Moving to Bogota w/ high school kids, dog (and husband)

dwmte7 says on Nov 23, 2007, 08:28:

free advise after living in colombia for 19 years. leave the dogs, kids and husband behind and move to medellin...you'll never look back. just kidding. medellin is one HELL OF A LOT better than bogota..you'll see.
douglas

dwmte

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CristalM says on Nov 23, 2007, 14:11:

Do your kids speak spanish? I am here with two teens, 16 yo son is bipolar, but a really good student. they are in an english speaking Christian school that I teach at. The teachers are mostly american and are really accomadating when he needs something. Have no idea about other schools, but even the ones that say they are bilingual, from what I have seen, aren't what I would have called bilingual. maybe people here have another opinion on that one. Where are you moving from? Feel free to e-mail me privately.

On the animal issue, I brought two cats with no problem, they went in the cabin with us on mexicana. I supposed dogs wouldn't be much different, but remember you will most likely be living in an apartment. You need to have an international health certificate and within a few days of travel have it stamped/signed by your state's dept. of agrigulture office. You DO NOT need any special paperwork from the consulate which is what the airline kept trying to tell us.

BTW Medellin is really nice, but my job is here in Bogota, oh well.

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Buongone says on Nov 24, 2007, 02:06:

I believe dogs need more attention than what CristalM told you. I would check into it.

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Buongone says on Nov 24, 2007, 02:11:

Check out http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/bringing-a-little-puppy-to-cali. 2006/11/03. Interesting reading about the dogs needs, for entry. Maybe things changed since then. But I'd check into it.

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maryjo says on Nov 24, 2007, 08:42:

Thanks Cristal. I would be interested in checking out your school as well. What is the name of it, and does it have a website? Christian school would be good, as part of the reason I'm ready to leave here is because the climate (especially for boys) is so ready for trouble-making. You talk to parents and they sound like they supervise their kids, but I think they're in the dark alot about what their kids are up to really,.. For example, my son had a few friends over the other night, 4 girls and a few boys. Not one parent called to check if a parent would be home to supervise! We need a total change of scenery.
The kids both take Spanish in school and are functional.
Any other advice you have would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks again,
M

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CristalM says on Nov 26, 2007, 14:04:

Left my e-mail and school website on your profile...comments,....whatever that page is!

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