A GERMAN EXPAT IN THE PHILIPPINES
Chapter IX: Roller Coaster Life
"What would you like to drink?" - "Excuse me Sir, what would you like to drink?" The voice of the friendly smiling stewardess pulled me out of my dreams. "Coke Rum, please", I mumbled ... .
I couldn't believe I was engaged to Rossana.
It was really a great coincidence that I met her. Rossana's Uncle, Nicolas Balcom, International Harvardian University Principal) and I met weeks earlier at the beach. "I have to go now, Klaus. My niece is leaving for Switzerland. We'll take her to the airport. Do you still have some time this afternoon?" Of course I had time.
At the Davao International Airport, I met Rossana for the first time. "Nice meeting you Miss. Uhm, again what's your name?" I must have been very excited. I asked her name several times. Uncle Nick invited me for coffee in his house. A week later, the remainder of my six-week vacation in his house.
Whenever I came back to Germany from a trip abroad, Frankfurt was the first destination. I always called at home to let my parents know that I would be back home safe and sound. The phone rang a lot. A strange woman's voice was at the end of the line. My father stayed already together with another woman. My mother's cancer had progressed dramatically.
There was a lot of work waiting for me in Berlin. My publisher gave me all the work as Managing Editor for 4 law magazines. "Well, how was it in the Philippines?" he asked me with a bright smile on his face. He had long since discovered my engagement ring.
Since he was also a lawyer, he immediately started preparing the marriage documents. Yes, I wanted to fly back to the Philippines as soon as possible and get married. One week before my flight, my mother got operated again. Cancer stage 3! "Just go, you can't help me anyway, it's just a shame that I can't be there at your wedding", she said.
Rossana and I got married in 1983. The year before, I had already got to know what it means to live in a Filipino family. But even now already, I had the thought of wanting to stay in the Philippines forever. But, of course, the newlyweds should start their mutual life first in Germany. And Rossana's culture shock was just around the corner... .
(To be continued!)
