It’s been a while since I wrote my last article on RTTP. The fact is it usually takes something substantial to distract me from my normal everyday existence and compel me to write.
Last time it was because of a particularly annoying and arrogant expat that terrorized the barbers shop I was sitting in. This time the ignition for my ranting is an expat blog I just happened to come across this morning.
The problem I had with this particular blog was that the author seemed to be implying that there are those in the Philippines who see the expat life ‘through rose colored glasses’. He seemed to be implying that these folks were some how being deceptive, naive or just plain stupid.
He goes on to assert that his view is the only view that matters and that only he holds the ‘true’ secret, to the expat lifestyle.
What a crock of horse shit!
Now it’s not the first time I’ve heard the accusation and indeed, it’s one that’s been leveled at Gary and I quite a few times over the years. But the problem with the accusation is the inference that we are somehow being less than honest in not writing about the many bad things that can and do happen to expats over here.
We could write about all the negative things we’ve encountered since we’ve lived in the Philippines. We could write a whole blog about them and I’m pretty sure I could make it sound quite clever and witty, and people would love to read it… but here’s the thing…
…why the hell would I?
See the reason Gary and I, and many other expats choose to live here is because it makes us feel happy.
That’s it! Plain and simple.
We are not naive, we are not stupid and we are not deluding ourselves or those we encounter.
The bottom line is we all have come here from different countries, cultural backgrounds and economic circumstances. We now choose to live in a country where we feel comfortable and relaxed – and to us, that is paradise!
For some of us – and I can speak from my own personal experience – this is the first time in our lives that we’ve actually felt this way. I have a huge list of bad luck stories and sadness that I could fill a book with… and some of those happened right here in the Philippines.
Nobody is saying that this country is perfect and is completely free of nefarious people who are looking to harm the expat and profit from him. To think anything different would be naive and stupid.
If anybody does think that then please send me an email… I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I’d like to sell you!
It’s not a matter of ‘wearing rose colored glasses’ or any shade of colored lenses. It’s about making a conscious decision to live life on our own terms. To choose to be happy and content and to only focus on those things that are in keeping with our basic objectives.
Sure we see the negatives around us. I am surrounded by them everyday but here’s the thing… I choose not to let them consume me or define me. I’m not ignoring them and I’m not being selective in what I observe. I’m just deciding not to let them affect me as much as the gago on the other blog seems to enjoy doing.
I would say the color of my lenses are crystal clear but if I have to have a tint – and these negative expats insist that I do – then yes, so be it… they’ll be rose colored.
To my fellow expat blogger I would say this – “If the only alternative shade of lenses on offer, are the ‘shit colored’ ones that you seem to prefer – then yes, I’ll stick with rose colored… or maybe even aqua marine!”