curramberochris has left 177 comments

curramberochris comments on Los Colombianos no viajan se trastean

I don't knowwhat people carry in somemuch luggage butit isa joke how many bags people take on some avianca flights. They airlines to take them as they can injure the baggage handlers. Why don't people use their brains.

curramberochris comments on How do Colombians make money?

People in Barranquilla take a plank of wood, and when the arroyos starts they charge you for dry passage over the road to the other side.....genius

curramberochris comments on Fast salsa songs

any songs by Joe Cuba, marvin santiago. SALSA VIEJA!!!!!

curramberochris comments on Salarios en colombia

wow, this has gone really off topic!!

curramberochris comments on cargo

servientrega, deprisa. I imagine they all operate in Miami

curramberochris comments on Salarios en colombia

Due to employment laws they will employ national ahead of foreigners.Unless you have a family member high up in society then you will be lucky to make that much money. Unless you find a job in the states and are moved to Colombia There are lots of people here, just as qualified who would work for less than that. That is why salaries are low, not enough jobs and lots of people wanting ot work. Good luck with your hunt for palanca

curramberochris comments on Use of American Dollars in Colombia? Quick!

If someone accepts US dollars then you are probably being ripped off too.

curramberochris comments on

Have you been here together before?? Do you know the city well? Moving is a big step, even visiting doesn´t give you the real experience of living in a place! Make sure you consider everything.

curramberochris comments on

Commercail electricity rates are really hight here. Higher that estrato 6.

curramberochris comments on Is this true?

Well I have said this many times on this site......The big BQ isn´t to everyone´s liking. Compared to other places in Colombia it is a bit of a dump but I enjoy living here.It is after all just a big pueblo. You have to get used to people trying to shit on you any opportunity you give them but that is the same in all of Colombia. It is hot and humid and dirty but it is improving. Due to all of the above, there aren´t many foreigners which suits me just fine. I can´t do more than a weekend in Cartagena! I really love the people too, some of them are assholes but in general they are friendly and up for anything. Find the´place that best suits you.................

curramberochris comments on

I teach at a University in Baranquilla. Basically you can work informally for yourself and in private institutes or more formally in a school or University. Get qualified then knock on some doors. Go and speak to the directors, lots of demand in Barranquilla. Go to places like Berlitz, Centro Colombia Americano and meyer institute. There are other Universities that have institutes but you have to go and speak to them. Most things happen here by knowing people, ask your family if they know people who work in the profession and can give you some contacts. This is the best time of year as the summer holidays have started so hiring for next semester (august) begins. Private institues hire all year round. This is a link to the place I work: http://www.uninorte.edu.co/extensiones/idiomas/ any questions please ask

curramberochris comments on teaching jobs

there are tonnes of posts on here about this subject. If you look thorugh them you will find a lot of useful information. Good luck

curramberochris comments on I am living in Barranquilla, always happy to meet up for dinner or drinks.

It is friggin hot today. I got off the urba playa last night looking like I had run through the jungle in a nylon tracksuit. Lots of flies from the rain too.......I love this time of year! modefoque...get the mail i sent you a while back about your guy john??

curramberochris comments on

Buy it on the street. very easy to activate,cheap and no paperwork.

curramberochris comments on Licores/spirits

Guaro is too similar to Ouzo and Sambuca to be internationally successful. Can it be made with other products to create different flavours?? The Brazilian white rum stuff is a lot nicer and mixes better in my opinion.

curramberochris comments on How is it to live in Barranquilla?

I lived quite well in Bucaramanga and I didn´t earn very much at all. Wasn't there for the money but it can be done if you don't go crqzy. Barranquilla is more expensive, but there is also more demand for English Teachers

curramberochris comments on How is it to live in Barranquilla?

I made the move from Bucaramanga to Barranquilla about 4 years ago. I live here now with my wife. It took me about 4 months to get used to living in quilla after moving from Santander. It is like a different country! The weather, the people, the spanish, the attitudes. All very different....but not necessarily worse. I tell most people, Barranquilla is not for everyone, you have to be a cerain type of person to live here. I have seen a lot of people come here and then leave as they didn't enjoy it (most women). Personally I love the city, it ain't pretty but for the same you can have a higher standard of living here than the other big cities........ You want to work in schools or Universities?

curramberochris comments on Really bad question.... How much is a playstation 2 basic system at San Andresito?

mmmm-----best to go there and ask. All the "locales" usually have similar prices.try and haggle a good deal

curramberochris comments on Now Hiring Native English and French Teachers

Why do these posts never give the name of the Institute? If it is multinational then I presume there is a web page we can look at?

curramberochris comments on

a few language schools in quilla to try.....look in the yellow pages and just ring them up. I always get asked for private classes so there is demand there too, although people aren't that reliable. It is worth trying some of the universities to as they are about to break up for the holidays so you have a couple of months to ring around before the next semester starts. It is 1000 times easier finding jobs in person, face ot face. Knock on doors and speak to the directors. Knowing people here is key

curramberochris comments on

Petrol station business is probably controlled by a few big families in Barranquilla. I can't imagine that 80 million pesos would buy you a petrol station...but i am just guessing. People in B'quilla have very particular tastes (they like what they know). open up a fast food stall, a liquor store or a tienda if you want to make money Come and enjoy the place and see if you can adapt to the lifestlye because living here is very different to staying for a while on holidays. Unless you have some other income, i imagine you will eat throught that cash pretty quickly. Make a budget and stick to it--it is easy to get carried away and spend more that you realise!

curramberochris comments on Ross Kemp On Gangs-Colombia

i nearly spat my breakfast out reading "journalist".........won't pass judgement until i watch it

curramberochris comments on Over B/manga

You see these quite a lot over Barranquilla. You also get some nice views from the airport before the commercial planes take off..........never get used to the noise and they sometimes fly pretty low. Scares the hell out of all the donkies

curramberochris comments on Buying a Colombian SIM card etc.

you can buy them in the street. Cost about 5000 pesos and no paperwork. Just look for the sighns

curramberochris comments on

The post office has a good international phone card. My folks ring me with them all the time and you can ring from landlines or mobiles. Available over the web and each month there is a country that you can ring for free!

curramberochris comments on Is Cali the world numero uno de SALSA in the world

who made that film? That is Taboga on the 21....great place to get pissed up. although they don't allow women to enter unaccompanied.....great music. Salsa Brava

curramberochris comments on Avianca treats barranquilleros like second class citizens

It is hot and humid, there isn't that much to do and the city is in a bit of a state but I like it and I know a lot of Colombians who wouldn't want to move. It is nice to go to Medellin one in a while for the weather and culture and nice surroundings but it ain't Barranquilla. You only really come here if you have a reason such as work or family. There is a place for everyone in Colombia

curramberochris comments on Avianca treats barranquilleros like second class citizens

It is hot and humid, there isn't that much to do and the city is in a bit of a state but I like it and I know a lot of Colombians who wouldn't want to move. It is nice to go to Medellin one in a while for the weather and culture and nice surroundings but it ain't Barranquilla. You only really come here if you have a reason such as work or family. There is a place for everyone in Colombia

curramberochris comments on Avianca treats barranquilleros like second class citizens

Average house in a good area......all depends but on average from what I see in the paper, something decent you are looking at around 200,000,000 plus

curramberochris comments on Colombia from the Caribbean

Panama, Venezuela

curramberochris comments on Avianca treats barranquilleros like second class citizens

Not that humid when you get used to it,lots to do if you like music, dancing, the sea, drinking,art, cinema. I'm from a small island in the Irish sea and waking up here beats the wind and frost and fog. I can't take more than a weekend in Cartagena, too many tourists and compared to Barranquilla, it is really humid. You can feel the difference! A lot of people I know that live here say that they would never live in one of the "big" cities in Colombia as you can't lead the same life style as you can here. Each to their own I suppose.

curramberochris comments on baseball in Barranquilla, NOT like Yankee stadium

I make an effort to get down to the arrieta whenever I can. Never been to a game in the States and didn't understand the rules to start with but it is a cool night out. First game I watched against Cartagena was very boring, finished 1-0 but there was a mass team brawl and the crowd helped out too by throwing loads of beers cuops at the Cartagena players. Well worth the 5.000pesos entrance fee!

curramberochris comments on Hola Cucuta ??!!

Cucuta is pretty much an extension of venezuela. its economy depends more on them that Colombia!

curramberochris comments on Busqueda de apartamentos para arrendar en Barranquilla

it is hard for a foreigner to rent through letting agencies as you need to know people who are prepared to be your guarantor. But having said that, there are loads of places available to rent direct from the owner. That way you don`t have the hassle and paperowrk. They much prefer renting to foreigners than Colombians. Again look in the local paper. There are a few good places to play tennis. I always want to play but not many of my firends play.

curramberochris comments on Paranoia is not an excuse

Ironically there are many more stray dogs here than cats. Big packs of them run around everywhere! Much more of a danger than a few cats!

curramberochris comments on Busqueda de apartamentos para arrendar en Barranquilla

they are a big estate agents here. But be warned you need 2 Colombians with assets to financially back you (fijadores) otherwise they won't look at you. gringo or not. look in the paper. www.elheraldo.com.co

curramberochris comments on Paranoia is not an excuse

The bottom line is that most Colombians hates Cats and love Dogs. They can tell you a million reasons why Cats are dirty and disease ridden but Dogs are the cleanest animal to have ever lived. Oh and it's perfectly fine for their dogs to shit anywhere they please. Usually in front of their own house or apartment!

curramberochris comments on Pros and Cons of Moving to the UK

Well, I ahve been in Colombia 4 years with yearly trips back to the UK. I am getting married here in Barranquilla in 2 weeks and my girlfriend is also expecting. I do miss a lot of things from back home.......but they are more to do with my friends and family. I think as a foreigner you are limited in what you can do in Colombia with regards to jobs. Enterprise and wealth is much more welcome and attainable back home. You can`t knock the Social Welfare system until you come and live in Colombia. After 4 years I still have no idea how to call an ambulance. I will bring up my children in the UK...on the Isle of Man. Schooling here is expensive and I do not want to bring much child up in the estrato based, muchacha dependent society. I can`t see myself leaving Colombia in the near future but I will raise my children on the IOM or in Europe. They can come and learn about the joys of Colombia and Barranquilla but without being exposed to some of the more unpleasant parts of society here.

curramberochris comments on Looking for Apartment Rental Agent in Barranquilla

I have recently used Salomon Sales, also financar are good. look on paginas amarillas for loads more. Also a lot of places appear in the classified section of "el heraldo". There are also lots of old ladies who dedicate their spare time to finding and selling on properties. I have the names of a few if you are interested.

curramberochris comments on Fav Colombian movie

I agree........ Soñar no cuesta nada is great. I haven't seen paraiso travel yet...any good ?

curramberochris comments on

2 things........people in B`quilla love to gossip-it is a small city and a favourite past time is talking shit. My girlfirend meets people regular basis who tell her they saw me with a girl just because the person was vaugely white and tall. People are also very jealous here........they see a friend with someone or something they don't or can't have and they don't think twice about stirring things up. People here can be very two faced.......more than you imagine.

curramberochris comments on Barranquilla Visit

hahahahah......

curramberochris comments on Barranquilla Visit

It is not going ot be invaded any time soon. Calle 88 is about 10 blocks to the north of the barrio bellavista. bellavista is near the zoo. That area is in the north east of the city and is safe (relavtively).........

curramberochris comments on Finding private students if you are teaching English

Why so many people coming to Barranquilla?

curramberochris comments on Finding private students if you are teaching English

Charging 40,000 an hour won't get you many studetns........It doesn't matter if you are an amazing teacher, most people won't `pay that for an english class. The peopel who can pay that sort of money probably are fluent in English already..... Obviously it depends on the city(Botogà pays more than B`quilla) and the type of clients you are targeting but unless you go for exectutives in companies.......40k is a bit steep in my opinion!

curramberochris comments on Yet another new hostel opening in Medellin, Tiger Paw Hostel

Agree Robbi......the majority of people who go to Cartagena either want something "down and dirty" on calle media luna or they are the complete opposite end of the spectrum....staying in las americas or the santa clara. Land is too expensive for a big hostel in the area it is needed.... It's been a while since I went ot SM....but the most popular hostels are full of girls waiting on the steps and old guys pushing drugs. Someone told me they don't even let Colombians in.......is that just a rumour????

curramberochris comments on Want to learn spanish???

When learning the subjunctive.....i used to just use it whenever i possibly fit it into a conversation. Even if it sounded strange I would just try and use it in any situation i could.......repetition is crucial the main thing with the subjunctive is learning the key words that "trigger" it..........just learn these phrases and you'll be fine.

curramberochris comments on Gringo's built much of Barranquilla ??????

Barranquilla has one of the most diverse histories in Colombia.....the influence from Arabs, Germans, Chinese and Jewish Communities can be seen everywhere. But they didn`t individually contribute as much as these 2 guys did!!!

curramberochris comments on Barranquilla to Cartagena Taxi or Bus service??? I hope......

Use the google search to find the previous threads on this topic. It has been mentioned quite a few times before.

curramberochris comments on Metrosexual Men in Colombia

I know what you mean....just something I have never come across before. Maybe the times are a changing, but I have never seen a guy in Liverpool get his nails done! It is kind of ironic.....These big macho costeños with their huge ass trucks and 4 girlfriends.....then stop in for a quick buff and polish!