Moving to Cali -- I Need Accommodation and Advice

I'm a New Zealander in my 20s who has been living in San Francisco for the past several years. I visited Medellin and Cartagena in 2006 and had a great time. I want to learn Spanish fluently (my current Spanish is basic at best) so I've decided to move to Cali in March for several months to study Spanish at Universidad de Javeriana. I'm looking for accommodation and any general advice that folks may have to offer (I haven't found any good websites listing Cali rentals etc). Ideally I'd like to live in a pretty nice place (after all Cali rents seem to be super cheap compared to the US $2000 monthly rent I pay in San Francisco). Ideally, I'd also like to live with some fun Colombians who are also in their 20s (I don't really want to live by myself since I want full Spanish immersion as well as the experience that comes along with hanging out with locals). Any leads or other general advice would be greatly appreciated. Depending on how things go I might stay for up to one year (I've already obtained a student visa that lets me stay that long). If I can't hook up accommodation before I leave I'd also be interested in renting an apartment in Cali for 1 - 2 weeks at the beginning of my trip while I pound the streets looking for a more ideal set-up. Feel free to e-mail me at gerry06 at gmail.com. Gracius.

By gerry07 on Jan 21, 2007, 23:19 in Renting, selling & meetups.

Monita Linda says on Jan 22, 2007, 07:31:

hi Hi Gerry, I myself live in Cali, however I am in Europe for a few months, to get the papers and do some final things, I will return to Cali to live there permanently on July.
In Colombia, neighborhoods are divided into a system called "Estratos" in categories 1 up to 6. That basically indicates how much you have to pay in services (water, gas, electricity) and the prices of supermarkets. 1 and 2 are quite lowclass. 3 is Ok. 4,5,6 all look pretty much the same, the only difference is the amount of RENT you pay for your place.
Many gringos (though u r not one - ur from new zealand but Colombians dont know) tend to live up in certain neighborhoods up North. And quite costly. I mean if you are willing to pay it, great (they tend to start 800,000 pesos monthly, without services, that can be around 300,000) but I think it's kind of a waste of money.
I live in the south in a nice place. Looks nice, its an unidad, looks cute, stores on a 2 minute walking distance, and there it cost just about 400,000 pesos a month, plus this one is estrato 4, which means services aren't so high...
I can't help u with a roommate set up, however when I get back home in July I could help you.
It is worth it to read the El País newspaper on Sundays, you can find nice deals in there. But please let someone inform you about the neighborhoods (they can be next to eachother but be a world of difference).
Good luck!

Monita Linda says on Jan 22, 2007, 09:21:

sorry Sorry I made a typo. I can't help u with roomies now and I won't when I get back home in Cali. However we, me and my guy, can help u with other things you need.

gerry07 says on Jan 31, 2007, 15:28:

Thanks Lolita Lolita, Thanks so much for providing all this useful information. Universidad de Javeriana is apparently in "Estrato" 6 in the very Southern part of Cali. I'm not too concerned about prices but could you let me know if that is a nice area? Hopefully I can find a good place close to the university with some fun Colombians. Anyway, could you send me your e-mail address so I can get in touch with you when you arrive back in Cali? Alternatively, feel free to e-mail me at gerry06 at gmail.com. Thanks!