Help Me

Lionheart says on Jan 22, 2005, 20:55:

Lots have been written here This had been discussed in many threads here. Do a search for "Bogota" in the Google box on the top right of the page in "This Site" for starters, then come back with more precise questions. It is hard to give an answer to a question this broad. And yes, there is a lot to do in Bogota, even if you don't speak Spanish.

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Chevere33 says on Jan 23, 2005, 06:15:

Learn some Spanish B4 you go I'd say the best thing to do would be to learn as much Spanish as you can before you go. Either find a class, a tutor (any book and anyone who speaks Spanish will do to start), or get some CDs or cassettes from the library). Just to get your ear attuned, get DirectTV,aske for the Spanish package, put it on Caracol (here it is channel 417) with English subtitles---you won't understand but just listening helps your ears/mind get used to the pace and it won't seem so fast to you.) Then get enrolled in some Spanish classes ASAP once you get there. If you spend your initial time there watching too much American TV and hanging out with American friends, your experience won't be as rich, IMO!

Constancia

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calipro says on Jan 23, 2005, 06:26:

Suggestions

1) Get satellite TV with english channels.

2) Learn spanish, NOW!

3)And most importantly be very, very nice to your husband in Bogota or the colombian maids will steal him away right under your nose.

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ARMacleod says on Jan 23, 2005, 06:46:

Check this one out http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

This is a free site and you can start at the beginners or advanced if you like.

Good luck with it. I have been studying for months now and I am just beging to get the hang of it. At some point it will 'click' and then you realy start to learn.

Being of unsound mind and dubious disposition, I cannot be held legally liable for any indiscretions."¡El diablo me hizo hacerlo!" But don't worry, be happy.

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

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dwmte says on Jan 23, 2005, 07:30:

my advise for a non spanish speaking person going to colombia is to emmerse yourself in spanish. when there, don't just seek out american (english speaking) company, get used to the fact that spanish is the means of communication. the more you learn, the more you benefit.

i spent my first 2 1/2 yrs in colombia, starting by speaking hardly any to being reasonably conversant. i didn't take classes, i just never sought english speaking company.

at first, while watching tv or listening to the radio, i wouldn't pay attention because i had no clue what they were talking about. after a while, i started paying attention...that was the key. i mean, no matter what language your speaking, no matter what 'they' call something....it's--for example--still bread, or water, or hot or cold, etc. just don't waste time like i did, not paying attention. listen and watch, you'll begin to figure it out. also, be excited about the proposition, you'll learn faster.

other posters have suggested taking classes. true. follow that advise. in my case, i couldn't because i had about 60 employees in 12 different workshops and worked 7 days a week and the only classes i had time for were the work-a-day-world.

good luck, you and your husband have a marvelous experience in front of you. make the most of it.

dwm

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LaloG says on Jan 23, 2005, 07:36:

Hi Jajay,
My partner and I have been here for almost one year, and we have never felt more welcomed in any place we have ever lived. We bought a house in the oldest street in Bogotá. We find oodles of stuff to do, Concerts, museums, galleries, (a lot of the culture is free or so cheap as to be embarassing) as well as movies, flea markets, shopping. Shopping can be great here. I don´t speak Spanish well, but my partner took a one on one course and speaks it better. We get along. We have basic cable, and get several US import shows and movies in English, but we also enjoy watching several shows in Spanish to help with the language acquisition. I find my own Spanish improving just by interacting with the people, and watching shows on TV. Also, there are several radio stations playing Rock music in English. Mostly oldies, but one or two play current hits. We think we hear a better selection of musical history here than we did in the US. There, the stations tend to play only a select few of an artist´s hits, whereas here, they don´t seem to distinguish one song from another, and play a lot more of an artist´s work. We even hear old blues songs from the pre rock era here that would never be played in the US because all those old records are too scratchy for American ears.
Send me a private email by clicking on my orange handle, LaloG, and we can stay in touch. Perhaps I can answer any specific questions you may have along the way.
We chose the old part of the city, because I am a painter (artist) and my partner is a composer and pianist, and this part of Bogotá is very bohemian, with lots of parallels to Greenwich Village in New York. We have a wonderful Spanish style home, with 11 rooms and two patios. We love it here, and make friends easily with the natives.
Best,
LaloG

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cshires says on Jan 23, 2005, 19:16:

Some suggestions Here is what I recomend.
Definetly begin learning spanish right away. It will make things much easier for you there in terms of getting around and communicating with people.
Yes, there are some english stations on TV (CNN world, and BBC if I remember correctly) and there is much to do and see in Bogota as well as outside the city.
The Traffic is a lot different than here in the states, and is somewhat crazy, so you will have to take your time and learn how it works as you begin to drive down there.
Lastly, just take your time and don't get frusturated with everything. It will take time to adjust to the city, the people and the general culture there. There are some simularites to life in the states, but there are many differences also. Learn all you can learn and enjoy it.

Good Luck!

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Cerealkiller says on Jan 23, 2005, 19:29:

News and spanish Dont worry about getting disconnected from your home country. I was surprised with the cable here, it usually sucks everywhere else BUT you get Fox News, CNN (US, European and en Espanol), DWtv (they have great stuff in English) BBC world, Warner, CNBC etc.
Radio is pretty decent, perhaps better than in other countries probably due to the lousy reception people in rural areas get. It would be good if you could start taking some lessons, but then again the spanish youll learn will be the basic stuff to barely survive, we all know every day language is totally different from what you get from a book and a tutor. Once you get the basics, then slang and everyday stuff will come naturally, you wont even notice when you start cursing bus drivers because they dont get they are supposed to drive on the right and left lanes are supposed to be the fast ones....

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Jajay39 says on Jan 25, 2005, 12:17:

Buying in bogota I am interested in looking toward buying a small home or apartment in Bogota. How much should I expect it to cost in US dollars? My husband is already there but we are both young and dont know what to expect. We are both 20 years old. He is staying with family there but now while I am still here I want to see how much I can expect to spend into buying something small but that can be ours.

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Dan says on Jan 25, 2005, 12:22:

From what I've seen, for a decent Apartment, about $25-30K USD. Can be lower or higher but gives you an idea.

God Bless America!

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