Conchale Vale!! has left 82 comments

Conchale Vale!! comments on APARTMENT TO SHARE IN BOGOTA

I have been a past roommate of Marta. This is a fantastic location and she is a great person. The apartment has everything you could ask for and is located within walking distance to anything you will need. If you are looking for something longer term than I doubt you will find better. I would still be her roommate but the project that I thought was going to happen did not come to be. If you are a responsible person looking for a great place I would recommend you contact her. In addition to having a great place to stay I met a great friend.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Living in Bogota..

When you say living there I am assuming for a temporary period of time? Then you should be OK. Its no completely clear from your post. If you are talking about a permanent move that is a whole different story with many other considerations. Such as work unless you are fnancially set. Living with the in laws rather than visiting for periods of time is a lot different. What does the girlfriend think of living in Colombia with her family?

Conchale Vale!! comments on Bogotá a Venezuela

Where in Venezuela are you going? If you were able to find a ticket to Venezuela for 460 to 470 that is incredibly cheap. Tickets to Venezuela are a lot higher than Colombia due to all the issues with the government and problems with aeropostal being close to bankruptcy. Where are you coming from that is a great fare especially in semana santa? Advice is correct you better hope you have reservations or you may be very unhappy with what is left.

Conchale Vale!! comments on what is it about colombians and coca cola??

I thought that too but was not a problem.. I will be testing this one again on isla Margarita in a couple of weeks because I forgot the tanning oil once again

Conchale Vale!! comments on what is it about colombians and coca cola??

Coca cola works great to get a tan... of course zero sunscreen level!! They do it all over in Venezuela at the beach. I have used it myself so I know it works. Just don't lay on any ant hills jajajaj

Conchale Vale!! comments on

I always have had trouble doing a withdraw on a debit card (visa) switched to a actual atm card at the same bank and never had a issue. Not sure why but the bank told me they have seen this problem before on a debit card.

Conchale Vale!! comments on looking for Bogotá restaurant recommendation for birthday party

Thanks for all the recommends. I have been to Andres in chia many times nice but when I am picking up the tab a little to costly and the drive is a issue as we will be drinking. My friends are wanting me to just do a private barbecue at their house just outside of Bogota and bring in a guy to cook the cow and hire in some music. I think I am leaning that way a lot less complicated to set up too.

Conchale Vale!! comments on

I would be interested in at least hearing more about the idea not the casino idea the one first mentioned. Also would like to know more about the land near Chia..I saw the photo in my birthday party thread. I sent you a PM. I will be in Bogota on 16th for about 3 weeks working on my permanent move details with my employer. Last night I blocked my movistar Sim as I forgot I changed it last time I was in Bogota..so will get a new number when I get there.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Anyone have advice on finding inexpensive airline tickets from the U.S. To Colombia in May

Another way to save on miles at least with american. Get a citicard...platinum is best. Through citicard they offer milage reductions. In off season you can get a round trip from Chicago to Bogota for 25,000 sometimes as low as 22 with a gold card it is I think 27,500. The locations change by quarter. They will list central america and south. I know for this quarter there is somewhere in colombia on the list but not Bogota so did not work for me this time. But since is already low season I got my ticket for 30,000.

Conchale Vale!! comments on getting married

I am going to make a guess here but I am assuming the question about getting married without any record may be related to a pending K1 visa and wanting to get married in Colombia first. I think I read posts form her before about the visa and marriage process. But who knows.

Conchale Vale!! comments on I heard somethin bout Chavez

I believe you may be referring to what took place on the eve of the vote for the constitutional changes. It was said that he was trying to influence the out come and that was put down. It was also said that after some agreements to reduce the margin of loss that was reported he would agree with it. However he is talking about other ways he can make the changes he wanted by means other than a vote, Like a signed petition or something. I am sure "Simon Bolivar" will show up on that list of signatures if it happens.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Colombian Taxes for Foreign Resident on a work visa

Bump!! anyone have any experience with this??

Conchale Vale!! comments on airport hotel in Caracas

I talked with my fiend in tourism the hotel you mention is fine. Was remodeled about 5 or 6 years ago..She has not been there but is fairly well known and a lot go there on the weekend

Conchale Vale!! comments on airport hotel in Caracas

Have not stayed there ..I will ask a friend that does tourism there if she knows it. Avianca in general is more reliable than Aeropostal you should be fine with that.

Conchale Vale!! comments on airport hotel in Caracas

Actually I don't think you can even stay overnight at the airport....if I recall they will run you out. Caracas is much more dangerous than Bogotá. Some hotels do have pickups...very few. There is one new one right by the airport that was at one time a a Howard Johnsons..now I think it is milenia or something like that. They have pickup but I have heard that they are over $200 PER night. So if you get a hotel somewhere and they don't specifically tell you they have pickups beware. If when you leave the baggage area you see a sign with your name and your hotel..it is a robbery setup that gets arranged through someone in immigration. They stall you and pass your hotel name and your name off the paperwork you file to a connection outside the luggage area. It happened to a contractor I hired for a project there. Who are you flying on to Bogotá? If Aeropostal or Santa Barbara be prepared flights are generally late and or canceled with no notice..but they usually will get you on the next one. Good luck..I love Venezuela and have been to almost every state but you have to really be careful in Caracas.

Conchale Vale!! comments on airport hotel in Caracas

There is really no such thing as a "cheap" hotel in Caracas that is safe. Most of the decent hotels price is really based on the dollar but paid in Bolivars sot they are expensive. Best way to reduce the price is to black market dollars to Bolivars over 5000 to the dollar. If you pay by credit card its like 2250 or 2500 now..not sure. You can do this all over the airport but be careful as there is a lot of counterfeits. What ever you do you MUST take the black explorer tourist taxi by buying a ticket when at the taxi stand. Under no circumstances take any other..you will get a couple blocks and get robbed, What time is your flight arriving? Real late flights I have gotten caught where the tourist taxis closed..but I have friends I call. I never stay near the airport so can advise on a particular hotel there. look up La Guaira this is the city on the coast next to the airport..there are some decent hotels and I have heard a little cheaper than in the city. The cheapest hotel I have stayed at that is good is Paseo las Mercedes..but this is in the city and far from the airport..about $60.

Conchale Vale!! comments on What does it cost to study at a Colombian university?

Cost really depends on what the ultimate goal of the education is. If there were ever a idea of leaving Colombia and using that education in another country then what university is selected is very important as not that many will receive accreditation. The ones that do will cost more and are harder to enter. Also from having interviewed and hired personnel for our office in Bogotá which university graduated from also has a big impact on employment potential....more so that it would in the US. Most to the people working in many of the international companies earning above average salaries went to one of a few universities. I have no actual idea of what the cost of those schools programs are however.

Conchale Vale!! comments on

Yes once you go into default, late payments etc it will hit your credit record and will trigger a problem to get continued credit through the agency you indicate. Once you hit the list I understand that you are sort of flagged for 2 years. And you have to close those debts to be able to get credit again. Point I was trying to make is that there is no type of bankruptcy law that allows you to walk away from those debts just by going to court. From my friend comments about her debt she could try to get some type of consolidation loan from a bank. That will also kill her current credit cards. Rubito..you are saying there is a process to eliminate debts by going to court in Colombia or forcing a longer repayment plan onto creditors? I would like to know what that process is so I can pass it on to my friend. She has said the process would be she will continue to accrue interest and must pay off those debts..or they come and reposes stuff. hahaha well I guess they can't take back all the hair and nail appointments. Maybe she has a option she is not aware of. God I hope Colombia does not forgive debts like we do here...thats why people today have no sense with credit here

Conchale Vale!! comments on Tourist Visa for Colombian Fiance

if you are planning on a K1 soon the tourist vise is risky. If this is the plan do NOT send a letter of invitation. It could later be interpreted as mentioned as a fraud. The letter won't really help anyway.

Conchale Vale!! comments on

GIB Has is nailed in the first part of the post. One of my friends in Bogotá has a job that pays around 1,100,000 per month. She lives at home, pays something to Mom to help out every month, has no car. She does like to go out to trendy places, by brand name clothes, get her hair done, eats out for lunch everyday. 4 credit cards later she owes now about 15,000,000 in total. And with interest rates like they are in Colombia she will never get out of it. Thats about one year of here salary. Same as what happens here..but as far as I know no bankruptcy to wipe it out in Colombia. Credit was always a thing that was used wisely in South America due to the interest rates. In the past they would always pay of the card withing the month and just use it for convenience. Lately I see a lot of my friends building some pretty big balances..long term I think there will be some type of impact not sure what.

Conchale Vale!! comments on getting visa for boyfriend

You need to find a company that is willing to sponsor him. A very costly proposition for the employer to process all of the paperwork. Depending on what his skills are etc. Needs to generally have a skill that is in short supply in the USA. Or exceptional credentials. Very hard to get someone to do this in general.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Colombian - American Marriage Success rate?

My personal observation with cross cultural marriage is this. I was married to a Filipino for 13 years. For the most part all good. The couples I knew that met their wives while living permanently in the Philippines had good relationships and are either still married or were married for relatively long periods of time before getting married. The couples we met that had met on line, or on vacation etc and only spent a couple of weeks in person together...all divorced within short periods of time. If you think about it how many guys date a gringa for a year seeing her every day and then only after she gets comfortable with you you discover the flaws. Same goes for women finding out the guy is a total loser. So it applies to other cultures as well. If you marry the Colombian girl after you went to see her twice odds are you know nothing about her and she knows nothing about you. If you live in Colombia and have a regular dating relationship for a longer period of time your odds go way up.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Does the US Embassy pay Colombia citizens less the US citizens for the same job?

I disagree completely about us companies exploiting workers in Colombia. My coworkers and engineers at entry level are starting a about 5 million per month..out of college. Mid level guys are up around 10 million. A whole bunch more holidays that we will ever have in the US. I would trade my current position with anyone of them at any moment if they want to take over my salary, my tax burden both income and property taxes and the amount of hours I have put in to get where I am at. most of them don't want to come here because they have seen how hard you have to work to get ahead versus what they have. Comparing wage rates between the Colombia andthe USA is like apples and oranges. While there are some US companies that do not have good pay scales in Colombia there are others that have helped drive local employers to pay more to compete. better look at Colombian companies that don't pay crap, treat employees like garbage.

Conchale Vale!! comments on

Funny never got married to my ex. Her family loved me more than anyone she had ever been out with. Granted she has been with some real dogs. But I have known her brother for many many years before her. Actually the last time I broke up with her her brother told me directly you can do a lot better than my sister.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Need a lawyer

I think his situation is great!! living in Colombia and having a girlfriend or getting married someday is really a normal relationship and the risks are like any realtionship.The age difference this is not really a issue when the girls is older also..she has already hopefully experienced enough to know what she wants in life at her age. It is completely different when you are thinking to marry a 20 year old. At 20 few people really have a grasp on what they really want in their life.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Need a lawyer

Houstongal and Miamimike are completely right on the head. I would say it is the big 4. Culture, Communication, Distance, and significant age difference. Any 1 of these can create issues if not discussed and understood prior to marriage can become a issue. No impossible to overcome just need to be understood. In a relationship with all 4 of those I say the chance for divorce goes up 10 fold. I believe most of these marriages fail because a lack of of communication and understanding of expectations and real discussions of what daily life will be like..not because of fraud to get to the US.. there is that but I don't think that is how it always starts. You are right Gringoloids chances are much better..they have time to really know each other in a real day to day situation.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Mary me.....marry my family...sound familiar?

There is nothing wrong with this if both people in the marriage agree. However in her example it sounds like there might of been a large amount of money sent and she may have expressed her disagreement in the past. That is a problem. These are some of problems that are faced when you marry another culture. For example in a completely American family helping out financially does happen but generally it requires a lot more serious issue to even ask for money. Some families are more closely knit and do this for lesser issues. But normally there is also a expectation to repay as well. In the same token that is why children are expected move out and make it on their own much earlier here. Sadly many couples do not discuss how this will be handled before the get married. The real problem here is that is sort of disrespects American culture as if it is wrong to not want to do this. These types of issues are what make multi cultural relationships both really interesting but extremely difficult. My advice for notthatsure is this. If he is sending money from your normal family income..then tell him to get a second job if he feels he must do this...that way it may change what are considered serious issues requiring money

Conchale Vale!! comments on

Codazzi...if you are married for 3 years why are you worried about you visa status? What type of visa are you here on...get advice first if she really can affect you visa. It sounds like you wife maybe Colombian? As far as inherited property in another country that could get gray. Even here it does. Really depends upon the state you live in. The law generally states that things inherited form a family member are are not community property. HOWEVER: as soon as you connect it to community property it becomes questionable, For example if the farm was your and yours alone..but you start to make improvement to it, or pay taxes on it, pay the electricity with your earnings when it can turn into community property. Your earnings are considered part of the community property and using that to improve the land can lose the inheritance status. You definately need a good lawyer. Good luck you sound like a decent guy.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Need a lawyer

If I remember correctly in another post (I think that one is gone now) La Mona recommended a prenup ..so it's good there are people on here listening jajajajaj If I recall he is 44 and she is 20....so a lawyer is a good idea. Russian Fred are you planning to stay in Colombia or are you returning to the US? The problem with prenups and international marriages are they may not hold up once you leave where they were written. Foe example if you have one in Colombia and then you decide to go to the US and bring the wife I.E. you sign the affadfits of support to get her here..well that document you just signed can blow away that prenup depending upon what is written in it. Same way if you go the route of bringing a girl on a fiance visa and then try to do a US prenup covering your grounds,,,you signed a support doc to get her there. International prenups are 10 times more complicated than one for 2 peopl in the same country and those many times don't hold water Good luck to Russian Fred if you have alot to lose think carefully

Conchale Vale!! comments on help Divorce

Dan I understand your concern if you are in the military. If she really wants to go back to Colombia you might not have a problem. She might not want anything. However if she really just wanted to go home she probably would have done so without moving out. Be careful about pushing to hard on pulling her status that could make what might be a easy divorce go south in 2 seconds. I am assuming she does not have kids and you don't have kids. If she does have kids god I hope you have not brought them to the US. If her intent is to stay and take you to the cleaners she doesn't really need to prove abuse. If you lied about things she can prove, she says you are a alcoholic etc stupid stuff like that with a good lawyer can get her easily past the 2 year conditional. Good luck to you if you think she is not going to make a big deal be careful how aggressive you get with her....its sort of a judgment call that only you can make.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Illicit Drug Use Statistics -- 2007

interesting results. I am sure that many people would believe the US would be the number one user for every category. The Philippines being number 1 for amphetamine is for sure true. When I lived there more than 15 years ago meth hit big...in fact I think it may have started there as far as can tell they call it shaboo. It is a huge problem there just like it is growing here.

Conchale Vale!! comments on En Bogotá se pagan los mejores sueldos del país

Perdon por mi espanol. Yo creo este sueldos es por personas en companias multinacional. La majoridad de mis companeros en Bogota recibi mas de 5 mil cada de mes. gerentes 8 mil o mas.

Conchale Vale!! comments on help Divorce

Dan be very careful of the on the 2 year conditional issue. There are many avenues for her to no be sent back all she needs is a good lawyer. Like a restraining order and abuse charge..she stays there are a lot more ways around it. I know a colombian girl in Miami that was only here 3 months and got a good lawyer and never had to go back even on a conditional...as well as getting a whole lot of coin from her ex. Would be interesting and helpful for others on here to see how each of you met, how long you knew each other etc. Not trying to pry but might help those that are contemplating the bring home the bride idea. Good luck. I think the other guy has a different issue as it seems he is married in Colombia. It will be very informative in that situation to see if the prenup holds up I have wondered about how it works in colombia.

Conchale Vale!! comments on (MFE, D) The PBH Voluntary Code of Conduct to Protect Womenfolk and Youth

Man Tequila hope your idea works..I have noticed lately less comments from the females here. And sadly has been replaced by more garbage talk about Colombian women from the guys. It is nice to see the female perspective on things once and awhile and hope it continues. Although as a man sometimes I just can't agree with the other perspective soemtimes jajajaja

Conchale Vale!! comments on Wire Transfers to Colombia

I am wondering if this has to do with the other post regarding not having to pay alimony if you go to Colombia. I have done transfers for business reasons from my accounts on several occasions and have never been asked for any of this nor has the receiver. So something seems to be missing here.

Conchale Vale!! comments on US Government is watching you!

I have never had problems coming back from Colombia in fact the only place I have ever had a problem is entering Canada. At that time you could enter with a birth certificate..I made the mistake of using my passport. I rented a car in Seattle and drove to Vancouver. It was very early in the morning when I got there... Looked at my passport saw all the Colombia, Mexico Jamaica and other stamps and asked a million questions. I also think thye had nothing better to do. Needless to say told me to go in through the major entrance at a different point. When I went back through the US side to go to the other entry point the US guy said get ready they are going to F with U. When i got there as soon as I pulled up they said to go inside..so they were waiting. Brought out the dogs, took apart the whole friggin car..asked a million questions. Actually that is when I thought crap this is a rental car you never know what the last renter did in here. At one point I was thinking I was going to get he mounties giant knuckle us the keester as a welcome to Canada. Luckily I didn't. Actually put part of the car back for me ..not all. And when I asked my way back to the interstate..he was very happy to say we don't have those in Canada...I do believe you mean the provincial highway. The whole thing is hit or miss and if they are bored.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Passport for my Colombian girlfriend

It not really that important what the details are. like every guy you will do what your going to do regardless of others opinions. We all do that. Good luck

Conchale Vale!! comments on Passport for my Colombian girlfriend

I think what everyone is trying to say if she is a pro you are never going to know. Not that you think she is and are going along with it. Actually that is the better deal. Your comment about money better spent than on a sports car or bigger house? how much money are you sending? People here just trying to help you out

Conchale Vale!! comments on LAWYER LOOKING FOR JOB IN BOGOTA

Paolex Her is a link for a job search website in Colombia you will see jobs for lawyers..what they are looking for, pay etc What I say not to demean but hopefully in a constructive way is this. Yes you would I believe to pass like a Colombian bar. Also the law is very different so it would be hard to pass as your learning has not prepared you. As mentioned by someone else in this post there was a gov job in Colombia a while ago ...very high level and they wanted extensive experience. You do not mention if you have passed the US bar and have any actual trial or experience working in a law firm? Any multinational in Colombia will have local legal representation by a proven Colombian lawyer and all US legal needs will then pass to a US legal department IF you specialized in anything like immigration or US export law you might be able to get more of a advisory position in this like in a export company. Working directly in your field will not be easy here is the link http://www.computrabajo.com.co/bt-ofertas.htm

Conchale Vale!! comments on

hmmm in the other 2 posts it is a guy who's paisa left him when she got to the US...also a latino but not Colombian got to love all the bs on here but keep it interesting

Conchale Vale!! comments on K1-Fiancess Visa -- Colombian Women-- Kiss It Goodbye

it really depends what how many friends while in the US and what they tell her.

Conchale Vale!! comments on

jajajaj your right about that....she was like a third cousin to my ex and from the same island. She had nothing to do with the low level family but she did get another one of mx ex's primas out of jail after killin a couple dudes. That was the scariest mofo I ever met sounded like he ate razor blades for lunch. I walked down the sidewalk with him in tondo a huge ghetto and everyone went to the other side of the street. needless to say I didn't fuck around after i got married jajajajaj there was some good times in PI too

Conchale Vale!! comments on

funny but so sad and so true. I know a girl in Venezuela that had a dude buy her a friggin house in Tucacas at the beach and put it in her name after like a month.. It was a nice house and I had a great time there..of course rent free..I felt sorry for the juevon but appreciative at the same time

Conchale Vale!! comments on

Was married to a filipina girl for 13 years so did not have this problem but met a ton of guys as they brought the new bride over that did but i was living with her there 4 years before i got married. The bottom line is this..panthdave is right Never let your guard down. Trust but verify. Every guy has the feeling about the girl he is with none of them think she is a gold digger or visa hunter...otherwise they would run. If the relationship is long distance and you aint there frequently then odds are someone else is. Maybe that just to pass the time maybe it not. The bottom line is in almost everyone of the bad stories ther were clues that were ignored. Just like the guy that marries the hot 20 year old gringa that is just a LITTLE junky ..but he goes to her house sees mom is fata as a cow and so is older sis and does think genetics are going to come into play. Or lives in a dirty house and somehow thats going to change when she is with me. Trust but verify!! especially if you are tying the long distance.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Living long term in Bogota on $40,000 annual

The deal I am working on is not one of those. More like a long term job with a certain salary, insurance and pension. No COLA, No housing or food allowance. No annual trips for the US. But has the potential of long term no just a year or 2 tour. Would be nice to have all that but then it is usually for one year and don't want that. Trips home well that I have so many miles built up I never pay to fly anywhere anymore. Anyway When I lived in the Philippines I never came back once in 6 years. Funny POD how you mention Japan the funniest one that used to just crack me up were those special cantalopes that each were raised one to a vine in a little house. Then they were all boxed up and wrapped and sold for $40 bucks after changing to Yen and that was close to 20 years ago...I wonder what they cost now? That was considered the best gift you could ever bring to a Japanese house.

Conchale Vale!! comments on

Yes tell the story and be honest about like how and where you met, how many times you went to Colombia to see her Does she speak english ..how well, Do you speak spanish etc.

Conchale Vale!! comments on Living long term in Bogota on $40,000 annual

BAQ so about how much does the 80 or 90 percent coverage run...I heard it was a percentage of the car price. But is the cost higher being that you a new and don't have an established Colombian driving record? Say for example a mazda 3 or corolla?

Conchale Vale!! comments on

a good article on ways people are getting b's to dollars http://news.tradingcharts.com/forex/3/6/95832963.html

Conchale Vale!! comments on

I agree with that it has went up. The problem is if you live in Venezuela for more than a few weeks or month how do you continue to have dollars to change in the black market? You can't carry that much actual cash and keep it as you exchange.. You can't withdraw dollars from a bank or atm there out of you account. If you have th right contacts you could wire transfer dollars to a Venezuelans off shore dollar account an let them give you b's in return..but that has a lot of risks unless you really know the person. I have been trying to figure this out myself..how to do this long term. I have a few venezuelan coworkers that got burned on some of these deals so it has risks

Conchale Vale!! comments on JOBS

Here is a link for jobs in Colombia: keep in mind you would need a work visas for any of this and not sure these companies will sponsor you. But will give you a idea of wages as well as requirements. It will be a a eyeopener of how low the pay is for professional jobs. In additioan keep in mind that Colombia does not have any problem with age discrimination. Every year you are over 30 drops your chances of employment over 50 and its pretty much over. Banks are the worst my 32 year old ex was told they were looking for younger people. http://www.computrabajo.com.co/