What I've Learned After 12 Years As An Expat - Philippines

Lessons from 12 years as an expat in the Philippines – challenges, tips, and advice.
-- For Expat Health Insurance in the Philippines, please contact Michael Onstad at;
00:00 - 00:44 Introduction: Challenges of Moving to the Philippines
00:45 - 02:02 Adapting to a New Culture and Environment
02:03 - 03:11 Building Resilience and Perseverance Abroad
03:12 - 04:29 Taking Life One Day at a Time
04:30 - 06:28 Understanding Cultural Awareness and Etiquette
06:29 - 08:31 Navigating Communication Barriers with Locals
08:32 - 10:21 Problem Solving: The Ultimate Expat Skill
10:22 - 12:13 Managing Finances and Avoiding Money Traps
12:14 - 16:53 Building a Reliable Social Network as an Expat
16:54 - 18:26 Embracing Lifelong Learning and Adaptability
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#philippines #passportbros #expatlife

[Lifebeyondthesea]

-- For Expat Health Insurance in the Philippines, please contact Michael Onstad at;



If you find my content helpful, I appreciate the support.

JOIN as a Member to show your support for the channel!

This channel contains affiliate links that support the channel at no
extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

[schoemannh]

Patience and lowered expectations are vital.

[davidkaiser]

What you need to survive the Philippines is a good Filipina that can guide you thru th muck and mire of the Philippines until you get used to it...

[altonarm]

I think adaptability is a nice word to define "How well can you handle yourself when you run into something you dont like." That can be the way someone treated you, spoke to you, bumped into you or almost killed you on their motorcycle. How you handle your own temper is a HUGE factor in living there and I had no idea how much until I did a 6 month stay there just recently.

[seans]

Good advice. Especially about staying calm when encountering all the BS

[Redbaron]

true Reekay! Had not tuned in here in a few years; but, been listening to you since the start. I have you to thank for my wonderful wife from PI and the courage to embrace culture change and new adventures. I hope married life is treating you well and you are still heading back to Cali to eat your mom's home cooking. Glad to see you are still giving terrific guidance not only about the Philippines; but, relationships and life in general. This is the channel I recommend to anyone travelling to the Philippines. One of the first and still the best PI travel guide on Youtube.

[enriquesoul]

Great video Sir Reekay.

#Resilience

[SunSeaShore]

Very informative information! You being a local are in the know! I have watched many of your videos and enjoy the truth. I am an 50+ old surfer guy in San Diego, CA and am ready to explore the Philippines hopefully this Spring. Went to Thailand last Spring for 2 months with folks that has been there many times - amazing - my first time to Asia.
Your recommendations on being up with tech and research is key....

[garyt]

Thoughtful vlog. New country, another culture, different language, etc. I am amazed at the stubbornness of expats that expect the things to be the "same" as in their home country. If they wanted the sameness, they should never have left their home country. All the best to you and Ve.

[WAdelstein]

Food. I love the people hate & actually fear the food. It’s a good life. I bring my own food to events. Lost 35lb because I don’t like the food. I can walk through the mall and save Pesos because I’m carrying food. Just be respectful to your hosts. I say the food is too rich. True enough. In restos dinner parties I order something but don’t eat. I give the meal to my security guard on duty.

I’m up everyday at 5:30 to get to morning prayers lift weights and eat carefully. My Filipino fam can’t believe I’m happy living a disciplined life but theyre cool, they help accommodate me.

[daltonwin]

My experience in Phillipines was amazing 1) Speaking English 2) value of exchange rate 3) Abiiity to get food 24x7 .. low cost to travel by air between islands 5) friendliness … all of that made it easy on 4 x 2 week trips

[CudaGuy]

Been developing a taste for rice and been cooking traditional Philippine recipes from various websites.. Not going till 2026 but already selling off as much stuff as I can and downsizing.. Goal will be to reduce my stuff to a 10' by 20' warehouse before the end of 2025 so that in March 2026 I can go with only the warehouse and one vehicle for my parents to watch over for the 3 months I'm gone..

[EdensTokyoLife]

Great encouragement video for me . Thank you so much. My life long dream is to move back to the Philippines . Ive done sending all my belongings to my house in Manila. But Until now I'm still figuring out how to start a new life there alone and especially I'm on my late 50's. I know having Good mindset is my biggest problem. Really tried my best to adopt and started living back and forth
(Manila～Tokyo) I wish, hope and pray i could move back soon. Again, Salamat 😊

[orobleh]

Great vedio. Adaptability with the weather, culture, food, Filipino way of doing things, etc. It is true in living in any new environment. I agree with you.

[etfremd]

Yeah it’s all about mindset…embrace the difference and weirdness…and have resources to go back whenever necessary…Like the Sam’s Club app I can shop and pay from my phone and walk right out of the store and stand in zero line…unlike Costco or any other store…I know from just two trips my dietary choices will prevent me from a permanent stay…I need to eat much more healthy food…

[bonzotalonzo]

Good vid! I may add, you WILL get a lot of attention that maybe you didn't realize, incoming monthly income necessary IMO & as a foreigner you have status & most will perceive u as rich & well off (yur assumed/expected to pay the tab).

[leg]

One thing is for certain not just in the Philippines and Asia in general...Is that you said the most important trait to have...Adaptability and always learning how to navigate some changes and is a lifetime learning process....From within...And without.... Good video one for thought and retrospection....Peace

[cryptogaming]

Thanks for all of your helpful advice.

[TropicalOceanCleanup]

I had to learn all of that and more 6 years before you came along, retired here in 2006 but luckily met Mindanao Bob when I lived in Davao...before YT was the go to place to learn. Great video, could of sped up my learning curve if you had been around.

[DinoGithens]

Great, fantastic advice, thank you for taking the time to put this together 🙏