Back in the ’90s when I still lived in the USA, I had a friend who was living in General Santos. We had never met, but Mike was an American living in General Santos and we became friends through the Internet. Mike was in his 60’s at the time and had been living outside the USA for nearly 40 years. He had a stint in the US Army which took him to various places around the world. After the Army, he worked for USAid, which again took him to many ports of call around the globe. Mike got back to the USA occasionally, but not too often. Mike visited us at our house in Washington State a couple of times in the late 1990’s, and it was a pleasure to meet him in person. Mike was really an advisor to us in our decision making process of whether we really wanted to live in General Santos City, or in the Philippines for that matter.
At one point, Mike e-mailed me and told me about his father. Mike’s dad lived in Seattle (about 3 hours drive from us), and was well into his 80’s or possibly over 90, I don’t recall for certain. We started making occasional trips to Seattle to check on Mike’s dad, and give him a little company. We would always report back to Mike to let him know how his Dad was doing. Being as old as he was, Mike’s Dad was frail and needed medical attention. Mike was well committed to living abroad, he didn’t really have much desire to go back to the States and care for his Dad. That being said, Mike really did want to help his father, so he had a dilemma. What should he do?
Mike made a decision to come home to Seattle and to help get his Dad’s affairs in order, sell his house and furniture and move him to General Santos City. The father would move in with Mike and his wife and live out the rest of his days. We assisted Mike as much as we could with getting everything in order, and after a few months, Mike and his father were on a plane headed to the Philippines.
Mike’s father probably had a much better quality of life in the Philippines than he could have enjoyed in Seattle. Beautiful weather, no stress in living since Mike and his wife took care of Dad at every step, etc. Mike even hired three full time nurses to work at the house. With three nurses working full time, they had 24 hour coverage to look after Dad’s health care. Mike’s dad lived for several more years in General Santos, and had his own nursing staff full time. Of course, Mike and his wife (and daughters) were also around to keep Dad company, and make sure that he enjoyed life through his final day.
This is something that I have discussed with my Mom as well. She has agreed with me that when the day comes that she needs care and assistance on a regular basis, she will come to the Philippines and stay with us. I feel that this is an excellent option. If a sick elderly person stays in the USA, what do they have to look forward to? Living in a nursing home, all alone? Of course, the bills to pay for the nursing home will wipe them out financially, and what did they get for it? Not much. Most people in Nursing homes are lonely, and have little companionship. Imagine, on top of that, having their kids living abroad, it really leaves virtually nobody to keep them company and watch after them. Moving them to the Philippines makes sense, not only financially, but from a humanitarian standpoint as well. Taking them to the beach to just sit and enjoy nature and such is really soothing for an elderly person. And, they can live an enjoyable and rewarding life while being able to maintain their finances as well! It’s a win-win situation.
I received a note from a reader a few days ago asking about this topic. He told me that he really wanted to relocate to the Philippines, but his parents were elderly and would soon need care. Coming to the Philippines is an option where the man can get the nice lifestyle that he desires, and his parents can enjoy their remaining time too.
Consider it!
Hi Bob,
Thats a nice thought although I am still a long way from moving myself to the philippines right now!
I would like to ask though, how difficult was it after the elderly man died, did he want the USA as his resting place?
To put it bluntly… how difficult is it to fly out the deceased member of ones family to their home country and arrange the funeral and everything that unfortunatly goes with it?
Phil
Hi Phil – having a body transported by air is not difficult. My father died while he was working in Canada, and was flown back to the USA, there were really no hitches, and it can all be arranged by the funeral homes on each end. That said, in my friend's case, his father was cremated, I believe, and his ashes were spread here in Mindanao. So, there were no transportation issues to deal with.
We thought seriously about doing this with my husband's mom. I think that if we had, she would have had a much happier and higher qualify of life than she had before she died. Since we are here working, our mission said we could not do this, and some of their reasons were very practical. One was, what would we do in the event of a forced evacuation. Taking an invalid would have complicated a quick departure. It probably would also have been harder to do our works since we have to travel quite a bit.
But if are reasons for being here had been different, it would have been ideal, I think. My parents are still in very good health, but I am already planning to send a couple who are like our kids to take care of my parents in their home when the time comes. People we love and trust, we can put through caregiver school, and teach to drive, and who already knows how to cook the kind of food my folks will like. I think it will be a win/win situation!
Hi Bob – Funny thing, I just read a Chicago Tribune story on the STLtoday.com website about a fellow who "outsourced" his aging parents to India for elder care. I thought, "Hey, why not the Phils.?" 😛
Then I remembered that this was part of the retirement plan for Emy and me! Here's the web address if you can use it: click here
Hi AmericanLola – Interesting comment. I find it kind of funny that your group did not want Ed to bring his Mom over. That would see the Christian thing to do, after all. Anyway, though, your plan on caring for your parents seems to be a good one too.
Hi Paul – Interesting article! It fits what I am talking about almost to a T. Nice thing about my arrangement, though, is that the elderly family member can be living with family instead of alone in a nursing home.
Hi Bob,
It's funny you mentioned this. Ken's parents have always found excuses not to travel to the Philippines – "it's too far, we can't handle the planeride, etc.". Now that my sister and her husband have decided to retire and are building a house there, maybe us too, 😉 Ken's parents can't wait to go! I've been talking to them about how easy life would be for retirees over there. As a matter of fact, I've been convincing all of Ken's family to move there so we can all be together! 😀 Let's see what happens… 😉
Hi Tina – Veryyyyyy interesting! I'll be interested to hear the progress on this! Funny also, because my mom had said in the past she would NEVER come here to visit. Now she comes yearly, and has even talked about buying a house here and living here part time. 😉
Bob – Got a question for you that you may be able to help me with. I am going back to the states for a month starting Sept 9th. I would really like to bring my mom's ashes back over with me since I did promise her before she died that I would take her wherever I went. Do you know if there are any laws/complications surrounding this or do I just stuff the box in my luggage and be on my way?
Hi Louis – I don't know the answer on that, unfortunately. Thankfully for me, I have never had a need to do that. I recommend checking with two sources for an answer:
1. Check with the airline that you will be fllying. They may have regulations regarding bringing human ashes on the plane. If there are government regulations, they would know that as well.
2. Check with the Bureau of Customs here in the Philippines. They would surely know any Philippine regulations on bringing in human ashes.
Good luck with this, Louis. I hope you enjoy your trip home.
Hi Louis,
My grandfather's ashes was recently flown to the US. He was a 2nd (or 3rd) generation Irish-American who settled in Daet,Camarines Norte after the war, married had a family and lived there till the end (talk about an original American expat!).
I don't know the details or requirements but when I get the chance, I will ask my uncle who brought the ashes and lives nearby. Hopefully, I can get some info.
The economics work out. Let's say that a private nurse costs about $150 per month at today's rate. Times three this equals less than $500 a month. Tack on a few doctor visits and $200 for food and clothing and we're up to about $1,200 a month. Compare that to several thousands a month in a California just for staying at a care home and excluding medical costs and voila. Bob, you can make this a business there.
Hi Macky – Yep, it seems your grandfather was ahead of his time! I wonder, though, weren't there a number of Americans who stayed in the Philippines following the US Occupation in the early 20th Century, and also after WWII? I am not sure on this, but it would seem logical.
Hi Aldel – on top of the economics, there is also the fact that I believe that the elderly can have a better life here, living with people who care about them, getting more personalized care, etc.
Sometimes I wonder what might happen if expats are able to trust each other and unite (instead of bickering and undermining, and acting like they know more than others, as I notice many do on number of on-line expat sites).
One, the expats and their local spouses can get together and form a corporation, and BUY an island or a large beachfront property. The price would be very, very cheap, bigger the land that's purchased. They can then build their dream houses on their individual lots, right on the beach. The houses will be built and built nicely, because expats have the means and willingness. And the community will be nice indeed, with communal stores, security, transport. This dream can be had for 1/20th of the cost of buying a lot as an indiviudal and building a house on it. Where does 19/20th go? Now, it goes to the Philippine developer who sells the lot to the expats. But with this dream, this 19/20th will stay in our pockets. I recently saw a beautiful island on sale for $500,000 with access to towns. 20 hecters, with about 2 has of buildable land on the beach. If 20 people were to get together and buy this island, it would be $2.5/sqm. And that would be 1,000sqm per lot per family. That's $25,000 per family, each having 1,000sqm lot plus combined ownership of 18has natural, undeveloped backyard. And anytime a family is taking extended time outside philippines, the house can be rented to tourists. Nice, but I doubt it would happen anytime soon.
I know this is off-topic, but this article first got me thinking of a elderly community for expats, and that then got me thinking of this island thing. 😀
Hi Jae – Your idea is interesting. I, for one, probably wouldn't be interested (except that your money would go a long ways), because it would just be too homogeneous, nothing but a bunch of ex-pats living on their own island. There is something nice about having the local community of people around you and such. What about such an island as a resort or such to attract foreign tourists?
Hi Bob,
Well, let me say that it's not a serious idea at all !
But if I were to entertain it further, I guess it could also have a boutique resort that's run by the co-op, in additiona to private houses. (The whole island could be viewed as a co-op like the system existing in NYC.) Whether or not there is a resort, you won't have to worry about having locals around, as I am sure there will be plenty–for gardening, security, transport, pool maintenance, etc. etc., who will communte from neighboring towns (the towns are less than 20min by banca).
I guess if you picture a micro-sized Catalina Island in LA, it might give you a better idea?
Anyway, this idea was just for fun, not to be taken seriously! 😉
I am noticing that I am using way too much of these face thingies!! 😯
So where is this island, Jae? If it has a price tag, it must be real.
Your idea sounds like the co-housing concept that has taken root in some areas of California. Several people or couples band together and look for a big enough property where they build their houses. But usually it's really to build a community of like-minded people. They also have activities where residents are encouraged to participate. And as to be expected, there are the community rules.
Here's an example of the Pleasant Hill Cohousing. http://www.phch.org/aboutus.htm
I think this idea would work equally well in the Philippines. That way, if some families bring in their elderly relatives from the US or other countries, then the more they will have a sense of community. Really, more people looking out and caring for one another can only enhance the quality of life.
I, for one, have toyed with the idea of moving into a co-housing for the sense of community that it brings. On the other hand, I'm too free spirited and am always coming and going, I'm afraid I might not be a good contributor to the community since I won't be there much for community activities. I would probably be an outcast sooner than later.
hi jae there is an expat community similar to what you are talking about on northern samal island. there are lots for sale or you can have them build a house for you . there are different price ranges
Hi Ken – I am pretty familiar with Samal, but am not familiar with this. Could you tell me more?
its http://www.island properties .com
http://www.islandproperties.com
oops wrong again …. its islandsproperties.com
http://www.islandsproperties.com
thats samar not samal sorry people i cant type tonight:sad:
Hi Ken – I just went to http://www.islandsproperties.com and did a search for Samal. They had nothing like that. Is it Samar that you mean? These folks don't seem to know anything about Samal, because they even have it listed in the wrong Province! Maybe I'm missing something?
Hi Ken – OH.. OK, we must have both commented at the exact same time! I suspected it might be Samar when I couldn't find anything like that for Samal! I love Samal Island!
yeah i like samal to bob it a nice peaceful place
Well, it looks like someone with the lot is trying to subdivide and sell lots to foreigners. I dont see any difference between this advertisement and other subdivisions (except for claiming "lobsters").
I can do without the house in the picture, haha.
ya jae it looks pretty rough but i looked further into the site and they get better
An excellent subject, as can be seen by the great comments … a lot of people have been doing their thinking.
==>> Jae. I doubt I would be interested in such a scheme … I didn't come here to live with everyone 'all the same" and I seriously cnsidered several retirement communities in the US … reason I didn't pick them? they are full of old people! Your idea is sound however and people should remember that the law allows foreigners to own condominiums. Codominium is a specific form of property ownership _not_ the commonly thought of hiighrise occupant-owned apartment most people think of when the word condo comes up. In general law there is no reason a corporation could not build individual dwellings and sell the living space inside (which is what you own in a highrise "condo" … the corporation owns the land … in accordance with Philippine law and the occupants own their liivng space. Might take some legal work at the beginning becuase of the confusion over the word condo, but should be legally doable. remeber there is no restriction on foreigners owning houses … the restriction is on owning _land_. there's also no reason, legally, one can't lease land for 25 years with a 25 year renewal clause and build a house on the leased land. Many people don't like the idea of not owning the land but I point this out because it is legally "doable" under the law.
About the elder care which was the real subject of the post … yes! That's amajor reason I am here. When I reach the age when I need assistance I cna have full-time care and be with family. As a retired government employee my long term care options were brighter than most … I could buy a LTC insurance policy that would pay nursing home costs in most sates … at more than $600 per month at age 55 … for the rest of my life. No thanks, the Philippines is my LTC insurance 😉
Well, I for one, made it clear to my husband that I will NEVER go into a nursing home! He might as well shoot me!
There was a special on TV not too long ago about caring for the elderly and I couldn't believe how much nursing home care costs – $7K a month! Unbelievable! From what I hear, the residents are not treated that well either.
Hi Dave Starr – Like you, I would much rather lead a more fulfilling life here as I age, compared to staying in a retirement home in the States. Not hard to choose on that one!
Hi Tina – I think some of the nursing homes charge even more than that! I can't see the logic of living in such a place! For that matter, I see no logic in letting my Mom live in a place like that in the future either.
Bob is right on nursing or home care costs. My aunt stayed a few years in one, before she passed on. She was paying about (I think close to) $10K a month. Of course it can be argued that costs are higher where living expenses are higher and CA is one of the more expensive states to live in, as I'm sure NY is also.
In her case, it's probably because she had one of those where she got a "studio" inside so you won't have a roommate and you can decorate it and make it more homey, put framed pictures on the wall, etc. I don't know if that necessarily falls under the category of a nursing home or assisted living or whatever. Bottom line, she had to go there because she could not live alone anymore after a stroke. The family also tried the private nurses approach where she had one 24 hours a day at her own home (for a while). But turnover was high and it was difficult to get a nurse that she could "warm up" to. Oh yes, she was not the easiest patient to begin with, nor was she an easy person even when she was healthy… 😳 Did I say that?
Bottom line, the family was left with no choice but to take her to a long-term care facility.
Which reminds me, I need to buy a LTC insurance. My insurance agent always reminds me that the best time to buy it is long before I need it, so as to lock in an attractive premium. I have to ask for a plan that allows the insured to live elsewhere outside of the US when the time comes. If there is even such a thing… I hope there is…
Hi Bob,
you're right about prewar Americans. I am just fascinated about how my "lolo" stuck it out in such a provincial place in mid-century. I can imagine him (and his kids) sticking out like a sore thumb.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your blog about caring for the elders. My parents have been in PI one time for our wedding. They both liked it, but my mother couldn't stand the heat. (She's never really liked travelling) My father would like to pay another visit to the Phil's (even though he's almost 76 now). So, if ever he would survive my mother, that would surely be an option.
ps :have made a lot of prints of many blogs; what excellent reading material !!! best regards, ronny, betsy and kids
Hi Angie – The $10k per month is more in line with the prices that I hear. Imagine – $10k per month! That's almost a half million pesos PER MONTH! Astounding! You could not only hire a full time nursing staff here for that, you could get your own private doctors too!
Hi Macky – Yep, it would have been something to see!
Hi Ronny Dehens – If your mother ever gets to the point where she is in need of care, I think you should still consider the Philippines. My Mom is also having a hard time with the heat, but most of the time she can stay in an air conditioned environment, and it's ok for her.
Angie, I'd take aclose look if I were you on that LTC insurance. As I mentioned earlier, even with some of the cheapest and best policies the cost is staggering … compared to what one could do with the LTC insurance premimums invested in somehting to build for the future (PagIBIG bonds, maybe, a condo for late rliving/resale/rental income, and so on). The US LTC infratructure is so shaky today I would have serious fears of today's insurance being adequate for future needs. One of the detriments to retiring in the Philippines is the fact that Medicare does not provide coverage here, but since Medicare doesn't provide LTC (except some minila transition benefits) whenone needs to go into the LTC environment the lack of Medicare becomes less of an issue.
And to Bob and others re: the US citizens who were in the Philippines in 1946 … indeed, they were "grandfathered" under the first Philippine constitution … received all benefits of Philippine citizenship as if they had been native-born Filipinos. Needless to say this rubbed more than a few Filipinos the wrong way .. since Filipinos, in contrast, immediately lost all their US Commonwealth citizen privileges. The US _still_ hasn't paid the full veteran's benefits to Filipino Scouts promised 50 years ago … most are dead now, just, waiting for the last few to pass, i suppose.
A lot of folks today don't understand where some of the legal restrictions such as land ownership "came from", but if you check and see how the Dole's,DelMonte's and such treated their Filipino "minions" it may be easier to understand. Consider that the US spent 5+ times more money on aid to Japan in the 10 years after WWII than on our ally, the Philippines. Consider that today a Japanese citizen who almost certainly has ancestors who fought savagely against the US and allies, comes and goes from the US at will, no visa required, while a Filipino who likely has a whole list of ancestors who fought and/or died in WWII service has great difficulty in even visiting the US … something on the order of 80% of visa aps are turned down … while you or I come and go at will. It's actually a bit mazing that US citizens are as well treated as we are.
Hi Dave Starr,
My father is a WWII veteran who fought under the USAFFE. He did it for love of country, nothing else.
Hi Dave Starr – Interesting about the US Citizens who were in the Philippines at Independence.
Hi Tina – Feyma's father was also a WWII vet under the USAFFE. He mostly fought in Mindanao too.
Bob,
My father was in Bataan and is a survivor of the Bataan Death March. All I can say is he never felt bitter that any benefits was denied him. He did it for his country and that's all there is to it.
David Starr,
Interesting comment. I am not a historian, but perhaps countering potential threat from then USSR/China by establishing a base in Japan had something to do with it?
BTW, Filipinos treat Japanese very nicely also, even though the atrocities they inflicted to Filipinos. Forgiving (or forgetful?), I guess. I don't quite understand this because, in comparison, the Koreans and Chinese still havn't forgiven/forgot what Japanese did.
my grandfather was at pearl harbor and his brother was at battan and he was wounded but escaped from the death march , was nursed back to health by the filipino people and fought with the filipino resistance fighters and married a filipina and came back to the states shortly after the war
Hi Tina – I wish you had told me about your father's history! If I had known at the time I met him in April (or was it May?) I would have certainly congratulated him, and thanked him for his service to his country and to mine!
Hi Jae – I agree with you, I think that Filipinos are very forgiving. Sometimes to their detriment.
Hi Ken – Congratulations to your Grandfather on his fine service too!
But I also know that Filipinos can hold a grudge forever! Am confused. Maybe the Japanese pulled a nice PR campaign here
Hi Jae – Very true! It's an oxymoron, don't you think?
Hi Bob,
One of the reasons I visit Davao in April is to honor my father on Bataan Day, April 9, now renamed National Heroes Day. I attend the ceremonies with him in Davao. I think we Filipinos have failed to show gratitude to these gallant men and women who fought for our country during WWII. What's sad to notice is that every year, their numbers keep dwindling. I know my dad appreciates all the attention he gets on this day. Last April, after the ceremonies, we (I, my 2 brothers and their wives) took him to Marco Polo for breakfast. He commented that the buffet breakfast was a far cry from what he had to go thru during the Death March.
Jae,
My grandfather on my mom's side was killed by the Japanese. Am I bitter? I don't think so. I guess these are the unfortunate realities of war. What saddens me is I never got a chance to know him. It's curious that I didn't sense any bitterness in my mom, or her family, either. When she tells us stories of the war and what their family had to go thru, it's just like she's giving us a history lesson.
Hi Jae:
On this island thingy of yours ? Please do it somewhere else. I could just picture it's extreme exclusivity. Will you fence the shoreline? What if some poor Filipino fisherman is accidentally drifted into this For Expats Island Only, shoot him or drive him away for trespassing? The divide between the haves and the have nots is all the more defined and "colored". Just my 2 centavos…:???:
Hi Tina – Well, congratulations to you father! In the short time that I spent with him at the party, I really liked him, and after reading what you wrote I like him even more.
Jul,
I agree with your concern about this island paradise concept. But if I were to live in one, I will make sure I choose to live where there are compassionate, and an ethical set of rules. That will include how it treats the service staff who are on the island in service positions catering to the needs of the residents; how it conducts its affairs to ensure sustainability of the environment; the corporation's social awareness to the outlying communities — ie, give back to the community — residents pump money to spur local cottage industries, for instance.
The exclusivity might seem outrageous or offensive but it need not be. If you have "compassionate capitalists" living in that island, then the trickle effects on the local economy and its residents can only be beneficial.
In the end, there can be synergistic effects and everyone becomes a player in a win-win situation. Instead of it being a have-vs-have-nots where it reinforces that divide, it can be made a tool for slowly bridging that gap.
So I am not necessarily against that island concept but I'd carefully consider how its collective financial power will be dispensed.
Hi Tina,
I just read the posts about your grandfather and for all it's worth, I owe him my utmost and sincere gratitude. I don't know how else to put it. That's a man whose hand I would be honored to shake.
Sincerely,
a thankful Pinoy.
I'll be tail-end Charlie on this — my late father-in-law was a "boloman" in Ilocos Norte, part of the organized guerillas who were supplied via submarine near Pagudpud (see stories about USS Stingray and others) and were recognized as part of the American forces fighting the Japanese invaders. In his final years, he told me that he never did what he had to do for pay or promises; just for family and country. When he passed on, he was accorded some benefits from the Veterans' Administration-not as much as he truly deserved, but much more that he would have ever expected or requested.
Whenever asked what he's like as a present for a birthday or Christmas, he would always reply, jokingly, "The ears of a Japanese marine!" 😉
Hi all,
Perhaps the reason for the relative lack of animosity towards the Japanese may be due to teachings through school and society. In China/Korea, children are exposed to these atrocities, whereas, as far as I know, this is not the case in Philippines. Whether this is a good thing or bad, Japanese appear to be very, very welcome here. Like Japanese bars in Manila where Japanese have "fun" and drink all night singing Japanese songs. You will definitely not see that in China/Korea (or else they will get their a** kicked).
I am actually "pro-forgive/forget-and-do-better-this-time" mentality. (I am Korean, and my dive pro here is Japanese!) I hope Japan is doing something good for Philippines (at least a fair and balanced win-win deals). But I also read about japan using Philippines as dumping ground for toxic waste. Hmm, not so good for the nature. Let's hope for the best.
Jul,
As I said, the comment on the island thingy was for fun only. I don't have any intention of doing it, mainly because I don't think expats can get together anway. But regarding your comment about the division between the haves and have nots. Oh cmon, you know that this exist everywhere, and this division is not just walls and guns and security guards. There are transparent divisions–notice how out of place the poor are in posh restaurants and hotels? These establishment don't blatently discriminate or divide, they don't put guns on the poor, but the poor definitely feel the "division" anyway.
The expats in Philippines also feel the division as well. Because, we are not treated equal by the gov't–for example, people talk all the time about foreigners not getting their fair justice in courts (and the price charged for traffic ticket based on color?).
I threw out the island idea as a way to bypass the greedy local landlords who are selling subdivision lots at rediculous prices to expats.
Again, the island idea was just for fun, and fun only, and not meant to bring up issues of social ills. It was more of "what if".
Bob – You need to spend some time with my in-laws as far as Filipinos liking the Japanese. A word I hear applied to the Japanese alot is "Koriput"(sp?). They have no love for the Japanese, that's for sure.
Hi Louis – Just to be clear, I never said that Filipinos love Japanese. What I said is that many Filipinos are quite forgiving. Being kuripot has nothing to do with holding anger over what happened in WWII. Not all Filipinos are the same, I was just making a general observation.
Hi Jae:
O, I understand very well your island thingy comment #14. That's why my response was only worth 2-centavos. Yes, I also know the existence of the divide between the haves and the have nots, that's why I said "all the more". Yet, the island thingy is very feasible and probable. 🙁
Thanks, Angie for giving a balanced perspective !
On Japanese-Fil animosity, I believe it's non-existent. There's the "Comfort Women" issue but I didn't get to follow through.
As a Filipino, I can say that there is no animosity towards the Japanese. That was a long time ago. On the "kuripot" comment from Louis' post, I don't think that it is related to any wartime anger. From experience, generalized comments are always made towards any ethnic group and that includes the Filipinos.
I hear comments about Ilocanos being kuripot too (unfairly). Other comments may be directed towards Bicolanos (hot-tempered), Cebuanos, Manilenos and Cotabato(ans? — sic) or Pampangenos too. So you can imagine the same generalization towards Japanese, Americans, Brits or Aussies. The Chinese are a common target due to the perceived income gap between Malay pinoys and the Fil-Chinese community.
Right now, I notice a lot of unfair comments against the Koreans (as bad parents and abusive employers) in Davao (from the press and local politicians!). These are all unfair and I am first to disagree with any generalization of people.
I do know though that this is a product of cultures still introducing itself to another. The United States was the same way in its early years.
Hi Macky,
Just wanted to say a quick thanks for your comment. I really appreciate it. I saw your post and wanted to catch you. I won't be posting much these coming weeks/months(?) as I'll be very busy with work and may not have time to keep up with the blog. I'll try to peek in when I get a chance, though! 😉
Bob,
Yup, you know my dad is my hero, can't you tell? 😀 Stay well and give my best to Feyma, the kids and your mom! 😀