What Am I a Clown?

Veronica22 says on Jun 14, 2005, 01:03:

the colombians have a harsher sense of humour than the british. dont take it seriously, they probably dont mean any harm. you could try making fun of them as well so that they see you are not some stupid white guy. that ought to shut them up. as for the girl, i guess she was just showing off.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

shirly1981 says on Jun 14, 2005, 01:14:

Be a smart as$ Eyyyy take it easy, that girl is just showing off like Veronica said so dont worry and have a good time, not all those girls have a gringo with them, and about the rest of the people try to be funny too and make jokes, people there are so friendly. When they say "how much did you pay the father for your girlfriend." the answer is The price you never ever could pay even if you work 35 hours a day and thats it. be smart dont let them take advantage of you ahhhhhhh

Sophia

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kernow62 says on Jun 14, 2005, 04:40:

yes.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 14, 2005, 06:10:

This is exactly it!!! This is exactly what I was referring to a while ago when I opened the thread "Do Colombians have a Harsh Sense of Humour???"!!!!!

Most people didn't think so, they said Gringos have a harsher sense of humour than Colombians. Not true from my POV (and I am a Colombian who has lived more than half her life in the North so I understand both cultures).

Colombians can be very harsh, but they mean no harm by it. They just want to see your reaction. My advice: Don't let them know that it got to you, because if they see that it bothers you, then they will really bug you. When they ask you if you bought your girlfriend tell them "YEs, because I actually have the money to do that, not like you muerto de hambre pobreton". That will shut them up.

Good luck!

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

elmodefoque says on Jun 14, 2005, 06:20:

As long as you don’t hear guys saying “vamos agarrar ese gringo pendejo y cortarle la cabeza” then everything is ok. I agree with the other post, your girlfriend feels extremely proud to call you her gringo. For colombianas having a gringo is like having in possession the Holy Grail.

I'll get there, when I get there!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 14, 2005, 07:09:

LOL Tinto Actually everytime that happens to me walking past a construction site I try to walk fast, get really shy and nervous and just pray in my head that it will be over soon. Even if the guy screaming out "hey girl, nice ass" is really hunky, I just walk fast and try to put my purse over my behind or something.... I feel so exposed when that happens...JAJAJA.

I think men have fun seeing how nervous the girls get when they do that :)

What I said about Guatemalans... man, I was so pissed when I read what their PREZ said. For a minute there I became "defensora de la colombianidad".

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 14, 2005, 07:44:

All of this can be turned around. My stepdaughter is in Colombia now and her former classmates are almost a year ahead of her because the Colombian school year has a different schedule. She was feeling depressed about being behind them and they were acting superior. I told her, ask them in English if they can do everything you can do in Spanish AND English? They won't understand a word you're saying, the little morons.

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.

DCShoeCo says on Jun 14, 2005, 17:23:

Agreed I agree, use insulting rapid-fire english when they start with that shit.

¨Yeah dude, your all-guy crew is so slick man. Where are all the ladies? What happened tonight man? Did a gringo buy your girlfriend?¨

Keep your tone light, like you´re just playing along.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

morphus says on Jun 15, 2005, 02:53:

ha ha funny responses. actually, most of the Colombianos that made these wise cracks were from Poblado. they might have more money than me for all i know.

ok, heres another example. i was in Cartagena hanging out at Plaza Santo Domingo with a couple of Colombianos i met there. one works at one of the big hotels as a cook. so we're standing around drinking beer and we start talking about chicas. there were a few skanky whores walking around. they say "there you go". i tell them i'm not down with that. so i tell the one guy "why don't you do it"? he says "i'm Colombiano, i got 4 girlfriends". they would love nothing more than to see the gringo get hooked up with a ho. i felt like they were trying to make a clown out of me so i got at of there. they said "where are going" with a sad voice. the hell with those guys.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kernow62 says on Jun 15, 2005, 04:44:

That Cartagena incident just sounds like a bit of good natured ribbing between guys. Perhaps you are reading more into these things than you should.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Rubiazo says on Jun 15, 2005, 08:30:

El gringuito se ofende mucho Y no se porque :)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 15, 2005, 08:43:

It seems to be a proclivity of young Colombians to make idiotic remarks. My sons prevented my Colombian stepsons from getting beaten up several times early on for making these kinds of remarks. They have since learned to watch what they say.

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.

dwmte says on Jun 15, 2005, 09:21:

sometimes you just gotta call their hand to get them to shut up.

i lived alone--separated from wife and daughter--up in the mountains for about a year and a half and i remember one time while hanging out with some friends, one just got on my case and wouldn't get off. finally, i asked him, "hey, dude, savez que significa, 'fuck you'? "claro" he said; "bueno, dude", "fuck you" he could see i had got pissed and was calling him out. he just shut up.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cerealkiller says on Jun 15, 2005, 12:05:

Well, back to the girl incident...has she been patting you on the head and taking you out for a walk?
If so, id worry.
However, I do think most colombians have a laugh at foreigners, I dont think they mean to offend but come on it is a little funny in its own very twisted way to think of certain things people perceive as VERY colombian, happening to someone who doesnt share their same sense of humour and who gets drunk on 3 or 4 aguardientes.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 15, 2005, 14:30:

Well, not only colombians I know this is no defence, but making fun of foreigners is not exclusive to colombians. Actually, I think colombians are generally very nice and attentive to foreigners.

When I arrived to Canada as a child, I used to be made fun of at school everyday because I didn't speak English. It escalated from teasing to flat out physical abuse. I used to nearly get my head kicked in every freaking day by the bad kids at school who had never seen a Latina before and thought it was funny that I couldn't speak English. Things got so bad that the police had to intervene because I was in danger of being seriously hurt by these ignorant little fuc*s. I remember being 10 years old and lying awake all night sweating profusely silently crying bitter tears at the thought of having to attend school the next day. I actually got to a point where I would carry one of my mother's kitchen knives in my school bag.

I share this experience with you guys, so you get a taste of what some people have had to go through and you realize that nobody is going to roll out the red carpet for you wherever you go. Basically what I am saying is either tell them to f off or get over it. Don't be thin skinned, I dealt with much worse as a 10 year old girl, and look I am here today, alive and well and loving everybody and every minute of my wonderful life. I can't deny that my past experiences made me very outspoken, I don't take unnecessary crap from anybody.

Things have changed here in canader. I think today, most teens would think twice before messing with a Latino, because they know if they mess with one, they will be getting a drone of latinos beating a machete into their head the next day.

This is 18 years ago. Now I am a grown up. I have gotten over this, and I am glad for my life experiences, truly eventhough it hurt when it happened it made me stronger. I hope the universe, life, God, whatever you want to call it forgives this people for doing what they did, everybody must meet their Karma. Maybe in a past life, I abused somebody and I was doomed to pay for it. Who knows? Why worry about it now? Just enjoy life and the wonderful people that you have around you.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 15, 2005, 15:29:

Great post, Colombiche. You're right. It seems to be worse anywhere people are insular and don't encounter many outsiders.

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.

Lionheart says on Jun 15, 2005, 15:34:

I had same experience When I got moved to a small German village from the USA as an eight year old I was treated like a Martian in school. It was quite horrifying at times. I was alone and didn't have brothers or sisters. It is something to consider when bringing a child to a new culture.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Peter Miami says on Jun 15, 2005, 15:44:

Morfus Don't take it in a bad way just enjoy it.

Peter Miami

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lockheed says on Jun 15, 2005, 18:56:

what am I a clown You know Colombianos like to joke, but sometimes they are very indirect. Like those two guys in Cartagena, it is comon though that us foreigners always (supposedly) have to get the left overs or prostitutes that we always have to pay, and they get the young fresh pure girls, and the one about the girl saying I am with my gringo on the phone I think that sounds like she is saying he don't disturb me now I am working. I know alot of Colombianas that truly care for their foreign man and they never addres him like that, they will say his first name or say estoy con mi HOMBRE. 1st post hi everybody

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 15, 2005, 21:56:

My wife NEVER refers to me as a gringo or her gringo to anyone. It's always either my name or some term of endearment. I must admit that to get respect you have to give respect and we both try to follow that principle.

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.

TioJoe says on Jun 16, 2005, 06:17:

How Much Last time I was asked how much I had to pay for the wife I said --"Three chickens and a pig". However that was only once -- I am still in therapy.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

N2Aquatix says on Jun 16, 2005, 07:25:

Capitalize And Enjoy "I'm Colombiano, I got 4 girlfriends." ??? I bet they all look like sh1t too! LMAO!!! When I go down there, they can't compete with me at all. I swear this is the truth. If you're a gringo and your one colombiana doesn't blow away all 4 of his, then there is something very seriously wrong with the picture. At least this has been my experience. Maybe you need to market yourself better. Come on dude, you could have any chica you want down there. That's the beauty of the situation. Capitalize on it and enjoy. ;)

Jay

0 funny, 0 helpful.

N2Aquatix says on Jun 16, 2005, 07:38:

Respect Oh, and my Colombiana always calls me baby. A word I taught her. She never called me a gringo. She referred to me as an Americano once. That was back in the day when we first met. If she's on the phone talking to someone else, she refers to me as her esposo. UTC is right when he said it's all about respect. If you're hanging with people that make jokes about you, then they probably don't respect you and you're better off without them. Don't play their game by lowering yourself to their level, just find new friends that are actually mature and intelligent. I see the same thing here in the USA with white people and it's usually an insecurity issue. Those are the kinds of people that I won't even waste 5 minutes of my time with.

Jay

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lockheed says on Jun 16, 2005, 13:16:

RESPECT I have to agree totaly with Jay, if they are like that to your face you are in bad hands when you turn your back.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

angzulu says on Jun 16, 2005, 14:10:

you are quite odd - are you in Colombia now? I think you have your prejudice American hat on and cannot see beyond it. I can totally see through it, they were joking with you, it's common to hear a bad joke like that...they are basically waiting for you to laugh hard and say "NO WAY MAN, that's nasty" ,but since you take everything to heart and get all pissy about it, they realized it's not worth talking or joking with you.

Sorry, I'm sure you are nice guy, but seem very negative and close minded; those are qualities that do not go well in a country where its people in order to survive have to make a joke out of everything. Hope you can change the lens and see everything with a different light!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

angzulu says on Jun 16, 2005, 14:16:

so now saying GRINGO is an insult?? Okay, I am really confused. I am an educated colombian women who has lived in this country 15 years and came when I was 16 years old. My husband is a native US citizen. When I call him my gringuito, there is no implication of disrespect, in Colombia we call "Americans" gringos because the term American applies to all the citizens of North, Central and South America. I don't suppose you guys feel that by him calling me his colombianita, he's disrespecting me, do you?

If you are, I strongly disagree, the term gringo has nothing negative about it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lockheed says on Jun 16, 2005, 17:42:

Disrespect No, I am not in Colombia right now I am on an Island that has been invaded by Colombians not that I have a problem with that, but I am the guy that is sitting in the corner that understands Spanish and that hears what they say between them when the American, Dutch, German, Canadian turns its back and leaves after those jokes.
Again I understand what you are saying but alot of times it doesn't go that way.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

morphus says on Jun 16, 2005, 22:09:

its not like i take it serious. i'm just sharing my observations. i used to go to Cuba where it was a lot worse. Colombian guys are tame compared to Cuban guys. i just don't have time for it. i'm too busy with my girls. most of the Colombians i associate with are young girls between 18-22y/o.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 16, 2005, 22:11:

I have news for you, angzulu, it's only South Americans that have this hang up about the term "American". If you called a Canadian or a Mexican, an American, they would be very quick to correct you and not to call them that again. So maybe you're eager to be referred to as an American but they aren't.

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.

angzulu says on Jun 17, 2005, 09:17:

not sure you got my point... I am not eager to be referred as an American utopiacowboy..it makes no difference in my life whatsoever..I was trying to understand the BIG deal over being called Gringos. Why are you so concerned about colombians and what goes on in Colombia? you are obviously not a big fan..Of course, you are entitled to speak your opinion. Just wondering why you waste your time...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

N2Aquatix says on Jun 17, 2005, 10:21:

Gringo Let's make this clear once and for all. South and Central America are NOT countries. The United States Of America is. That is the difference. Hence the name "American," which refers to the United States Of America which is a sovereign nation. Get a clue. People are referred to by the name of their country. There is no country called Gringo. Duh!!!

Jay

0 funny, 0 helpful.

caslug says on Jun 17, 2005, 10:34:

angzulu..and "gringo" usuage.. While you and some/many "american" have no problem w/ being called gringo.. it is insulting to SOME. As long as SOME people feel it's degradatory then it's probably wise to not use "gringo"-just to be on the safe side. Of course if the "american" refers to themselves as "gringo" then it's fair game.

Langauge/culture misunderstand are abound whenever you have interaction. For me, if the misunderstanding is NOT malicious but due to ignorance, then I ignore or politely correct them(if it's biggie). HOWEVER if it's insulting/malicious then then i stop being around them(ie, Morphus). I think what Morphus is complaining about is NOT SOLEY the use of "gringo" but of locals not respecting him. Most travellers respect locals, we don't go around insulting people and we don't want to be insulted back(joking or not). Unless we started it by joking ourselves, ie, refering ourselves as "gringos".

0 funny, 0 helpful.

N2Aquatix says on Jun 17, 2005, 10:44:

Nuts True caslug, I agree completely. If you go to some places and insult the locals, like Hawaii or South Korea, you will have your nuts handed to you in short order. I suspect the same is true of Colombia. I tend to treat people the way that I would like to be treated so I had no problems visiting any of these places and returning with my nuts intact. ;)

Jay

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lockheed says on Jun 17, 2005, 11:07:

LOVE He! everybody what we all need is LOVE, alot of LOVE, and beside all these respect and desrespect issues, if there is something that Colombians have in abundance is LOVE, and I don't mean sex and porn, I mean LOVE, I hope all of us that live in these "stable" society's can learn this from COLOMBIA.
Peace everybody.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

N2Aquatix says on Jun 17, 2005, 11:12:

Cloth Lockheed, that is precisely why I fell in love with a Colombiana, but as I've said before, she doesn't seem to be cut from the same cloth as some of the people that I've met on this forum. ;)

Jay

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 17, 2005, 11:13:

"Just wondering why you waste your time". That's exactly what my wife says. She says PBH is for morons who have nothing better to do. What can I say? I'm easily amused.

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.

N2Aquatix says on Jun 17, 2005, 11:17:

Threshold Of Boredom LMAO!!! Me too. Hey I have a low threshold of boredom and this is one place where someone is always ready to bring it on. Plus I ummmm.......learn a little more about the side of Colombia that my fiancee obviously never sees. ;)

Jay

0 funny, 0 helpful.