Culture Shock Top Ten

I have been in Manila for over a month now and have been mentally compiling a list of the many things in the Philippines that took some (or a lot of) getting used too when I arrived. I hope I can find ten 'cause that sounds better than Top 7. Somehow I don't think I will have a problem.

10. Jolibee - The Philippine answer to McDonalds. It's just everywhere and has a big plastic bee outside looking very - jolly. You can buy hamburgers, fried chicken or Philippine traditional food served fast-food style.


9. So many malls - just down the road are the following - Robinsons Mall, Mega Mall, Shangri-La Mall, St Francis Square - the list goes on. Everyone hangs out in the malls, you can even....

8. ....go to church in a mall. Yes if you wanted to combine a spot of shopping and a mass you can in Manila. I have heard of at least four malls which have daily mass - sometimes just between the shops they will set up chairs and an altar.

7.Jeepneys, FX and tricycle transport. Getting around in Manila has it's own whole culture. It's easy-ish if you know a few things. Tricyles (usually motorised with a side cab) are quick and are for short distances. In the heavy traffic they can be a hazard to your lungs and general safety. Who needs bungy jumpy when you can risk your life travelling down the street. Jeepneys and FX are extended Jeeps or FWDs - you call them over and jump in. FX have the advantage of airconditioning and cost slightly more. Usually they are packed and you pass your money up the row of people to the driver who will then pass your change back. It works amazingly well as far as I can see - the driver often has a helper to gather passengers and keep an eye on who gets on and off.

6. Food - I haven't tried the 'ballot' yet - a unhatched chick cooked in it's shell or the 'day old chick' fried in batter. Yum! Where I live we eat a lot of rice, meat and fruit. Fish is often served with head and tail on so you can eat the eye if you really want to!! Take out food varies a lot but tends to be a bit plasticy - although Chow King (restaurant chain like McDonalds) does OK Chinese take out and there's always Jolibee. You can eat a lot of Western food here but not always tasting like I'm used to.

5. Traffic - "How will I get across the road??" was one of my first thoughts in Manila. The traffic is a bit crazy and wont stop for you at pedestrian crossings. If they stop at the lights - Thank God and quickly crossly the street. Otherwise step out and hope for the best.

4. Having your bag searched by armed security guards when entering a shopping mall or a metro train station. They also sometimes give you a quick search or 'free massage' as you enter - fortunately there is usually a separate womens and mens entrance.

3. As you walk down the street you may hear 'Hello Ma'am',or 'Good morning Ma'am' from some Philippine men. This is because you're white and a woman. White men sometimes get called 'Joe' after GI Joe.

2. You can't flush your toilet paper down the toilet here, even in your own house - you just put it in the rubbish bin provided. It's a bit yukky but somehow you do get used to it. Also don't expect public toilets (even in shopping malls) to have toilet paper - you must provide your own.

1. Poverty - ah yes the big one. It shocked me when I first arrived and I still find it shocking. The imbalance of wealth is incredible - there are people living in big houses with huge walls and tight security and then there are possibly millions of people living in little more that shacks. There is a middle class I guess - people who look pretty ordinary with normal jobs - the malls (particularly the cheaper ones) are full of people shopping. Manila is a strange place - I'm beginning to think it has more layers than an onion.