Bufalo wants out of CO and I'm trying to promote tourism?!?

bufalo says on Jun 27, 2007, 09:59:

There are many reasons I like Colombia and would love to stay... BUT there are reasons that I may be getting out. Making money can be difficult, education for my daughter (that I accept is also tough in the states as well, this is more of a problem in that I want her to see many cultures so back to NYC would be good, here in Armenia there isn't many other types of culture), I don't like the way girls are brought up here, I'd like to say safety, but there are also plenty of safety issues in the states. I do not want her isolated at all. This is one of the reasons we have lived in several places - Uruguay, Barcelona, NYC and Leticia (the Amazon, that was a blast - hung out with indigenous, swam the river, animals in the house).

Problem is colombia has too many pervs and it is socially acceptable to be one/be taken advantage of one.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

vicshere says on Jun 27, 2007, 10:03:

come on bufalo
lets not bring up upskirt cams in the states
cams in public and employee bathroom
peeping toms
we can go on

bufalo its a worldwide problems not dedicated to Colombia

listo

getting better says on Jun 27, 2007, 10:13:

Colombia has fantastic biodiveristy as exemplified by the fact that it has the most species of birds in the world (1,869). I am helping to promote ecotourism through and so far things are going well. Any help or advice please send me a personal message. Thanks.

getting better says on Jun 27, 2007, 10:13:

www.ecotours.com.co

bufalo says on Jun 27, 2007, 10:14:

noway, it is a problem all over the world. What I'm talking about is that how sexual abuse of girls/boys here is socially acceptable, not so much the peeping tom pervs, but just the culture in general. (sorry tinto, but I had to bring it up) Amongst many other things, there was a post int he spanish sectin a longgggg time ago that was about colomians dating/sex with their own cousins. This thread went on and on for many pages and basically showed how many girls have thier "first-time" or other times with people in their ownfamily, mostly cousins. They said it was completely normal and that everyone does it. When I mentioned it in the english section it immediatley got zapped.
Now this is only one example of many things that I don't like about the sexual culture of colombia - I also find many things positive - but the ignorance can be amazing.

Now being a parent, I'm giong to be freaking out until the day I die, comes with it. But what I'm talking about I have been seeing for a long time.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

Tinto (Moderator) says on Jun 27, 2007, 10:19:

Getting Better - That's quite a bird-watching vehicle you've got there.

vicshere says on Jun 27, 2007, 10:22:

speaking of dating cousins....in the US doesn't that happen a lot in red neck country??? and again that sort of thing is world wide.....when I was 13 I wanted to do my 15 year old cousin so bad....thank god that never happened hehehehehe...she is a big fat cow now with 10 kids hehehehehe

listo

bufalo says on Jun 27, 2007, 10:58:

Oh, man, good thing you stayed away from that one! Yes, in red-neck country that does happen a lot. I remember my cousin (who I didn't have sex with) telll me that her friend did that, she was in Nebraska yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeha!

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

Miguel_Clavo says on Jun 27, 2007, 11:11:

One persons posted experiences does not necessarily reflect the experience of the rest of the millions of other people who have lived in and experienced Colombia......and lets keep things in perspective.....there are what, about 100 active people posting on PBH.....compared to the millions of people who also have experienced Colombia.......dont let the bad experiences of a few skew your own experiences with Colombia....

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jun 27, 2007, 11:17:

I think they have to go to Colombia to get the real feeling , otherwise they will only believe the bad reports they heard on the news.

I am off to Colombia in July and believe or not my daughter is taking a friend with her i was very surprised her parents didn't said no, knowing the reputation Colombia have abroad, but they said my daughter have been telling them all about her experience and how much she enjoys there that they think it will be a good experience for her daughter too.

engage brain before opening mouth

Robert Jorge says on Jun 27, 2007, 11:21:

I asked my wife about the cousin thing a long time ago. She was shocked and said "not in my family." So, I don't think it is necessarily the norm in Colombia. On the other hand, I am not denying that it happens.

I can understand Bufalo's concern about his children in Colombia. A distant cousin, by marriage, in my wife's family in Villavo got a 14 year old girl pregnant. She now has the baby and is 15 years old. Everybody was surprised, but they didn't seem to be as shocked as I did. "I was told that it happens, and it is quite common in Colombia." "That there is nothing illegal about it." I was thinking, this dude would be doing 20 years in a prison if that happened in the US. Hell, this guy's wife didn't even divorce him. By the way, they are in their early 40s. I just can't comprehend it. One thing that makes it tough for me to deal with, is this is a guy whom I hung out with, I used his computer sometimes, drank a few Aguilas with, etc. I had no idea he was banging his 14 year old house guest. It is truly creepy.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

kalder says on Jun 27, 2007, 12:17:

About 1% of underage (that is younger than 16) girls are made pregnant in the UK each year.
I wonder what the Colombian stats would be.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

kalder says on Jun 27, 2007, 12:26:

Jesus wept!

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

bufalo says on Jun 27, 2007, 12:40:

20% would be pregnant, but that wouldn't include how many have already had children and how many have had abortions (no, I'm not against it).

I think Miguel has a point. However after 16 years or so of coming to/living here, as a tourist in various parts, I would think I might have an idea of the culture by now. I'm also not saying it is everyone, but a lot more stand out here than in other places.

Also don't get me wrong there are a lot of things I like about Colombia, this just happens to be the one that bugs me.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

bufalo says on Jun 27, 2007, 13:04:

Funny, today is actually the 5 year anniversary of when I left the US and arrived in Uruguay to be with my colombiana. it's been a great time, but we are now talking about the dreaded move to the US. biggest reasons are: money, BS residency/visa crap from the US gov't so we'll have to live there for 3 years until we can go elsewhere, and that we are both kind of bored here in Colombia.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

bufalo says on Jun 27, 2007, 14:37:

I laugh, but it is the truth.... hahahahaha oops, colombia, here it's jajajajjajjajaja

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

analyzethis1 says on Jun 27, 2007, 17:15:

GIB- I don't live in Colombia. I just came back recently from vacationing there. I agree with you wholeheartedly about the differing perspectives of a tourist and a resident of CO. The rationale for my inquiry into other people's experiences is to add onto my own and shed some light into why people should start visiting CO.

getting better- if it's biodiversity that will help promote tourism, eco- in this sense, then I will include this into my "arguments". Good on you btw.

Kat1/ M_C- True, one has to travel there before concluding anything about CO. Can't just believe everything you hear and read about. But getting them there is the obstacle. You know what? I'm beginning to think, "who cares?" Just as long as I get to go to Colombia, who cares if others don't. I'm the one that loves it! (I think I just fell off the high horse...)

And bufalo, as a parent, every reason you have for wanting to move is valid. I live in a city and I wouldn't want to raise my kids in this city...in any city really. I've always preferred smaller communities. But there's less diversity in any small community. So tit for tat, whatever country, state, barrio you choose to live in, choose the lesser evils.

There are two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we receive, and the larger kind we feel for what we give. E.A. Robinson

elreydelostrolls says on Jun 27, 2007, 20:27:

What I love about Colombia is the violence and the sex. An unbeatable combination probably best personified by Mr. Colombia himself, Diomedes Diaz.

Robert Jorge says on Jun 27, 2007, 23:26:

I did some serious research tonight ... 2 minutes on Google, jajajaja, and could not come up with teen pregnancy rates in Colombia. I know it has to be high. But even after living there and seeing what goes on, I would be shocked at a 20%, UNDER 16 years old, pregnancy rate. 1 in 5 .... I sure didn't see that. But maybe I was sheltered? Even if it is close to 20%, that is so sad.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

kalder says on Jun 28, 2007, 00:37:

Rubito's got a point. If NYC schools are anything like the zoos we have in London, you might think again about staying put in Colombia.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

houstongal says on Jun 28, 2007, 07:06:

GIB - I agree! I'm from Hawaii and it kills me everytime I go home to visit the family. Too many tourists, too many mainlanders retiring, jacking up the price of houses and making the traffic worse. Development has its positives and its drawbacks. Unfortunately, for beautiful locations the negative seem to outweigh the positive.

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

analyzethis1 says on Jun 28, 2007, 18:19:

I know what you mean about how places, however big or small, were once pristine and unscathed only to be inundated with litter, buildings and people who disrespects the environment. I see this happening right in front of my own home! But there's a positive side...

During my month vacation in CO, I adapted to my surroundings...to the environment and I was able to see remnants of history and beauty lingering amidst the crowd, buildings, and pollution. I just let my imagination flow back in time to what it was like (also, it helps to know some history of certain places in Colombia.) With this, I was able to see her hidden beauties. So as long as I keep my rose-coloured glasses on, my appreciation for CO will never slip away :-)

There are two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we receive, and the larger kind we feel for what we give. E.A. Robinson

bufalo says on Jun 28, 2007, 19:12:

Like GIB and Analyzethis1 are talking about, it is better if noone comes. that's what always gets me with tourists. They come, say this is a "paradise" (first time here, staying for only a week and money reaaaaally stretches, and as ugly as you are - women are attracted to you here) and then they keep coming and screw it up. Personally I don't ell anyone to come to Colombia. I used to hang out in El Rodadero for years before the gringo wave hit, rather not live there now.
I myself have lived here for quite a bit, and I try to screw up as little as possible.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

bueno_pues says on Jun 28, 2007, 20:24:

De acuerdo contigo, Bufalo. Cuando ellos llegan me voy.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Jun 29, 2007, 05:58:

Yep, things are changing. My first trip to Colombia (Bogota) coincided with Uribe's inauguration in 2002. I remember going to Parque 93 and having dinner at el Gato Negro and then going to some joint across the street for drinks and to listen to a band. It was uncomfortable - people weren't pointing but they were definitely staring and whispering. Now, five years later, I'm just another dude in most areas of Northern Bogota and that suits me just fine.



Same for the airline flights between Newark, Atlanta or Houston and Bogota. On early trips I could count the number of pale faces on one hand. These days, we don't stick out anymore.

bueno_pues says on Jun 29, 2007, 06:01:

Si vayas a Monteria no vas a ver ningunos gringos. Gracias a Dios!

Tinto (Moderator) says on Jun 29, 2007, 06:09:

I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing Monteria's happenin' toll booth on a Saturday night, but next time I'm in Colombia I'm going to hit some of the little towns again. It's been a while. Sometimes I'm in Bogota for work and the people I'm with want to show me the nice restaurants, the new commercial office space and the big new malls, but what I really want to do is go sit in a sunny plaza in Timbuktu, get an ice cold Leona (I think that's the one that comes in an extra large bottle) and watch the world go by. THAT's a setting I can't easily replicate where I come from.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jun 29, 2007, 08:54:

there are gringos in Monteria but very few, the daughter of the owner of one of the best hotel in Monteria is married to a gringo

engage brain before opening mouth

bueno_pues says on Jun 29, 2007, 19:58:

Como se llama el hotel? Voy a preguntar alquien sobre este.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jun 30, 2007, 01:40:

uhm i don't think i should disclose that information on the net.....but UC you can send me a pm and i will tell you.;)

engage brain before opening mouth

bueno_pues says on Jun 30, 2007, 08:40:

Ella me dijo que en su epoca, el mejor hotel de Monteria era el Hotel Sinu y luego el Monteria Real pero ahora ella no sabe que es el mejor hotel por aca. Ella me dijo que hay otras costenas en Monteria casadas con gringos pero ellos no viven en Monteria.

vicshere says on Jun 30, 2007, 09:43:

Bueno -pues... a message to you....as you think you are above all us no reading gringo/visitor/ guest what ever.....let me welcome you to be the first person for me and maybe on PHB to the ignore list......I will not put up with this as I have choice.....as ta la vista baby

listo

vicshere says on Jun 30, 2007, 09:45:

wohoo I fell much better and all his post have magically disappeared

listo

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jun 30, 2007, 10:01:

she doesn't live in Colombia either but comes and visit often

engage brain before opening mouth

goin_south says on Jun 30, 2007, 10:03:

(the monkey to the side wants to know: 'who comes often?")

..... leavin louisiana in the broad day light

bueno_pues says on Jun 30, 2007, 10:35:

La costena de Monteria que es casada con un gringo. Pobrecito Vicshere, no le gusta el espanol.

houstongal says on Jun 30, 2007, 13:37:

Bueno_pues - I like reading your Spanish. It helps me keep up with the skill. And Vicshere is right...if someone doesn't like it, that's what the Ignore button is for.

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano