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Family Feud

September 2, 2010 By Feyma 19 Comments
Fists up, it's fight time!

Last week I was so excited to get a phone call from my agent Mae. She knows, of course, that we are on the lookout now for a new place to live. She told me on the phone that she had a house for me to look at and its not that far from my house right now. That really makes me happy since we like to live in this part of town. Near to everything. Location right now is really a plus for us. She knows that we want to be in a quiet neighborhood and not in a traffic area. She told me that the house that she wants me to see has the specifications that I was telling her about. So we set up the time to meet up and go from there to see the house. Well, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Daily Life, Davao, Family, Feyma Martin, Living in The Philippines, Moving, Relationships

After 20 years and still adjusting

August 26, 2010 By Feyma 41 Comments
Bob & Feyma

Yes its been a couple of  weeks now since Bob and I celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary. It's been a good challenge for both of us to stay together. It's not been an easy ride the whole time. We had so many trials along the way. As everyone know its not going to be easy to be together with somebody that everything is so different. Hey can you imagine bringing 2 different culture into one?  Big challenge there. When we first got married I was in my early twenties and so naive with everything in life. When I arrived in the States everything is so new to me. For the first time I was introduced by Bob to a microwave, a big washing machine, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Adjustment, Bob Martin, Daily Life, Expats, Feyma Martin, Living in The Philippines, Relationships

Remembering Childhood

August 12, 2010 By Feyma 28 Comments
A small fishing boat on the beach in Samal

A few days ago I went to Samal with my oldest son Chris and my nephew Deo. I went there to get some pictures of a real estate property that I am working on. Someone from the States wanted to see some photos of the place.  After we went to the area that was of interest, the 3 of us then went to the beachfront property of my friend because I want also to take some more photos there. As we were getting to the beach, I saw some people on a boat, not too far away. They were fishing, I also saw some people who were swimming on the beach and other people sitting in the cottage. As we approached the cottage I could see 4 kids sitting there. Ages … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Communication, Daily Life, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Filipino Kids, Living in The Philippines, Relationships, Schools

Helping Out

August 5, 2010 By Feyma 35 Comments
Carrying hollow blocks doesn't seem too hard

A few months ago I posted here the pictures and articles about helping out Pat to rebuild her house. They really were in bad shape at that time. They couldn't even have a good night sleep if it rained a lot here in Davao. During summer time here I was working for a friend renovating his house. I talked to him about the extra scrap lumber that Jun Jun worked on his house if I could have it for the house of Pat.  My friend was so kind to give me what I asked for. It was really a big help for Pat and her family. Then, I organized to start the bayanihan there at Pat's house one weekend together with Jun, Jun Jun, my nephew, nieces and my kids. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Daily Life, Expats, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines, Relationships

Bizarre Foods!

July 29, 2010 By Feyma 51 Comments
Cow Blood

Today I was gonna write about the bizarre behavior of our dear neighbor. I can't even begin to tell you how their attitudes were. They are the one at fault but didn't up to it. Instead of saying sorry they are blaming us. My gosh, what a neighbor we have here. Well, when I look over my shoulder I saw Bob already wrote an article about the incident that happened a few days ago. I let him do the honor of explaining everything because I am still too upset over that matter. Why the title bizarre foods?  Well over the weekend Bob and I and the kids were watching the show Bizarre Foods hosted by Andrew Zimmern.  On the episode we were watching … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Entertainment, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Food, Living in The Philippines, Travel

My New Venture – LiP Real Estate

July 22, 2010 By Feyma 18 Comments
house

Today, I want to let all LiP readers know of a new venture that I am starting, something that will hopefully become an integral part of the Live in the Philippines Web Magazine: LiP Real Estate That's right, here on LiP we will now be offering help for our readers who are moving to the Philippines and are looking for a house, apartment or piece of land to rent or purchase!  Whether you want a single room flat on the cheap to a luxury mansion to purchase, we hope that we can offer something that will be perfect for you. Are you looking for a place here in beautiful Davao? If you are searching for a place to build your dream home here in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Davao, Expats, Feyma Martin, Houses, Housing, Living in The Philippines

Follow-up on Martin Household Bayanihan

July 15, 2010 By Feyma 36 Comments
My niece Bebe and nephew Deo taking a break

As I told you earlier, we planned a Bayanihan, or a work party at our maid, Pat's house. A few weekend ago my kids, my nieces and nephew and of course Jun & Jun Jun, and I went to Pat's house to start working on her house. It was really something for the my kids seeing how Pat and her family lived in a tiny house. They really were feeling sorry for them. It was nice for my kids to see how some people live here in the Philippines. I could see on their faces the wishes and hopes for Pat's life to be better. It was really a good learning experience with my kids. Jun and Jun Jun started to measure out the house. Trying to figure out while … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Bayanihan, Daily Life, Davao, Expats, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Homes, Living in The Philippines

Friends going out

July 1, 2010 By Feyma 19 Comments
Hanging out at the Disco

Just wanting to write a follow up on the "Dear Feyma: Please Advise" column that I wrote a few weeks ago. I got a private email and said that he is happy to be married to an older lady. And that she stayed in the house not in the bar hanging out. I responded to him and told him "good for you." I'm really happy it worked out well for him. I knew some friends in the States before that said similar statements as the emailer said. I also knew a friend in the States I think she was the youngest one on our group of women. She married a guy from Hungary but a US citizen already. He must be on his 50's at that time. The girl being young, likes to hang … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Adjustment, Communication, Daily Life, Entertainment, Expats, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines

How young is too young for a maid

June 24, 2010 By Feyma 26 Comments
Young Lumad Girls

I am talking now about employing a younger maid in our household. A lot of them came from the province with little education. They have to work because their parents can't afford for them to continue their education. Most of them came from a very large family I mean large with 8-10 siblings in the family. Some had to make the sacrifice of not continuing their education to give way for the older or younger siblings, or the smartest kid in the family. I've employed some of them. Feeling sorry for them because its not their fault to be born that way. When we first moved here my gosh I really had a hard time adjusting to that situation. We had … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Daily Life, Expats, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines, Maids, Relationships

How old is too old for a maid?

June 18, 2010 By Feyma 39 Comments
Over 40 and still working hard!

I was talking to friends a few months back and one of the topics on our conversation was employing a maid. One of my friends said that he is not comfortable employing a maid that is over 30 years of age because that kind of person is too old to work. I told him ouch, because me being in my early forties can still do the same ephysical labor that a young woman does, how much more the one younger than me. He started laughing and said he just wants to employ younger so that they can really work the task properly. Most friends agreed with me. To be honest if a person is really willing to work and wants a job, no matter what age they are they … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Feyma Tagged With: Daily Life, Expats, Feyma Martin, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines, Maids
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