Oct

6

Swiss Questions

Filed Under General, Humor, Migrant Life, Society & Culture, The Philippines | 7 Comments

Okay, I’ve blogged about the silly and crude questions some of my compatriots, who are also based in Switzerland, had asked me in the past. (The post, apparently, has become one of the most commented and most linked blog entry on X-Press Files of late).

I guess it’s time for the Swiss version of the blog post.

So here it goes — a list of (silly) questions posed to me by some Swiss acquiantances:

– “Do you have wine in the Philippines?” — asked by my husband’s first cousin during a family reunion.

– “Does your family sleep in straw mats? Do they live in a hut made of dried leaves?” — asked by a German language teacher during class.

– “Do you know how to operate a washing machine?” — asked by the lady caretaker of our apartment building during my first month in Switzerland.

– “How come you can speak in English?” — asked by a group of French-speaking Swiss classmates in a German course for the jobless during the first day in class.

– “How come you know when America was discovered and when the First World War was?” — asked by the same group of French-speaking Swiss classmates during a trivia game in our German class.

– “Am I already considered rich in your country?” — asked by a cash-strapped, French-speaking Swiss classmate in the same German course during a speaking exercise.

– “Would you like to work as a guinea pig in a pharmaceutical company in Basel?” — asked by the same cash-strapped, French-speaking Swiss classmate during the start of a lesson.

– “What is the Philippines?” — asked by a Swiss lady customer during the monthly outdoor market in our town.

– “How does it feel to ride a carabao?” — asked by my husband’s former officemate, who takes pride in being a “wide reader,” during a visit to our apartment.

Thank goodness nobody has asked me yet which Philippine tribal group I belong to (note: not that it’s bad per se to be a member of a certain tribe).

With regard to the question if we Filipinos have wine in the Philippines, I managed to answer in a calm way that yes, we do have wine in the Philippines…as well as clothes (apart from loincloths to cover the male genitals), cars, houses, office buildings, schools, computers, and many other things. Not just tribes, carabaos, and nipa huts.

Oct

1

Goodwill Bags

Filed Under Consumer Concerns, Faith & Values, Home Management, Society & Culture, Swissness | 2 Comments

I’m amazed that we were still able to give away some of our clothes and shoes — all in good condition — to charity in late August, despite the fact that we had already filled up those Swiss charity plastic bags as well as sent medium-sized boxes filled with slightly used clothing and footwear to a church in Ukraine prior to our recent SoliTex contribution. (SoliTex has a similar system like TEXAID’s.)

We don’t really spend lots of money on clothes here since the prices, as my Czech friend would say, are “nicht normal” (not normal). And we buy shoes only when necessary. So, yes, we’ve been a bit thrifty when it comes to fashion. It rather goes well with my natural inclination towards the ‘minimalist look.’ So kein Problem.

So, how were we able to give regularly to Swiss charitable organizations like TEXAID and SoliTex (those are SoliTex bags in the picture)? Beats me. I can’t really account for it.

It’s a mystery — and a great one at that. I believe God is behind this; He has always been. His continuous provision never ceases to amaze me. His economics goes beyond human understanding.

I hope my favorite pair of black suede boots will make somebody’s feet warm and comfy this coming winter.

Thanks, SoliTex (and to TEXAID), for allowing us to take part in your noble vision in our own small way.

(Note: Founded in 1996, SoliTex is a Swiss organization that spearheads a systematic collection of used clothes, shoes, and house articles for charity, in partnership with five relief organizations. It’s one of the four organizations — the three others being TEXAID, CONTEX, and SATEX — that collect used textiles all over Switzerland for ‘purpose-driven recycling.’)

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