An Australian Girl in Cartagena

Sam Salmon says on Aug 8, 2004, 00:13:

Cartagena is a tourist town and young Ockers like yourself abound-it's a well travelled part of the backpacker scene.
Perhaps that's not what you want to hear but it's true.
No need to worry about personal safety beyond the awareness necessary in any large city.
As a point of interest I have noticed that in general Ockers have a terrible time pronouncing Spanish-bad I mean way down below buffalo hell.
Work on your listening skills and learn to hear the sound of your own voice in another language if you want to progress in your studies.



' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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emilyh says on Aug 8, 2004, 01:44:

aussie girl in colombia HI Mish,

I too am an Aussie girl (22) and went to Cali for 6 months, till March this year. I didn't know any Spanish either, however I got by ok and you definately pick it up. Contrary to wwhat Sam said, Colombians often commented on how good my accent and pronunciation were.

My experiences where fantastic, as just about everyone would say you need to be confident and not walk around looking like you're waiting for something to happen. About the most that happened was people being excited to speak to me and comment on my hair (red) and my eyes (blue)...clearly nothing dangerous.

Obviously I can't say much about Cartagena, however i've heard it is one of the easier places to go and get around in Colombia, simply due to the high munber of tourists there. Have Fun!!

Chao

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Denis_fr says on Aug 8, 2004, 09:46:

Hi,

Where are you going to learn spanish?
In the CUTB ? With Nueva Lengua?
Thanks for your answer!!

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Mi_lukea says on Aug 8, 2004, 20:30:

Thanks for everyones help Hola Denis

I am studying with Nueva Lengua. Have you had any experience with the school? Would you recommend it or maybe another?

I liked the program, the cost and the location of this school.

But Im very open to suggestions.

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Mi_lukea says on Aug 8, 2004, 20:35:

Aussie Girls in Colombia Hi Emily

Thanks for your reply! Your advice is great and Im so glad to hear we have alot in common. Im also going to Cali for two weeks before and after language school, as thats where the guy I have been dating lives! Where in Cali were you living???

Can you tell me more about Cali? I would love to hear everything!

mish
mlg07 at uow.edu.au

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Denis_fr says on Aug 8, 2004, 21:30:

Hi!!

My wife will study there for 2 months.
She will start the course mid-september.
I think she will fill out the inscription form next week.
We sent many questions and requests about the
school to Pedro N. and he always answered promptly.
He gave us a lot of information about the course, the payment
and cartagena itself.
I think it's a good school and it's worth its price!!
I won't be able to follow the course but I will be in cartagena as a tourist for this 2 months.
If you need information, just ask.
jesspepette at hotmail.com

(Sorry for our english,we're from france)

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Mi_lukea says on Aug 8, 2004, 21:36:

Perfecto! Alo!

Your english is perfect! I think its fantastic that your wife is also going to Nueva Lengua. I would love to hear from you both about your time in Cartagena! Especially details on the course.

I will email you soon.

Un abrazo.

mish

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elmodefoque says on Aug 9, 2004, 07:19:

hola I will gladly be your tour guide in your visit to Cartagena or anywhere you want to go in Colombia. Did you say 26 years old, Australian, that sounds very sweet.Blonde?
You have not seen this incredible land until you see La Sierra Madre Mountains, the dense green jungle and the turquoise water of northern Colombia. There, I have land and increasing number of goats, up to 5 now. I’m as Colombian as apple pie, sorry, as Colombian as augua de panela y arepa. My ancestors did not migrate to Colombia from anywhere in the planet we were re always there, we just appeared thousands of years ago at the same time the mountains, the jungle, coca, and the ocean came to be. I could show you places not traveled by most Colombians places where only Guajiros (Indians of La Guajira, northern Colombia) are welcome, places many considered extremely dangerous. But for me, danger is my best friend. That’s why I always wear sneakers so when I see danger I run the other way, not every day you need to see your best friend.

any colombianita willing to date me, IS UP TO NO GOOD

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toddanderson says on Aug 9, 2004, 09:01:

Where is CUTB spanish school ? Where is the CUTB spanish school ?
do you have a web site link ?

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Mi_lukea says on Aug 16, 2004, 18:47:

Thanks for everyones help If anybody has any other information, it would REALLY be appreciated!!

Especially information on Cartagena!

Hablo contigo luego
mish

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JuanitaenSydney says on Aug 16, 2004, 19:20:

Greeting from a Colombian girl in Aussie Hi there, Australian girl in Cartagena!
I was surprised and happy to find out that there is so many young Australians interested in visiting Colombia despite the bad publicity the country has. I am a 25 year old Colombian currently living Sydney. I have always been torn between the two cultures, as I came to Australia for the first time when I was 10 years old. When I was in Colombia I lived in Barranquilla a city about an our away from Cartagena and Santa Marta. I also teach spanish for begginers as a casual hobby. It will be a pleasure for me to share with you all the information you want to know about Cartagena and Colombia.

Regards,
Juanita Vargas

v_juanita19 at angelfire.com

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 16, 2004, 19:54:

Barranquilla , you say? Are the legends about "Elmodefoque" true? ;-)

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Mi_lukea says on Aug 19, 2004, 00:00:

Hola Chica En Sydney! Hi Juanita!

I was so glad to read your post! This website is fantastic. The information I am obtaining and the contacts are just amazing!

Im really busy at the moment writing my thesis on Colombia. But would love to chat with you more soon, I should be good in a week! I will email you at your account! I cant wait to hear more about Cartagena, Cali and Bogota from you.

Im in Wollongong but my family is from Sydney. So we even live close!

Hablo contigo luego via email.

Chao
mish
mlg07 at uow.edu.au

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glacierdaz says on Aug 22, 2004, 16:55:

Nueva Lengua I had the opportunity to study spanish with Nueva Lengua in both Bogota and Cartagena. The Instructors were friendly and knew what they were doing. Pedro was really good at listening to your concerns and providing a quality experience. They did seem expensive, but you always get what you pay for. If you have any questions please send me an e mail dnits123 at telus.net. I have also created a website about my experiences in Colombia. You can have a look at www.truecolombia.com.

Have fun

Darrel from Canada

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Rita Ines says on Sep 2, 2004, 11:48:

Good Luck Hi. I am a Colombian girl living in Australia. Thought maybe be nice to make contact. I live in Queensland...an guess what? Garcia Marquez is my uncle. I can tell you the most beautiful stories about Cartagena...is a dream place encircled by a "muralla". People are warmed, colorful and friendly. Write to me if you want to...tell me a little bit about you...
Actually my oldest son who is 18 is living to Colombia in December and also plans to study spanish but maybe he would do it in Bogota. Believe it is a lot safer in Cartagena!!!
Hope to hear from you,
Rita
ritaines58 at hotmail.com

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FrankLeal says on Sep 5, 2004, 21:38:

Greetings from Colombia! Hi Mish!

I'm writing you from Bucaramanga a city between Bogotá and Cartagena. I am an English teacher at Centro Colombo Americano a renown institution in Colombia. I can offer you a very cheap plan to learn Spanish during the time you desire, it could be one, two, three weeks or more. I am not telling you not to visit Cartagena because it is the most beautiful city in Colombia, I also love it and I strongly recommend everybody to visit it. But you could take some Spanish lessons before going to Cartagena and that way you could save money and enjoy better your travel to the Caribbean coast.

These are the values in Colombian pesos:

1 week 2weeks 3weeks
Lodging (with a family) 130000 195000 260000
Spanish course (25 hours per week)275000 550000 825000
3 meals 105000 210000 315000
Other expenses (transport) 25000 50000 75000
Total 535000 1005000 1475000


The lessons are one to one and are going to be given to you by young people who have a good English knowledge and even some of them are students finishing their careers in education.

Near Bucaramanga there are interesting places for practice of X-treme sports (e.g. rafting, paragliding, etc) or you could during weekends visit beautiful colonial towns.

Do not hesitate to contact me at franklealt at yahoo.com.ar

Best regards,
Francisco Leal

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heat says on Sep 5, 2004, 21:46:

Rita Ines,
please tell your uncle he is my most favorite author of absolute all times. i read his books over and over again. lovely, fantastical and beautiful. they are what drove me to the carribbean coast this year.

with kind regards,
heat

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MigueElCosteno says on Sep 5, 2004, 22:46:

Cartagena, is indeed awesome..
I was born in Cartagena (manga) and i will be there from December 1st to January 19th.
My aunt has her own school in manga, of about 100 students and she might know someone that is in need of an english instructor..
I would be glad to help,
i can also tell you where the party scenes are at, etc.

Mikey122004 at yahoo.com

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