Life of a Colombian in the U.S

rash9000 says on Jan 2, 2005, 15:15:

It's good someone brought up this topic. This forum is a good way to express one self...
As for your question ,I'm 25, male and I got to the US 8 months ago.
I've got to say that I always go back to my roots. I dont have latino channels, other wise I would watch them all the time. And I am facing that. I have to quit doing something that I enjoy, just because It wouldn't help to improve my english.
I guess I got here old enough to be consider most Colombian than American.
There are many young people who arrived to the US very young and who consider themselves mostly Americans.
On the other hand, I don't know but sometimes I've got the impression that Colombians in colombia differ from those in other countries.
They don't behave the same way. May be its the sorrow the feel for not being at their home country. They tend to be conquerred by the country's culture. I ve got to say that I am not a salsa lover or a vallenato lover. So most of the time I listen American music. However sometimes Im in the mood to listen colombian music.
I love many of the new colombian singer such as JUanes, Julio Nava, Shakira (lets hope her new album be as good as the others), etc
I miss colombian food. I don't lose any chance to go to a Colombian restaurant.
I really enjoy having AMerican friends, although sometimes there some communication breakdowns. I just say that I dont care whether my friends are american or latinos or colombian.
I'd like to marry an American girl........

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ARMacleod says on Jan 2, 2005, 15:31:

Just a quick note I'm Scottish but my intended lady is Colombiano.

While she was here in the UK she could not wait to get back to Colombia. She loves the place (I also) She is even reluctant to come back here to be married but has agreed to because it is much easier.

Or, it could be that I resemble Yasser Arafat on a particularly bad day. Her enthusiasm for Colombia is infectious

I realise the reasons why people leave, but, perhaps when they can afford to, they aught to consider returning and giving something to their country?

Being of unsound mind and dubious disposition, I cannot be held legally liable for any indiscretions. ¡El diablo me hizo lo hago! 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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ColombianoX says on Jan 2, 2005, 15:59:

"How often would you say you think of Colombia?"

I think about Colombia every day!



"Do you listen to Latin music ...70% 80% 100%?"

I listen to latin music 100%!!!


"How often do you visit a Colombian/ Latin restaurant?"

I visit a colombian restaurant about once a week. If it was closer, I'd visit more often.



"Do you prefer American friends/Latin Friends or Colombian friends"

I prefer colombian friends of course, I have more in common with them, naturally. Having too many non-colombian friends makes you stray from your culture. But I prefer nice, humble colombian friends, not those elitist snobs Elmo's also complains about.


"and also who do see yourself married to?"

Gee, I think you guys can figure that one out, haha!



ColombianoX

'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 2, 2005, 16:09:

You're marrying a Colombiano, James? I hope he shaves regularly.

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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kernow62 says on Jan 2, 2005, 16:42:

I will speak here for my wife, she is not here at the moment so I can get away with it.

She usually watches Latin TV, but as for music she likes all kinds of music, Latin of course, but she has also a fondness for pop music (didn't get that from me), she did however get turned on to Ska, Bhangra, Rai, Reggae, Chutney, Soca, by me. Can't get her to listen to Aphex Twin though.

We don't eat out much at all, but I would say that when we are both not working on a Saturday or Sunday we head to a Colombian restaurant.

I don't think she thinks about Colombia all that much, she is more concerned with enjoying the present. I on the other hand think about my homeland all the time.

As for friends she has friends of all sorts of ethnic groups.

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 2, 2005, 17:00:

You'll never get an answer from my wife. She thinks the Internet is for losers with too much time on their hands. There aren't any Colombians here so she's stuck with the Mexicans. She hates their Spanish but at least it's better than talking English. She only listens to Colombian music which predates 1990 - whatever the Colombian equivalent is to Lynrd Sknryd's "Free Bird" and Led Zep's "Stairway to Heaven". She's stuck in a friggin' time warp. She would have preferred to have stayed home and married a Colombiano but no Colombianos wanted a loser widow with 3 kids so she had to settle for a loser gringo. But even though she's living some twisted mutant gringo-Colombian version of "The Simpsons", she's still pretty happy. Maybe if you're a happy loser, you're not really a loser at all.

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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isaactraveler says on Jan 2, 2005, 18:07:

or maybe we are too dumb to know the difference I will take blissful ignorance every day. As long as I dont get hit by a bus when I step off curbs. Things just seem to smell better and taste better if I ignore stuff.

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 2, 2005, 20:51:

What'd you say?

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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Mariangela says on Jan 3, 2005, 09:16:

I feel the same I came to the USA when I was 25 years old, and even though I became an American citizen, I still feel 100% Colombian at heart. I think of Colombia every single day of my life, I miss being around my family and childhood friends. I miss Bogota, and its lively atmosphere.
I have made friends in the USA and the closest ones are hispanic. There is just a special conection that I find difficult to develop with American friends. I guess it is the affectionate, open, sincere and joyful nature of our people that is hard to find in other cultures. I also wonder what would've been of my life if I had stayed in Bogota. I am in the States because I came to study English after graduating from college in Bogota, and married an American. My two kids are American, but Colombia is present in my home at all times. I decorate with Colombian crafts, play Colombian music, speak Spanish with my kids and share my love for my Country with everybody. Even my American husband wants to relocate to Bogota. He has experienced first hand the beauty of our culture, the traditions, the emotional quality of life, the importance of a devoted faily. I think my family would be happier living in Colombia, even without some of the material comforts that the USA has to offer.
Mariángela

Mariángela

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 3, 2005, 16:10:

It's not about material comforts. It's about not having to look over your shoulder all the time or worrying about your safety and that of your children. When my wife first got here, she was always locking the doors to the house and our vehicles. It was a real pain in the ass - every time I turned around something was locked. Finally I told her, hey, we're not in Medellin any more. You don't have to lock everything up here. The first time her sons wandered off in the neighborhood she panicked because she did not know where they were. I laughed and told her, wow, this is a switch, Colombianos secuestrados en los EEUU! I told her to relax, they were probably at a neighbor's house with some other teen-age boys. Sure enough, they came home a little while later from a few houses down the block. There are trade-offs to everything but having to worry about the safety of your family pretty much negates everything else for me.

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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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jan 3, 2005, 16:17:

I can understand your wife utopia. After I moved away from Colombia I used to lock all the doors (I still do), carry my purse/handbag with the lock side against the body, look over my shoulder all time checking if I was followed, things like that. A slight case of paranoia, I suspect. It's been many years now, but I'm still more careful about locking all the doors and checking the windows than your average Scandinavian.
That is the only aspect that I find troublesome for me, personally, in Colombia. I'm not especially worried about the guerrilla (I wouldn't venture into red zones) or being kidnapped or such. Gods know I don't have that kind of money to make my abduction worthwhile for anybody.
The reason I still stay here, far away from my beloved Cali is just that: the freedom of not having to worry about my personal safety or my belongings all the time.
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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utopiacowboy says on Jan 3, 2005, 16:20:

Yes, Desi, sad but true.

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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isaactraveler says on Jan 3, 2005, 16:53:

I still carry my purse lock side in but only when I wear heels, since it is hard to chase someone down in stilleto pumps.

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Mariangela says on Jan 4, 2005, 11:08:

True It is true that you have to be more careful in Colombia and be aware of your surroundings. But for me, that is a small price to pay compared to the joy of being around my family and friends. You just become pore alert and take precautions.
There are gated communities in Bogotá and apartment buildings with great security. It also depends on what area of the city you are talking about. In my parents neighborhood the kids play outside all day safely with no problem. There are areas of Bogotá that are very safe.
Mariángela

Mariángela

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 4, 2005, 11:53:

You're right, Mariangela, for some people it's worth it. For others, it's not. It depends on your priorities.

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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santiBOG says on Jan 5, 2005, 17:53:

Hey Rola I don't have any numbers to support this assertion but it seems that many people are returning to Colombia. I hear it every day in conversations with friends. Of course, this is mostly educated professionals that have been away less than 5 years. They hope to find a good job or start a business there. I know a lot of people miss being able to hire help for home, being close to family and friends and spending weekends at the finca.

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G-Capo says on Jan 5, 2005, 17:58:

Yea man me to alot of people are going back,very higly educated and hopefuly they can take the positions of those corrupst punks in the Colombian government.

I was watching the news and they said that a United South America would be the next United States[economy wise] and wouls surpase Europe.:) I say we all go back lol.

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