5 Signs I’m A City Bred Filipino Housemate
Living with an Australian has highlighted, for me, that I’m a city bred Filipino.
Did You Throw the Plastic Bags Once, I received a SMS from my housemate asking whether I had thrown away the grocery plastic bags.
Inwardly, I was aghast at such a ridiculous question. From childhood, plastic bags have always been kept for a second use. It was unthinkable for plastic bags to be thrown summarily away after one usage.
Nevertheless, I replied to my housemate ‘No’ and suggested a theory that the cleaning lady may have used them while fulfilling her duties.
Please Save Electricity Another time, my housemate pointed out that I had left the air conditioner on in the living room. I explained that it probably happened when I turned on the air conditioner in my room with the remote, which is separated from the one in the living room by the wall, and, thus, must have picked up the signal as well.
I realized that, in general, turning off all electrical equipment and lights is second nature to me, especially since my father’s Ilocano, and they are known for being good at saving. There’s hardly any need to remind me to save on electricity. The same goes with water usage.
Where Are My New Shoes Once, my housemate asked me if I had seen his new shoes, which he had left by the doorstep. At the time that he had done so, I had bitten my tongue, because the concept of depositing new footwear where it may be easily snatched by anyone was incomprehensible to me.
I informed him that his new pair had been gone for three days, and, I had assumed that he had kept them in his bedroom for safety. Most unfortunately, they turned out to have indeed been stolen. They proved to be too much of a temptation for someone.
Should I Stay While I was at work, I received a SMS asking whether he should stay while there were workers fixing the leak in the kitchen. I had no idea what to say since it would be automatically be SOP to do so in the Philippines. However, the same could not be said in my case, for the idea of being alone with five strange men would be too scary.
Please Lock the Door On my end, I had to request my housemate to please lock the door for he is a most trusting soul, and, I have been rendered a little bit insane to find that the door had been left open or unlocked, with me unaware inside my bedroom that anyone could have entered the flat. I think the concepts of theft, rape, murder and massacres are quite alien to him.
Related Posts
The Performing Arts Library @ Esplanade
Cebu Pacific Airport Personnel Asks Me If I’m Pregnant
Metro Remittance Singapore Collection of Original Receipts (Ire)
SingTel Increases Rewards for Singapore to Philippines Calls & Texts (Eye)
Shakira Performs FIFA Theme Song Waka Waka at 2010 World Cup Celebration Concert