I have come to the determination that I have lived here in the Philippines long enough that I have actually shed a lot of my American concepts and such. What do I mean by that? Well, I can remember back in the first few years that I lived here, I often would talk about this or that “back in America.” I mean, if somebody offered me a cup of coffee, I might say “you know, back in America, we drink x brand of coffee.” Or, if I was at the computer store and wanted to buy a new hard drive, I would look at the drives available, and an 80 Gigabyte drive was the equivalent of $200. I’d tell the sales clerk that “back in the States I could get a 120 Gig drive for just $89.”
Frankly, who cares?
I mean, why would the sales clerk care if I can get 50% more hard drive for half the price? It simply is of no consequence to him, right? In the case of the hard drive, I would go so far as to get disgusted that technology items were so much more expensive here, and I’d leave. The next day I’d go back and buy the drive, because I needed it. Now, that is embarrassing, because the day before I was complaining, then I’d go back again. It doesn’t even make sense.
I have come to the realization that I actually cringe when I hear this from other people now. I have long since gone beyond doing this myself, and I guess that I am hyper-critical of this now. When I am with people from the USA and they say this to a local person, I kind of cringe hearing it, and I actually find it embarrassing to be with the people saying things like that. I guess I don’t want to be lumped in and having local people think that I am like that too, because I’ve grown out of that.
I guess part of what I am saying is that as Americans, we tend to have an attitude that we think that “we” are better than the people here, or in other countries. I guess this would apply mostly toward other lesser developed countries. I mean, I doubt that most Americans go to London and act like we know better than Brits do. But, if Americans go to the Philippines, or any other developing country, we seem to have this attitude of feeling we are “better.” I know that I was that way before, albeit not conscientiously. Why do we need to feel “better,” or that we must “teach” others how to do things? I am of the feeling now that it is us Americans who need to realize that when we come to the Philippines, we are not in America anymore.
I will throw this in too – this also applies to other foreigners too. I am talking about Americans, because I am an American, and thus have some basis on which to talk about this. I’ve seen the same thing from other foreigners as well, but I’ll leave it to them to talk about their own people.
So, in the end, if you travel to the Philippines, just remember – you are no longer in America! Just come, visit the place, enjoy your stay, and take in the experience of doing things the way they are done here!
Great observations Bob, I have to say I try very very hard not to say "back in the UK we do it ike this", I really want to be a native of this country not a visiting EXPAT.
Living here I need to adopt the ways as far as my culture and attitude allow me to do so.
Bob,
I am finally going to differ with you with this subject. I do not think it is “Americans in a lesser country” it is just human nature with a change. When I moved to California from New York, I complained about many things, the most I remember was the pizza. One day I complained about something, probably pizza and my friend got angry and told me “You are not in New York anymore and I do not care about how they make pizza there”
When I moved to Florida, I would make comments about how life and things are in California.
Even just changing jobs, other people I have worked with and I have made comments about how things were done at the previous job. As some of you know, I am an architectural draftsman, and I use AutoCAD. There are many ways to set up the program, and every firm or company have different standards. There are always comments about how things were better, easier or just different at the last job. I try to apologize first before I make a comment at work. At least for me at my current job, I was able to reset up the program to my last standards and have implemented easier and less redundant ways of drafting.
So see, it is not “Americans” it is human nature.
Hello Bob…..Bill Huff here. Well, its been awile sence i have posted a comment, just wanted to let you and everyone know that i have been very busy getting ready to leave America, yep….i leave this Thursday, Sept. 20th for my new home on Mindanao, just outside of Butuan City. I will be leaving Portland Oregon at 2:30 pm….and then will have a 5 hour wait in LA and will leave there at 10:30 pm. I should be arriving in Manila by 10:30 am the next morning…..then off on a 1 1/2 hour flight to Butuan Airport.
The Lady i have been in contact with for almost a year now will be there waiting for me. She just completed her 4th surgury for Bone Cancer, and a very serious infection, and at this point, everything seems to be a success. I have a small beach house that we will be living in after our wedding. I have much work to do…it has no electricity, and has no running water….but it will when i get through it….and yes, i will have HOT water. I will be buying when of those portible units that you talked about earlier in one of your Blogs.
You will never know how helpful you and your guest have been, i feel a friendship towards you and others on this Blog. I have know idea when i will be able to write here again, but will keep you all informed…besides, i still need all the help and wisdom that many of you seem to have. I cannot imagine making this trip without the info i have recieved here…..and to think that you did this same move without the knowledge you are now offering others.
You have never offered this, but i do expect the lunch tab to be on you when i see you in the neer future…..hehehehe….after all, i will have come along ways…hehehehe…..i am very excited to visit your home of Davao.
So, untill next time, you all take care….be safe….and i will write again soon……
Hi John – Thanks for your thoughts on this. As I have observed you through our friendship, I can say that I have not seen much of this attitude from you. You are a pretty flexible guy, and always seem willing to learn how things are done here, rather than impose your "we do it like this in Britain" attitude that so many other of us foreigners seem to use.
Hi Bruce – To an extent I can see and agree with what you are saying.
Hi Bill – Thanks for sharing a little more about your coming adventure! I hope everything goes smoothly for you. By the way, I don't recall knowing that you are from Portland, Oregon. I am from that area myself. Hope to see you soon!
Hi Bob,
I tend to agree with Bruce. It is human nature to resist change. We are all creatures of comfort. When I first came to the States, I remember crying because I couldn't iron my clothes well. I was used to having someone do things for me. That was a different kind of adjustment. Now, I throw stuff in the dryer, fold them and that's good enough for me. I don't have to have crisp, perfectly ironed clothes. 😉 I just realized that I've lived in NY longer than any other place. When I move back to the Philippines, I know I'll be going thru another period of adjustment and I just have to be ready for it.
Hi Tina – I do understand your point, but I also think it goes beyond that. I mean, I have seen things like Americans telling a Filipino – "oh, do you know how to open a bottle of beer? Let me show you how!" My goodness – people here have been drinking beer as long as Americans have, and are able to do so whether an American is in town or not! 😆 It does cut both ways, but it's just something that bothers me from time to time.
Hi Bob – The "phenomenon" appears to be a mixture of everyone's observations posted above. Don't think one facet can be identified as a root cause. 😐
I can say from personal observation that Americans will act better than the locals in London (had two tours of duty there). The canned response from the locals was an old WWII saying they had about the "Yanks": Yanks were over-paid, over-sexed and over here! 😆
Hi Paul – Ha ha… all three of those London classifications of the Yanks are probably still true today! 😆
I think it is human nature to compare where you are with where you've been. When we first came to the Philippines, everything was so unfamiliar. I was always looking for things that were the same, but mostly found different. I don't remember feeling critical, but I remember that I enjoyed telling about 'LPG that came into the houses just like the water does here,' and 'roads with four lanes of cars going each direction.' It was more something to talk about.
Now when I go back to the States, I have to remind myself that most people I know have a very limited interest in 'What life is like in the Philippines.' There is mild, polite interest for about five minutes, then the eyes glaze over. It is not their world, and they can't imagine or picture it, and have no need to do so. So we talk about what we have in common…
Anyone from someplace else can quickly become a bore if they talk a lot about where they have been (lived) that their audience has not been. It is not of general interest. I find that it is better to respond to questions asked, and even then, with short answers.
Tina,
I bet you will miss NY Pizza. I still do. Where ever I have lived and seen a "NY Pizza" restuant, I usually want to ask them "Have you ever been to NY and tasted their pizza?" 😆
I miss most pizzas there, but most of all "Rays Famous Pizza" in the Village.
Hi Bruce,
Yup, pizza and bagels… 😆
Hi AmericanLola – Yes, I suppose that it is at least partly human nature. Ha ha.. I can just imagine you trying to explain how the natural gas was piped right into the house!
Bruce and Tina – you guys are making me hungry…. I missed breakfast this morning! 🙄
Bob
Its a mature position to realise mistakes that were made in the past and to cringe when you hear people saying things that you may perhaps have said in the past.
To be honest you single out Americans, but i think all races can be guilty of this and its something i am keen to avoid myself, on a couple of occasions in the Phils i have acted with impatience and i now cringe with embarrasment too at what it sounded like to locals
(I am British) and like coming from America we have the thought in the back of our minds that we are coming from a developed country into a poor third world country and therefore our way must be the best, but it is way more complicated than that and this simplistic mindset attitude treads all over cultural boundaries
Like American Lola says some subtlety is necessary when dealing with the situation, but i do think that people in the Phils are very forgiving and mistakes that are made can generally be forgiven with a smile that, well he is a foreigner, but like you Bob i will be keen to make sure my attitude is right.
By the way good luck to Bill Huff…..sure he will make it
Hi rick – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree with everything you say, and then some! 😀
Hi Bob, cant help myself on this one. Here in Australia we have a little joke that goes, "How can you tell the difference between an Ameriican and a Canadian?" (abroad)… " The Canadian doesnt start every sentence with " Well back in the states…!!" He He, I think youll like that one.
wow! right on the bulls eye! coudlnt agree more! you just got two thumbs up from me … will be a frequent visitor from now on… to see how "foreigners" see my beloved country.
Hi Bob – With all those years of dwelling in the Philippines I think you have already reached to the phase wherein you have fully adjusted to the Filipino culture and beginning to recognize that no country is much better than another – it is just different lifestyles and different ways to deal with the problems of life. No doubt that you may have also experienced anxieties and discomforts but I guess it is just normal for all human beings who choose to live or work abroad.
Hi Anthony – Yeah, that's probably true, but the Canadian guy would say "back in Canada, eh?" Ha ha…
H Pusa – Thanks! I will be happy to welcome you to the site anytime!
Hi Teng – I think you are right! It has been interesting to see the changes in my thinking over the years too. 😀
Hi Bob- I can relate to your theory of referring back to how things was done back home.
As you know we spent 10years in Nigeria and I can remember when we first went we wanted to live the same life as we did back home in terms of conditions and food etc, of course with all the benefits of living an expatriate lifestyle.
When we at first used to complain about this not working efficiently or that not being as good as back home an older member of the expat community would remind us that’s why we were here in the first place to make things better.
Mama Lola’s comment also reminded me of the times we went home on holiday from Nigeria and attempted to relate our lifestyle and experience and like she said people switched off as they had no experience of what we were talking about. Maybe that’s why foreigners living abroad are attracted initially to one another because they have that fact in common. Once you have been there for sometime you tend to extend your social circle and your dependence on each other dwindles from the fact that you are foreigners to you having a mutual interest and genuine respect for each other as you would back home.
I think that’s one of the good things about living abroad it can be a humbling experience if we are honest with ourselves
Teng,
no country is better than the other…in broad sense, I fully agree. But clearly, Iran is much worse than Philippines when it comes to threatening world peace?
For specific things, some countries are better than others, and some worse.
And not everything is cultural. I hardly believe it's in Iran's culture to threaten the world.
I believe Philippines is worse than other countries when it comes to economics. Dirt cheap goods are still offered at dirt cheap prices, but if you go anything beyond that, like the 120gig, or TV, or just about anything manufactured, are grossly overpriced (general rule of thumb is 100% markup), even when compared to neighboring SEAsian countries. Even when i try to visit one of the paradise islands of Philippines, the travel costs are at least double what it costs to travel in other SEAsian countries, including air/hotel.
I often wondered why this is so, and the only conclusion that I have drawn is economics driven by greed: super high, unreasonable customs tax, and high margins placed by the importers/retailers. They know that the buyers of these goods can't easily travel to other countries to purchase these things. So they are what's called "captive buyers" in business terms. In other words, the buyers are fleeced.
I accept and buy things in Philippines, even when I know they are grossly overpriced by greed, but I am none too happy about it…
Call me what you will, but I hate the Philppine economics. But don't mistake what I say with hating Philippine culture. I love it's mostly friendly and honest people.
I standby what I said before about hating jeepneys and tricycles. And what I said about Filipinos riding jeepney not because they prefer it, but because there is no choice (who in right mind prefers to ride in pullution filled, hot, stop everycorner, loud, holdup-prone jeepneys?). Just like Bob buying 120gig at $200 not because he prefers to pay that price, but because he has no other option. I would hate to think that Philippines will still have jeepney as its main source of transportation 20 years from now because Filipinos PREFER it, and it's a part of it's culture.
And I hardly believe it's Filipino culture to shut up and accept things as they are. EDSA revolution clearly shows that.
Jae – I could really post some reaction to your “out of context” opinions but I don’t feel like spoiling this particular topic. There’s a guess blog on this site so you may contact Bob to post a topic to voice out your miseries so that we may be able to help you in dealing with them. This is to respect other readers who don’t want to spoil their day. 😀
Correction: 'Guest Blog'
Hello Bob – this article made me pause, and refresh my actions..
am guilty…(part of) because we (& family) tend to compare the service we are getting from UAE establishment vs. Davao Establishment, etc..etc..
But those actions were only done during my 1st & 2nd vacation…proven enough that its human nature…. last year (vacation) am not like that anymore – i've realized though that whatever it is am getting a comfortable life in here – i am still in love with my country Philippines!
Nice post Bob…very inspiring to become a better person..
Hi Jim – The things that you say make a lot of sense, and they kind of dovetail with what I feel. I have heard, and also told other expats when they say "back in America it is like x" that "If it were like America here, we wouldn't be able to live in the luxury that we enjoy here!" I mean, if it were like America we would have had no reason to live here anyway. Good thoughts, Jim.
Teng,
why do people like you always presume the worst whenever someone says something negative?
Anyway, as every internet entrepreneur knows, blogs, or magazines, like this one needs a healthy controversy. Without such controversy,such sites are boring. And will wither. It's one of the ten comandments of blogs. I actually notice bob doing this with some of the posts, including the last one aptly titles "I know more than you". I am not accusing. It's just normal.
I am sure that the greedy Phil corp will be very pleased that you are willing to pay $200 for $60 (the going price now for 120gig in NY) hardware. You are the perfect example of ignorant buyer.
Anyway, just visiting. I am not a frequent visitor like before, so you won't have to worry about my misery rants.
Hi Bob,
Just wanted to point out that this syndrome is not exclusive to foreigners. Some balikbayans are guilty, too. I’ve heard stories of balikbayans who visit and are non-stop complainers and hypercritical of everything around them. Filipinos may be more forgiving towards foreigners, but not towards fellow Filipinos. I think it is the way we say things that makes a difference. Instead of saying “In America (or elsewhere), this is how it is done.” we can say “Can I show you how I do it?” This will make the other person more open to change and new ways of doing things. When we compare countries, we are putting the other person on the defensive. This is true even when comparing first world countries. There are many ways to get from point A to point B. One may be more direct but the other way is the scenic route. Both routes will get us there. I think the best thing to do is just observe how things are done in the host country, be less critical and keep things to ourselves. If we want to see improvements, we can try the above statement and see what happens…
Re expensive goods, I look at it this way. You know how good Philippine mangoes are and how inexpensive (Php 26/kilo versus $1 each in the US). I know I am paying a ridiculous price for a fruit that is not even half as good as what I can get there but I pay it because to fly to the Philippines will cost me thousands of dollars, plus time, etc. I am paying for the convenience of buying it locally. It may be more expensive and not as good but it is here. 😆
Ok, here we go again. It's like Jae's ranting is a buried corpse dug up and now moving around again like a stinking zombie. My bad…
Call what you want, Jae, believe if you want to believe that greed factors in on why us Pinoys are still riding in tricycles and jeepneys for public transportation. It's your opinion on that matter.
Still, those vehicles are part of our culture and distinct way of life that would be hard to get rid of.
Oops, Jio, watch yourself… Don't get sucked into the quagmire, okay? 😆
Hi Tina – Yep, I agree with you on the mango thing! No doubt about it! The thing that every person has to come to realize is that there are some things cheaper here (actually most things), and a few things are more expensive here. Get to where you are comfortable with that, and you've got it made.
When it comes to Balikbayans, in my mind, I classify people like you and Feyma as foreigners. I know that technically you are not, but your experience in life has become foreign to the Philippines. You have become accustomed to life away from the Philippines, and as we've discussed before, you have a great deal of adjusting to make, at least as much as a regular foreigner.
Hi Marygrace – Oops! I missed your comment there! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I found what you had to say very refreshing!
Hi Jae and all,
You know there's no jeepney here in Dubai. In fact they have airconditioned buses and will only pick up and drops passengers in bus stops. But you know what, I miss our jeepneys there, because I can choose to ride which jeepney I want and even if it is not airconditioned, I still prefer what I'm going to smell inside it rather than what i'm experiencing here now. Just imagine yourself inside a public bus full of perfumed people (sub continent asia ppl are the majority here) and breathing recycled air for an hour can make your head spin!
If being made to choose between a cab and a jeepney, of course I prefer jeepneys unless i'm in a hurry though or it's raining where i'm forced to call a cab since I still had to walk from my house to where jeepneys ply.
I'll make a bet on that, jeepneys will still be jeepneys after 20 years! But will be environment friendly because it will run on water alone!
Guess that in some ways, I'm a little bit of "odd man out." I find situations (be they prices, quality, methods, procedures, products or whatever) in a particular location as being the perfect fit for that location. When in the Phils, I can't really see where anything available or accomplished in other parts of the world would actually work as well as the local "solution." 🙂 It appears to be true among the provinces, too (like things from Zambales not working quite right in Ilocos!) 😉
Just as green tomatos sell better at the pelengke because that's what the local customers want, most everything local seems to fit better in the locality.
Just a thought 🙄
As for Bill Huff Have A pleasant and enjoyable long trip,I to am from Portland ,oregon and own A home in Zarraga,ILOILO and am well versed with the life there, as I think back a few years ago of how strange it felt or was with the different customs and strange foods and alnight festivals with such loud non stop music all night and day, now I don't even notice all the loudness or let it bother me.I have such A good repore with my family over there and all my neighbors. I feel A great respect for the Philippines and for her PEOPLE. I Love them all and I can't wait for April2008 I shall let loose of the shakles of my work and retire and move to ILOILO and live on as A full time retiree. This is the first post here and I have enjoyed reading so much goog material from all. Thank You very much Bob Taylor Portland, Oregon and proud of it.
Hi Paul – It's good that you are able to adapt very easily! I congratulate you for that!
Hi Bob Taylor – Welcome to the LiP Web Magazine! I'm happy to have you here. It sounds like you have made the adaptation to life in the Philippines! Wow, so in less than a year you will pull up stakes and make the big move! I bet you are getting excited for that! If you ever make it down to Davao City, look me up, it would be great to meet you! 🙂
Last call to Jae:
Awaiting for your post at the Guest Blog so badly. The Filipinos need a point of view from a Korean expert like you to make Filipino way of life better. 🙄
PS: Pls. don’t forget to attach your photo. 😉
Teng,
Filipinos need way more than expert opinions to make its way of life better. It's a basket case, actually. Don't you see the news on TV everynight about all this crap corruption cases? $500million borrowed from China to build a railway that never even started?
I actually agree with Rey on his comment above. Philippines WILL still have jeepney as its major mode of transportaion, as the country will still be so dang poor, they have no other option!
Okay, Jae, I buy you this time
I’m not at all bothered about whatever corruption cases that have been shown on TV or published in Newspapers lately. I’ll be bothered if these things are not discovered. Do you know what it means to me? It means to me that our democracy is working. If we will not be able to alleviate the standard of living in the Philippines, well, we are used to it. Given the Pinoy’s hedonistic nature and in this age of technical revolution, we might be logged behind among our Asian neighbors but we can still afford to smile — yet knowing that there are still tough years to face ahead. Oh yes, Filipinos smile and though I could never see through behind the smiling faces of Filipinos, but definitely there is something constant in our nature and that is to say the least ‘Bahala Na’ (Come what may!?).
Teng,
Yes, in philippines, there is definite democracy in corruption. From the traffic officers all the way up to who knows where.
Filipinos learn corruption from very young age. Kids pay bribes to teachers for all kinds of things in school. Teachers demand it, and it's actually considered normal.
Bahala Na. That's definitely a unique Filipino trait (I haven't really encounterd other nationalities that use similar expression so extensively). This is a very BAD attitude that needs to be changed. It's this very attitude prevalent among Filipino employees that make foreign employers (I am sure many locals as well) cringe.
Hello Bob – wants to say Good luck to
Bill Huff & Bob Taylor.
Welcome to the Philippines!
That Bahala Na attitude to some extent makes the Filipinos NOT go wackoo, as in literally and mentally Buang (not just buang-buang). Hence Pinoys are unheard of seeing a psychiatrist. Yes, we can still afford to smile, guys. BTW I still say Bahala Ka Na Lord, basta—I have done my very best!
SMILE and don't make your blood rise, Rey and Teng. Tina has a reminder for us not to be caught in the quagmire. hehehehee 😆 😆
Oh, I have a cute toy jeepney here. It showcases Pinoy's innovativeness and art. Love it–makes me smile. 😆
Yes, that's true. Bahala Na minimizes Filipinos from going wacko, as there are so many things that would make one go wack here..
BTW, filipinos who like to say bahala na are those who DON'T give their best, and just don't give crap whatever happens.
I agree also about Pinoy art on jeepneys. It makes me smile because it's junkmobile decorated with graffiti. Most cities try to clean up graffiti….
It just adds to the overall pollution in Phil. Emission pollution, tattered election campaign poster pollution, "a projecto of senador XXX" pollution, basura on street pollution.
It's just mind-boggling pollution.
Nope, I don't love it.
I do love Lechon Kawali and bagoong. True philippine culture.
Hi Jul, on the contrary, i'm enjoying all post here now including Jae's… 😆
Just wanted to wish Bill Huff "bon voyage".
Ok, I always hear about how pizza in NY is totally awesome, I'm just gonna have to try it whenever I get the chance to visit NY.
Y'all have fun!
Exactly on point, Bob. Many things are done "differently" in the Philippines, in some cases perjaps not as well as "back home" and in some cases, as #32 Paul mentioned, better. Believe me I've seen some pretty clever ways of doing things since I've been here.
The real point is, as you started the thread, why can't we as the "intruders" figure this out, but instead make an issue of the difference all the time? When my wife went to the US there were a lot of things different … but I never recall her telling salesclerks "In the Philippines we do it different". She did tell the driver's license examiner that she had never seen a stop sign before coming to the US … he laughed, but she passed anyway.
One advantage I had in life was to travel the world for the USAF … I've lived a lot of places in 38 years. One of the ways we _always_ knew a newcomer was that every other sentence began, "Back at my last base we did it this way…" … so I guess it's more human nature than nationality.
I did live in England a number of years and I often observed fellow Americans telling the Brits everything that they were doing "wrong" too .. has nothing to do with developing nation status. Unlike the long-suffering Filipinos though an Englishman is unlikely to take the critique quietly.
The first night I told a barman how he was drawing the beer wrong I learned .. "You Yanks are OK except for the four things … you're overpaid, overfed, over-sexed and over here … now go find another pub more to your liking, because I pour the beer to suit me, not you!"
It still makes me laugh all those years later.
Hi Dave Starr – You made a good point when you mentioned about your wife. I also do not recall Feyma ever saying "in the Philippines we do it a different way" or something along those lines when she dealt with people in the States. Very interesting, and I had not thought about that.
Hello Bob,
As what Mary Grace have said, Good Luck to both, Bill Huff and Bob Taylor and Welcome to the Philippines! finally…
To our faithful readers, we all have fun! Let's continue on visiting this wonderful and truly informative sites. Worth our time!
I'd have made the "In America" comments had I not got them out of my system in Ecuador years earlier….didn't know I was doing it so much until another American told me so. He saved me from deeper regret and embarrasment. This is a great thread topic and Bob's comments allowed me to reflect and realize I didn't make any of these comments when I visited the Philippines, or even think the thoughts (besides just being impressed by the moments I thought "Interesting how they do that here"). I actually worry that I will have more trouble with this "In America" thing after living there for several months as I've learned to adapt to temporary stays no longer than a month or two….and was always looking forward to my shower and thick bed when I got home (living on a boat in the Galapagos for a month will do this to you….one Navy shower a day and thin foam mattress.). I became a minimalist in my travels down there.
I want a Jeepney….here in America. My 1975 Mercedes-Benz Unimog 416 gets a lot of attention and is a lot of fun, but it's nothing compared to a decorated Jeepney with an Isuzu diesel motor, Mercedes grill star, Mitsubishi hubcaps, assorted Toyota and Nissan decals….and so many lights and glitter it resembles a rolling Christmas tree (how cool would that be!)…reminds me of a Johnny Cash song about a car made of random parts he snuck out of the factory. If I had one I'd drive it all the time!!!! I'd enter parades, rent it and me out for proms, winery tours!! Such a blast….until I got pulled over and tried to convince an officer it was street legal and the decals on the windshield were not reducing visibility 😆
Hi Jon – I congratulate you on the steps that you made in Ecuador. I know for myself how hard it is to overcome the "we do it this way in America" attitude. I was there, I did it myself, and I know that it's hard to leave it behind. You will do fine when you move here! 😀