I’d love to hear y’alls opinion on “sending money home”.
Manuel had expectations of sending $250-$300 home per month while living in the US, which is a little wild when he can’t even work yet and seemingly hasn’t discussed it with Ashley at all.
On the other hand, he has multiple kids to support, something they don’t seem to show them talking about at all. And $300 in the US is significantly easier to come by than $300 in Ecuador, where the “average living wage” is around $500USD/month.
It tends to come up every season or so, obviously there’s some outrageous people looking to take advantage of others, but on the other hand a couple hundred bucks goes a lot further in some countries than others, and is typically a lot easier to make in some countries than others.
I’m reminded of David and Annie when they met with the builder after TLC killed her mom - the builder clearly saw David as easy pickings and gave them a wildly inflated quote, but also that’s around 5-10% of what that quote would have been in any American city.
What are your opinions on this? I think some people are out there to take advantage of others, but on the other hand if I could pay for my entire spouses family to live reasonably well for a small slice of my monthly take home pay it seems like a no-brainer to do it?
As a first generation American I don’t ever see it as taking advantage. In most cultures, part of the reason why you give up your family is to help support them.
Honestly $300 isn’t unreasonable and it sounds like they had that discussion (when he says I make $600 a month and give at least half to my family). I think Ashley is playing dumb to get sympathy points with friends & family since obviously Manuel is cold.
I do see special scenarios where the American is clearly being taken advantage of. I don’t remember her name is but was some white lady going to Jamaica but ends up sleeping with his cousin? They were definitely taking advantage of her.
But overall, I don’t think Americans should be surprised that their partner needs to send money back home. The only reason I believe this is because this is expected in my culture even as a person born here in the states.