To British Citizens Who Need To Renew Their Passports In The Near Future

Shortiao says on Aug 28, 2009, 21:25:

Hej Ken,

You know, they should close down that Consulate, it/they are completely useless.

Mrs Maria Mercedes is one of these cColombians that thinks working in the honorary consulate puts her on a par with Queen Elizabeth. She spoke to my wife like she was scraping shit off of her shoe.

On a separate occasion, I called and spoke to her (i thought he English was laughable) regarding information about a visa extension for myself, she made absolutely no sense when she spoke and I eventually just said "Can I speak to someone that actually speaks English?"

She pleaded that she spoke 'the English, very well' and I laughed at her and asked to speak with her superior. I spoke to some guy, whose English was a little better and he said he can't really help as the consul is only really there incase British people get in trouble. He said he would pass me back to this Maria woman and she could give the the phone number and address for DAS.

He passed me through, she hung up. I called back and told her she was a useless cow.

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

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kenblanquito says on Aug 29, 2009, 07:34:

Sorry to hear of your experiences Shorty. When I said that her English was good, it was more to do with the fact that she can understand what you are saying pretty well and it is relative. Far from perfect of course. If some people in positions of authority, like DAS and bank managers could speak even at her level, it would help us a lot in our earlier days here.
You are Scottish, right? Perhaps your accent is difficult for her: my wife speaks English OK but has trouble with anybody outside of the south east and the further north the accent, the harder it is for her! Yorkshire folk give her translation problems; as for Scottish no chance!
Another thing is that the Medellin office is like a satellite and I suppose they cannot justify employing true Brits on Brit salaries there.

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GerryUK says on Aug 29, 2009, 08:51:

With regard to letting people know where you are.......

British citizens can register their whereabouts with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office online at

https://www.locate.fco.gov.uk/LocatePortal/olrportal.aspx?Page=Home

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Online Registration module supports the registration of citizens living or visiting abroad. It allows individuals to register and manage their own travel details via the Internet both prior to and during a period abroad. This information can be used by FCO to alert citizens to relevant travel concerns as well as contact citizens in the event of an emergency.

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kenblanquito says on Aug 29, 2009, 08:59:

Good info Gerry and thanks.
Also, being registered with the Embassy or Consulate means that the main Embassy in Bogota will e-mail you automatically if there should be any new developments regarding general and national security, places considered unsafe due to new FARC or para activity and any disease epidemics. They probably use the same sources as the foreign office, will be up to date and not suppressed or exagerated by the Colombian information media.

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Shortiao says on Aug 29, 2009, 23:48:

hehe...steady on Ken, I'm not Rab C Nesbitt you know.

My accent is almost regionless, I've lived all over the world - Whn I first moved to London as a freshfaced 19 year old, I had to tone my accent. My accent is like Sean Connery now.

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

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kenblanquito says on Aug 30, 2009, 07:25:

OK Shorty! You may say that the accent of Sean Connery is regionless like yours but to us from the South of the UK, you would be considered to have a softer type of Scottish accent. Nought wrong with that and Sean is very proud of his Scottishness, which I assume you are too!

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