PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Ruminations from the Emerald Mountain

While sitting here and enjoying life and what it has brought me, I was thinking about so many of the negitive posts that pop up here on PBH. Colombia has brought this tired gringo a bountiful and very pleasant life. I found my little slice of Earth to be friendly and supportive. It is peaceful and healthy. The world of nature around me is much the same. There are few natural dangers here on the Emerald Mountain. I have lived in one of the popular "paradises" of the normal world. I lived in South Florida for many years. Some comparisons seem in order:
Storms Here 0, there Hurricanes and Tornados ( I was next to the eye of Andrew).
Poisonous snakes here 0, There, many,in fact in a vacent lot next to my house 43 pigmy rattlesnakes were killed when building started. I had many encounters with them through the years.
Dog killing poisonous toads (Bufo marinus) Here 0, there I killed 20 in one evening to protect my dogs and several hundred over the years
Extremes of temperature here 8 to 28 degrees, there 0 to 40
Taxes on real estate here less than $10.00USD, There more than $2000USD
Medical Care here for me $10 USD/visit there $50USD after copay
General medical service to the people here $0USD there almost non-existant
Government interference in day to day life is minimal here, and all expats know what it is like there.
I guess my point is this: I found Colombia and fell in love with her. It was a conscious act that I moved here, and later retired here. If I felt bad about the country I wouldn't be here. I do feel some resentment to hear so many bad sentiments about my adopted country. Ignorance is remediable, intolerence is not.

By Bill Turley on Jun 1, 2008, 11:09 in Friendly Talkzone.

george jung says on Jun 1, 2008, 11:53:

Bill, stay in beautiful and safe utopia Colombia, to each his own, but try not to make the country that gave you your future life and the great chance to retire as a place equal to Hades. Diversity is what gives each country its uniqueness and gave you birth.

"Men and fish are alot alike, when they open their mouths, they both get in trouble"

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Robert Jorge says on Jun 1, 2008, 12:06:

There are plenty of venomous snakes in Colombia.

I appreciate what your saying, and get your point.

My dog doesn't have to worry about poisonous toads here in Florida. He doesn't have the inclination to mess with them.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Catfish35 says on Jun 1, 2008, 12:10:

ouch !

TOUCHE'

You lucky little Leprechuan

"So many guns, and so few brains". sam spade

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dwmte7 says on Jun 1, 2008, 13:26:

well, bill, with comparisons like those above, you can always come back to florida.....

i know what you mean. ever since i moved there 19 years ago, even with the shit-load of problems colombia, i was like a hog in slop. i love it. BUT, we're stuck here in florida again trying to get the youngest educated. hopefully not too much longer. then it's back to the family and the only problem i'll have to contend with is my wife's 'always rightness.'

dwmte

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bufalo says on Jun 1, 2008, 13:49:

but let's face it, Colombia is no paradise, even though I do see your point. You're retired down here so living can be a bit easy. Try being born a female in Strata 1, where's the future?

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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Bill Turley says on Jun 1, 2008, 14:15:

Being a female in any strata would be rough in this macho society, agreed. That is partly why so many chicas find gringos.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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tomtom33 says on Jun 1, 2008, 14:20:

Actually I could use a little more government interference. There is very little respect for the law here. That is a huge impediment to personal safety and economic development.

But no place is perfect. I choose to continue to live here.

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bufalo says on Jun 1, 2008, 15:40:

For me it might not be here, but definitely wouldn't be the States. Although I have to go there for 3 years (starting in 2 weeks, YUCK!)

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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Sam Salmon says on Jun 1, 2008, 16:17:

Great post Bill!-glad to hear you're livin' the life you want in a place you love.

' a la orden!'

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Atrevido says on Jun 1, 2008, 16:33:

There are about ten poisonous snakes in Colombia but very possibly none around Buffalo in Quindío. A neighbor of mine in Valle Department lost a cow to snakebite. Me I worry about alacranes and cienpies getting in the house. I´ve also learned to stay away from Caspi! Well as to the strata one girl, as noted above she needs to sign up at a Cali marriage agency. All in all have to agree with Buffalo. This is where the good life is.

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Bill Turley says on Jun 1, 2008, 17:20:

Here there are scorpions, we have killed nearly 100 in the house during the 4 years we have been here( including a couple of mamas with babies) These have stings only slightly worse than a wasp. 24 hours of pain but not fatal generally. None of us have gotten stung.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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webmanco says on Jun 1, 2008, 17:28:

Thanks for the observations.

Bill I will be a Guateque by 11.00 am on Monday. At manta right now.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Bill Turley says on Jun 1, 2008, 17:53:

Guateque is about 30 min from here

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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bufalo says on Jun 1, 2008, 18:13:

I actually killed a scorpion in our bedroom on the farm last week, then my wife killed another one. Must admit I didn't sleep so good after that.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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Atrevido says on Jun 1, 2008, 19:44:

We have an indoor cat that is extremely efficient at killing the bad guys. Even found a bat cadaver on the floor after I´d been gone for a week. If it moves (in the house) it dies!

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Bill Turley says on Jun 1, 2008, 19:55:

My " little" dog is a good catcher of insects too. If you want to see something to remember think of 180 lb of dog, in the air catching bees. He go stung about a year ago since then he snaps them, then when they are on the floor he calls me to step on them.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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adrimm says on Jun 1, 2008, 20:24:

Awwww smart dog! Must keep *you* busy tho!

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dwmte7 says on Jun 2, 2008, 05:36:

has he bitten a scorpion yet?

dwmte

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Bill Turley says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:40:

Yes he is so fast he get in his first snap and is gone before the insect or other Arthropod can react. He also is faster than snakes either with a paw or snap too. He has caught 2 snakes over the 4 years we have been here. One he called me for ( about pencil sized and 68 inches long. The other he killed that was about a meter (80 cm). Really this massive dog can move as fast as a cat.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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sanandressi says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:58:

Bill, you said you taught at Colegio Nueva, Granada? How hard is it to get a teaching position there and what does it pay? Doubt I would really go but I am curious. My Colombian wife has little desire to live in Colombia again but maybe when our little ones fly away from the nest...?

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sanandressi says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:58:

Sorry, Colegio Nueva Granada en Bogota?

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Bill Turley says on Jun 2, 2008, 08:48:

Yes the school in Bogota. The pay I got was excellent. I was paid a competitive salary in COP then the same in USD. The problem for me was that the policy is to hire imported teachers for 2 years then bye bye. I left CNG to work under contract to MEN and from there CBR in Bogota. I have had few problems finding jobs here. The pay is much lower here than in the US, except at CNG.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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bufalo says on Jun 2, 2008, 11:09:

have you ever heard of Gimnasio Ingles in Armenia. I hear good and bad. I worked there, but only temporary so not sure how it is altogether.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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sanandressi says on Jun 2, 2008, 11:47:

Two years then they want foreign teachers to leave? Probably prefer single teachers without families too right? Interesting since you would think that experience would count for something? Maybe they save money that way?

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Bill Turley says on Jun 2, 2008, 13:33:

It so so that the import teachers do not become attached and they continually get new blood. They moved me and my wife here, helped us find a suitable apartment and helped in a myriad of ways. It is sort of an intermediate situation not quite the US not quite Colombia. I do not regret the time I was there but would not say it was the best way to come here. It is hard to get a job there.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Bill Turley says on Jun 2, 2008, 13:34:

Never heard of theat school in Armenia

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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