This is, of course, just one man's opinion, but I would advise
strongly against the move for several reasons. First, unless you're
prepared to pay the $12,000 annual cost of sending the girls to the
International School in Manila, you are simply not going to find
education that's close to the standard to which they're being exposed
in the US. The grounding in math, science and literature for example,
will not be nearly as broad nor as rigorous, If you choose to locate
outside of Manila, you will not even have this option.
Second, the whole acculturation process or perhaps I should say the
cultural context is so different here than it is in the States that
your girls will be at a disadvantage should they ever return. The
whole context of Western art, music, literature, etc. exists here only
in the expat communities yet that type of cultural grounding is
critical to those who will eventually return to the West and establish
their lives there.
Third, their peer groups are going to be radically different than they
would have been had you remained in the States. Now some would argue
that this is a good thing, but, to the extent that the peer group is
comprised primarily of Filipinos, I don't think it is, again, because
the standards, expectations and backgrounds are so radically different.
Fourth, their chances of finding meaningful, fulfilling employment in
the Philippines is practically nil. One, the economy does not begin to
create a sufficient number of good jobs and two, there's little that
is produced here--other than agricultural products--that the rest of
the world wants. Most of the decent jobs here are created by foreign
companies searching for cheap labor.
It's been my experience that most members of the expatriate
communities in the Philippines have already had the benefits of
Western educations and lifestyles, so they know what they're moving
away from and moving towards here. Your girls, should you move them
here now, will not have that advantage. They may indeed learn to
appreciate what this culture has to offer, but those insights will not
be of any particular value should they choose to move back to the West
to pursue careers.
--- In LivingInThePhilippi
<ron@...> wrote:
>
> Steve,
>
> Much of it depends upon you and your girls. You realize that if you
don't
> like traffic in LA, you could be jumping from the frying pan into
the fire.
> It's wise to plan for outside income, because there is little to be
had in
> the RP. Even if you were to obtain work permits and visa to match,
very few
> foreigners find work in the RP. That goes for your girls too.
>
> Whether or not your girls can adapt, only you know them well enough
to have
> an idea. If you pick their schools carefully, they can receive as
good an
> education as can be found anywhere. If they are willing to adapt to
the
> culture and learn local language, they should be fine. They'll need to
> learn street smarts, but much of that can come from the friends they'll
> make. Good kids have pretty good noses for finding good friends,
but it
> will be wise of you to keep a tight eye on them! They would
certainly be at
> a disadvantage to remain in the RP when they graduate. Jobs are few
and far
> between and the few there are go to Filipinos first. They could be
in good
> shape for the rest of the world. Testament to that are the leagues of
> Filipinos who are accepted for foreign jobs.
>
> Your plan is fraught with landmines, but if you step carefully you
and your
> girls should be fine. Just imagine the breadth of your girl's
education and
> knowledge, having experienced at least two distinct cultures and new
> languages.
>
> Ron
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> > On 1/5/08, Steve <smcgi2003@.
> >
> > Yeah, maybe I'm a dreamer. Looking out of my living room window at
> > the Sioux Falls moonscape (WHITE !! Snow, don't 'cha know...), I
> > can't help but remember my trip to the Phils October 2005 to meet my
> > (now) fiancee and some of her extended family.
> >
> > Hey, I really DO like Sioux Falls compared to Los Angeles area
> > (where I 'lived' for 35 years), very much less crime, little or no
> > Politically Correct crap, no graffiti, better schools, WAY less
> > traffic, a generally higher quality of people, and a man can still
> > bring home enough bacon without sending the missus into the workplace
> > fray, BUT...can't stop thinking about 'the move' !!
> >
> > I don't seriously approach the subject with my kids because I don't
> > want to stir up any unnecessary anxiety.
> > Some of my parental-type concerns range thus:
> > *Quality and/or availability of High School and College education
> > *Will they be able to find part-time work there? No smart remarks,
> > y'all.
> > *Being of the 'dating' age, what are their 'prospects'?
> >
> > Tell me all the good and bad you have heard.
> >
> > I would move only after I have established an offshore (from US to
> > Phils) income flow; after all, if I am to build there, it will take
> > more than I can earn locally: this reality I am aware of, but the
> > thrust of this question:
> > Is it wise to bring culturally American Teen girls to the Philippines
> > or no?
> >
> > Steve
> > Sioux Falls,SD
>
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