Americans Living in Bogota

I'm am American born and married to a Colombian born woman. For those American's living in Bogota a few questions.
1) Are most of you retired or still working?
2) If you are still working, what types of fields and how did you find employment?
3) Do you speak spanish fluently? Me, just the basics.

Anything else you might want to add for those of us thinking about living in Bogota.

By thomas1053 on May 10, 2008, 11:18 in Friendly Talkzone.

jonas says on May 10, 2008, 11:53:

brush up on your Spanish first...

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

Gator says on May 10, 2008, 11:59:

1. retired now but had a business for years(Cali)
2. n/a
3. fluently
it is less expensive but it ain't going to be dirt cheap.

I always quote Dorthy, "Gee, Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas(USA) anymore."

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Bill Turley says on May 10, 2008, 18:44:

When I first moved here I worked as a teacher in an elite American school, then I worked under contract for MEN, that continued as a part-time job for years, then a Coordinator then a principal. Now I am retired drawing a SSA pension from the US
I did not speak very good Spanish and still don't after 10.5 years. I can communicate, take care of essentials in the small town where I live. All the schools I worked in were Bilingual. I found my first job via an internet contact.
If you move here ( and you should visit for a month or so first) come with an open mind. It is not the same as the states. Not better or worse just very different.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

bogotabrian says on May 11, 2008, 08:28:

Bill, your Spanish is not very good after 10.5 years? Now I have just lost all hope of improving. LOL.

Thomas, Bill is right. You should move down to Bogota for a month or two first. It is very different and you need to bring a lot of patience with you as you adjust. I lived in Bogota for about 3 months while taking a TEFL class and started with teaching private classes at about 35 mil cop per hour. I decided that I liked Medellin and moved here. I now teach at a bilingual school in El Poblado.