TIA

These are my roommates and coworkers Leila and Amy. They are both great and have helped make transitioning to the Philippines so enjoyable!

Amy (on the right) recently introduced me to a phrase: TIA. It's usually accompanied by a shrug of the shoulders or a sigh, even occasionally a rolling of the eyes. Roughly translated, it means "This is Asia."

This simple phrase comes in very handy. I will demonstrate:

• My domestic flight is 1 1/2 hours late (and counting) and I have an international connection... TIA.
• My friend (a girl who works with the peace corps) paid 4$ for a haircut and was given a mullet... TIA.
• I found some amazing granola cereal with dried fruit in it and it only cost 3$ (about half of the normal price for cereal) but the day after I opened it the ants in my house considered it an open invitation. There were only about ten that I could see so I poured a bowl anyway and put the remaining cereal in the fridge to kill the rest of the ants so I could eat it later... TIA.
• "How old are you?" "How much money do you make?" "Who pays your salary?" "Where is your husband/boyfriend?" "Why are you single?" "Buy me a gift" and "You like to marry a Filipino?" are questions I hear daily, mostly from strangers, but only because those who are not strangers have already asked me these questions... TIA.
• Rice for breakfast lunch and dinner is doing a serious number on my digestive system... TIA.
• If you see something you like, might want in the future, or want more of in the future, you buy them all now because you will most likely never find the same ones again... TIA.
• Just when you think there is no possible way they can fit one more person on the jeepney (public transport) three more get on... TIA.

And then there are the wonderful things...

• "I really worry about you because you have no family here in Cebu so if you ever get lonely, please come stay with us"... TIA.
• Friends (girls mostly) grabbing your hand as you walk or stand next to them... TIA.
• All inclusive eating and sharing of meals and snacks and everything in between... TIA.
• Not being the only person to put on long sleeves when the temperature drops below 80 degrees... TIA.
• Fresh fruit everywhere... TIA.
• A love for word puns and laughing about absolutely everything, just because life is full of joy and friends and family... TIA.

This is Asia... and I love it!