Two cups o’ coffee: A machiatto with Ruth -blogger and truly Filipino
Welcome again to ‘Two Cups o’ Coffee’, our own series of interviews where we casually chat with bloggers over a good cup of coffee, albeit imaginary, and exchange stories and ideas, pick brains or just get some “face”-time in the blogosphere.
We continue our conversation with RUTH SCHAFFER from Germany, of b5media, and author of Let’s Visit Asia and Eating Fabulous. I want to focus now on her life as an expat, and how that works for her.
FILIPINA SOUL: You’re raising a family in Germany. How do you infuse our culture into your life as an expat?
RUTH SCHAFFER: I will always be a Filipino, wherever in the world I may be. Consciously and unconsciously, I behave as Filipino as circumstances would permit. I have Filipino friends, Filipino dishes remain my comfort food, and am part of a small Filipino dance group. My husband even teases me that I have never really “arrived” in Germany. I may be physically in Germany, but my heart, my soul, is still in the Philippines. My personal blog, and PinoyExpats are online proofs of that.
FS:You’ve also lived there for quite some time now, right? Seven years? In what way does being an expat affect the way you now look at our culture?
RS: Six years. I think the distance and nostalgia color my perspective. I am guilty of selective memory, of seeing that which I prefer to see. I can afford to close my eyes and ignore the bad, because I don’t have to live with it. I can focus on the positive things instead, and probably because of that, I can feel loyalty, pride and faith in the Philippines, maybe more than what the average Filipino in the Philippines would feel.
FS: What is the aspect of filipino culture that is closest to your heart?
RS: This is probably the most difficult question in this interview, but I think one character that makes the Filipinos stand out is their sense of humor. It speaks of the Filipino’s ability to laugh one’s problems, laugh at one’s self. The ability to make light of depressing times. The ability to enjoy whatever fate throws at them. It gives way to courtesy and respect for others, and lends them the power to forgive other’s mistakes.
FS: Any local spots you’d recommend for someone visiting your town/province?
RS: Laguna, located just south of Manila, is home to a lot of must-see’s. Here are some, to name just a few: The Pagsanjan Rapids, the Mountains of Mt. Makiling, the wood carvers of Paete, the university town of Los Baños, the national hero’s home in Calamba, the embroidery shops in Lumban, the slipper makers in Liliw and the underground cemetery in Nagcarlan.
FS: So, what would you say to someone who wants to visit the philippines? How would you entice them to give the islands a try?
RS: The Philippines is not for the picky, spoiled traveller. Sure you’d find marble bath tubs and luxury resorts that’d charge you more than $500 a night. But if people were to visit the country, I’d like to invite them to be with the locals and discover the people. Ride the jeepney, taste the mangoes (with bagoong!), join the fiestas! Don’t just take photos. Be in the photos. Get out of your air-conditioned cabs and hotel rooms. Be in the scene. That’s the only way you can experience the real Philippines.
FS: That’s really insightful, Ruth. I agree with you. I personally prefer to stay in just one town and completely immerse myself in the local culture and people than try to hop from one tourist spot to the next.
So there you have it, friends. Check out Ruth’s blogs at ‘Let’s Visit Asia’ and ‘Eating Fabulous’. She’s also editor to a great ezine for Filipino Expats, and blogs about biotech and allergies, and a pinoy travel blog in other networks.
And if you missed the first part of this interview from last wee, you can still check it out here.
Tags: Filipino bloggers, Laguna, Philippine culture, Philippine tourism
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POSTED IN: Blogs and Websites, General: Philippine Culture
December 31st, 2006 at 4:11 pm
[…] 2. Ruth Schaffer of b5media has Let’s Visit Asia and Eating Fabulous. We talked at length here and here . […]