Blending in Vs. Looking like a fool.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 21, 2005, 10:45:

lose the dreads just a recommendation;)
Colombians tend to be a bit conservative about personal aspects like hairstyles and clothes. Most caleños wear their hair very short and any long-haired young guy is classified immediately as a) neo-hippie b) aspiring artist with leftist tendencies c) argentinian football player. It's a pity, actually, because colombian men have such lovely, shiny, thick, abundant hair...it'd look really good shoulder-length, prince-valiant style, if they weren't so keen on following the gringo lead.

Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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Miguel says on Feb 21, 2005, 10:55:

Si... And you might want to consider removing an earring, if you wear one.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 21, 2005, 10:58:

and all the other piercings as well, especially in your face if you have any. Lose all tattoos too..might be harder, though. Wear a business suit, a tie and glasses (try to look like Mr. Uribe, that's today's look in Colombia). Emulating Mr. Bush would work too.

Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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grahampee says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:00:

hmm, not sure I can see myself as any of those three! Might have to get the chop once I've touched down then. And I'll lose the earrings as well - limit meself to me mama's dresses or nothing, lol!

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gringosalsero says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:01:

Hi Desi Do you have a second to translate something for me. I posted something under "Need Translation?

Pretty Please

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grahampee says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:03:

woah! You all think I'm a hippy!! I'll brush down me white tie and tails, that should knock the locals sideways!

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Antonio_4 says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:08:

Ah Finally! Now i understand why my Colombian friends used to call me Gabriel Batistuta!
I was completely clueless why they did that, untill now...
Try to blend in and everything should be fine?

Greetings,

Toni

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:14:

grahampee that'd be overdoing it...and would certainly get you noticed by other guys wearing white tails...sorry, that was a white tie and tails. They'd think your a visiting piano artist from Italy. How 'bout just some jeans and a polo?
Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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Mr. Hollywood says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:24:

Devil's advocate I'm going to play Devil's advocate and point out that long hair is really "In" in Colombia right now , even dreadlocks. I don't know about Cali but certainly in Bogota and in the coast a guy with long hair is a dime a dozen.

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ShazCas says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:31:

Bogota/cities versus rest of Colombia I would agree with Mr Hollywood, in Bogota no-one would bat an eyelid at the dreds, piercings or tattoos. It's pretty much the same in Medellin and Manizales, but the other cities are more conservative. So they'd either think you were foreign or from Bogota! It won't matter if you look like a hippie, it's a lot safer than looking polished and with a nice fat wallet. There are lots of Colombian hippies who are mostly left alone - hey, I never got asked for money when I walked around looking like one! And because you'll be travelling, at least you won't have to worry about work or job interviews! There's the practical side of it - would you be happy with it in the heat? Have a great time, whatever you decide!

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:44:

the last time I was in Cali was two years ago, so things might've changed since then. Anyway, the only long-haired man that I saw was the guy who stood at the bus stop in front of Parque Panamericano, every day, all day, waiting for a bus that never came....
Yes, some small tattoos, a few piercings is ok for Cali (or was). I never liked the really short hairstyle on guys so if that's gone I'm only happy for it.

Cheers,
desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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grahampee says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:46:

ahh, that's more like it... Not quite ready to get all tattooed up, though! And no-one's gonna think I'm from Bogotá when they hear my faltering Spanish! Maybe I'll take the coutnry by storm and challenge all their deeply held convictions about long hair!

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ShazCas says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:54:

Cali Desi, you're right, there isn't much long hair in Cali or in the other hotter cities, and where people listen mostly to tropical music - the men tend to be more conservative. But in Bogota, Medellin, etc, there are more people who listen to rock and folk music and loads of hippies.

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Sr Tertius says on Feb 21, 2005, 11:59:

Caleño style If you REALLY want to blend in, wear short hair, tight jeans, white socks with dark shoes, and eat your eggs always with a spoon. He he, just teasing the caleños here.

"When the finger points to the moon, the fool looks at the finger" (Chinese proverb)

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 21, 2005, 12:18:

tertius, only the soft-boiled ones...how do rolos eat them?
Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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grahampee says on Feb 21, 2005, 12:31:

haha, note to self: Mustn't forget to pack spoon before going to Colombia!

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 21, 2005, 12:46:

grahampee they do sell spoons in Colombia too.They're probably cheaper than in England. Support the local industry.
Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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kernow62 says on Feb 21, 2005, 13:41:

Ah but do their Mums make them soldiers for their boiled eggs?

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 21, 2005, 14:54:

I wouldn't worry about it, grahampee. No matter what you do you're probably not going to blend in anyway, so why bother? I just wear whatever I want.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Sr Tertius says on Feb 21, 2005, 19:11:

Eggs My caleño friends had the odd habit of eating eggs sunny side up with a spoon. I thought it was the oddest thing ever. Then I came to the US ;)

"When the finger points to the moon, the fool looks at the finger" (Chinese proverb)

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 22, 2005, 13:50:

and that's when you discovered some really odd eating habits...
Caleños are very informal about their eating habits. They usually just ladle their rice'n stuff in their mouths with the fork in the right hand using it as it were a spoon...but then again, a lot of caleño food is easier to eat that way, because the stewy, saucy consistence, like all the lentejas, garbanzos, blanquillos, frijoles etc...
Cheers,
Desi
(just wondering if grahampee finally decided to keept the dreads...)

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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grahampee says on Feb 23, 2005, 05:05:

Desi,

Well I learned a lot about eggs. And spoons. Think I'll keep the dreads, although I don't actually have any yet, (just hair thats frightfully long for a man) as I'm waiting until I reach a country where I can afford to get them done!

Anyway, thanks for your help - I'll bear it all in mind when deciding on a look for Cali. Oh, and how to eat eggs without embarrassing myself.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 23, 2005, 05:46:

I don't know how old you are grahampee, but my son is 14 and he is 5'10 he has light brown long hair, up to his shoulder, apart from the airhostess confusing him like a girl he was fine.

engage brain before opening mouth

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fzrdan says on Feb 23, 2005, 07:59:

desi and that's when you discovered some really odd eating habits...

And what would those be? Other than of course all the damn fat people walking around eating pizza and cheeseburgers all the time.

How about China where it is common to put the plate of food up to your mouth and shovel it in, slurping the entire time.

Thailand (northeast part anyway) where a group of people sit around eating from the same ball of sticky rice with their fingers. They stick those fingers in thier mouth, licking and then sticking same fingers back in the sticky rice where everyone else is doing the same.

Strange eating habits may be strange if you aren't from that culture, but they aren't to the folks in that culture. You frequently make negative comments towards the USA, get over your european superiority complex.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 23, 2005, 08:49:

frzdan I just finished the sentence that Mr. Tertius started...but of course, I get the blame even if it's just a little bit of irony!
Yes, I just love to make little jokes about gringos not tolerating any jokes on them, but I don't have any anti-gringo agenda at all. Grow some skin!

Cheers,
Desi
(feeling very inferior right now)

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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fzrdan says on Feb 23, 2005, 09:39:

grahampee On my two trips to Cali, I never saw anyone with dreads or anything close to it. In Cali the dress (of the guys) and grooming seemed to be conservative. I saw one or two guys with shoulder length hair but that was it. Are you gringo? If so, you will not blend in anyway.

Desi, I sent you a PM.

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grahampee says on Feb 23, 2005, 10:09:

Kat1, I'm 24 years old and 6' 1". Hair sounds about as long as your boy's. Be honest with me - I'm in for a rough ride, ain't I, ha?!

Fzrdan, I am gringo, with a naturally reddish tint and blond highlights to my soon-to-be dreaded girl's hair so blending in might not be as easy as I'd hoped. Mind you, that's before I attempt to charm the bollocks off the locals once I start combining a bit of the old espanol with my dazzling English wit.

Riiiiiiiight (Anyone remember how Dr Evil says that?) Sounds like if anyone's in for a shock it might just be me!!

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 23, 2005, 10:35:

no you not, you would be fine there are a lot of young guys in Colombia with long hair, I just ask your age because is no nice to see an older guy with long hair looks old fashioned. but you are very young so enjoyed.

engage brain before opening mouth

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 23, 2005, 10:36:

As long as you keep it clean is ok hehe

engage brain before opening mouth

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 23, 2005, 10:48:

blending in grahampee, there's no way you'd be taken for a Colombian anyway, so I wuldn't bother if I were you. Gringos always stick out, for their coloring, clothes, way of walking etc.etc. a long time before they open their mouths. That's ok., it's a different set of rules for gringos and other non-Colombians. You can look any which way you'd like and people would just shrug and say..."well, he's a gringo.."

BTW, I thought getting dreads takes a long time, months and months of not washing your hair, twisting and twirling strands of hair all your free time...

Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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caslug says on Feb 23, 2005, 14:01:

keep dreads... My cousin here in the states has dreads going all the way down to his middle back. People(girls) always come up and compliment him or ask him questions about it. Some even ask if he is in a reggae band.

In cali i would imagine you would get stared like you won't believe, but i think i would be a good thing. Plus it'll be a great conversation starter in meeting new people and friends.

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Lionheart says on Feb 23, 2005, 17:41:

agree, keep the dreads the girls will love them and all will want to play with them ...

can you imagine a better way to get to know girls?

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kernow62 says on Feb 24, 2005, 05:19:

Grahampee check out this guy's blog from New Zealand, he's got dreads and towers above most Colombians and he had a great time traveling in Colombia. Of course it helps if you are a little crazy too!

http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/blog-2219.html

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