So yes this has come in to my mind so many times i cant keep count, but as an american what will and would it be like? can i get that job? can i make it happen?  the only thing that i do know for sure is that i will be loved and never alone with my girl, that is great but will i be able to take care of us and our family (later to come i hope mahal ) 

Well here we are again ShadowDragon, it seems I am answering you all the time, lol. But that's great and we get a chance to tell how we feel.

As for what it would be like as an American, I can't say, as I am Australian, lol. But I can't see that it would be any different for you than myself, or any other westerner. It will be what you make it, though I wouldn't recommend you get a job. I would suggest you start a business.... what kind of business? Well that is entirely up to you, but it's the only way you would enjoy life here, and you HAVE to keep in mind, earnings here are SIGNIFICANTLY smaller than in the States, but again, so is the cost of living a lot smaller. So it's horses for courses. There are a variety of things you could do, but would be best talking to your girl about where she is and what you might do. I am sure she will have some suggestions, and depending on your finacial situation, you can sort things out from there. But I would suggest you try to bring her to the States first, just for a visit, she will be absolutely awestruck at how different life is in western society and would be great for her to at least see it once.

Thanks again Mel..  and yes it seams it is just a few of us that keep posting but i am all for it cuz its a great group that i care about since aking mahal is well filipina lol... 

i have herd that many many time that should start own business, that is the best way to go if i stay there in the ph... i do know things are very different from there to here and yes i would love for her to come here and visit or if she chooses to stay here lol.. many things to talk about when we meet face to face.. so much stuff and so little time ...  

so how are you doing there in ph? is that what you did? start your own business? 

I just read your other post, and Angel's right, it is easy to extend, as long as you are prepared to pay the extra for your plane ticket change, the extended visa is more like about 2.5k, or around 50 dollars.

Having your own business is really the ONLY way to go, coz the average wage here is approximately 300 - 400 dollars per MONTH, if you're lucky. Unless you are in a specialised field, but even then, it would only be equivalent to one weeks wage in the States, and the hours are very long. Whereas, if you start a business, like we did (Internet Cafe), then you can earn good money (befitting the Phils standard) and spend much more time together. Again, not particularly easy to get started, costing around 250,000 pesos, roughly speaking, about 5,000US dollars. Which of course is pretty cheap in comparison to what it would cost in the States. That is buying all new units, but then we have a two story house, so we use downstairs as the cafe, which means we are not paying for a shopfront. Of course this would be one of the easiest things to do, and where we are, we have little competition, which of course is another factor. I would suggest if you WERE interested in something like that.... that you set it up near a college or large school, or similar. They will be your main users, and kids for gaming. But there are a multitude of things you could do... as I said, discuss it with your partner.

We are doing ok, holding our own, certainly not breaking any records, ut we get to spnd time together and if we want to go away for the weekend or whatever, she has lots of rellies to look after things. But our hours are from 7am until 11pm. Though you couldn't really call it work. Sometimes we stay in the shop together, other times we just take it in turns, depending on how we feel or what else is happening.

So how long are you going for? Do you get to stay for 3 weeks without a visa as do Aussies? If so, and you wanted to extend your stay, just apply for your extension in your second week there. Avoid any reason for them to add fees, coz they will if they can. Don't do what I did and apply 1 day late... it cost me an EXTRA 4,000 pesos. That was the penalty, lol.

MEL it sounds like you are happy in the choice you have made to move from your home, when i come to that mopment i hope that my choice will be just as good, weather it is there or we are here the main part is that i want us to be together that is all that counts..    

i have thought about many ideas to do if i was to move there and done some reading from other post and blogs from many people about starting your own business.. i would love to do what you all have done just start a small business for the two of us (and im sure her family lol) to have and just live eveyday loving eachother... do you have duel citezenship mel?

i was going to go for 2 weeks but my company got bought out and they did not honer my request for leave that i had put in so i had to make changes and now i will only get one week so i plan to make the most of every day i am there with her... i already know that is not enough time but it will be a great treasure just to hold her for just a moment if that is all i had but it is a blessing that i will alest get week with her.. 

Hi J3nn, you've had a name change, I didn't recognize you, lol. Thanks for the vote of confidence, always appreciated.

ShadowDragon, that's a shame about the holidays. I guess I was lucky, I was a subcontractor, so I just went when I wanted and for as long as I wanted. They weren't always happy, but as I said to them, I work to live, I don't live to work. And before I went to meet for the first time, it had been over 15 yrs since I had been ANYWHERE, for a holiday. So I figured I owed it to myself. 

I am still tying loose ends in Aus, but no, I don't as yet have citizenship in the Phils. That is something I will have to sort out in the near future. But having to fly back and forth is really getting tiresome..... and mahal (expensive). Yeah, I know, it's a pain how so many tagalog words have dual meanings, lol. Makes it a very difficult language to conquer.

Well make the most of your time together, you're going to feel like you just landed, when you have to leave. There really is so much to see and do, but as long as you are together, that is the main thing. I would suggest that you don't try to fit too much in, it is more important to be with her, get to know each other personally, each others idiosyncrasies. Being together is so much different to being online together, in SO many ways.

@ MEL , SORRY FOR THAT....JUST HAPPENED TO BE A ELEKTRA FANATIC.....HAHAHA.... I GUESS SHADOWDRAGON DON'T RECOGNICED ME TOO......LOL

HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL.....

Well I can't say I blame you, I am a fan of Jennifer Garner too, lol.

yeah shes a warrior princess...   and i bet you too..lol..... try to  watch  Daredevil ...:)

I agree, she played the role of Electra well, very good movie. I have seen it a few times.

@Canuck.. yeah right and she is so good on this movie... by all means maybe one day we can all  have a seat and watch movie together... i'll bring you guys some balut and beer....... they say its a good combination balut and beer...lol

the next time i go to the philippines i will be meeing Mel and Mel's Dark Angel. It might be around Christmas but for sure between Feb and May of next year. Mel and I will be having a few beer together i'm sure... haha. Magandang Umaga...

Paalam

that would be cool for sure.....maybe i can join you....lol... im planning for a vacation on january hope i can make it  visiting my family........ maganda ding umaga sau..  its still early early around 9.20pm israeli time...

Yes, that would be cool...The more the Merrier, I am sure a dinner out with friends, a few drinks and some karaoke… haha. I have become addicted to it….lol

the would be much fun....... or have some BBQ and grill out side....hahaha  can't wait to see u  and mel singing ...lol

Don't hold your breath waiting, I sound like a tortured frog, lol. But I guess it is fun, I enjoy watching others make fools of themselves as well as me. We get together (family) on a fairly regular basis for a bbq and sing along. But I need to find a TRUE bbq, Aussie style. Then they will know what a REAL bbq is. 

Sounds like a great idea actually, you have me thinking now. I might have a talk to Angel and see what she thinks also. Leave that one with me a while, I will talk to Canuck about it as well.

lol.. sounds like someone is missing a bit of home?  i guess that is something that i will have to deal with also if i make that big move across the water.. 

Yeah I guess there is that too, the funny thing is, you can NOT buy a REAL bbq in the Phils, I mean with burners and hot plates and gas etc, they just don't have them. I have searched everywhere. Their idea of a bbq is not quite the same, they are good, but not like home. And wait until you try their idea of Bacon, haha. It is not bacon, it's beef, lol. There are a few things you have to adjust to, but those are just minor things, on the whole, I would much rather live here than in Australia, just for the economics alone, but there is so much more, the lifestyle, the culture, food, people, etc, etc. I can't say it is because I now live on an island, coz I lived on an island in Aus, the biggest island in the world in fact, lol. The few minor things that are different, are really insignificant. 

yeah almost and everyday.... it came to the point that no matter where you are or how far   you are from them. still NO PLACE LIKE HOME......  i miss the fooooood,.... (ang luto ni nanay) mom's cooking.  not as expensive as like in abroad, but  its better than moms home made recipesed, no  artificial coloring...LOL  

Mel,,,,lol u made me laugh on that...yeah we don't have that yet in PH,...  but  just try to think that it is the best delicious bacon in you have eaten in the  world then the next time you eat again its more tasteful than ever...... let's see what we can do  About the BBQ,  to become more delicious, try to   Marinate tthe pork or chicken  overnight before you cook .....  put  it more chopped garlic, white or browm sugar, soy sauce, salt, peper, banana ketchup, lemon,....  then the extra sauce on the pork, just add a lil bit of kechup soy sauses and coocking  oil, to creat the perfect basting of the sauce, used   that while cooking the BBQ....yummmmmmmy. and add a lil bit of spicy if you love it....ummmmm

or buy one of  the market the ready made BBQ SAUCEs.. YOU CAN USE THAT TOO either way. or some using wine and dark beer but thats depending on your tastes..... enjoyyyyyyy. 

i love shrimpsssssss in garlic sauce.......