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So much for the closeness of Colombian families!

I always hear this crapola about how Colombian families are so much closer than gringo families blah, blah,blah. To me it's always been about economics, if your only safety net is your family, then you're going to have to be close. If it's not, then you'll have the same degree of closeness that most families have.

A case in point. My sister-in-law from Bogota is coming to the US to visit along with her young son and Colombian boyfriend. She's a government lawyer and he's also a lawyer and law professor. They plan on flying to Miami and traveling up the East Coast visiting Orlando, Washington, DC, New York and Niagara Falls. Is she visiting her sister? No. It's basically a trip to the Mecca for all Colombians, Disneyworld. Every Colombian before he or she dies must make a pilgrimage to Mecca (Disneyworld). I'm kind of bummed actually because her sister is a doll and her legs are one of the seven wonders of the world. Oh well, maybe next time.

By utopiacowboy on Jun 14, 2009, 09:53 in Friendly Talkzone.

adrimm (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 14, 2009, 10:02:

Don't you live in Texas?

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 14, 2009, 10:39:

I thought Texas was on the way to Orlando!?

Vive la vida y deja vivir!.

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 14, 2009, 10:40:

"... it's always been about economics, if your only safety net is your family, then you're going to have to be close..."

===========================================================

Bingo.

Cheers.
Terry

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theflatline says on Jun 14, 2009, 10:44:

It is probably not in her budget? Just because they are lawyers does not mean they make a ton of loot, especially with the exchange rate.

You and your wife could fly down to orlando for a few days, or to anywhere on their stops and hang out.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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lpdiver says on Jun 14, 2009, 10:54:

stock some special chorizo in your fridge.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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utopiacowboy says on Jun 14, 2009, 12:37:

I don't really care if I see them or not. After all, I'm not a Colombian for whom family is more important than anything! I'm just a jackass gringo.

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.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Jun 14, 2009, 12:40:

Maybe they DON'T want to see you....=)....cant blame them, actually......jajaja

RVW orderded me to remove my tagline congratulating the PBH Mods New Golden Boys. Lame.

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mranderson says on Jun 14, 2009, 12:54:

"To me it's always been about economics, if your only safety net is your family,"

Yea, I think so too. I think colombians would be a lot more independent if they could.

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Colombiano_divino says on Jun 14, 2009, 14:21:

that disney dream is for the cachacos......they always dream of visiting the states or europe.

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utopiacowboy says on Jun 14, 2009, 15:09:

I think you're right. I don't think the costenos care about it at all.

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.

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Colombiano_divino says on Jun 14, 2009, 15:48:

its true..........ive been to and experienced both extremes alot ( la costa y el interior) its like two different worlds within one country when it comes to personality, attitude and culture

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borat says on Jun 14, 2009, 19:52:

Well, my girlfriend, not only contributes (alongside her other siblings) towards her parents (and younger sister who's still at Uni) expenses, but she's just bought her father a car.

She hasn't bought the car outright, she had to take a loan. Her father was bored, he couldn't find employment, he's 70.

She's got a good job and is in the fortunate position to be able to do something like this. She isn't rich and she had to get support from the bank to be able to do this, she doesn't have a car herself, neither does she live with them, different cities.

what you believe is not important, it's what you do that counts

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Miguel says on Jun 14, 2009, 19:53:

UTC wrote: "I'm just a jackass gringo."

As far as my Colombian family and friends are concerned, you are not a gringo. Congratulations.

"There is nothing lower than the human race...except for the French." - Mark Twain 1878-79

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goin_south says on Jun 14, 2009, 22:01:

I'm just a jackass gringo.
Yeah. UTC.... aren't you from ... "OH! CA NA DAAAAAA !!!! "
______________

Shti... I think they should divide Colombia into two or three nations.
Costenos.
Cachacos.

3.) .... ? Not Sure.
___________

"As far as my Colombian Family........ are concerned"....
What colombian family?
__________

I could be wrong, but... when it's used as an adjective.... No Capitalization. Si? No?.... 'colombian'. Since you are so bent on always being grammatically correct.... Si? No?

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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capitan_centella says on Jun 14, 2009, 23:51:

disneyworld? . . . not even if it become the only piece of land standing after the armaggedon. . .

"When you open your eyes, you turn around with the world, But it can change, if you only close it, and see a dream to yourself." Me.

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Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 15, 2009, 01:41:

Thanks Cheers Terry for making the only comment that has a shred of intelligence. I agree with you but I think that the answer is a bit deeper. The historic difficulties that create these stronger families creates a culture that lasts longer than hard times. I only know a couple of latino families in my little mountain town in Canada but they both have less economic trouble than an average Canadian family but continue to be much closer than almost any Canadian family I have seen.

What I find interesting with my own limited experience in Colombia is that the wealthier people I know seem to have stronger family ties than those who are poorer. I only really have two Colombian friends that don't struggle ergonomically but they seem to spend the most time with their families.

For what ever reason made families closer in Colombia I think that it's a pretty safe statement that a Colombian family is much more likely to be close than American one.

Utopian Cowboy: I hope for your sake that it is your wife's sister who is the jerk.

Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here.

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El Expatriado says on Jun 15, 2009, 03:03:

I don't agree. With my Novia, it's economics that she can't visit all her Tias, tios, hermanos, hermana, sobrinas, sobrinos , and espescialyy her mother more often. Se cares deeply about and is deeply attached to the whole family. Kind of like the family matron. Always fighting with them too (bossing them around too).

My Canadian friends kids can't wait to get out of the house, and only come back to eat and sleep. Her house is always choc-a-bloc full of Family. Same with here families houses too.

This can be a problem for me, obviously. Sometimes I wish it wasn't so.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 15, 2009, 05:19:

I am very close to my immediate family, ( mum, dad, brother, sisters, nieces and nephews) but I am not very close to my aunts,uncles, cousins etc

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 15, 2009, 05:22:

mecca for colombians? no faltan las ignorancias cada 3 o 4 dias.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 15, 2009, 05:34:

capitan_centella says on Jun 14, 2009, 23:51: flag

disneyworld? . . . not even if it become the only piece of land standing after the armaggedon. . .

I agree I hate those kind of places, i can't understand what is the appeal.

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theflatline says on Jun 15, 2009, 08:00:

The problem is Colombian mother's dote on their children too much. IT is all too common for see a 35 year old Colombian professional living at home with the parents and coming home from work and demanding his mother iron him a shirt for his date and then come home hungover and get the old lady to make him a caldo.

I worked during college everything from bartending to crawfishing, and when I went to school in Colombia I taught english 25 hours a week plus went to class.

All my Colombian friends were aghast when I suggested they work to, to buy books and spending money, or just to have a little pocket change.

North America has a lot of family love, but they also teach independence.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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webmanco says on Jun 15, 2009, 08:27:

UTC you failed to see that your wife´s family colombian status downgraded when she mistakenly married you, so less or not vitists.

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

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goin_south says on Jun 15, 2009, 11:25:

I've seen quite a few colombianitas who fall into this category: legs are at least in the top ten Wonders of the World.

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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utopiacowboy says on Jun 15, 2009, 17:35:

Well, webmanco, it didn't stop the rest of them from camping out at our house for three weeks. I could have used a little downgrading! As for lust after her sisters, my wife and I joke about this all the time. Of course unlike PBH posters, she has a sense of humor.

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.

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Man Tequila says on Jun 15, 2009, 19:53:

Guess your town needs more Dunkin' Donuts.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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christobeldawg says on Jun 15, 2009, 20:24:

If the hubby is saying his sister's wife's legs are among the 10 wonders of the world, modern or ancient, understandable that she ain't exactly invited over to bumbf...k egypt for a creepy visit.

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

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bam m says on Jun 15, 2009, 22:40:

hey sapo...how do you say onion head agian???

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Russell Etherington says on Jun 24, 2009, 17:44:

its rubbish thet are no closer than any other family worldwide

Russell

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