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In your travels to Colombia, don't forget to...

With all due respect to all, if you travel to Colombia why don't think of something other then finding places to "meet women" or ways to exploit them. Why don't you think rather of bringing and giving something in a country of so much inhumanity, in so much grieve and dispair, ie: those old people in convanlescent homes (hogares para los viejitos), or an orphanage (orfanatos.

Go and see for yourself how these people live in poverty. Better yet why don't you bring them a smile and warm hello, some blankets, sweets, toilet paper, cd's anything you can think of, oh yes and wheelchairs, bring one with you if you see one donated or on sale at "Salvation Army", call the airlines and ask for rules, say you bringing it in for elderly family ask if there is a charge. For the children at the orphanages, you can go to "Salvation Army" buy a basket of stuffed toys or any little toys in good condition, wash them in the washer,dry them good and take in one of your 3 luggages that you are allowed to take, doesn't have to be but half or a quarter of one. Experience the real Colombia and then you can say how much you love it or you hate it, but first in your travels, think of the misery and poverty you need to stomach and accept to know the real Colombia.

Travel for a meaninful reason along with having fun of meeting new women, many of these beautiful women were once orphans or will one day be old and cripled old ladies in the "hogares". I have seen and lived a culture in Colombia where beautiful women are treated like dirt by men, left pregnant, abused in all sense of the word, but no, Colombian men don't take care of them, they just prostitute them and then call them "putas", as though it's all their doing, how else can they feed themselves and other dependents? Men should take care of women, all women or else don't bother.

Here is a place you can visit "Centro Gerontologico,arbol fuente de la vida" Calle 54 no. 9-29, Chapinero, Bogota, Colombia. call if you want, ask if you can visit and bring something needed Tels. 248-8454 249-7948. Go and help walk someone around out in the sunshine, buy them a cup of coffee. I had to leave my father there, it turned out to be a disgusting place, but hey it was recomended as one of the best!!!

Call an orphanage like Fundacion niños de los andes, 678-0655 ask if you can bring toys, clothes or something for the children. If you travel often, then you'll learn where these places are, there are many.

Thank you, god bless

Bogotana humilde de corazon

By (Deleted user) on Feb 25, 2005, 23:25 in Friendly Talkzone. AddThis Social Bookmark Button


Raleigh1590 says on Feb 26, 2005, 04:06:

Very good post. If I ever find the time to travel, I want to finally see Colombia, and when I go, I will remember this. Thank you for not letting us forget our social responsibilities. Viva Colombia!

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dwmte says on Feb 26, 2005, 07:06:

lina, nina.... que post!! lady, you go right for the juggular vein...as you should.

i've fortunately seen much of the colombia the woman seekers haven't. and in so doing, i've seen the real poverty and pain, the demonic works of the sickos and mafiosi not to mention all the armed factions that wander around the outback of colombia, unseen by the tourists.

i haven't seen the orphanages, although i've seen the orphans. i haven't been to the homes for the elderly, although i've not only seen and known many, i've buried one. la abuela de mi suegra.

maybe i'll visit these logares some day. i have taken many toys to colombia and given them away. not just a afew stuffed animals, but in fact, about a hundred pounds of toys. they were distributed in envigado (medellin). however, these gestures are tiny. the need is so great and cannot be dealt with in any measure by foreigners. this needs to be addressed by the ofttimes heartless rich in colombia.

peace, young sister,

dw

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 26, 2005, 09:00:

Yes, donate money but even more, donate your time, your concern and keep on giving. Money can be donated directly to orphanages, half-way houses, day-care units in poor barrios etc. but of course, you'd have to go to the site, talk to the people and find out how your money would be used and keep tabs on it. There's many institutions in Colombian cities, both private and government-managed that can make a good use of donations. I have no first-hand knowledge of these places but they shouldn't be too hard to find.

Cheers,
Desi
(Ps. a great post, lina)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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carter says on Feb 26, 2005, 09:32:

San Gil Orphange San Gil orphanage is always looking for people to help out and any travellers who want to donate a few days, weeks, months of there holidays will get a free place to stay with me.

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 26, 2005, 10:00:

Morphus, where have you been? They are having a Communist revolution right now. What do you think the FARC and ELN are, at least in their ideology? They already control parts of Colombian cities.

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.

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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magicheater says on Feb 26, 2005, 12:11:

suitcases When I went I brouht the maximum luggage and on the way back I had one bag to check. Shampoo was a big hit as was the hersheys kisses. I also brought notebooks and pens for the kids. She has two and her friend has two. This went to my sweetheart and she distributed to friends. I gave my time to children and they were facinated with the digital camera, many times after taking a shot I could not see the moniter as there were too many heads in the way. Where I stayed was low income or strata three. Still trying to decipher that. My next trip I will do the same.

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dwmte says on Feb 26, 2005, 12:47:

lina... cuidado, you want folks, even the obstinant in your/our/their camp. is't easy to discourage or disparage. that's what the rich assholes do. we don't want to do that.

getting the foreigners to see the reality of colombias population...not just the folks in el poblado, is tough enough. if scaring them drives them further away or isolates their ignorance more, it should be logical not to do it.

patience and love works miracles. remember, love is a verb.

dw

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Hunter says on Feb 26, 2005, 13:50:

lina05 If you want to give your time, gifts, money whatever, feel free, I have no problem with that.

BUT PLEASE DON´T ADVICE OTHER PEOPLE ON WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR TIME & MONEY, UNLESS ITS ASKED FOR WITH YOUR HIGH HANDED ATITUDE.

Seen your like before many times, full of s... and day dreams.

Hunter

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babygirl says on Feb 26, 2005, 14:34:

Awesome post Lina. A great idea for a volunteer/holiday. I really need to learn more spanish.

Carter you're a sweetheart for making that offer to people.

cheers - babygirl

Canadian Girls Kick Ass!

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Raleigh1590 says on Feb 26, 2005, 15:32:

Lina "BUT PLEASE DON´T ADVICE OTHER PEOPLE ON WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR TIME & MONEY, UNLESS ITS ASKED FOR WITH YOUR HIGH HANDED ATITUDE."

Lina05, I respect our rights to free speech & you can say/advise whatever you want, it's just their decision to read it or do it.

On the other hand, why not help out poorer children in orphanages the US too while we are here?

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Hunter says on Feb 26, 2005, 15:40:

Raleigh1590 Its not her write to free speach, it was the way she wrote it telling other people what to do.

As to reading it, the heading said travels, which is what I was interested in, not her rant, which I disliked. If she had put a differant heading more related to the content of her post, I would have skipped it.

Hunter

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carter says on Feb 27, 2005, 11:14:

lina San Gil is 2 hours from Bucaramanga, so not the best place to stay if you plan on spending a lot of time searching in the city. But you are more than welcome if you can do your search from here.

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Hunter says on Mar 1, 2005, 14:52:

adrimm Sounds like lecturing to me adrimm, her first sentance:

"With all due respect to all, if you travel to Colombia why don't think of something other then finding places to "meet women" or ways to exploit them."

Hunter

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dwmte says on Mar 3, 2005, 14:47:

thought i'd share your PM to me with others... dwmte
Subject: scaring them ????
Date: Thu, 03/03/2005 - 22:16

scaring them ??? Boy you really got the wrong message out of my post! You think I take my time to scare or intimidate people about Colombia? NO F....g way gringo, I am Colombian and lived in gringo land 85% of my time, I have colombia in my blood, my roots and my soul. You never will, so let me speak my mind and soul, you can keep your typical "despot" comments to yourself!

Learn to read the meaning behind the posts here, and don't accuse people for their caring, humble ways towards their country of birth. Gee, if you think talking about the truth in Colombia is scaring tourists, you are so mistaken. People will see what they want, I'm only expressing an opinion and not scaring anyone from the reality of Colombia. The poor, middle or rich in this site will be what they want to be, but if you can persuade indivuals to be more passionate for other cultures then you are doing something to help society as a whole.

I don't know what you mean by your patience and love, it's people that do with love and take action with patience that help the country in crisis, that my parents lived, one "violencia" after the other.

It's time, time not sitting around for others to do it, to help, its all tourists and nationals to help a country in human crisis, a beautiful picturesque country that it is!!! with beautiful warm people.

cuidado, you want folks, even the obstinant in your/our/their camp. is't easy to discourage or disparage. that's what the rich assholes do. we don't want to do that.

getting the foreigners to see the reality of colombias population...not just the folks in el poblado, is tough enough. if scaring them drives them further away or isolates their ignorance more, it should be logical not to do it.

patience and love works miracles. remember, love is a verb.

dw

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dwmte says on Mar 3, 2005, 14:51:

on the contrary, lina... i think you should take the time to read not only my posts, but those of others on this thread.

it appears that it is you who are berading others for their observations and feelings, as opposed to the opposite.

offense is something i harbor for noone...if an offense was experienced, young lady, it was taken, not given.

try rereading the entire thread...i did, and i think it would do you good. especially since you want to help your lovely country. one which by your own word, you only lived in 15 % of your life.

peace,

dw

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caslug says on Mar 3, 2005, 15:23:

suggestion lina... if you're trying to promote charitable work or donation, maybe you should tone down the rhetoric at the audience(ie, male tourist) you are trying to get help from. You can post the charity and what they do, and how to help without the sermonizing. I've volunteer with many charity and worked with their coordinators, and all the volunteer and coordinate are very polite and kind hearted. You'll never see them berate their donors for contribution by insulting them-your phrase "finding ways..to exploited them) is definitely an insulted.

Sounds like your heart is in the right place, try to be nicer in your appeal on behalf of the charity.

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Hunter says on Mar 3, 2005, 17:12:

Hi dwmte Don't worry, I got my first hate PM today on PBH, so I have joined the club at last.

Thanks lina05.

Hunter

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dwmte says on Mar 4, 2005, 05:07:

damn, tinto.... i was kinda hopin ya'll (moderators) would just jump in here, kick ass and take names....

just kidding.

i knew it was just a matter of time before the net nazis found me hiding between the posts at PBH. now, i'm butt naked before the gang.

dw

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fzrdan says on Mar 4, 2005, 06:49:

lina started this post and where has she been? She posted a question about an orphanage but no more? Nothing more to comment about your original post?

In a different thread (Desi's Payback) she accused me of being the type of person that would never contribute anything to humanity because I didn't think it was anybody's OBLIGATION to be charitable and help poor people. I called her on those accusations and of course never got any response.

She spews the rhetoric but probably doesn't do much to back it up herself. And, if I understand correctly, she does not live in Colombia now. It is quite funny listening to Colombians saying all these harsh words to foreigners about helping, yet they do not live in their own country. If you are so concerned, why aren't you living in Colombia and working at an orphanage or something similar?

lina sounds like the typical ultra liberal I listen to all the time here in the bay area. A lot of talk about doing this and that. A lot of talk about wanting the government to do this and that. But not much action from themselves to help anybody. I hope I am wrong about lina and she does do a lot to help.

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dwmte says on Mar 4, 2005, 07:20:

bay area? as in san francisco, bay area?

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fzrdan says on Mar 4, 2005, 07:23:

dwmte Yes

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Hunter says on Mar 4, 2005, 07:41:

dwmte & fzrdan Yes doesn't I noticed she doesn't live in Colombia, in her PM to be she said that I should stay away from Colombia etc.

Oh well to late for that.

Hunter

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Lionheart says on Mar 4, 2005, 09:47:

sheesh ... I have just been moving for 2 days "Its not her write to free speach, it was the way she wrote it telling other people what to do."

Isn't that what most people do here? Do this, don't do that?

Let me enjoy looking at the desert in bloom here for a few days ... I just moved to Arizona and it is first time for many years it has rained enough ...

I agree with Tinto ... posting PMs in the boards is generally not a good idea. Normally it is better to send the complaint using the link here.

Just my 2 cents now ... orphans are everywhere in the world and need your help and donations, not just in Colombia. Just like other posts, like poor hygiene and missing safety issues from known individuals, why single out Colombia for this general topic? I believe good will starts at home where I know how to help. Once I am in Colombia I will see in person where help is needed. I think this post may be well meant, but it left a bitter taste. A simple list of places (orphanages, churches, etc) to turn to for helping would have been more effective. Pushing guilt has a negative effect on my will to give. Same here in the xmas season, I turn away then.

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dwmte says on Mar 4, 2005, 09:49:

it's a bit unfortunate... i honestly believe that 'good intention' gets lost in very bad attitude. it's unfortunate.

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dwmte says on Mar 4, 2005, 09:56:

lionheart and tinto.... no intention to break rules...really not my style. i just wanted to share the good news with the gang. didn't want to report her, just share her good will.

good thing she's not on colombia's good will welcoming committee.

lionheart...where in arizona? love the place. spent much time in the desert there. the desert is a magical place and is a good medicine for the soul. eat your mushrooms and cactus (lophophoro williamsi).

fzrdan...interesting handle...my oldest daughter and her husband live out in the avenues by the panhandle. she's finishing her Phd at univ of san francisco.

dw

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Lionheart says on Mar 4, 2005, 16:17:

no rules broken It was just a general comment. Past posts of PMs didn't do very well.

I moved to the Phoenix area, not much direct desert access here, but I intend to take it in as much as possible. I am going to stay away from the cactus and mushrooms, tho ... I have always been a fan of the Southwest.

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fzrdan says on Mar 4, 2005, 23:43:

lina you have some personal problems that you should probably figure out before posting again. Sending the same crap as in the post above (poor despots but happy despots....) to me via PM three different times just proves my point.

Stop with the attitude and you might get some good responses. Follow your own advice by the way. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all....

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Hunter says on Mar 5, 2005, 10:25:

Lionheart & Tinto I would agree that posting ordinary PMs on the board is not on.

But I am quite happy people posting the less tastefull PMs along as they put the persons handle, then we can see better who we are dealing with, as much as you can on a chat board that is.

Yes fzrdan, she definetly has a few problems, poor girl.

Hunter

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ARMacleod says on Mar 5, 2005, 13:08:

Paranoia? Up to a point I would have agreed that the lady was simply misunderstood. Perhaps some were reading her wrong? Sharp and quick to reprimand, definitely, but that was , or is, not necessarily such a bad thing.

The ladies language then became questionable at the very least. Personally I think she has a personal axe to grind.

I agree in principle with some of what she has said, but I would not get involved with the discussion as it would almost certainly invoke even greater outbursts from her, and indeed probably others.

(I am still waiting for my first hate mail by the way, I thought Kerry/etc/etc. would have obliged by now after I called him Mr Silly Billy?)


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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lpdiver says on Mar 7, 2005, 12:18:

all in all Her suggestion sounds like a great way to get laid in Colombia to me...lmao.

Antony

"cook some rice!"

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