and the content?

My website is www.expatinthephilippines.com and my main objectives are a mix of things. I write give some tourist information, describe my life as an expat in the Philippines, give a few pointers to other expats or those planning on becoming expats, and anything else that interests me.

AsianTalks: Which part of Asia do you blog about?

I am located in the Philippines. Presently in Antipolo City, near the big Metro Manila.

AsianTalks: Why did you decide on that specific country? What is out of necessity/ convenience/ curiosity/ patriotism/ other?

My wife is a Filipina, and after my retirement we decided to move to the Philippines. We finally decided on this country so she could be closer to her family. I also like the tropical weather. Another plus is that the cost of living is also slightly lower than in The Netherlands.

AsianTalks: What What has been the toughest part of moving to the Philippines concerning particularly the cultural divide?

I will give a brief rundown of my article on culture shock which you can research further on my blog. Basically I divide culture shock into four phases: 1.) A Honeymoon phase where the new expat is excited and willing to explore the country 2.) The Negotiation phase occurs when homesickness starts to kick in. The expat forms stereotypes of the local person which helps them overcome this homesickness, but does not lead to adaptation. 3.) An Adjustment phase is quite rewarding. The expatriate turns the hostile attitude toward the local into a more positive view, where interaction and cultural exchange is given more freely. 4.) A Reverse culture shock, the final stage, is when the expatriate returns home after a long period away. They now have to adjust again to a new environment.

AsianTalks: Concerning language, do you speak the official language of the country? Do you think you could get by without knowing it?

I am slowly learning the local language a little. It is not difficult to live in the Philippines without knowledge of the local language, because many people speak English, some are even very good in it. But it surely helps to communicate with Filipinos if one knows a little of the language.

AsianTalks: Could you recommend any social networks, websites or smart phone apps that are based in that country particularly?

There are several social networks for expats on the Internet. Few have special pages for the Philippines. And business minded people can get a membership of LinkedIn and search for Philippines based people to get connected, or Internations is also a good source to meet people.

AsianTalks: Do you have any suggestions about visiting the country you are in, short or long term?

Always remember that where ever you might go, you are always a guest in that country. If you behave like a guest and respect their way of life and values, there is no problem in getting along with the locals. You will find restaurants all over the country, from small local eateries (which are not always recommended for westerners for hygienic reasons), fast food like McDo, Jollybee and many other International chains, and a lot of fancy restaurants in most business districts and shopping malls. Prices vary a lot, but do not always expect to get the same service as in western countries.

The Philippines has too many beautiful places to see and visit. Some are set up as tourist spots, but many ‘gems’ are only known by locals. Always ask the local taxi drivers or police officers or others for those spots. One disadvantage of the Philippines is that they hardly maintain their ‘gems’.

What a foreigner, visiting the Philippines, should bring (especially for short term visits) is medicine if they use them. Many branded drugs are very expensive or not available at all, however there are many generics available.

Always bring some cash with you, not too much, just enough for the day. And spread this money over your pockets. There are many ATM machines in cities, but in rural areas there are none or little. Do not wear jewelry in the open, and for sure do not show all your money when you are paying for something. Always be aware of pickpockets and robbers.

Taxi drivers often have little or no change, so always keep smaller bills at present. NEVER let a taxi driver NOT use the taximeter. Always insist on using it.

Expect lots of traffic in and around the greater Manila Area, especially around rush hour and during rain. Many areas in Manila are flooded for a shorter or longer time after heavy rain. It sometimes might not be possible to go home without a big delay.

NEVER go out alone at night in places that are not very well lit, especially outside the business districts. If you do not see many people walking: Do not go there. This does not mean that it is not safe in the Philippines, but like any other countries: you should try to avoid these areas always, just like in your home country.

[Photo Credit: Jan, Philippines]


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