PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Gringos are sweaty pigs?

i heard somewhere that in Colombia or some other Latin American countries that gringos are known to for always sweating and are made fun of. does anybody have any knowledge of this? i do notice that locals don't seem to sweat much. sometimes i'll see a local guy in a long sleeve shirt on the hottest day not sweating.

By (Deleted user) on Sep 26, 2004, 01:16 in Friendly Talkzone. AddThis Social Bookmark Button


Desideria (Moderator) says on Sep 26, 2004, 04:48:

well, yes, gringos certainly seem to be sweating copiously under the hot tropical sun of Cali while Colombian men go in long sleeves and stay dry. People do comment these things, also about the odor of the gringo sweat being "stronger" or more "sophisticated" (anything from Gringolandia should be bigger, better and more). La "chucha gringa" is a concept in Cali...where people take three-four showers a day, change their underwear and shirt every time, are very strict about their personal hygiene and of course, are adjusted to the climate.
Cheers,
Desi (who never sweats)

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

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emilyh says on Sep 26, 2004, 05:01:

I have to admit that was me while I was in Cali, I pretty much had to have a shower after every walk because the heat really got to me. I thought I hadn't adapted, but after 6 months I came back to Melbourne and found that winter seemed to be much colder than I had ever noticed before.
Only the security guy at our apartment used to comment, he would ask me every day after I had been out for a walk if I had been out running...naturally I let him think I had, I didn't want him to think I was dripping just from a walk!

-Em :)

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oldbongo says on Sep 26, 2004, 10:15:

it's good!!! and perfectly natural that gringos sweat.

it's called acclimatisation,and its good for you.

in thailand, where it is hotter and sweatier than colombia,

you will see motorcyclists in three layers,dry..

while i am dripping,...same in cartagena..

my colombian aquaintances understand this and

appreciate my antics in dealing with it.

i use"deodorant stone" (alum)...

i carry a small towel, soaked in limon water.

and another dry one, in a mochila.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Sep 26, 2004, 11:39:

yes, me too. I go out at nigh in Cali in sleeveless tops when the temps are around 20 C and the caleñas wear sweaters...I've never needed a blanket to sleep comfortably in Cali, whereas other people in the house wear pyjamas and a woollen blanket...that's got to do with genetics, methinks.
Sweating is a natural thing and supposed to be good for your health for regulating your body temp. It's just not cool:)
BTW, do pigs really sweat a lot?
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 Sep 26, 2004, 16:03:

Yeah, Tinto I remember being in short sleeves in Bogota when it was around 60F and most natives were wearing jackets. My girlfriend from Barranquilla was freezing! I also remember a friend from Cali who I roomed with in the high country of Colorado and the dude sweated como un cerdo! Go figure. I side with Desi on the genetics theory.

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madman says on Sep 26, 2004, 18:08:

This gringo sweated like a pig in Barranquilla and I don't usually sweat much.

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Sam Salmon says on Sep 26, 2004, 18:19:

It's not unusual for me to go through three shirts a day and take the same number of showers-SOP in the tropics.
However I do not smell nor do I use godawful fruity fragrance colognes like so many Colombian men (neither do I dye my hair but that's another story)
Also pigs have no sweat glands-anyone who thinks otherwise has never spent time on a farm.

' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 26, 2004, 21:14:

Speaking from the farm, Sam Salmon is absolutely right about pigs. In fact, that is why they like to wallow in mud - to keep cool. The expression should really be "sweat like a horse" - they sweat a lot. I am quite used to the heat but I sweat like an animal. When we are in Monteria - with a heat like Texas - my wife has to say "Mucho calor" about 50 times a day. She doesn't sweat at all and is very uncomfortable as a result. I may be sweaty but I feel fine in the heat - sweat is the body's air conditioning system.

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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Sam Salmon says on Sep 26, 2004, 21:48:

Monteria after Bogotá is kick in the system that's for sure.
When that plane door opens the body reels from the heat and damp.
Beautiful country though and lots of gorgeous women!

' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 27, 2004, 07:34:

Count me among the sweaters Glad I'm not the only one. When I'm at the coast or in the lowlands here I drink about 2 gallons of water a day and sweat every drop of it away.

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elmodefoque says on Sep 27, 2004, 16:28:

hey sam , i see you're familiar with the monteria heat. that place makes miami sunmer feel like winter.

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

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 27, 2004, 18:40:

The thing about Monteria is not only is it hot but it is very humid as well. It is a crazy chaotic dusty busy little city that kind of grows on you. Everybody sits out on the sidewalk at night and chats with everyone who goes by. It has neither the impressive physical setting of Medellin nor the wonderful climate but in many ways it is a more pleasant place to be for a gringo not having to worry about safety.

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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gringosalsero says on Sep 28, 2004, 15:36:

Frozen Colombianos Interesting comments. I live in a ski resort town in the US. It has not even started snowing yet and my Colombiana is freezing already. I guess this topic works both ways. Equator People are a bit wimpy when it comes to the cold. Probably wont find any attempting to scale Mt Everest!

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