Shocking article

Sam Salmon says on Feb 9, 2005, 08:48:

Typical So some writer finds an excuse to write a story supporting his warped view of Colombia-doesn't make it true.
I know a number of Colombians here in Canada-some will go back some won't-all for different reasons.
I remember reading last year about how many Colombians were moving back and indeed met a number who had-no regrets from any of them.
Look at all the foreign investment in Colombia particularly in Medellin-that money is in Colombia long term.




' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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Hunter says on Feb 9, 2005, 10:05:

In the Uk I knew about 100 Colombians around 2000/1, only two of them wanted to stay in the UK and all the others wished to return to Colombia, when they had a bit of money behind them

Hunter

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adrimm (☼Travelguide writer) says on Feb 9, 2005, 10:39:

juanalejo says on Feb 9, 2005, 10:42:

Very personal view If people want to find an excuse not to return, they will, if they want to find an excuse to return they also will, it depends on a very personal view. Unfortunatelly there are a few people who need to convince everybody else why they do not want to return as if it was a sin to come back home, and at the same time there are another few who simply do not want to accept the fact that richer countries not always meen happier lives, and that simply there is no place like home.

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juanalejo says on Feb 9, 2005, 10:43:

JFK Just like JFK said once, it is not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. Marce your country will be waiting for you to make it a better place to live for all.

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Mariangela says on Feb 9, 2005, 11:28:

Realistic I think all of us Colombians living abroad wish to be able to return to our Country, make a life there and be happy. I am one of them. But, there are certain realities that one must take into consideration, especially when we are talking about a family, safety and future of the kids, etc. We were considering moving to Bogota with my husband and little kids. But after much thinking, we came to the conclusion that it's way too risky to start all over there. I miss my family, the traditions, the culture, etc. But I am very aware of the lack of safety, economic problems, political inestability, etc. that will exist for many more years in Colombia, maybe forever. I would never forgive myself if something happend to my children there because I decide to move back. They are used to walking safely to school, going places without worrying about somebody stealing their bike or their backpack. They have freedom and safety here. The USA is not prefect, but there is still a lot of opportunity. So, I have resign myself to the idea of going to Colombia on vacation and living in the USA, where my kids will have a better future. Colombia is beautiful, rich, welcoming, etc. but it is also suffering a serious disease and we all know it. So, I understand the point of wiew of the man who wrote the article. Mariángela

Mariángela

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Elbigie says on Feb 10, 2005, 04:35:

I think is natural to feel homesick now and then. I was in Col. for the last 2 months and had a good time and entertained the idea of coming back for 1 year, but then a reality check made me realise that I wouldn't stand a chance of finding a decent job (or any job for that matter) and I say that because I tried, just by addressing the criteria, without using godfathers or palancas. Who knows maybe the fact that I currently live in a region where I'm the only Colombian (and Latin-American as far as I know) has made me rusty and my "skills" to deal well with some of the things I did not have a problem with, when I lived there, have vanished: people jumping queues, some of the worst drivers in the world, corruption, not to mention bigger problems (paras, guerrilla, narcos, etc).

There is nothing "shocking" about the article that Marce refers to, but you can't deny either that It would be nice to get back to that country of our dreams with all the fairness that implies.

I guess the question is , How we Colombians abroad can help?

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stevens says on Feb 10, 2005, 08:20:

I once spent 10 days in London in the Earl's Court, Oxford Street area and barely saw any actual English people. Everyone was from somewhere else, including Morocco, Spain, and Eastern Europe. I asked every person I could if they were happy to live thereand every single one cheerfully replied no, they all would prefer to go home but were in London for financial oportunity. They seemed happy enough, though.

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marce says on Feb 12, 2005, 14:42:

it was shocking for me I might have probably become more concerned and sensitive about Colombia now I am away. In France I try to show the good side of Colombia to my young students and it is always difficult. I never deny our problems but I also show them the good side, they'll probably never know by themselves so I guess when I read those pesimistic articles that declare Colombia is a "caso perdido" and specially when those articles are written by Colombians, I question myself. I feel as if I were against everything, against everyone. En español....nadando contra la corriente. It is not easy to be Colombian, in or outside Colombia. I feel there is so difficult for them (my French students)to have just an idea of what a real colombian is. NOw with me, some have a closer idea. I give free salsa lessons and they can see I am happy being a Colombian.
Anyways, I feel like I am working for Colombia from outside and I really want to help to change the situation in Colombia once I get back there. It will not be easy but I am going to take that risk.

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ARMacleod says on Feb 12, 2005, 15:48:

Scotland (above England) (geographically) is very cold.
But when I left there at 15 years of age to join the army, it never crossed my mind that I would never go back to settle there.

There are more than double the number of people in London (England) than there are in the whole of Scotland. Now I know that I shall never go back there except perhaps just once more before I go to the great distillery in the sky.

There is nothing there for me, or for anyone of the millions who have left before me or since. It is cold and poor the future is as bleak as the rain swept moors and mountains.

Any thoughts of returning there now would be nothing more than misplaced romanticism. My reasons for going to Colombia have to do with my lady, although I have to say I am glad I fell for a Colombian lass and not an Afghan one.

For me Colombia will be my Scotland, except the highlands and the lowlands of Colombia are green and lush, all year round, the weather leaves nothing to be desired and the people are great (with the odd exception). I have a new family now, and they appear to have taken me to their heart, I have a wonderful time with the children and I honestly cannot think of anything that I will miss when I finally leave here.

I have travelled to many countries over the last 55 years since leaving my homeland, Colombia would not in the past have been my first choice to settle in, but I cannot think now, of anywhere else that I have been where I would be as contented.


Being of unsound mind and dubious disposition, I cannot be held legally liable for any indiscretions."¡El diablo me hizo hacerlo!" But don't worry, be happy.

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

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