Desi1 has left 1405 comments

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Engagement ring

It's not the engagement ring they negotiate but the bride price, the marriage document. Don't get carried away now, D*loup. Diana is absolutely right: el anillo de compromiso has never been more than a priviledge of a very few Colombian women as the "compromiso" is NOT a popular Colombian custom. People don't get engaged, they become "novios" and then they get married. Novios don't wear special rings. There are two groups of woman that get engaged: extremely traditional, extremely religious and often very wealthy women who celebrate their compromiso with the blessings of the parish priest and wear a single gold band as token of their commitment and the women who have been heavily influenced by North American or European customs.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Advice needed, I want to hire somebody, but others member on PBH are against it?

I guess I'll have to agree with Mako on this...as long as you don't call her "manteca" or "canasto"....

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Advice needed, I want to hire somebody, but others member on PBH are against it?

what a complicated life ROTFLMA :)

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Lula criticizes Colombia

Yo no, webbie. Soy absolutista.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on

Desiderio has a nice ring to it:) Congrats, Brians, Mrs. Brians.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Lula criticizes Colombia

Yo no, pero claro, estoy en la casa ya. Peor para ti, tomando en el trabajo.... Y no te diste cuenta que habiamos pasado al punto siguiente?

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Advice needed, I want to hire somebody, but others member on PBH are against it?

What a complicated life you have mako! Every time you need to hire somebody for your company you need to come here to PBH and negotiate it with your internet community first. You have to weigh in what people say, from left to right, friends and enemies.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Lula criticizes Colombia

Y quien estaba hablando de Lula??? Yo no...estaba hablando del uso idiomatico de la expresión "me sorprende" en Español. Tan dificil es aceptar que estes equivocado que talvez otra persona tambien pueda tener la razón? Pobre de tu novia.....

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Time to put Colombia high on the list, Beautiful People

Yes, of course, D*loup. Pine trees, firs, junipers and then some.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Lula criticizes Colombia

Me sorprende que tu no estes al tanto con el uso "creativo, no revisionista" de tu idioma natal, "me sorprende que tu digas eso" no siempre tiene que ver con estar sorprendido, sino que no me gustó lo que dijiste.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Engagement ring

He may not, but I do. flats. I'm just saying that this engagement stuff is a gringo thingie. Your fianceé in Colombia may be expecting a diamond just because you are a gringo and it's important for YOU, not her.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Engagement ring

Slightly on, slightly off: NONE of my Colombian female friends had an engagement ring. I got a small emerald because I said it was customary in MY country to wear an engament ring (a simple one). Has this custom changed and Colombianitas are now as keen on carats as their sisters up north?

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Carlos Vives In Concert in Colombia

If I were in Colombia I would go platinum too, whatever the price. The guy is dreamy and listening to his singing is like a therapy session.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on how can i delete forum?

A suggestion: instead of listening to all these clowns here you could send a pm to any of the mods explaining your reasons to remove the comment and the URL to it.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Lula criticizes Colombia

Now, tasquito, take a step back and breath deep...and read that sentence again. It does NOT say "it means surprised, always, at every situation" I just KNOW my mother-in-law was NOT genuinely surprised when she said "Desi, I'm quite SURPRISED you should say that...."

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Lula criticizes Colombia

There's no need for such a sweeping generalization, Billy. Dolfi is just highlighting the part in Lula's statement that pertains Colombia, not changing the title of the article. And yes, "surprised" is often used as an euphemism for being critical. There's no way of denying that Lula's attitude was critical, whichever way you choose to look at it, he was just putting it in a polite way and diplomatic language. So, you can drop the integrity issue.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Aren't there lovely flowers in Colombia

Greg, I thought it was a little funny as well. Nothing to be upset about.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Aren't there lovely flowers in Colombia

Raay, did you catch a cold in the bowl?

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Aren't there lovely flowers in Colombia

Cattleya trianae, the national flower of Colombia.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Who is your favourite Latino American Music Artist

I like Maná as well:

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Colombians and arroz blanco.

Salt is not added to rice in the States? White rice is very low on natural sodium and if you don't add any salt it does not taste like anything.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Normal Living Costs United States and Colombia ....Tourism Not Included

Huellita, what's the name for the wood that lasts for CENTURIES in Colombia that they use to make furniture with and which is also cheap? I just want to know so I can ask my carpenter to make me some stuff with it. I know mahogany and walnut and guayacan (cedro negro and cedro de Caquetá), of those cedro negro is THE ONLY ONE that resists comején or termites in the long run, perhaps guayacán too, but the cheaper woods ike cedro rosado don't unless treated and now we are not talking about low-cost furniture at all.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Why do people talk poorly about each other?

The thing is that many people still consider internet as an anonymous space where normal rules of courtesy do not apply. Yet behind every keyboard there's a living human being with a face and a name and a history (not sure about UC though) and people get hurt and irritated and offended just the same. I have a rule of thumb for my own behaviour on the forums: I try not to say anything to anybody that I could not say in RL, face to face, person to person.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on

I've been tipping the maid in my inlaw's family for along time now and since she doesn't work for the family any longer I visit her and let cook these great lunches for me (her sancocho, empanadas and tamales are the best that I know) so every time I'm in Cali I spend time with her and her family and let her pamper me:). I also buy groceries for her and when I leave I give her money for a couple of weeks food at least. But I understand it's a totally different setup, I've known her for a great number of years, she helped to take care of my babies when we were still in Cali and she's more like family and a personal friend than an ex-employee to me.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on What Do You Hate About Colombia?

The Colombian society has a feudal structure, overlaced by ultracapitalist neoliberal economy that will only broaden the gulf between the rich and the poor.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Why do people talk poorly about each other?

I despise that papaya rule, it's a product of a petty criminal mentality and one of the reasons why Colombians are often stigmatized internationally.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on What Do You Hate About Colombia?

Byron, I agree with you 100% about the law of papaya. It's thug mentality.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on What Do You Hate About Colombia?

Erikapotatoes, I presume?

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Why do people talk poorly about each other?

Clyde, that was a pretty good comment. On PBH I think most people who talk poorly about each other are in the group three.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on What Do You Hate About Colombia?

My pet peeve about Colombia is that it's too far away. They oughta move it closer.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on translate title of tecnologo in English

Rona I have that degree as well, the first pre-school teaching degree you can take in Colombia that is not full university career and can be studied in some high schools that offer "carreras cortas e intermedias". I was pretty baffled by the name too since it has absolutely NOTHING to do with technology. It takes two years, you need to have a high school diploma to enroll, can often be taken in the evenings and accredits you to teach at pre-school level. It is comparable in length and amount of work with an Associate degree from College or Junior College but is highly specialized and compressed. BTW...I had my degree and curriculum translated from Spanish to English and had no problem whatsoever getting a pre-school teaching position in the States with my puny Colombian 2-year degree.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Funny/Ignore button - and hopefully a little bit more...

While there are some schools with afternoon sessions it still remains to be more like the exception; the morning sessions being, of course, the rule. Or?

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Funny/Ignore button - and hopefully a little bit more...

Robert Jorge, I have no problem with that.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Understanding Colombianas?

LOL

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Funny/Ignore button - and hopefully a little bit more...

No, Billy. He said it in no uncertain terms, that getting an education didn't pay off in Cartagena. That it was better for the poor children of Cartagena to dance on the streets than go to school, since most of the people with high school/university degrees didn't find a job anyway. My choice for the children of Cartagena is to go to school, every morning, with a full stomach. Dancing is optional.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Funny/Ignore button - and hopefully a little bit more...

Yes, I know it was edited from the op and yet it highlighted some very valid points. (tropicalshirt) The questions were valid, it's the response I have trouble with. Billy, mine was just an imaginary scenario: I was truly hoping it would not become real. I'm GLAD Clavo is confirming there is no such scenario in Cartagena. Clavo made me also undesrtand that it was better for children of Cartagena to dance on the streets than go to school. Clavo, the comment about policemen working in pairs was just a dumb joke. You should be able to accept it as such. After all, you like to make fun of everybody else.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Funny/Ignore button - and hopefully a little bit more...

Darloup, Huskie had written a good post that she chose to take down, for whatever reason I can't understand.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Funny/Ignore button - and hopefully a little bit more...

Miguel, I read your comment and didn't touch it, because I wanted to respond to it . Well, it's gone now and I can understand why, too. 1) This CLUELESS person saw the pictures, read the article and went one step ahead, KNOWING VERY WELL that there were no underaged dancers in the troupes you photographed pointing out that AS A PRINCIPLE kids ought to be in their beds at night getting a good night's sleep not dancing or begging or performing any other kind of services to anyone, local, domestic tourist or international visitor at late hours of the night: In this, I agree with ICBF and Darloup. 2) This SPINELESS person has not been moderating this thread until now. You are being very offensive and antagonist and there's no reason for your aggressivity as you are (I HOPE) discussing the point of views, not the CHARACTER or the PERSONALITY of the poster. (See, I can also use capital letters:) 3)This CLUELESS person who got stuck on the age 12 was using that age only as an example and was WELL AWARE that there were no 12-year-olds in those photographs. And last but not least, now I know why they say in Finland that COPS ALWAYS WORK IN PAIRS: one that can read and the other one that can write.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Funny/Ignore button - and hopefully a little bit more...

Huskie why did you edit your original comment? There was a lot of good stuff in it.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Beautiful images of Colombia.

Good!!! Fast thinking, fast fingers....

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Beautiful images of Colombia.

Lisa ...you didn't need to confess!

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on translate title of tecnologo in English

Webmanco is on the right track. However, the title of "tecnologo" is used sometimes in Colombia for a lower level academic degree, equivalent of AA or AS or a a two-year post high school degree.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Beautiful images of Colombia.

CG perhaps it's her own?

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Trip Report to Cali

Thanks Brians. Greg, you need to drop the issue now too. I'll clean up here when I have a chance.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Trip Report to Cali

Greg, drop it now, please. I have a question for you though, does your wife speak English well enough to understand everything written here? Does she speak English well enough to handle all the nunaces, puns, implications, double meanings and culturally framed bantering? If not, she has only your interpretation on what is being said here to go on. Lefty, I throughly enjoyed reading your post and glad I could offer some advice. I used to do exactly the same thing first thing when I arrived in Cali: take the family out to eat on me. I think it's just common courtesy, especially if you enjoy their hospitality. You are just starting out and it is always a good policy to show that you appreciate the effort other people are making for you.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Trip Report to Cali

Lefty, nice post and report.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on from my family to pbh members

My condolences, Douglas, I wasn't aware of your recent loss.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on an article about a Mail Order Bride

Babygirl, that was pretty much what I thought too reading some of the comments above. I don't know where the negative vibe (overweight gringa) comes from, perhaps some posters have had negative experiences in their lives that colour their interpretation of reality. I would also have to disagree with Miguel_Clavo and others who seem to think women basically marry for money or to get a better hand than the one they were dealt to in the first round. That may be the case in a Third World country, that's the type of mentality, but not everywhere. I would have to say that at least in my neighbourhood personality traits, compability, communication and looks are placed before wealth when women marry.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Paid section on PBH?

Brians, I understand your concern about publishing baby pictures. Or any pictures of your family for that matter. The hyenas dig into anything usable published in the internet social forums. I've been victim of their "courtesies" as I'm sure many others also. Greg...I agree with Kat and Brians on this one.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) comments on Paid section on PBH?

Sweet of you guys to turn a perfectly innocent, informative thread into a pissing match. (Greg and OFYM). I have a suggestion for you Peter: can you open a special section for these two guys to carry on? I'd pay not to have to read that stuff.