The COVID-19 virus affects all of us – and after almost one year the effects become more and more visible. For us as intercultural couple the virus brings some additional challenges. I do not want to complain or ask for pity. But maybe there are some of you out there having similar experiences or facing the same challenges? First challenge for us is that we cannot easily travel to my wife’s family (in the Philippines) and visit them. We already cancelled the trip we planned for 2020 and now we are not sure if and how we can visit our family in 2021. The second challenge is the constant worrying about my in-laws in the Philippines. The health care there is much below the standard here in Germany. Besides that, are my in-laws only covered with a very basic public health insurance. So getting medical help for them is also a financial issue. If and when immunization against COVID-19 will be available for them is also totally open –
One year ago we made our first video for interculti. For some months you did not hear from us. Here is a short update what happend in the past couple of months. We are also excited to continue with interculti. In the future you will hear more often from us again. But before we plan our next activities we would like to get your feedback.
Watch this video from the Philippines. I (Thomas) can understand that guy. Some food in other countries is not always our favorite. But I feel also so sorry, for that man. And mostly I can imagine the feelings of this girl. She did not expect the reaction of her boyfriend and she was even more pressured by the expectations and reaction of her family. What do you think?
Different cultures are exciting – but what if the excitement fates? Thomas knows the Filipino culture well – but still there are moments when the difference in cultures and in the mindset of the Filipinos is shocking and surprising. But even Rosemarie – after staying outside her home country for more than 20 years – experiences some difficulties in adjusting to her own culture. Listen to our thoughts about culture and culture shock – especially for intercultural couples visiting the home country of the spouse. Please also let us know about your experience and your
We had a great holiday at the beach. After three weeks in the Philippines it was our first time to be at a beach. The last weeks we met lots of friends and attended three birthday parties and one wedding. We also had to arrange things for our guesthouse and do look for other practical matters – such as opening an local bank account. It was also our first time since at least 20 years to be at Paradise Island without our kids and family. So especially Thomas was very excited to swim and spend time at the beach. Watch our video and learn what we learned about holiday … and see some impressions from our favorite beach resort in Davao – the Paradise Island Beach resort at Samal Island.
25 years after our wedding we visited the hotel were we got married – the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao. It was very special after many years to be back at this place. Some things changed – but still it is very much the place of our wedding. One highlight of our wedding was, that all members of both families were there to celebrate with us.
Some impressions from the wedding of our friends Monik and Carlo. We were asked to be Ninang and Ninong (God parents). It was a wonderful party. Both Monik and Carlo grow up in Davao – Rosemarie knows both parents for many years – but the met in Sidney, Australia. Both families and many friends came to this special celebration – around 350 guests. We were asked to give a speech during the reception. Find out in the video what these items have to do with marriage: One thing which also blessed us, is that both families really stick together. Even after being married Monik and Carlo will still be very much part of their big families. They both expressed that during the celebration and it is so different from the way many western young couples deal with their families.
Some people asked how we spend our anniversary here in Davao. We planned to be out at the hotel we got married- but postponed that for a week. But of course Sunday evening we had a special dinner with our family and some friends.
25 years after getting married we decided to renew our marriage vows. Actually we were first thinking to do this at a local church – but than we decided to just do it as a video. So all of you you witness and we can go back to listen to our own vows anytime in the future. The recording was a very special – and also a very emotional – moment for the two of us. But the vows are not just a video or a show – it is a statement, that even after 25 years we stick together – for better or worse. We believe it is important to make commitments to each other – especially in a time where it seems that the traditional view of marriage is replaced by an often short-term arrangement between two people. In German, there is a term “Lebensabschnittsgefährte” which literally means “Companion for a period of life”. But marriage is much more than that.
25 years ago – exactly on January 21st 1993 at 7 am – we celebrated the start of our union with a garden wedding. Yes it was 7 am and not pm: we choose a nice location facing the beach at Insular Hotel Davao City. During the day it gets so hot and we had the choice of either morning or late afternoon. Since it was often raining at night during the rainy season we choose to have the ceremony in the morning. We started 7 am Filipino time (meaning to say it was around 8 am …) We were very thankful for around 200 friends and relatives to be there. But the very highlight was that the family of Thomas came from Germany to attend the wedding. Our pastor Ernie Abella really gave good insights on marriage. He knew both of us as we were attending his church – “The Jesus Fellowship” in Davao City. We were so blessed to have him at our wedding. But there was a number of