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Preguntas Ayudame!!!

Okay here we go!!

I’ve followed this site off and on for approximately a year.
I’m glad that the quality of the postings have improved. (You must admit there was a time when that wasn’t true.)
Many postings are a wealth of information and a true sense of community is conveyed by the core posters.
These improvements have prompted me to finally de-cloak from lurk mode and seek advice.

{
Three years ago I visited Guanauato, Mexico and life has not been the same.
You see, I am half German (my father) and half Mexican (my mother).
I was raised white in Detroit, Michigan and have remained so till now (49 years).
But my eyes have been opened. I started Spanish lessons in Guanauato (2 weeks),
but did not want to leave. The Spanish/Latino culture is in my heart now and
I can no longer repress it.

Two years ago, my vacation wanderings led me to Quito, Ecuador and Lima, Peru.
I had 3 weeks of vacation, but spent 5 weeks because of volcan El Reventador.
(I was actually in Lima when that volcan erupted and spewed ash onto Quito.)

Last year I vacationed for 3 weeks in Antiqua,Peten Guatemala,
and Caye Caulker, Belize (Everybody needs a little beach time).
}

Now, after hearing so many good things about Colombia and it’s gente,
I have set my heart upon visiting.

Here is my wish list of experiences for my visit.

1) Learn more Spanish (Castellano)
2) Absorber la cultura de Colombia a encontrar muchos amables Colombiano/as marviloso/as.
3) Comer todas las comidas Colombianas tipicas.
(By the way, does Colombian food include menudo?
I still haven’t found menudo that tastes as good as my mother’s.
I enjoyed the Ecuadorian food, but they make menudo with chitlens. Yuck!!
Also do they have chicha morada or cuy, yummy good!!)
4) Get a little beach time. (After all, life’s a beach)

I’m not really into the party/disco scene or big cities
(Quito was just perfect in size) but
I’m not opposed to a little partying or big cities if they give me what I want. (Doorway to other places with more ambiance)

To keep this posting from rambling, I’ll come to the point of my inquiry.

Please, one and all, give me advice on finding a good Spanish school (
preferably with homestay).
Names of good schools that you have experience with (with locations)
would be wonderful.
Also, a contact that could ease my first couple of days
(a reliable, trustworthy, inexpensive guide would be tops) would appreciated.
(Meeting me at airport and guiding me to the school, etc.. would be great.
Please give approximate fees).

I’m interested in the Medillin area because of climate, mountains, culture.
(Party towns like Cali are not me and a big cold city like Bogota is not
the reason I’m visiting Colombia)

By the way, while in Guanauato, Mexico, my teacher commented that no one
in the city would mistake me for a tourist. I have natural camouflage going.
Not sure if that’s good or bad!!!

I’m arriving *sometime* the beginning of September, rain or shine!!!

Anyway, all comments are appreciated. Suerte, saludos, y gracias todos…. Bob

By Roberto99 on Aug 12, 2004, 09:55 in Friendly Talkzone.

Sam Salmon says on Aug 12, 2004, 12:36:

Bob-the questions you ask hav Bob-the questions you ask have been asked/answered here many many times over-especially in regards to language school recommendations.
An hour of your time searching the Forum would be quite rewarding in this regard.
Furthermore Bogotá is not just 'a big cold city' but a clean orderly place with much to offer.
Que pasa un buen viaje!

' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Roberto99 says on Aug 12, 2004, 17:52:

Yoww touchy!! From www.123teachme.com

PEPE Colombia Bogota Quality:Poor Value:Poor
ANDAP Bogota Quality:Good Value:Poor
Escuela de Español Nueva Lengua Bogota Quality:Good Value:Good
Escuela de Español Nueva Lengua Cartagena Quality:Good Value:Good

Ecuador and Guatamala have an enormous number of Spanish Schools advertising on the net. Some very good, some not so good.
With only one tip on a school in Medillin and no experiences about this school, I thought I would get a few people here to share their experiences.
There must be some people who have studied in Medillin that would like to share. Maybe Medillin just isn’t the right place to study.

Furthermore Bogotá is not just 'a big cold city' but a clean orderly place with much to offer.

No doubt, but I would like another experience like the one I
had with the marisco selling family in Guanauato.
Cozy, humble, basic, down to earth peons (like me).

I’d like nothing more than to live on a ranch close to a small
pueblo where the entertainment is listening and dancing to the son’s and daughter’s of the town play guitar and sing. I’d like to get
as far away from the imperialistic, war-monging, mega advertising,
neo-liberal society of the US/Europe as I can get.
(This is probably just a dream. What me a romatic? Nah)

My searches didn’t turn up much. (Not raggin on this site, I expect
others have different priorities than I do. Novia/os, partying etc…)

Searched “Spanish schools” 3 hits –

Learning Spanish in Colombia - Colombia Guide
... medellin. Author: Anonymous | Date: Tue, 12/02/2003 - 14:17 | login or register
to post comments. Other than EAFIT, are there any spanish schools in Medellin? ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/2716 - Similar pages
{
From 1999??? Without experiences of the school
EAFIT university in Medellin Have Spanish courses for foreigners. 40 hours, US$206 (as of January 2002). Two to six students per class. http://www.eafit.edu.co/idiomas
}

Bucaramanga - Colombia Guide
... Also any spanish schools so I can brush up on my espanol? login or register
to post comments · previous forum topic · next forum topic. Bucaramanga. ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/3143 - Similar pages

{
Like me he asks the questions, but now answers about schools.
}

Colombia Guide - The best Colombia site since 1998
... Spanish Schools in Colombia, 2, 04/20/2001 - 00:00 by Peter, 06/17/2001 - 00:00
by Anonymous. Leaving Today for Colombia, 0, 06/15/2001 - 00:00 by Peter, n/a. ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/forum/7?from=3005 - Similar pages
{
From 2001 ????
}

Searched “teach Spanish” 4 hits

CALI/BOGOTA SCHOOLS THAT TEACH SPANISH; PLEASE HELP. - Colombia ...
... Submitted by U4TSAF2 on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 01:22 | People & Faces. CALI/BOGOTA
SCHOOLS THAT TEACH SPANISH; PLEASE HELP. ... schools that teach spanish. ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/3660 - Similar pages

{
Only one small bit was useful EAFIT university in Medellin the rest were about Bogota/Cartegena/Cali But no experiences
}

Colombia Guide - The best Colombia site since 1998
... Just A Little Translation Help !! 2, 07/25/2004 - 17:46 by MikeUpNorth, 07/25/2004
- 18:19 by litost. CALI/BOGOTA SCHOOLS THAT TEACH SPANISH; PLEASE HELP. ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/forum/7?from=50 - Similar pages

{
Bogus link that just lists topics about everything except Spanish schools
}

Colombia Guide - The best Colombia site since 1998
... thanks! 3 comments. CALI/BOGOTA SCHOOLS THAT TEACH SPANISH; PLEASE
HELP. I speak about 8 phrases in espanol. I need to learn. The ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node?from=330 - Similar pages

{
Another bogus link wiith topics ranging from COLOMBIA, JUNGLE AND INDIANS To Emeralds
}

colombia & us citizens - Colombia Guide
... Education. Meaning that I am certified to teach spanish as a foregin language in any primary or secondary, public or private school. ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/4065 - Similar pages

{
About colombia & us citizens not Spanish schools
}

Searched “learn spanish” 10 hits – non useful since they are about
Bogota,Cali or do not discuss schools.

Learning Spanish in Colombia - Colombia Guide
... many immersion activities;; homestay, residence or apt depending on availability;.
Learn Spanish with PEPE Colombia...by using it. ... Learn Spanish in Bogota. ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/2716 - Similar pages

CALI/BOGOTA SCHOOLS THAT TEACH SPANISH; PLEASE HELP. - Colombia ...
... in the dialect. I am moving to Colombia to either Cali or Bogota
but I also want to attend school to learn Spanish. Plus since I ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/3660 - Similar pages

Studying and Student Visa´s in Colombia - Colombia Guide
... tounge to help you search for your ideal course giving your self lots of time and
reguardless of what course you choose, you will learn spanish pretty fast ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/3817 - Similar pages

An Australian Girl in Cartagena - Colombia Guide
... Chao. Hi, Where are you going to. Author: Denis_fr | Date: Sun, 08/08/2004 - 12:46
| login or register to post comments. Hi, Where are you going to learn spanish? ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/4143 - Similar pages

Canadian/Colombian Marriage stories - Colombia Guide
... I am trying to learn Spanish, get a teachers certificate (to teach English) and enquiring
about high paid labour jobs out in Alberta so I can work for a couple ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/4138 - Similar pages

jobs for non-spanish speakers...easy? - Colombia Guide
... Someone could translate for you as is customary with foriegn contractors. Ofcaorse
they would expect you to learn spanish, though. What are your skills? ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/3616 - Similar pages

Colombia Guide - The best Colombia site since 1998
... I knew absolutely no spanish (maybe a como estas here and a hasta luego there) but
after my first trip, I became extremely motivated to learn spanish and now ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/ taxonomy/page/or/1?from=210 - Similar pages

Are their any honest agencies in Cali? - Colombia Guide
... to find exotic Colombianas through some agency....but you know what, I ACTUALLY
DID GIVE SOME ALTERNATIVES: -I suggested to cowboyup to learn Spanish and put ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/ node/view/3690?from=50&comments_per_page=50 - Similar pages

Bucaramanga - Colombia Guide
... Reading the comments on this site, I run very often into the same thing:
'I go to Colombia to teach English and to learn Spanish'. ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/3143 - Similar pages

Is the Spanish of Colombia different from that of other South ...
... understand. If you learn spanish then you know spanish plain and simple
if not you don't, and will keep asking idiotic questions. ...
www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/2833 - Similar pages

I also thought that someone from Medillin would offer their services or would know of a friend who knows a brother-in-law of a cousin that could help me out.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

litost says on Aug 12, 2004, 18:50:

"I’d like nothing more than to live on a ranch close to a small
pueblo where the entertainment is listening and dancing to the son’s and daughter’s of the town play guitar and sing. I’d like to get
as far away from the imperialistic, war-monging, mega advertising,
neo-liberal society of the US/Europe as I can get.
(This is probably just a dream. What me a romatic? Nah)"

Bob, it probably is a dream... but no harm done dreaming. Anyways, from what you describe here I'm not all that sure that Medellin is the city for you. It's actually a pretty big city, very "western" in many aspects and full of big-city-modern-society issues which you don't seem to be very fond of.

"Cozy, humble, basic, down to earth peons (like me)."

Mmmm... a lot of people here might wanna hang me for saying this, but these aren't exactly the words I'd use to describe people from Medellin in general. Yes, it has a lot of culture and people are very friendly, but there is a lot of materialism and obsession with image that probably wouldn't go much with your ideal. It's really not an insult to the paisas, but like I said it's a big modern city and as such it creates that kind of an atmosphere. You can escape it and find many basic and down to earth people, but chances are you'll be surrounded by many siliconed models and pretentious kids glued to their cell phones.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't take a shot at it, by all means you should go and see Medellin for yourself, it's a very interesting city. However, based on what you say you're looking for I'd say the city most suited for you would be Manizales. If you want you can do a search on this site, I've written plenty about this cozy, small, cultural, friendly city. Check my comments and then ask whatever questions you may have.

Suerte!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Roberto99 says on Aug 12, 2004, 23:08:

litost Thanks!! Well, I'm somewhat bummed.

But the greatest kindness of all is honesty.
I appreciate your time and concern greatly.
Yes, I will research your posts about Manizales.
Thanks again for your discerning approach to my requests.
Que pena. Bob

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Aug 12, 2004, 23:16:

there are plenty of quiet small towns where people are down-to-earth, sons and daughters play the guitar and sing the malagueña salerosa or me voy pal monte mañana...but not Bogotá, Cali, Medellín or Barranquilla. Ibagué (Tolima), Popayan of the churches and cobblestone streets in Cauca, any small town in the coffee-growing region (Caldas or Antioquia), or maybe Neiva in Huila. I think your dream is totally wonderful.
Have a nice day, Roberto.
Desi

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

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Roncita says on Aug 13, 2004, 04:23:

learning spanish in Medellin I studied Spanish at the university of EAFIT in Medellin. Check out their website: www.eafit.edu.co and find Idiomas. You should get all the info you need there. I can't remember how much my course cost as I did it in 2001-2 but it was only 6 hours per week, for 6 weeks and wasn't that cheap. It was a good way to meet people though.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Aug 13, 2004, 08:55:

Bob, based on my experience of Medellin, I would have to agree with Litost completely. Medellin's a wonderful experience but I don't think it's the one you're looking for.

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.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jmmyers says on Aug 13, 2004, 11:46:

EAFIT recently revamped their spanish program and now offer an intensive class for 4 hours / day and about 3 weeks per level ($210). I'm taking three levels in october/november/december. It looks pretty decent from their literature.

Roncita, where did you live when you went there? I'm trying to find an apartment around the school.

Also, I'm taking a month of immersion classes at simon-bolivar school in Quito. These are private 6-7 hours / day. I'll let you know how it goes.

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Roncita says on Aug 16, 2004, 09:30:

accommodation near EAFIT Jmmyers, I lived with my (then) boyfriend, now husband in his flat in Simon Bolivar, in the west of the city near Laureles so not that near EAFIT/Poblado. There are lots of apartment blocks on Avenida Las Vegas opposite EAFIT, where you might find something.

I found the course at EAFIT was good, it was just a bit expensive considering and in the end I decided I could learn more Spanish just by speaking to Colombians!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jmmyers says on Aug 17, 2004, 12:12:

eafit how many people were in your class? I wonder if i'd learn more just cruising around colombia

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