Sunday, September 16, 2007
Live in the Philippines…
Why do I live in the Philippines
Well,I got many reasons to settle down in the Philippines. Once upon a time (exactly in 1998) I thought to myself, “We people sometimes really miss too much in life!” During that time my life was really fully packed with dates, appointments, trips,meetings, work, work and again work. Nevertheless, I missed something.
Some people live quickly - and die as well. If life is fully packed with work, you have no more time to live, or simply, to enjoy life. The German dramatist Georg Buechner (1813-1837) wrote in his “Danton’s Death”: Can you take your country with you on the soles of your shoes? - Before I moved here I asked myself more or less the same question. Of course, we cannot!
If you pass a certain age, you start trying make up omissions. Life punishes latecomers! Our existence many times contents of failings, faults, weaknesses and shortcomings or not taken chances. I took my chance, and now I am living here. However, you need faith. “Nothing in life is more wonderful than faith - the one great moving force which we can neither weigh in the balance nor test in the crucible”, wrote the Canadian physician William Osler (1849-1919) in 1910. Without faith, you should not do the big step and stay here for good.
Life goes quickly. I observed that I failed to talk to good friends. I failed to answer letters. I failed to apologize to some people. Life tried to overtake me.
No, it was not a rash action to move and live in the Philippines.Everything was planned very well. And, I tried to adjust myself here. Six weeks vacations are different from living permanently in another country. Also here. Many foreigners I met before gave up already. The reasons will be topics of my write ups in future. Nevertheless, if you are losing yourself because of continuing criticism the country and its people 24/7, what can you still expect?
No mountain is high enough. You can live here a wonderful life - as pensioner or as businessperson. Plan well, and then enjoy living in the Philippines. Of course, a day here also contents of 24 hours. However, since I am living here I lost the feelings, that life might overtake me.
Related Posts:
Do live for something!Philippine-German Relations (XVII)
Always on the way
Filipino Worries
Contact Klaus
Don’t worry…
Staying for good…
Is Davao City cultural fallow field?
Love is in the air…
Season is Thoughts
# 1 Bob said:
Hi Klaus - In my case, my wife didn’t really want to move back to the Philippines. Mostly, I think she was a little scared about how we could earn a living here. It was me who wanted to live here, and I convinced her that we could do it.
# 2 Jim said:
Hi Klaus- Like you I wish to live in the Phillipines but in my case after I have given up working here in the UK. Next September I will retire and to be frank I’m looking forwards to it very much.I work for a German company http://www.bhk.de and over the seventeen years or so I have worked with BHK like you have described work has come first and my private life a poor second I’m afraid. If it wasn’t for my more than understanding wife I could not have achieved what I have in the time frame. My wifes biggest worry when we discussed retiring to the Philippines was what I was going to do in order to pass the time after holding down a position for so long that was so demanding.
My reply to her was thats the whole idea of retiring slightly earlier than the regulation 65 years, I wish to do what I want to do when I like to do it for a change.
The decision to retire to the Philippines was in our case a joint decision 50/50 and we are both looking forwards to it very much. We will however leave behind a son and daughter that is one disadvantage of a mixed race marriage when the children have been brought up outside of the country that the parents wish to retire to.
I’m sure this can be over come with us only being a maximum of 24 hours away from them should either wish to visit.
# 3 Dave Starr --- ROI Guy said:
Well put, Klaus. yes, I am one of those pensioners as well. Also, like you, I have learned quite late in life that it is very short … ever so much shorter than some people realize in the ’30s or ’40s. I can’t tirn back the clock, but I surely cna make good use of the time I have left.
My wife and I made the decison to move here jointly as well. Unlike many of the ‘how much does it cost’ crowd I did not move here for financial reasons … my wife (a dual citizen) and I could live comfortably in the US on just my pensions, and we live comfortably here … quite modestly, but that’s the style we are happy with.
I live here because of family, becuase of the people I deal with on a daily basis and because i enjoy watching CNN International and other news media that recognize, unlike the US news, that there are a couple hundred countries in the world aside from the US and every one of them might have something important to say from time to time. viva la difference
# 4 marygrace said:
Hello Klaus - first time to comment with your post.
Your article inspired me - few more years (God’s willing) and I’ll be back home - Davao.
Sometimes, i feel its too long, but need to settle the following basic needs before going back to Davao.
Me & my husband, agreed that we will stick to our basic plan, to prepare the following, then once done, back to Davao asap.
1) Shelter
2) Food (invest to get something to buy food)
3) Children’s education
4) Health Insurance
and i guess in God’s time, i’ll be home soon…
# 5 Rey said:
If the kind of people who wish to make the Philippines their home are like you Klaus and the rest of the contributors here, I would be very glad to have you as my neighbors. It’s not important whether you have a a filipina wife or not and I don’t really care whatever the color of your skin is or wherever you came from, but I do care that since you want to make it as home, try to be one of us, just like you expect us to be like you when we are in your respective countries.
I’m not saying that you should completely immerse yourself in our ways (the bad ones) because that would be ludicrous also but understanding the how’s and why’s will certainly make your stay there rewarding and enjoyable for the rest of your life.
So I say to all of you, you’re welcome to my country and partake of whatever we can afford to offer to you. Mabuhay!
P.S. I’m not an Eskimo…
# 6 john said:
I know Klaus personally and I think he is more Pinoy then German, I lear a lot from him.. God bless you
# 7 Rey said:
Yeah John, It does looks like it, wish to meet him someday there too…
# 8 Tina said:
Hi Klaus,
Tell your friends that what would help when moving to a new place is for them to keep an open mind, be flexible and welcome changes. In due time, they’ve already adjusted without even realizing it…
# 9 anthony said:
Hello Klaus, I enjoyed your article, as I am someone who is going through the the process of contemplating “Can I make the move and live in the Philippines?” At this point in time I have compiled a pros and cons list to help me make my decision and unfortunately the cons are outnumbering the pros. Too many reasons to explain in detail, but one day I will be ready, which gives me something to look foward to. Hopefully SOONER rather than later!
# 10 Klaus said:
Hi Bob #1; Same happened to me, because I was the one who decided to stay here for good even not being in retirement age.
# 11 Klaus said:
Hi jim #2: I even quit a very good job in a known German publishing house. Maybe I was lucky to find the right people at the right time here in the Philippines. But even before moving here for good I did a lot of steps while still staying in Germany.
# 12 Klaus said:
Hi marygrace, I wish you both all the best. See you then in Davao!
# 13 Klaus said:
Hey Rey, thank you. Same here