Expat Community > Colombia

Vikingo
Joined 2009
Posts: 1829

South America vs. South East Asia

1 year ago

In case you are debating where to settle as an expat and find your never ending love, even though I've never been in any of those Asian countries, I have studied them half a lifetime and dated a Filipina back in the States some 45 years ago and met a bunch of her friends. Also had a relationship with a very interesting and adorable Chinese women a long time ago, who was born and raised in North Borneo, over several years. She was non-materialistic, a rare exception, probably because her dad owned a chain of grocery stores back home.
After 330 years of Spanish colonial rule the Philippines became independent in 1898, to be taken over by the Americans for almost 50 years, the reason so many of them speak some English to this day.
The Spanish culture prevailed though over the centuries and you will find many cultural similarities between Latin Americans and the Philippines, mainly the strong family ties which are a hell of lot stronger in the Philippines, to the point that many western men gave up and returned home because of the merciless financial exploitation by the family of his beloved.
Family loyalty runs deep in the Philippines and should she tell the family to back off she will be cut off from her parents, siblings and every other family member.
If the foreigner tries to stop the family support the frictions start with his woman. She has two choices; move away from her family and forget she ever had one or break up with her man and look for a new victim, which is the most common solution for them.
Materialism is extremely strong in Asian countries, it became part of their culture and most women choose family support over love she swore it would never end. And unfortunately it not only applies to the Philippines but to most of third world SE Asian countries.
Asian women can be very alluring and with their slender and dainty bodies that seem to stay that way forever perturbed many a foreigner who eventually fell on his face. after he found himself broke. Especially after he bought or had constructed a house for his beloved, because foreigners can't own property in Southeast Asian countries, except in Malaysia. In Thailand you can own an apartment unit though.
There are many SE Asian women married to foreigners living in Western countries who can never return home to visit family unless they bring large sums of money and ask their family for forgiveness.
Family ties are very strong in Latin America as well but not in such an extreme materialistic way.
Sure, Colombia has it's fair chair of cold-hearted 'interesadas' (Gold diggers) but not anywhere near the number as in SE Asia.
In Colombia the relationship between the women and their mother is very strong and you're expected to help out, Actually, a way to a Colombiana's heart is taking care of and adoring her mother.
Her dad too needs help if he is still with her mom, but that is seldom the case.
Few of the elderly who can no longer work receive any kind of a pension here and are totally dependent on their children to stay alive. Some who are are dirt poor qualify under a government system and receive $160.000 a month, or every 15 days, not sure.
But that amount doesn't leave money left over for rent that goes up with the inflation rate ever year, so they are forced to move in with one of their children, or the kids pool their money and rent them an apartment or house if living outside the mayor cities.

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South America vs. South East Asia

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