THE PHILIPPINES | Malaybalay
I have learned in my short time being here many cultural differences from the Philippines and America. One such difference is that no one likes to make change. I bought some much needed body spray today and it was about 65 pesos (currency runs about 45 pesos to one US dollar). Having limited pesos to begin with I handed her a 100 peso bill to cover my item. She turned and looked at the bagging lady and then looked back at me and said, ” Do you not have 65 pesos.” I, in my head, am thinking did I add wrong and not give her enough, so I quickly checked the price of the item and the amount I was handing her, looked at Tara (my teammate) and said yes and pushed my 100 peso bill to her again. She looked at me puzzled and said “Do you not have the 65 pesos?” Kinda irritated I proceeded to say yes I am giving you 100 pesos. Tara finally informed me that they wanted exact change. So I proceeded to say no and she reluctantly gave me my 35 pesos in return.
We have heard of this happening several times on our market outings, about their unwillingness to produce change. I wonder in my life if I am also unwilling to produce change in my life. At training camp we were told that one of the top things that was needed in order to make our World Race the best it could be was to allow change in our lives. Many of us are stuck on who we are, our roots. We sit proudly on what we have created ourselves to be and feel like we are losing everything if we let it go.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
revewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of
God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12: 2
