memes

Apparently American women also find Jamaican food absolutely delicious.

I've never heard this and my friend group consists of a lot of single, middle aged women, but assuming it's true, I'm gonna assume those women are at least sleeping with adults, which cannot be said for every man going to those two countries.

The big thing I will say from my experience there: the people are AMAZING. I didn't get ripped off, everyone was so friendly, got to play basketball with a group of kids and had a blast. And the nature is incredible.

It also had some of the most downtrodden areas I've ever seen, some of the biggest displays of wealth disparity, and after a few weeks on different islands, Manilla felt more like a theme park for the rich than any kind of city.

Overall, really recommend it, but try going off the beaten path!

I understand this. I was underemployed for a while, so I was doing tutoring American English online. Since I was working graves, my schedule meant I ended up with clients from SE Asia, China, Japan.

After a few months, I found better work and didn't need to tutor as much. I cut my availability and was down to 2, then one.

The one I still tutor is a Filipina in nursing school. Most people, when they find that out, go straight to the "I'm a creep/She wants a green card" duality.

I get tired of explaining that she actually qualifies for permanent residency as soon as she gets her work visa. She doesn't need me at all to come to the US to work.

There are plenty of legitimate organizations and agencies that help Filipino nurses get jobs and visas at minimal cost above the required fees.

She has mentioned that she'd prefer to live with me and would be open to a relationship with me, even though I am older...much older.

I leave that last bit out when talking to folks because it makes me sound like a creep. I totally get why people would think that.

On the other hand, an attractive, intelligent, hardworking, and fun younger woman is interested in me? It's a challenge to say no to that.

My brother is 26 and his gf is a similar age. Because we're on the other side of the world they've a long distance relationship but he traveled there last year to spend a few months with her. They talk basically all day on a Saturday and Sunday as he works during the week. There's nothing creepy or pedophilic about him yet that's clearly the assumption that would get made when despite being around the same age. And yes I have seen what his gf looks like and she speaks to the rest of the family sometimes too.

You know what? Fuck the haters, and go. By being yourself, and going for your own reasons, you are doing a big part to break this ridiculous stereotype.

Well did he?

Yeah a lot of the stereotypes come from people that spend their entire vacation in the red light district. Interesting that places in Europe that also have red light districts don't get the same reputation. Wonder why that is....

I have a colleague that has a wife from the Philippines. They live in Canada but are building a house there. He said I should come visit, and I replied something about how my wife would love a tropical vacation. He replied:

Bringing your wife on vacation to the Philippines is like bringing a lunchbag to a restaurant.

... ... ... cool.

never take the internet as a reference, I went to Thailand last year and did not see anything weird.

internet reality is not real life reality.

if narrow minded people judge you for something you didn't do just because of some generalised idea, then maybe is better not to be friends with those people. I've travelled alone and not alone to many places, and none of my friends ever thought ill of me.

Whatever the internet kids think I really don't give a shit, as you shouldn't either.

Man, I really hate gatekeeping.

It's always a shame when something you like somewhat overlaps with a stereotype that you don't apply to

Man in 30s married to a half-Filipina woman here. When we went to visit for our honeymoon it was really gross. LOTS of very, very old men with teenage girls.

I had women falling out of their chairs to look at me.

I had a woman literally fall over while trying to ogle me while walking down the street.

For our goodbye dinner, her Ate toasted us by saying "You have fulfilled all our dreams: you've married a white man."

I had several people say how ugly they were because they were Filipino.

EVERY convenience store and super market had skin whitening creams.

It was my first experience of the Philippines and the first experience I had of racial fetishism. My wife got preferential treatment for being Mestizos.

The Spanish did a real number over there with their racial hierarchy bullshit.

You have something against spaghetti and hot dogs with banana ketchup?