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Hi all, I have been checking this site for over a year and find it to be one of the better Colombian forums out there. I plan to start being more interactive with the site and discuss several topics, so just that you all can understand where I'm coming from on things, here's just a bit of info about myself.

I am a gringo and work for the Federal government as an Information Technology Manager. I am currently divorcing a Colombian woman and will marry another Colombian woman. The first is from Bogota and the second is from Girardot. I did not meet either one online or through agencies, but in Colombia and Japan, where I currently work at a naval base. I'm not putting down the other avenues, just stating I didn't go that route. My soon-to-be second wife I met in Japan while she was visiting on a tourist visa and we just meshed really well. She ended up overstaying her visa and was with me for a year before we decided we better do the deportation thing to avoid too many hassles down the road. I had been separated from my current wife for over a year already when I met her, so no, I didn't just leave her for something new.

My divorce is finally just about done (took a long time due to not being able to locate her and the fact I have to process the divorce through my home state) and I will be going to Girardot next month where my new novia has been the past 6 months. We talk on the phone and webcam every day. She has her tourist visa for the States and will be coming back with me. On the way back we will get married in the States and then come back to Japan. Yes, you can get married in the States with a tourist visa. The difference being you need to leave the country and do the proper visa changes. People that try to change the status while staying in the States after marrying on a tourist visa are the ones who have problems. Since we're getting married and then going to Japan, where I'll begin the proper visa paperwork, it's not an issue. We have also worked out the Japanese immigration problems as well. Usually, when deported from Japan, you can't return for 5 years (used to be 1 year, but a lot of folks were using this like a vacation to visit family in Colombia for a year and then return. Some Colombians in Japan are doing good things, and others bad things, same as any other place). Well, since she's entering as my wife, they will let her in, so that's good.

I've been to Colombia, but not Girardot. From what my girl tells me and what I can find on the web, it's pretty much a weekend place for the Bogota folks, like Melgar, where I have been before. I'm going to be there a month, and don't know if we're going to gead over to Cartagena or just stay local with her family. I'm really not much into Bogota. Yes, it's pretty clean and there's lots of stuff to do, but I just really don't like the climate. It's always just around 17-18 degrees, and almost every day I've been there it was cloudy and grey, not what I want on a vacation.

Anyway, sorry this was long, but just wanted to give sort of an introduction before asking other questions.

By DaveS on Jul 4, 2004, 23:19 in Friendly Talkzone.

Dan says on Jul 5, 2004, 05:12:

Girardot. I have visited Girardot once before. Since you said you've been to Melgar, I do remember that they are about the same except Girardot is a bit larger with more places to go (mainly talking about the size/stores). I don't remember any tourist-like stuff. Enjoy, Daniel

God Bless America!

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Chefgianny says on Jul 5, 2004, 14:02:

New member Chefgianny

Hi to all. I recently joined as a new member. I was born in Bogota, but grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. My mother is Colombian, father, Italian born. I now live in Hamburg, Germany but am loooking to relocate to the Caribbean or South America; my profession is International Chef, but I specialize in Italian cuisine. I would like to know if anyone can tell me what are some good Italian restaurants or top hotels that have Italian restaurants in Bogota, specifically. I speak Spanish, English and Italian fluently. I also have a good command of German and French. I have worked in Italy, the U.S., Venezuela and now Germany. I know this almost sounds like a cover letter for a resume! Well, you never know, some good contacts may be made through this. Any help would be appreciated. I have been in Bogota all my life as I have some family still there, although most of my remaining family from there have relocated to Miami. My Colombian abuelo recently died at the age of 89. He had alot of land that was taken by the guerrilla, but they had alot of respect for him and did not harm him or anyone else of my family. But it was sad for him as he had to leave his homeland and live out his last days in an apartment in Miami, which he hated. Ah, well.

Chefgianny

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