Cultural Differences

When we first moved to Manila I watched a video provided by the embassy on the life and culture here.  One of the things that stuck with me was when they talked about how Filipinos are not confrontational and often have a hard time answering no.   So the answer is always yes.  But there are many different types of yes and it’s often up to me to figure out which yes is being said.  Is it a yes which means yes, a yes which means no, or a yes that means maybe.  You have to watch the facial expressions and subtle clues to try to make out which yes it is.

Well, Adam has decided this week that his answer to everything will be no.  Sometimes, like when its a diaper change or washing his hands, he really means no.  Sometimes, like when it’s whether he wants watermelon or to go downstairs or to play with his friend Arlo, it’s really a yes.  And sometimes when he really really wants something, like to call daddy or go on the swings he’ll even answer yes.  So Adam, I guess we just have to work on our cultural differences.

Regardless of whether Adam is saying yes or no I could listen to him talk forever.  His new words this week include bull, pool, golf, samalat po (thank you in Tagalog), no more (said with his hands up), please, Das for Aunt Daf and truck.  He asks me what EVERYTHING is.  I love it and when I explain what it is, he says oh after.  Another favorite is he’ll put anything to his ear and try to call daddy, a phone, a coaster shaped like a fish, a toothbrush. We’re not picky.