The American Kid & The Filipino Kid
This one's straight from my good friend Steph. Props to you, sistah!
American Kids move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents, while Filipino Kids move out about the time they're 28 and may have saved for that nice house. They're probably a week away from getting married; unless, of course, there's room in the basement for the newlyweds.
With American Kids, mom visits bringing along a nice bundt cake to enjoy with coffee and a chat.
When a Filipino Mom visits she brings three days' worth of food and immediately begins to tidy up, dust and do the laundry.
The fathers of American Kids usually call before coming over to visit, and it's usually only on special occasions. A Filipino dad comes over, unannounced (on a Saturday morning at 8:00, no less!) and starts pruning all the fruit trees in the yard. What? No fruit trees?? Unheard of! He'll go out to Home Depot to pick up a few and plant them that very day!
Kids of american parents can leave their own with the grandparents, always worrying if everything is going to be ok; plus you have to feed them after you pick them up.
With Filipino grandparents it's no problem. Leave your kids there and, if they get out of line, your parents can set them straight. Plus they get bathed, fed and are told stories of when you
were young.
American Kids always pay retail and look in the yellow pages when they need something done.
Filipino Kids just call their dad or uncles and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done; cash deal, baby!
American Kids will come over to visit their parents and get only cake and coffee. That's it.
When Filipino Kids come over for a visit they feast on bbq, pancit, lumpia, adobo and rice. Plus, they stay for dinner as well.
American Kids will say 'hello" but are hesitant to hug.
Filipino Kids will give you a big hug, a kiss, great big hand shake and pat you on the back.
American Kids hardly invite you over to eat for fear of having to share their portions.
Filipino Kids are always inviting friends over to have something to eat regardless!
American Kids call your parents Mr. and Mrs., and Filipino Kids call your parents Uncle & Auntie.
American Kids have never seen you cry. But Filipino Kids cry with you.
American Kids will eat at your dinner table and leave when the meal is through.
Filipino Kids will spend hours there talking, laughing and just being together.
When American Kids borrow something they make sure to return it a few days later.
Filipino Kids keep your stuff so long that they forget it's yours.
American Kids know a few things about you. While Filipino Kids could write an entire book, complete with quotes, about you!
American Kids last a while. But Filipino Kids are forever!!!
7 comments:
Mama Moon, you hit it right on the spot.. indeed, Filipino kids are forever.. Mabuhay ka..!
It's so true, my Filipino friends are some of the warmest, friendliest people I know. I love that your list have so many elements related to food.
BTW, that thing with the parents come who come over to garden and clean? What's up with that? My parents do that too. Must be a Southeast Asian thing. Weird.
i LOVE this! It is SO true. My dad has come to my house and planted trees! LOL!
I does make me sad that they are do not live closer.
It also makes me wonder about what my kids, who are mixed, will think of their pinay sides. I'm definitley not coming to their house to clean:) but I will cook up a storm for them...hmmm.
Hehehe! Thanks, Ladies. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! I'm constantly wondering how my kids' lives are going to be shaped from their filipino heritage. Honestly, I don't think I'm doing quite enough to instill the traits in the list I posted. *sigh* Our filipino friends live about three hours away and we don't see them enough to demonstrate the way the flip side lives vs. the american way. *sigh*
Mabuhay!
Ooooh, hate to be the outsider, but not a lot of these apply to me.... I'm feeling not so Pinay right now.
i'm so totally confused that i can't relate to this...
i see the humor in it, but i'm filipino AND american. and i can't help but feel a little insulted and also feel bad for my "american" friends (should this read caucasian? or *insert any race other than filipino*?) who are not like this at all and have the filipino "attributes" listed.
i know many american friends who know plenty of my business and could "write books"... (i pay them not to). i have spent many hours with them, "talking, laughing and just being together". i cried desperately with my friends when my best friend was killed in a car accident. i am very lucky to have truly loving and steadfast friends who are both filipino and "american".
for sure, some stereotypes are based on someone or something but for some reason this hit too close to home.
Haha! Some stuff to add:
American kids go from breastmilk to formula to juice.
Filipino kids go from breastmilk to formula to Coke.
American kids go from crib to toddler bed to big boy bed.
Filipino kids go from sharing their parents' bed to sharing their siblings' bed.
During mealtimes, American kids go from sitting on a high chair to sitting on a booster seat.
During mealtimes, Filipino kids go from sitting on the laps of their adults to being chased around by said adults with a spoonful of food cause they just won't sit still for meals anymore.
American kids go from crawling to walking to playing sports.
Filipino kids go from crawling to walking to performing in their school "program."
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