Colombians and criticism

adrimm says on Feb 21, 2005, 12:21:

Too true On her last trip there mom had to trade in her orthapaedic walking shooes for heels for a trip to the mall becuase an aunt refused to taker her otherwise. I think that a portion of the importance Colombians place in appearance comes from the class system, with a good measure of plain old vanity thrown in. Everyone wants to look "better", or at least not be the odd one out.

It's kind of funny tho, becuase a pair of orthopaedic walking shoes is a far more costly thing than a pair of pumps.

I also think that this is a generational thing, worse for my mother's age, and that younger people are far more casual, but at the same time things like shoes and name brands still matter alot.

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kerry says on Feb 21, 2005, 12:34:

to Mrs Gomez Saying that when you came to London the plane had backpackers on it that were badly dressed is probably inaccurate. You came to London 9 years ago so it is hard for you to remember. you must understand that when you get on the plane probably from madrid to go to Bogota, there will be no foreign people getting on the plane. This is my second time in Colombia. The first time I was shocked as while i was boarding the plane everyone that was getting on was Colombian, I ahve never been on an international flight in my life where that happened before. I thought to myself the only people that leave colombia and go in to colombia must only be colombians. This time was the same not a single gringo. In 60 days in colombia I ahve seen maybe 3 gringos

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nanis says on Feb 21, 2005, 12:39:

Sorry to disappoint you Kerry! But 12 years ago I came to London not from Madrid but from Bogotá via British airways and yeah there were backpackers in that flight alright! they were coming from Cartagena and San Andres I met them in Bogotá, they were tall white and blonde I remember like it was yesterday my memory is as good as gold my dear! Never lets me down especially because that same week was one probably the worst in my life so how could I forget that?

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kerry says on Feb 21, 2005, 12:48:

well it will probably not be like that this time darling

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sandramoreno80 says on Feb 21, 2005, 14:02:

You know that it just depends on the people invloved and how they are personality wise, and also their generation. I really do not give a shit what anyone thinks about what I am wearing, but then again I just know that some things that I wear in England at the same time will just not fit in, beacause of the weather change, so that means that I can not bring those sorts of clothes, but if you are going to Bogota it might be ok.

But then my mum who is 49 has always had this thing about colour coordination (big thing in Colombia with women of a certain age), you know the bag, belt and shoes matching, my aunt is the same, the bag and shoes have to match, which we do not really care about. My mum when she was in Colombia would always wear colour coordinated outfits.

Another thing in Colombia I have noticed that girls are not really into their handbags that girls here in London are, you know the little black bag when going out clubbing or to the pub, isn't really done. Girls are definately more "sport", with mochilas or those plastic "le sport sac" bags (they come in loads of colours), no little clutch bags that you hand hold.

I can only comment on Armenia really, but it is fairly laid back, but the norm is jeans, jeans, jeans, capri trousers, chanclas, slacks de todos los colores, tennis etc.

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dwmte says on Feb 21, 2005, 14:31:

oh boy, i'm married to the queen... of let's have it match. love my wife more than life, but i must confess this woman won't go to the market/mall/store in something she would wear around the house. never, never never.

she has to change, arrange, coordinate (as best she can afford) . i used to go nuts...come on! let's go! but she had to primp, and get herself together.

now, i don't even move my ass until she's on her way to the car. if i did, i'd just be frustrated. i wait til she's callin me.

as for myself, i'm like the gal above, i could care less what anybody thinks about anything. that's their problem/issue. i just wear what ever and do what i do.

peace,

dw

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 21, 2005, 14:51:

I don't know how you can say that, Kerry. The last time I went to Medellin it was staggering to me how many gringoes were on the plane. Heck, there were people on the plane from Quebec who couldn't speak either English or Spanish and we all thought, wow, what's going to happen to them?

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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kernow62 says on Feb 21, 2005, 18:17:

DW I think my wife and easily match your wife in the fashion show trip to Target awards.

I have a challenge for all the men married to Colombianas. Count how many pairs of shoes they own. I stopped counting about 5 years ago when the total surpassed 250 pairs! Initially we each had half of a huge 6 drawer dresser and half a walk in closet measuring 12 feet by 6 feet. I now have two drawers in the dresser and about 2 feet of wall space in the closet.

I wouldn't trade her for anything! Well maybe a new Lotus Elise...

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kerry says on Feb 22, 2005, 08:52:

to utopia cowboy The idea that there are loads of gringos gong to Colombia and in Colombia is absolute nonsense. I have been to about 25 countries in my life and Colombia is the exception. It is unreal the limited amount of foreigners here

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 22, 2005, 09:00:

Kernow
my husband said if I am a centipede cos of the amount of shoes I had.

engage brain before opening mouth

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nanis says on Feb 22, 2005, 10:04:

I’m just the same my husband waits hours and hours for me to get ready but that's only when we are going out at night to a club or pub or whatever a girl needs to look the part!! but if I’m going to the shops I just put some jeans on and my coat because let's face it here in the cold whether there's no much of a choice these days I’m wearing boots and more boots! my wardrobe is full of shoes all colours and textures, the thing is I love European fashion and would wear a pair of green diamante stilettos with jeans and a top which to my family back in Colombia looks ridiculous, firstly because they don't think that shoes especially stilettos or high heels should come in these weird colours and secondly because it's weird for them to see a girl wearing jeans and stilettos which should be worn with dresses or suits anyway it might be because my cousins come from the lower class all they wear is little skimpy tops and jeans bless them like I said before I’m just going to wear like I normally do even if they find it funny or not

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nanis says on Feb 22, 2005, 10:21:

Oh Kerry my dear, you do not have any idea whatsoever of how many gringos there are in Colombia, when I was there which was a long time ago I could see gringos in Cali everywhere they were either hippies working in the sixth avenue in cali or rich gringos dinning and clubbing there.

The German family who live in “el retiro� probably the poorest neighbourhood in Cali have been there for ever 20 years and have established themselves there, they build a school, medical centre and other facilities for the community, funny thing was that not even the police went in the neighbourhood because it was and still is too dangerous but these brave Germans did and everybody loves them.

I also saw this guy from Sweden and he lived on a mountain in the outskirts of Cali with his son they were backpackers but decided to stay in Colombia and were illegal immigrants, well the father had this terrible toothache and had no money to pay for dental treatment so my father gave him some money even though we were probably worst than him financially speaking.

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adrimm says on Feb 22, 2005, 12:18:

Shoe bug I'm such a victim. Fortunately my low income forces me to manage my shoe-buying impulses.

While I fully support the "wear-what-want" ethic I also partly subscribe to the when in-Rome-ethic. My clothing choices in Colombia usually wind up somewhere in between the 2 ethics. At home I have been known to wander out in comfy sweatsuits and tracksuits (not the trendy ones), and my comfy merrell mocs. I wouldn't dream of it in Colombia. Why? Well wandering around in a huge tracksuit will likely make me seem an easier looking victim to me mugged etc.

The final output is comfortable, moderate and tidy.

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 22, 2005, 12:51:

The first few times that I went to Colombia, I agree with you, Kerry, there were very few gringos. There would be just a handful of us on the plane and everyone else was Colombian. The last time I went I was absolutely floored - the gringos outnumbered the Colombians. Maybe it was a fluke.

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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Mr. Hollywood says on Feb 22, 2005, 12:59:

Percentages One way to measure the percentage of Gringos Vs. Colombianos on the plane is to watch when you enter immigration in the states. Most ports of entry have different lines for citizens and non-citizens. Last time I walked into immigration with a planeload of passengers from Bogota my wife and I were the only ones who headed to the US Citizen line. Considering that the USA is about 6 times larger in population than Colombia that says something.

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Moya says on Feb 22, 2005, 14:00:

Those Colombianos and their shoes! Its not just the women, I tell ya! My Colombian husband dresses more or less at the Ethiopean street urchin end of the scruffiness spectrum - he's very into heavy metal and classic rock, I'm not sure if this is the cause, but even his Colombian friends with similar interests are not quite as bad - because "there are more important things to worry about."
Seriously, this guy will stumble out of bed in the morning and pull on any two socks that happen to be clean (he IS clean, I'll give him that), never mind that they are disparate colours and designs and/or full of holes! BUT, even he has 17 (seventeen!!!!) pairs of trainers and walking boots! Fortunately I didn't marry him for his dress sense, but even I am flabbergasted by how many shoes someone so disinterested in his appearance can accumulate! What is it with these Colombians and their shoes?!!

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Hunter says on Feb 22, 2005, 15:03:

Kerry & Mrs Gomez There are not that many back packers from the US in Colombia/South America, but there are a lot from Europe, especially on the July and August flights bound for Colombia, in September you will see many on the flights returning to Europe. These are the months that the University close for summer and prime backing packing season, ticket prices from Europe to Colombia go up by about 25% in these months.

Mrs Gomez, what month did you fly to London 12 years ago?

Kerry where is your home Country?

Hunter

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dwmte says on Feb 22, 2005, 15:24:

hi, kernow... you beat me in a heart beat....please note i qualified my comments stating that she will present herself at her best as our means permit. these days, our means are most modest.

even when we had a relatively high standard of income, she is/was a very frugal lady. it's just that she/women/colombianas can make so much ado about nothing.... even back in my professional life...i wore 2- 3 piece suits and dress clothing for 35 years. i even had very long hair..waist length..but i was, if you will, italian modern. the best of everything. but i could still get up, shave shower, dress and braid my hair within 30 45 min and be off into my day. my wife....hours.

dw

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 22, 2005, 15:26:

You got that right, DW. I have learned to give my wife her necessary 3 hour notice so she can be ready on time. You can't rush beauty.

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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