As I’ve posted before it was quite an adjustment for me when I got to the States. I didn’t know that it was that hard though. When I first tried eating the meat there I thought of going into vegetarian. 😉 Not really. Any meat tasted gamey to me, no matter how good it looks or even Bob and his family would say that the food is good I still didn’t think so. I was really puzzled because I grow up eating meat. What I did every time I would eat meat I will put lots of ketchup on it. Even on pizza. Bob’s family was surprised on that, but they know they can’t force me to eat stuff that I don’t like. I think it just took me like couple of months to adjust to it. It was funny though when my mother-in-law first visited us here in the Philippines. She said the same, that our meat here in the Philippines tastes gamey to her. I had a big laughed then and I told her now you know how I felt before when I first came to the States I told you guys the same. She remembered me not liking the meat there at first. I’m sure they think I’m weird of not liking the meat at that time. Hey, every person has different taste though.
More hard for me was after three months of arriving in the States I got pregnant. Wow, for nine months I had a hard time eating regular food. The only food I could eat was pineapple, grapefruit and beef jerky. Weird, huh? I couldn’t even eat crackers or even rice, I will just throw up then if I ate those. I couldn’t even drink water, I even was drinking sprite and 7up they said its good for a pregnant woman to drink. I throw up that too. When I was pregnant for a month I ended up in the hospital due to dehydration. My doctor said not to worry it will be fine after 3 months. It didn’t happened. I was still throwing up until I gave birth. I even had medication for it. I had to really take the medication on time or else I will suffer and throw up for a week. Luckily on my second and third child I was just sick for the first trimester. I envy those women that don’t even get morning sickness for the whole nine months. Good for them I guess.
When I got there one thing I had a hard time finding there was clothes that fit me on the ladies section. Even I go through the petite section it’s still big on me. Finally I went to the kids sections, that’s where I found some clothes that would fit me. The only thing is the style is really good for kids then. Well, at least for the meantime I had some place that I can shop for my clothes. Later after having a baby I finally gained some weight, I was so happy that I can shop then at the petite section. I like it because I can see some design that really fits in with my age. It is totally opposite when we got here to the Philippines 7 years ago. I was having a hard time looking for clothes here that fit my big size since I gained some weight. I just gave birth like 1 month before when we moved here and I didn’t lose all the weight that I gained during the pregnancy. They don’t have much for the big size at that time. Maybe we just lived in small city that’s why they just don’t have much to offer there. Here in Davao now I can see that they have big selection for larger size ladies. I like it a lot now.
Hope it helps to some of you ladies. Till my next post.
We're on the same department when it comes to finding the right size of clothes and shoes here in the US, Feym!One of my greatest shocks was the serving size in restaurants. It can feed an entire batallion ! Good post…
No wonder why there are plenty of obese people here , don't you think Jul?
Hi feyma, my wife sherly, she is also bisaya from coronon. She is six months pregnant now. She was throwing up a lot for like 4 months then finally it stop so Im glad because before she got pregnant she was only 85lbs and after the first trimester she was 78lbs. I think right now she gain again to 88lbs. We always shop at kids department for her clothes because she is so tiny. Its good in some ways because kids clothes are cheaper. I told Sherly to start reading your site so she can learn something since she is still adjusting here in States.
Boy Oh Boy Feyma .. I sure know what you were going thru ..been there with my first wife hee hee and she was funny to me but she didn't think so . ~x) . too but she had a attitude the first 6 months ..I'm glad you made it thru alright …. So Feyma how did Bob take all this .. with a big grin .. 🙂 Phil n Jess
Hello Feyma,
I am still in the states, you know gamey beef lol, but will be there again in 4 days. When I first came to Davao City to ask Josey to marry me, at the airport in front of Aunt 30 minutes after I arrived, I had decided that I would only eat filipina food. And for first 13 days never had beef. Was only there 14 days and last night we stayed at different hotel and it was very close to a variety of western style restaraunts. One appeared to be Mexican, my favorite. Josey wanted to try it to so we did. Turns out to be Spanish not Mexican. No tacos or burritos. But they did have a steak on the menu. And only p1000 so I ask Josey ( Joselyn long story ) if she wanted that. She had never had a steak before and said she would try. I can only say it was as good or better than any I have ever had here. Western style place so too much food, and she could not eat all but ate rest for breakfast. If I can find Bob's butcher we will have once a week. This time I will try wet market beef and see if yours taste gamey hehe
It was the only $45.00 dollar for two of us . But it was last night in city and she had taken me to so many wonderful P300 for two places I decided to treat her like she was in America. Acually here it would have cost at least $100.00 so was still a deal. Best filet mignon I had ever had even here. Thats why I want to know your butcher. Josey did share a bite with her sister and mother the next day. And at that time I was still just going to bring her here on K-1 visa. So now I know where to take her on her birthday January 8th hehe. Rest of time we cookk at home. Sometimes me and sometimes her.
Oh and Bob I did chock a bit at the price. By then I had figured the exchange rate. First night I tried to tip taxi p500 for P110 fare and thank god Josey caught me. hehe
Hi Feyma! The same thing happened to me. No, not about difficult pregnancies. I had easy ones. Ngek! Seriously, the first month I got here I thought I was off to a good start for I was barely eating. I don't like the taste of meat at all. I find the taste of eggs weird. But now no more. I hope when I get home I should have lost all this weight I put on. I still simmer the meat we bought here for I still notice some smell if you cook it w/o boiling it first. A fellow Filipino told me that when she ate a newly slaughtered pork when she went home, she felt queasy too.
Hi Feyma
I don’t usually read your column but I decided to read this one. I am married to a Filipino and she will be joining me in the USA soon. I was curious as to how my Filipino wife will see the USA and what problems she may have.
My wife (Ruby) and I were married in May 2007 and I returned in Feb 2008 to spend 8 weeks with her (our extended honeymoon), now after many months and many many pesos her immigrant visa is approved. Ruby will be joining me in the USA in May 2009. I know moving here will be a big adjustment for her as she will be leaving her friends and family. Also she will have to learn a new life style as we do not have many of the conveniences like tricycles and public markets that are so much of the daily life in Mindanao.
My wife likes to shop (like all Filipino women) so we just have to find the clothes to fit her – I can imagine accompanying her on countless shopping trips. But I did not think of food as a problem. I live in the central USA, which is mostly farms and industry. We have fresh fruit but only in summer and it is not the same fruit as found in Mindanao. Our meat is pork, beef or chicken, our vegetable will be strange to her, (as Filipino vegetables were strange to me) our fish is frozen and fresh fish is very expensive. I imagine even our brand of rice will taste strange to her.
Thank you for the article I guess Ruby and I will work through the food thing together as she adjusts to life in the USA and we adjust to each other.
Carl and Ruby
Hi Feyma,
I read your column alot. I don't leave comments I just like to read your stories, but this one interest me… Your right about the food .. to me it's bland. Honestly, I've been married for 17 yrs and we have 2 beautiful children.. My husband recently retired from the Air Force after 26 yrs of service. We arrived in the States in Aug '08, after living overseas for 14 yrs… And states was culture shocked for me. Some people are rude, they drive like no tomorrow., everything is so fast pace and the food sucks… good thing i don't like fast food alot other wise I'm probably obese by now. My roots originated from Mati, Davao Or. I haven't been there since 1985. Someday I would love to visit Mati. I miss Philippines alot. If i would have a choice I would go back and live in the philippines vice USA. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful that I came to US. (the land of opportunities) I have a great family, great job, friends. But for some reasons I always longed for my country. I miss the friendly & hospitable people and of course the Fooood!!!! In 2007, I finally finished my first ever house in Butuan City I am very proud of it… And maybe someday I can convince my husband and kids to live there.
I thank you for the great article. I would love to meet you one day… since Davao is my second home now… and who know's I'll buy small property there!
More power to you and Bob.
God bless you alwayz……………:-)
Ann
Hi Phil n Jess R. – Gosh I really thought I won't make it there. 😉 Hey but I did. It really took some time for adjustments there.
Bob really had a laugh on it. He really help me big time there on my adjustments. I love him more for that.
I'm glad your wife adjusted there good. Take care!
Hi Andy Wooldridge – Lots of good places to eat now here in Davao. Enjoy your stay. Good luck to you and your wife.
Take care and God bless!
Hi roy – Expect same feelings when you come back here. I have to readjust here again when I came back. It takes some time, but you get there though.
Have fun cooking. 😉 Take care!
Hi Carl and Ruby – You and her will have fun learning together. I had a hard time before buying clothes there too. I have to go to the petite section before and some of the clothes from that sections are even bigger than what I wanted.
You guys will enjoy finding stuff together.
Good luck to you and your wife.
Hi Ann – Thank you for finding the time to comment here. I hope you will enjoy later your stay in the States. I really had fun learning there with the help of my hubby.
It might really happened for you to live here in the Philippines. I hope though. I also hope to meet up with you someday here in the Philippines.
Take care and God bless!
Well, I don't know what the deal is with the beef, other than to say they really cut it up differently than in the States.
I was absolutely crazy for ox hip stew, though. I had never had marrow before and thought it was the best stuff ever!
Then again…with the exception of milkfish and balut, I liked everything I ate when I was there a few years ago. Even some strange chicken parts were good until they told me what they were, LOL.
Hi Tim, I think it's the trimming of the fat & maybe the freshness of the beef. I don't really know. What I know is when I cook "nilagang baka" (beef soup, a very simple dish) here in the US I could never replicate the same flavor that I so familiarly had in the Phil.
Hi Tim Singleton – Here in the Philippines the Vendors cuts the meat how ever they like it especially in the public market. In the Meat Place like Monterey or Lisa's meat they really had a butcher that cuts nicely.
Thats good that you like the stew here.
I am not a milkfish and balut eater myself. Have you tried chicken feet(they call it here Adidas)? If not you might want to try it, its good. 😉
Thanks for stopping by! Have a good one.
Hi roy – That could be… Never had tried to make any of our soup stuff here while I was in the States before.
Thank you for dropping by!
Hello Feyma,
I agree with you,the food here in abroad is not as tasty as the food in Philippines. The first time I came here in UK,I lost lots of weight coz I dont feel like eating. But since I know where to shop filipino foods here, atleast I gain my weight back and even more…hahaha especially after giving birth…
But I miss Pinas so much… Looking forward of going back there even just for a visit.
Hi Gracy – I'm glad that your already adjusted there. Gaining after childbirth, oh yeah been there.
Hey, you should retire here in Pinas. 😉
Good to see you here. Take care and God bless!