they tell it like it is

I was talking to my Ninang on the phone yesterday, and she asked me if I was culture-shocked with the things that I'm seeing and hearing on this trip. You know what? I expected to be, but no. Not at all. If anything, I'm impressed. Everything's so clean, people are nice, and when you look up at the sky, you see sky. Blue, blue sky. No ugly buildings, no spaghetti wires, no annoying Kris Aquino billboards. Sure, it's a little bit slower (Napa's has this kind of small-town vibe), but I definitely could get used to this. It doesn't mean I love being Pinoy any less. I just can't help but wish things back at home were a little like this, instead of all the dirt and filth (in our streets and in our government), the poverty, etc.

I know a lot of people would disagree with me. After all, there's no place like home, right? And of course I'm also aware of the downside to all this physical beauty--the discrimination, the abuse of power, the hard life, their stupid president (beginning to sound a lot like home now, isn't it? :P)...the yin for every yang. Still, one cannot help but hope...

What I like best about all the new things I'm learning: that people here--regardless of race or age and whatnot--they tell it like it is. They're downright no-bullsh*t honest. They confront their issues head-on and deal with it. They hear bad stuff, feel bad stuff, and oftentimes they don't give a sh*t (you won't get any of these asterisks with them, that's for sure).

For example, I was having a conversation with my mom's husband Jon (he's American) last night. We were talking about my little sister, who was entering kindergarten in the fall in this posh catholic school. I asked if she was going to St. John's, which I saw yesterday when I went to church. Then Jon told me this story of how they were checking that school out, and the administration people took one look at my mom and decided they didn't want anything to do with them. Just cause she's not white. What's up with that, huh? I mean, that's a lot of crap coming from a catholic school, right? But let me get to my point. The point is, my folks were aware that they were being discriminated against, and they tell us that, yeah, they were being discriminated against. They don't shuffle their feet and refuse to look you in the eye, and say, "Oh, they must have their reasons..."

Another example: I was talking to someone I just met about something, and he said, " Well, she doesn't really like me that much to begin with, anyway..." I was surprised. I mean, you knew and it's not a big deal? Because back at home something like that would get all the rumors and animosity and plastikan all flying in the air. Here, it is what it is and they tell 'em like it is.

I know it such a small thing, and I know someone out there who's reading this and going, "Nye. Yun lang?" But it's one thing about this place that really struck me. Back home, I only know of a few people who'd be like this--my lolo, for one, and Leni, I guess. Yeah, they'd be on top of my list. :) Darn, this is all making me miss them.