Another thing hanging is the fact that I passed the driving theory test and that is only good for one year. I have been driving since I was 20 years old both in the Philippines and the US and here I could not even drive at all because believe me it is not that easy to pass the theory test and after that you can’t even take the practical test immediately. They want you to take driving lessons all over again and they cost a fortune (average is 40 Euros per hour) and I have heard horror stories from others who had experiences with these driving instructors deliberately preventing them from actually taking the test by making them less confident during the lessons and not giving the recommendation to take the practical test just because they can suck the money out of you because you have no choice thinking that you have already invested so much in it. Here you cannot do practices with someone who has a license, you must be accompanied by a driving instructor. It costs a lot of money to get a drivers license and many people fail it so many times before they even get one.

Since we are leaving the country I don’t see myself now even trying for this. But still I may try to consider this when I have enough free time and psychologically ready to undergo it. Even then, if we don’t end up staying in the Philippines, we will come back here just to regroup and make plans to move either to the U.S. or Canada.

And also, by the way, I would like share an article I accidentally found lately which deeply bothered me. I hope this would enlighten anyone who might be considering a move here or another country similar to this. Please read the following: Is “accent” a form of racism?

sakali
sak´ali’ conj. in case, if it should

In your mind you wanted to say that you are hoping that something will happen or should happen. There is some kind of feeling of uncertainty in what your plan. You end up just saying “I just hope that” but feel that it’s only half of the feeling you are trying to convey.

“Nakakahinayang”
Tagalog dictionary:
hin´ayang n. feeling of regret for not having utilized something or not havingtake advantage of a situation (from s´ayang) panghinayang (pang-) n. regret

You can just say “what a waste” but it fees more like something you ought to preserve or keep but are afraid of taking a risk and are afraid of regretting.
“Suya or Umay”
suya
suy´a’ adj. fed up

I find that this is used more often in talking about food than objects or people or events. It’s more like a taste of a food that is too greasy or too sweet and your taste buds are already tired of it. Whew!

In other context it is also used when you are irritated of a person or an experience that is irritating and keeps on happening..

“Sayang naman”

sayang
s´ayang! Mal intj. what a pity! · masayang (ma-) v. to be wasted. Nasayang ang pagod ko. My efforts were wasted.

This word almost always shows up in the same sentence or paragraph along with hinayang. When you think you are about to waste something that might be precious or not sure if you would give up or let go of something you think it is sayang. Sayang seems to pertain to something that is valuable or has the potential to be valuable. The uncertainty is always there. Sometimes it is also used on something you almost did or obtained but for reason failed to get or were to afraid to do.

tampo
tamp´o ­ magtampo (mag-) v. to sulk.

To be sullenly aloof or withdrawn, as in silent resentment or protest.

Yeah ok, this one has a perfect counterpart word in English which is to sulk. I wonder if there’s one also in other languages. I would not have found out easily without a dictionary.

muta
m´uta’ n. gummy secretion in the eyes

This one I still can’t find an exact word in English or Dutch.

sayang
s´ayang! Mal intj. what a pity! · masayang (ma-) v. to be wasted. Nasayang ang pagod ko. My efforts were wasted.

“naman”, “kaya”

These are filler words which may have some kind of counterpart in other languages. In Dutch they also have a filler word “toch” and is close to the word “kaya?”.

Tagalog dictionary says:

naman
nam´an part. response marker, also, too, rather, again, on the other hand usually emphasizing the fact or the feeling involved in the expression; expresses transition to another subject hence also mild contrast. Example: Aba naman! · adv. also, too · intj. expression of gentle protest or denial

Do you have other words you can think of which you find hard to translate?