Gringo's experience living in Colombian?

Atrevido (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 14, 2006, 17:30:

Gator says on Mar 14, 2006, 17:53:

No Place Like It. The poverty gets to you at times but that is basically no different than Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Honduras, and some other places I have been.

"Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscripti catapults habebunt."

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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expatriate says on Mar 15, 2006, 04:39:

Cali is great, with exceptions. Living in Colombia is like living in Europe, except that it's much cheaper, the weather is perfect all year, the people are warm and friendly, and the women are uncommonly beautiful.

All that is needed for me to be happier are street signs, and millions of tons of asphalt to fix the streets. Right now the only way to know if a street is one way (and which way if it is a one way street) is to observe other drivers. There are also so many potholes that I could easily call Cali an unpaved city.

My last big complaint about traffic, besides painted lane lines being totally ignored by all, is that a typical three lane, one way street is actually a one lane street, since people use the other two lanes as personal parking lots, apparently feeling no guilt if they press the emergency lights button.

In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile.

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mariasman says on Mar 15, 2006, 09:03:

I am living in Cali and I have absolutely no complaints with exception to the driving habits. Nobody in Cali has any common courtesy when it comes to being a nice driver. It is like swimming with a school of piranah( Yellow taxi Piranah are the worst and deadliest) and by no means do you want to give someone the bird here or you could end up duking it out in the streets. Other than that, I love everything about this place. I think that the people here(when they are not driving) are great and very hospitable towards us foriegners and the ones that are not, well, once they meet me, I immediately show them how nice us gringos can be. I think that the actions of some really can make the difference wether it be bad or good. I love Cali.

mariasman

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JMOON87 says on Mar 15, 2006, 09:07:

?? How much is a nice apartment or house in cali ?? say around 2000 sq ft .. I have been there 5 times as that is where my wife is from but i never did check prices there ..thanks

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c2 says on Mar 15, 2006, 15:34:

I live in Bogota... ...and I am enjoying it so far. It has gotten a lot cleaner and more organized in the last four years. Corruption still exists and there are problems. And, it is raining right now and looks to be for the next few days. But, I am planning on staying for a year and nothing I've seen in the last month would change that (only enforce that decision). Oh, and it is expensive if you live in the upper stratos.

As far as Cali, it seems to have gotten worse in the past few months. I think it is a little like the Wild West there. Defintely do not take a cab in the street (Call!). You most likely won't have problems but don't risk it. I did and I had the ride of my life.

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mariasman says on Mar 16, 2006, 07:12:

What happened I am curious about your taxi experiance. What happened? I have been fine just hailing cabs from the streets and maybe they dont bother me because as soon as I sit in the cab and they see how big I am, they think twice. I am not your average skinny Colombian travelling gringo with glasses and the classic Mr. Ed haircut.

mariasman

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mariasman says on Mar 16, 2006, 07:13:

What happened I am curious about your taxi experiance. What happened? I have been fine just hailing cabs from the streets and maybe they dont bother me because as soon as I sit in the cab and they see how big I am, they think twice. I am not your average skinny Colombian travelling gringo with glasses and the classic Mr. Ed haircut.

mariasman

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JMOON87 says on Mar 16, 2006, 07:22:

I AGREE WITH MARIASMAN Of my 4 months spent in colombia last year about 3months were spent in Cali and i never had a problem with taxis on the street or was in the middle of any wild west action .

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mariasman says on Mar 16, 2006, 07:48:

And another thing For all the gringo's that write in here that are in Cali, well, I have yet to see any. I havn't seen Gringo1 yet since I have been here. It just makes me wonder is all.

mariasman

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utopiacowboy says on Mar 16, 2006, 10:18:

You probably hang out in the normal barrios that gringos seldom frequent. I am constantly told that Medellin is full of gringos and English speakers but I've never encountered either. Of course I never set foot in El Poblado either.

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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JMOON87 says on Mar 16, 2006, 10:42:

Gringos I have met and seen quite a few gringos everywhere i have visited in colombia .Usually in cali most i have met have been in unicentro or chipichapi .When i was in Bogota for a week met a few there also .

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la campiña says on Mar 16, 2006, 12:52:

english in cali check out sexta, chipie, unico, palmeto, cosmocentro, unicentro, barios such as granada, san antonio, santamonica gringo central, I´ve lived here for 2 years 3 months and love

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poco says on Mar 16, 2006, 13:33:

Consider There are also so many potholes that I could easily call Cali an unpaved city.

Have you considered that safety has precedence over pot holes?

I’m certain the material used building the foot high speed bumps on major streets could have filled all the potholes.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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poco says on Mar 16, 2006, 13:42:

A budding photographer perhaps? I sit in the cab and they see how big I am, they think twice. I am not your average skinny Colombian travelling gringo with glasses and the classic Mr. Ed haircut.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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JMOON87 says on Mar 16, 2006, 14:09:

poco = good one Poco , that is so true .While in colombia i never feel threatened if anybody wants to arm wrestle me but like a friend of mine told me once -"Give me a gun and a litle space and i kick anybodys a$$"

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Eva says on Mar 16, 2006, 18:35:

this is ridiculous This is supposed to be a forum promoting Colombia and overcoming its violent images abroad. Please. Why was this posted?????? I find it totally offensive and inappropriate.

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poco says on Mar 16, 2006, 22:26:

Do you have a dose meter? This is supposed to be a forum promoting Colombia and overcoming its violent images abroad.

Suggest a roll of Reynolds aluminum foil,, the heavy duty baking type. Tear off a piece, fold it in half and form it around the top of your head, extending to just above the ears and eye brows. Trim if necessary. Use mirrored lens RayBan aviators if symptoms persist.

3 out of 4 folks are bombarded with excessive computer processor radiation. Hours spent reading Blog sites will aggravate their condition. The primary symptom is a gradual onset of hallucinations cumulating with preconceived notions.


PS: This will also block cell phone tower transmission signals. Wear a gorra.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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mariasman says on Mar 17, 2006, 03:40:

Excuse us EVA This is not just a forum to promote Colombia. It is a forum to discuss whatever we would like to about Colombia. Face it lady. Facts are facts. This place can be very dangerous and PBH is a way that we can all keep eachother informed and at the same time, have a great time talking about it. This forum is not the 6 o clock news lady so just get over it. Why dont you go for a ride thru the Amazonas here or some other occupied territory and after you have had a talk with the wonderful people of FARC and can show us some pics of you and them posing while walking thru the daisy fields with you singing church hyms. When you can show us that, then you will have my appologies. Come on lady. Get offended with the poverty situation here or with the new diseases that the rats are carrying in their urine or with the French and Canadians because they are wussies but not because someone makes a post that simply asks "How many Gringos are living here and how do they like it?"

mariasman

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utopiacowboy says on Mar 17, 2006, 09:32:

You are absolutely right, GIB. As a source of information, PBH is really bottom of the barrel. Even when someone posts something like an item about traffic being attacked by the FARC between Medellin and Cartagena, there is not enough specificity for it to be useful. PBH is basically a blog which can be entertaining at times.

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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JMOON87 says on Mar 17, 2006, 09:53:

IMO You just have to learn who are the people that are posting , i have got good info from UC and GATOR about the visa process etc ... I started this thread simply just to get info from people that are actually living in colombia and how they like it ..I have lived in Florida all my life and work in the real estate and finance industry and i have watched everything basically go up 50-100 percent in the last 3 years as far as the expense in owning a home and especially all insurance(health,home, car,life) while salarys have went up only 5-10 percent for most salaried employees .it is now cheaper to rent than to buy in most neighborhoods and the market has really stalled other than waterfront property .I do not think colombia is a paradise nor do i think the u.s. is as well but i think some us just think maybe the lifestyle may be a bit more stressfree -maybe it is is not though that is why i am asking .

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Blue says on Mar 17, 2006, 10:16:

GIB It sounds like a good place to visit for a few months but only the hardy would choose to live there if given other choices. I’ve visited several LA countries but never Colombia. None of them would be very desirable places to live long-term, but there is something intriguing and mysterious about Colombia that compels interest. Maybe it’s the war, the women, who knows. But staying there beyond a few months might get pretty harsh. Even a transplant with sufficient money might find it very difficult. I've met many "gringos" in my travels and most of them are there because they can survive on fewer resources than in the U.S. But the quality of life didn't appear better and many would rather be stateside.

Blue

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JMOON87 says on Mar 17, 2006, 10:56:

thanks Gringobogota, thanks for the info i think you just have to look at options the only prob i have now in florida is due to the recent hurricanes and rapid appreciation on homes my taxes and insurance on my house have went way up and also last year i had skin cancer so medical insurance which was already not very good has went way up -so in other words i live an average life and i am paying about $1600 a month for property taxes -health-car-hazard-life insurance for me and my wife and we will be having a baby soon ...you can live below your means one year and the next year be living above your means ...so it is just something we have thought about as i could make about close to the same money i am making now as long as i have internet and telephone and could take the equity we have now in our home and buy a similar home in cartagena or cali and not have to worry about a mortgage payment as well-they are just thoughts that is why i wondered if anybody else has done a similar thing .i spent 4 months in clolombia last year and know there are many good and bad things about living there from what i could observe .

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Blue says on Mar 17, 2006, 12:18:

Come on If you were serious about helping the poor you could easily do this in Bogota with minimal effort. I haven’t read many of your posts but the ones I have suggest you are a businessman and not a saint.

Blue

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JMOON87 says on Mar 17, 2006, 12:25:

GOOD ADVICE Gringobogota , i understand what you are saying when i made my first trip to S.A brazil about 5 years ago and saw the poor there it changed my life as far as the whole chasing material things and how blessed i am -the first restaurant i went to in brazil was a outisde restaurant and when i watched a couple get up and leave and saw some kids off the street run up to get what little bit of food was left on their plate - it does wake you up .that is what made me fall in love with my wife whatever food is left she always makes sure to find someone to give it to - she wanted to do that here in the u.s. also ....so if my wife and i do move we also hope to do some good for others if at possible and we financially can .

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Blue says on Mar 17, 2006, 12:33:

Just go to charities or whatever and volunteer or donate money. Give some english lessons for free or something until you get a business going. Jeez there must be thousands of ways to help out.

Blue

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poco says on Mar 17, 2006, 13:41:

Tilling the soil I might even live on a farm?

That was my original thinking,, homes in the U.S. rural towns are CHEAPER than Colombia. Yep, cheaper, not new, but a three bedroom, two bath, 1500 sq. ft. maybe 40 years old on piers and beams, central heat, window A/C,, $35,000 U.S. dollars,, less for a “fixer upper”. You get a garbage disposal,, I’ve NEVER seen a garbage disposal in Colombia. I don’t remember seeing a garbage disposal for sale. I wonder why ?

The only problem in the U.S. is that I’d need to marry the farmers daughter, and she would be 30 years older and 100 lbs heavier. There are other problems but Colombia is a hands down winner if you stay in the rural areas.

Colombia it is more expensive but I’ve never put a price on happiness.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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angelfire22 says on Mar 17, 2006, 14:44:

UTOPIA DOESN'T EXIST There isn't such a thing as Utopia in any part of the world. Every country have its good and bad side. The truth is that if you have a career and money and you go live in any of South or Central America's country you will have a better life style than in USA; due to the fact that renting or buying is not as expensive as in USA and your money will pay a much better house tham the one your probably living in today. I'm glad that there is peaple who wants to help the poor people from Colombia, but what i don't agree with is that must of you are placing Colombia like if there wasn't nothing else to see in this country, but poverty. The truth is that Colombia have both poor and rich people, great and bad places just like USA. Please GIB don't tell me that MIAMI is all party, no poverty what so ever etc.. because i know Miami like the palm of my hand and Miami isn't exactly a paradise. Tell me, have you ever heard about LITTLE HAVANA, LIBERTY CITY, LITTLE HAITY, HIALEAH, HOMESTEAD, ALL OF OVERTOWN. all of the people living in this places are extremely poor and must of them are suffering of hunger. without naming all of the poor areas that surround the folowing rich places: Coconutgrove and Coral Gables. To continue, Miami beach which also have poor areas, but not as much as the ones mention above. In Miami beach all the clubs are located in one long street name Ocean Dr is only alive on Fridays and Saturdays and the rest of the weekend is dead. The beach is ugly full of marine seaweed and jelly fishes cover the whole beach; not including the shark and hurricane season all of this happens during summer. The 2005 was horrible it rained all summer and the hurricanes where devastating. Also in Miami there are homeless everywhere in the city. This proof that there is good and bad things in every where of the world. If Colombia is such a borring and ugly place and the people is unfrendly why are you all living in Colombia? Should i assume that all of you are masocuist? or isn't it because of the good things that this beautiful country offers you that you're still living in Colombia.


NOW YOU TELL ME, WHICH COUNTRY IS UTOPIA?.

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poco says on Mar 17, 2006, 15:24:

Opportunity in Utopia ?? Seeing varied opinions reminds me of the three blind men describing an elephant, each one has his little piece to touch and feel. Ear, Leg, Trunk and they arrive at totally different conclusions.

Opportunity is lacking in Colombia. My guess is an equal percentage in the U.S. and Colombia can attain the same relative benefits,, but gosh in Colombia,, no work, little opportunity. Many who do work do so under the threat of violence, death, kidnapping, imposed "taxes", etc.

What are the percentages,, 35 million can’t afford medical insurance,, well,, three hundred million have this under control. No job in the U.S. hummm,, I wonder why the Mexicans took over the construction business 20 years ago,, especially brick and concrete work.

Some businesses can’t find enough LEGAL immigrant labor when they pay ONLY $10 per hour,, problem,, the Mexicans can make more money and he can't hire AMERICAN help for that small amount. After all,, who wants to work for wages above the poverty level.

Colombians don’t have the resources to attain the genius level by staying in a Holiday Inn Gosh,, I might take up brain surgery with three days under my belt in FLORIDA.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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JMOON87 says on Mar 17, 2006, 18:09:

Start up cost I have only spoken to 3 americans that own businesses in colomba and when i asked them why they opened up a business in colombia they told me that start up cost were much less about 75 percent and alot less red tape and liability ... .I understand i used to be part owner of a business for 4 years where we provide a service not goods and it cost us quite a bit to open up and the monthy cost were alot just to keep the doors open and this was without having goods or merchandise ...The way one gentleman explained it to me was he felt there was just alot less competition as his start up cost were about 25k and like he told me just about anybody in the u.s. can get there hands on 25k whether thru credit-equity -family or friends but you cannot open up most businesses with that small of a amount in the u.s. also in colombia most people do not have 25k to start a business ..not sure if he is correct but kida makes sense -i do not know what kind of lifestyle these gentleman live probaly modest .

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