eleven

i wrote this a couple of days back.

Blog 15 July 2005

This is my 11th day in the Island. And in 11 days, here are my accomplishments, discoveries, realizations.

1. Rent for a month here for a typical 1 bedroom or studio apartment is at $1,500 to $2,300 – depending on the location (dodgy neighborhood??), furnishings (washer, dryer, fridge, a/c, stove) and amenities (usually pool, garden), size, and accessibility (to the bus stop, groceries, to the city). With Forex at USD 1 = PhP 53, its PhP 79,500 to PhP 121,900 PER MONTH.
   FYI: Bermudian (BDA) $ is at par with USD $. (exclusive of fees to the money changer, of course)
2. No electricity means no work, no phone, no open shops, restos, etc. They don’t have generators. - we didn't have work for 2 days.
3. A bank certification from the Philippines or your old bank will facilitate easier opening of bank accounts elsewhere. I got my ATM/ Debit card within 3 minutes after completing the application while some of the people I know got theirs after 10 days.
4. The only thing cheap here are the perfumes and cosmetics. People usually shop at New York during weekends. I prefer to shop in the Philippines – much much cheaper!
   Example: I bought a black office bag (unknown brand) in a department store here for $32 = PhP1,696. Jeez…. I wasn’t picky bout the brand. I just needed something presentable for everyday use. I wasn’t able to bring my bags with me. Good thing I brought loads of shoes, though. And the cellphone I got in Pinas for about $189 or PhP 10,000 is selling here for $449!! (can I sell mine in the black market??? Hehe. Just kidding y’all.)
5. Gaah.. would you believe, they don’t have MMS?????
6. People here are really nice, friendly and pleasant. Walking down the street, about 95% of the people you meet with greet you a good morning, how are you doing, good day, with a nod or a smile depending on the time of the day. And you are expected to greet them back.
   My officemates have been really warm to me, supportive and helpful.
7. A department store here is just about the size of most Bench boutiques in the Philippines. And stores open at about 10am and close at 5pm Mondays to Saturdays. Stores are closed on Sundays.
8. I am anti social. I’d rather be alone, at the apartment, with my body aching from lying on the bed the whole day than try to be pleasant to company that though I don’t know that well, I feel I’d just end up offending in the end. (Tactless comments...)
9. There are a lot lot lot of Filipinos here – nannies, waiters, caregivers, accountants, auditors. You’d see them everywhere.
10. I love the Philippines – traffic, crazy drivers, rallies, etc. Words aren’t enough… I miss the malls, especially. Hehehe.
11. I need Olie. I’ve no enthusiasm to see Bermuda as a tourist would, to see the beaches and all the wonders the place has to offer, to taste and enjoy food and not just eat out of necessity, to be pretty and not just look presentable. I tried to go out with other people, but I find that I do not really have that much fun although they are really nice, hospitable, welcoming to me. Even with company, fellow Filipinos or other expatriates, I am still alone.
    He is my life. I’m lost without him.
    

Things I miss aside from Olie:

Wedpreps – scheduling meetings, oculars, payments
Chatting with the w@wies
Having access to the internet anywhere
Malls – glorietta, greenbelt, greenhills
Watching movies, popcorns
Iced Tea – Lipton and Nestea
Jollibee and Wendy’s

The wedpreps seems to be a distant past now.