Blowout and Make It Rain

On Sunday night, I stayed up late talking with Auntie Nitz (the woman of the house in which I've been staying). The conversation was great - we talked about the difference in cultures between Filipino and American, native Filipinos and Filipino-Americans, etc.. Topics included dating (of course), school, "strict" Filipino dads, politics, etc. She also shared with me her life story, and how she got to where she was now.

One thing I think worth mentioning is the difference in birthday dinners. In the U.S., when it's your birthday, you invite your friends to all have dinner. Though it may not be explicitly said, it's expected that everyone will help pay for the birthday celebrant's birthday. The birthday celebrant, of course, will not directly ask for others to pay. (S)he will offer, only to be met with angry declines, and "no, put your card away!" from friends. As courtesy, the birthday celebrant better do some arguing, even though s)he knows it's more times than not, a losing battle. "Happy Birthday! Of course we're going to pay for you!" We've all been there, on one side or the other. We know the drill.

In the Philippines, when it's your birthday, expect your friends to be yelling "Blowout! Blowout!" This is the time when you buy food for everyone at work, or when the bill comes at your birthday meal, you take out your own cash to pay not only for your meal, but everyone else's and their Mom's. Of course, if you don't have the cash to pay, your friends will understand. But it's also assumed that you're going to save your own money beforehand so that you can take all your friends out. It's the birthday celebrant's way of saying "thank you" and celebrating another year with loved ones. So for your birthday, you better be ready to blowout and make it rain when the bill comes.

I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty sweet.

Towards the end of my conversation with Auntie Nitz, a giant cockroach appeared out of nowhere, crawling on the ceiling above our heads. Naturally, I freaked out. Trying to stay calm and pointing to it, I told Auntie Nitz. Without even a flinch, she looked at it and said, "It's going to rain tomorrow."

As I'm fighting not to react in the way that I was feeling inside, she goes on to explain that when you see a lot of cockroaches or ants "fly" (yes, cockroaches fly!) or "come in groups" (yes, groups!), you've just been warned that it's going to rain.

Put that in your handy-dandy notebook.

2am, we decided to go to bed. I went to the restroom and started my evening-sleep process. I moved my towel, and a cockroach comes out from hiding. I start using the sink, and I see an ant crawling next to the faucet.

In the solitude of the CR ("comfort room" = bathroom in Philippines), I LOL (yes, I literally laugh out loud by myself). I love the little to big things I'm learning about Filipino culture and lifestyle.

Priceless moments.