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PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post |
My fiancee called me today crying because her sister can not pay a bill. Apparently there is a bill collector harrassing my fiancee and the rest of the family. Guess who's first on the list to help pay? You guessed it, everyone's favorite "rich" Gringo.
I don't mind helping people, but I can't be the solution to her entire family's money problems. To be honest, I've got my own money problems. It's not even my fiancee running up a bill that she can't pay, it's her sister.
I know that she'll always want to send money to help the rest of her family, but I don't want to be the one to pay each time someone can't afford a bill.
By Azul on Jan 30, 2007, 13:31 in Friendly Talkzone.
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Dan says on Jan 30, 2007, 13:36: Watch out and be very careful. If they know that you can help, then you could be the ONLY contact for help. My wife was trying to do that. She would send money to her mom so that she could pay bills. I kept telling her not to, but my wife complained that her mom doesn't work etc etc... God Bless America! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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esporti says on Jan 30, 2007, 13:45: Welcome to the Familia Been there, done that....
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southern151 says on Jan 30, 2007, 13:46: Listen to Dan... He knows what he is talking about on this issue!! Also, I'm sure that DonGringo and UtopiaCowboy will have a good line to throw in as well. LOL
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MacGringo says on Jan 30, 2007, 13:54: Well really at the end of the day its not your place to get her sister out of debt.
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bhill says on Jan 30, 2007, 13:59: What would they do otherwise? Ask what they would do if you were not in the picture, then (as tactfully as you can) suggest they do that.
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Waterdawg says on Jan 30, 2007, 14:49: Welcome To Latin America .. I am always amazed at the guys that read this board ( and others ) and then go ahead and jump in anyway ! lol .. Any American is fair game to Latin Fams !!!!!! It has become a away of life for a whole bunch ... why do you think you see all these hot Broads out with Gringos ?? Yea I know , It's the real thing ! Hey it happens some time ! Like one in every thousand ! Bottom lone ! Don't start playing the Banker or you will never get out of the roll !
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scotty says on Jan 30, 2007, 16:59: the club welcome to the club...all gringos have money that is a known fact in Latin America. I help people when i can, if i cant do it i just flat out tell them i cant do it..lo siento Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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poco says on Jan 30, 2007, 17:26: Giving money to someone in the girl friends family is a mistake. My fiancee called me today crying because her sister can not pay a bill. Apparently there is a bill collector harrassing my fiancee and the rest of the family. Guess who's first on the list to help pay? You guessed it, everyone's favorite "rich" Gringo. "Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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goin_south says on Jan 30, 2007, 17:40: Azul: El Gringo, Tio Rico! oh! come on poco. give those kids 2 pesos; it's a little bit of nothing. Colombia es 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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vicshere says on Jan 30, 2007, 18:27: i am guessing something to do with a security gate listo 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Gomezman5 says on Jan 30, 2007, 18:53: Message is simple.....Drop her NOW What you see, is what you get.
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utopiacowboy says on Jan 30, 2007, 19:09: Every poor Colombian family would like to have a gringo vaca to milk and now this family has found you. Do you want to be their cow? If you patronized hookers exclusively for the rest of your life, you'd get off cheaper than you will if you stick with this chick. KICK HER ASS TO THE CURB. Don't ask yourself "What would Jesus Do?" Or in Austin "What Would Willie Do?" What would a Colombian guy do? Punt her and move on. 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. 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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tejasmarcos says on Jan 30, 2007, 19:09: the bottom line if you help your family in the states, you should be helping your family in Locombia. i've helped alot of friends and family in the past here in the states and did not have it go my way all the time. the key is knowing where to draw the line. the sister would not think twice about helping her sister. i've been in those shoes. that does not mean i would ask my fiance for the $$ to help her though. trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine... 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Gomezman5 says on Jan 30, 2007, 19:20: tejasmarcos What kind of comparison are you making? Are you serious? Can't honestly think that Latino family members that are ALREADY HERE, and therefore sending money back to their IMMEDIATE FAMILIES, is the same thing as a Gringo who knows the girl only to a limited extent(yea ...call it what it is) decides to marry the girl, bring her here and then inherits a family that he is asked to support.
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pedro says on Jan 30, 2007, 19:23: Colombian opinions? I would be interested to hear Colombian opinions on this. que nota! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Gomezman5 says on Jan 30, 2007, 20:24: 3 points Pedro
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manINred says on Jan 30, 2007, 20:26: MAY NOT BE AS THEY PAINT IT! A) I agree with the bloke above me, he's right, chicas looking for quid aren't in it for YOU. If you think that's all Colombianas want from you, then you are insecure. I have had the opposite experiences which I'll explain in
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manINred says on Jan 30, 2007, 20:27: oops bloke above me changed, so i agree with DonGringo, not Gomes5
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tejasmarcos says on Jan 30, 2007, 22:28: my point only makes sense if the marriage is eminent. i would personally be expecting the fiance to start working when she came to the states as my future bride. 6 one half, right? gold diggers excluded. trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine... 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jan 31, 2007, 01:37: I have mix opinions here i -I have mix opinions here i do agree with Pedro in this ""I think the helping out family with money thing is quite common between Colombians. Also in other cultures like Fiji and China."" I will also include another countries like Poland, Romania, I have a friend married to A Russian and she send money to help her parents sometimes, the same a Venezuelan girl, she paid her youngest sister education in Venezuela, maybe because we rae more family oriented we feel is our duty to help them in the time of need, but hence not PATRONISED!! engage brain before opening mouth 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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JMCana says on Jan 31, 2007, 04:21: Bloomberg reports I took this from a Bloomberg report.
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utopiacowboy says on Jan 31, 2007, 05:51: My wife doesn't send one thin dime to her family back in Colombia. All this nonsense about families being closer blah blah blah is total rubbish. True the poor families have to help each other out because if they don't, no one else will. Get a family where everyone's got jobs and careers and you will find that they behave pretty much like people do everywhere else. 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. 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Lowell says on Jan 31, 2007, 06:10: Helping family I help my wife's family because I want to. The father of the family died sudenly a little over a year ago. That poor person was gone from the house 12 -14 hours a day, mom made arepas/sewed, kids sewing..... and they were still on the edge of failure. No one has ever asked for a handout. I've loaned them small ammounts of money and they pay me back with interest. I pay about 1/2 the utility bills and all the food/medicine etc for 5 people. Gradually they are becoming more self supportive. Also, in return we get free child care every day. Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Lowell says on Jan 31, 2007, 06:13: the neighbor The neighbors kids (young adults)also use the coke and booze. Wow, the trouble that will set in if the money cow in the States dries up. Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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JMCana says on Jan 31, 2007, 07:09: Many wonderful women in Colombia I feel blessed with my Colombian wife. She has a good job that she loves. Even when members of her family were down and needed help not a word was said to me. In fact she did not want me to send my now step-daughter some money so she could finish University. I am now glad to say my step-daughter has a job in Chile and offered to pay airfare for us to visit her. There are many beautiful women in Colombia who are not after a gringo for their money. But there are the money ones in Colombia and probably more in the Philippines.
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Gomezman5 says on Jan 31, 2007, 10:56: UC's wisdom "Get a family where everyone's got jobs and careers and you will find that they behave pretty much like people do everywhere else."
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Wastelandlive says on Jan 31, 2007, 11:18: Well said. I had great luck with this metaphor while in Colombia: Wasteland 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Peter Miami says on Jan 31, 2007, 12:10: G5 Hi G5,
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Gomezman5 says on Jan 31, 2007, 14:30: Don Gringo.....don't ya see....it's different. & Hi Peter The playing field changes when you talk about an older Colombian man of means, who marrys down. Where do you want me to begin?
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alleycat says on Jan 31, 2007, 15:49: money issues are usually the number 1 source of tension and conflict in a relationship. better get these issues resolved prior to taking the plunge. if you're not inclined to help her family let her know. you mentioned your own financial situation is currently shaky. let her know this also. my advice is to develop a joint plan on how to handle money when you're married. maybe she could work once here and adapted and then send her family money out of her own funds. be creative as this isn't insoluble.
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Gomezman5 says on Jan 31, 2007, 19:17: DonGringo ali borach, alleycat It is refreshing for me to say, I agree with 98% of you have said. In fact, I probably agree with 100% but I just want to give myself an "out" in case I later spot something I do take issue with.
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chester says on Jan 31, 2007, 19:37: Hardly the Bailiwick of Colombianas My son's mother, a phucking, slut gringa would make the most hardened colombiana, even a nica, green with with envy with the manner in which she and her family demands tribute. This two bit, substanance abusing gringa whore and her family cost me more than any colombiana could in a zillion years.
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billyb says on Jan 31, 2007, 19:53: So Chester, are you saying... you would never marry a gringa again?
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famsearch says on Jan 31, 2007, 19:56: with my wife and i... she and my sis in law here were talking a while back, and she finally found out how much i had helped various family members, without being asked. when i found out one needed help covering medical expenses while we were there, sis in law and i gave her what we could, and after back in the states, she found out for me what was needed to be covered, it wasn't much, but more than they could afford, so i covered it. i found out another had a spate of bad luck after an accident, helped them out too. didn't cover all the expenses, but a little more than needed to keep the wolf from the door. there have been other times where i've helped, but i was never asked by anyone, sis in law, wife, nor colombian relatives. my wife, while she was in colombia (and i sent her money for her necessities) only asked me twice to wire funds in the time between 2001 and 2006, and even then she was very embarrassed to be asking me, her husband, for money. after talking about it for a while, i broached my idea for sending the mom some money every month, to cover expenses, something i was unhappy to find out that some of her own kids don't do, and she agreed that it would be a good thing to do, again, without anyone asking me. i must have really lucked into a really good wife. =) dan 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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utopiacowboy says on Jan 31, 2007, 22:31: G5, your father was a very wise man. "Never marry down"! 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. 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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poco says on Feb 1, 2007, 04:25: This is certainly true G5, your father was a very wise man. "Never marry down"! "Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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aztec says on Feb 1, 2007, 06:30: something i was unhappy to find out that some of her own kids do famsearch, suggest that you insist the children participate in helping their mom even if it is only a small pittance. Other wise when she really needs help they will stand back and assume you will pick up the pieces.
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pelon2007 says on Feb 1, 2007, 06:49: photo I have a system in place to weed there little asses out right now. The girl in the photo with me on another page is one that passed all the tests.what page are u talking about
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pelon2007 says on Feb 1, 2007, 06:49: photo I have a system in place to weed there little asses out right now. The girl in the photo with me on another page is one that passed all the tests.what page are u talking about
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pedro says on Feb 1, 2007, 08:08: Tests -- maybe they go both ways? Guys on PBH often talk of developing systems and contriving tests. These tests are supposed to sort the good colombianas from the bad. que nota! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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poco says on Feb 1, 2007, 09:35: Have I said this before ? If you are asked for MONEY,, they are a PROSTITUTE. This is a very simple fact of life in Colombia. "Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Lowell says on Feb 1, 2007, 10:34: I married down I was born a doctors son and we had it all. All, that is in reguard to material possessions, vacations...... Early on I observed that these people weren't happy. I often went to play with friends whoose families were more middle class. They were more happy and close. My dad died when I was 14, left no insurance, estate...... Life changed overnight. Mom went back to school, became a nurse, sold house and moved into a smaller cheaper one......... she was bitter until her death. I learned to change and grew to like it. The more basic the better. I don't feel the pressure from family and peers to always push for the top. I learned that looking down upon people (as my parents and others of that set did)is wrong. Even with the small pension that I receive, I've enjoyed bring my Colombian family up a notch or 2 in comfortabity. Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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famsearch says on Feb 1, 2007, 11:25: aztec the best thing is, none of the others will know that i am helping the mother in law. it will be a quiet thing, she, my wife, and i will be the only ones who know. dan 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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aztec says on Feb 1, 2007, 12:58: You are right DonGringo... ..."it is when it is expected that it is no fun." That really bothers me.
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