Overheard is our series of snippets/conversations that we have with other travelers and/or locals along the way.
Visit Asia as a young couple and you're bound to have a conversation that goes something like this several times a day.
"Is that your friend? Boyfriend? Husband?" says the local.
"Husband," you say.
The local beams.
"Ohhhh..." he/she says. "You're married! How long?"
"Almost two years," you say.
"Children?"
"No," you say. "Not yet."
The beam disappears off the local's face. If he/she is a hotel employee, he/she offers you a room with two single beds instead of one big one.
You politely request the room with one bed because you do, after all, like each other.
We've had this conversation almost daily for over four months now, but in the Philippines, where the majority of people speak decent English, it went further.
"Ohhh..." said the lifeguard at the cold springs in Camiguin. "So you use birth control?"
Rob nodded.
"Yes," he said. "Most Americans do."
The man seemed to consider his next words.
"The Church tells us condoms cause AIDS," he said. "Even though the government wants more people using them, most people are too scared to disobey the Church."
"Does the Church help families who can't afford the children?" Rob asked.
"No," the lifeguard said. "No, they don't."
More Philippines
Interested in budget travel in the Philippines? Check out our Philippines destination pages.
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