Colombia314159 has left 16 comments

Colombia314159 comments on Does anyone know of any large houses with a pool for rent in Villa de Levya?

Yes, I did try the search function, but not much luck in finding a place with a pool. I am checking out one place though. I'm not committed to Villa de Levya either though. Ideally, a place warmer than Villa de Levya yet cooler than Anapoima or Melgar.

Colombia314159 comments on Himno Nacional de Colombia (Colombian National Anthem)

Himno Nacional de Colombia (Colombian National Anthem) I can not comment on all of the verses; however, I did download a great video of the Himno Nacional de Colombia at this site.

http://www.zippyvideos.com/9759136501265756/himno/

Sue

Colombia314159 comments on Colombian Restraunts in Wash D.C

Colombian restaurants Here is a list of Colombian restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area

http://ocean.st.usm.edu/~w302144/sancochousa.html#WASHDC

Below is a list of Colombian restaurants all in the US.

http://ocean.st.usm.edu/~w302144/sancochousa.html

Haven't actually tried any of them, so I can't make any recommendations, but let us know if you find a good one!

Sue

Colombia314159 comments on Spanish fluency

Spanish fluency Hi Claudia,
I left a message for you on MSN messenger if you have that. I am looking for an electronic translator which translates not only words, but also sentences. I've searched online and many translators get bad or mixed reviews. I know there are sites online which translate (although poorly), but I cannot carry a computer around Colombia! I've been trying to communicate via MSN messenger with my daughter's birthfamily in Colombia. They speak no English and my Spanish is muy malo, so this is rather tricky! My daughter and I are heading down for another visit to Bogota in January.
Any ideas?

Sue

Colombia314159 comments on Adopted from Colombia and returning In July

Support group for Colombian adoptees If any of you are interested in the support group for Colombian adoptees, who are on the list to search and support each other, here is the link:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ColombianAdopteeSearchAndSupport/

Sue

Colombia314159 comments on Adopted from Colombia and returning In July

No need for passport Actually, this has changed in the last year or so. Many people who used to travel in and out of Colombia using their US or other passports and now being required to present them. I have a Colombian sister-in-law, who tested this last time she traveled to Colombia and tried to get in with the US passport as she had always done in the past. This time, the told her she must have a Colombian passport to enter. Fortunately, she had one as she had heard this also. At the same time she was being asked, there was a little old lady being hassled in the next lane, according to my sister-in-law. Apparently, this old lady had been traveling back and forth for many years using her US passport, and were refusing to this time. They finally let her in with a promise that she would renew her passport, but charged her a hefty fine.

When my daughter (who was born in Colombia and adopted by us) tried to enter this January, they started to hassle her. Fortunately, the lady who found her birthmother, had written a letter (which we had notarized too!) saying that my daughter was adopted and planned to get her Colombian passport renewed while in Colombia. At that point, the officer was all smiles!

Sue

Colombia314159 comments on Adopted from Colombia and returning In July

Colombia314159 comments on Adopted from Colombia and returning In July

To SarahG and others Hi Sarah,

I'm quite sure you have a Colombian Birth Certificate. You would have had to have one to leave Colombia. Have you asked your adoptive parents? Hopefully you have a good relationship with them.

My husband and I have 3 children adopted from Colombia (Los Pisingos in Bogota). They are now ages 20, 14 and 10. I found an investigator (actually there are 2 that I know of) who found my daughter's birthmother and birthfamily. My daughter and I went to Bogota for a reunion this January and everything went great!

There is also a list for Colombian Adoptees on Yahoo.com which is very supportive. There are mostly adoptees on the list and a few adoptive parents. I'd suggest checking that out.

Oh, and another thing, those on the Colombian Adoptee list have not found La Casa to be honest or of much help to adoptees most of the time, unfortunately. Many adoption records have been falsified by them, and possibly from some of the other adoption houses (orphanages) back then as well.

The other thing you can do if you can't get adoption records from your adoptive parents or if they don't have them, is to request your records from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) (now renamed the BSIC). They are a government organization and not easy or quickly dealt with. That is, of course, if you are now a US citizen. I don't know about Canada, but on the Colombian Adoptee list, at least one person is from Canada and can probably advise you there.

Best of luck to all of you!

Sue

Colombia314159 comments on Want to find my birth Mom!

finding birthmom Hi Trevor,

I helped my 19 yr. old find her birthmom and birthfamily in Colombia. We visited all of the this January and it went wonderfully! We used a search organization who are very good and efficient. If you were indeed abandoned and no information was left, this could be more tricky. Were you adopted through ICBF (government orphanage) or one of the private casas?

If you want more information, please email me at cordess at cablespeed.com.

Sue
Mom to 3 adopted from Colombia




I want to find my birth mom but I have no records at all! I was told my Family that adopted me that I was left on a street corner! Where do I start?

By Trevor D... at 05/13/2006

Colombia314159 comments on Latin television

Univision and dump cable How does someone get ahold of Univision? I checked their website, but could find no way to contact them.

Also, if you have a sat. dish, can you somehow restrict what shows your kids have access to?

Sue

Colombia314159 comments on Latin television

Univision We cannot receive Univision or any Spanish speaking stations through our cable company. Strange, as there is a rather large Latin American population here. (Michigan) I'm going to call and complain on Monday!

I am looking for some information on Colombian Univision containing reunions of children and their birthmothers and birthfamilies. Does anyone know how I could get ahold of tapes or copies of these?

Gracious!
Chao!
Sue

Colombia314159 comments on Advice on how to get from Bogota to Villa De Leiva and surrounding towns

Villa de Levya and other photos Loved your photos!!! Very beautiful!

Sue

Colombia314159 comments on travelling solo in Colombia: looking for tips

Traveling in Colombia Cartagena and Bogota are relatively safe for travel (though Bogota is a huge city and you really have to be careful!) Check with the locals or someone there regarding where it is safe to go and when). I have also heard Villa de Levya is fine. Don't venture into the mountains or out of any city without getting travel advice. Watch out for unknown taxi drivers, as many are not trustworthy. Read the travel advisories (actually, nevermind on that, if you read them, you'll never go in the first place!)

Maybe the American Embassy can assist (assuming you're from the US). The FARC is definitely around, especially if you drive out of the city, so stay safe! I love Colombia, however, and have been there 4 times. I hope to return soon.

Colombia314159 comments on Religion and Marriage

Religion and marriage I found this site on Jewish History relating to Colombia which you may find interesting.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/columbia.html

Colombia314159 comments on Religion and Marriage

Religion and Marriage Actually, there is a Jewish population in Colombia, so perhaps you could even find a partner there who is Jewish! My Colombian sister-in-law has a sister who married a Colombian Jew. I don't know the percentage though. Of course, my sister-in-law's sister was Catholic and I don't believe there was a problem in their particular situation.

Colombia314159 comments on

Colombia and Colombian Adoptees from Bogota My husband and I have three children adopted from Colombia. They are now ages 18, 12 and 8. My 18 yr. old daughter is searching
for her birthfamily. A search agency in Bogota is helping us and know where her birthmother is. It's just a matter at this point of writing a letter and confirming with hair and blood sample.

In case you didn't know, there is a yahoo group for Colombian adoptees you may be interested in. It is mostly Colombian adoptees and a few Colombian adoptive parents.

For all Colombian adoptive parents (and adoptees if they also wish!) there is another Yahoo site for adoptive parents.

Let me know if you want more information. My email address is: cordess at cablespeed.com