Gates do not slam in American faces. That's very true.
Imagine with me for a minute.......
Imagine that you are very normal in every respect. That you are not particularly good looking, articulate, wealthy or connected.
Imagine that when visiting here that about half of the people are interested in you. They look, they smile, they speak kindly to you.
Imagine that every where you go half of the people are doing little things or very big things to help you. To make you more comfortable. To be kind to you for no other reason that you are a priviledged minority.
Imagine parents of small children walking up to you to introduce themselves and their kids to you. See the curiosity in the children's faces and experience the subtle respect that they give you. Americans are very well regarded here and you know that by how their kids treat you. They have been taught that Americans are important.
Imagine half of the people that you see every day are just wanting to talk with you or to have a beer or a soda. Just to talk to you for five minutes. They have a story or a question that they would like to ask and both speak and listen to you when you have a conversation.
Imagine people working and playing until they see you and then they stop what they are doing to watch you. Some are obvious and some are very subtle. They watch your every move with curiosity as if you are a celebrity, but you are not. You are just normal but you are a foreigner in the native's town.
Imagine walking into a large modern building in Ortigas with pinoys everywhere around you. That there are signs "No ID, no entry - no exceptions" , "secured facility" and the like. That everyone you see must present ID and sign into the building but when you arrive to the head of the line the security people don't even ask your name and just wave you inside.
Imagine people giving you their cab when there are not many cabs that particular day. That they flag you inside the cab that they would have taken but that they saw that you were uncomfortable or hot in the weather. With a smile they give you a pat on the back or a handshake.
Imagine having a complete stranger allow you to ride their motorcycle just because they saw you looking at it. No questions asked just , "would you like to ride"? No expectations of gain for them but just to allow you the opportunity.
Imagine being a priviledged minority. Not from outward wealth but by being a respectful American. From being someone that they would like to be. Someone that they would be proud of being.
That's very much what it's like for me here and I do not take that for granted. It's something that I am aware of every day.
I'm very thankful for this treatment and respond in kind.
This is one of many reasons that I love to be here.