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jay1234 has written 11 posts

Here in Bogota

First, for the good news. Today, Catherine had her interview at the Embassy, she was approved after three minutes of questions!

I got here on May 1st. We have been really lucky because Catherine´s cousin lives here and both she and her boyfriend have been great hosts.

Highly recommend Monserrat. The view from the cable car is just incredible, and there are some very nice looking restaurants up on the mountain top. Very romantic, but expensive (we did not eat there ...

Immigration...one solution



I posted this in a new thread rather than respond to some of the other threads on the same subject. I did this because I did not want to trivialize the discussion in the other threa ...

Delirium by Laura Restrepo

This link is to a book review in NYT about the translation of Laura Restrepo's book, Delirium:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/books/review/Rafferty.t.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1176659170-pPeRO1VVVzURJ+1ZANqYWA

It seems like a mixed review, I haven't read the book, so I can't pass judgment on it. But I do recall some literary threads a few weeks back, so thought I would share.

By the way, the book is set in the 1980's, in the bad old da ...

Mario Vargas Llosa vs. Gabriel García Márquez: Hot headed Latins?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/06/opinion/06druckerman.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Well, the topic often veers toward this anyways, differences in gringos, latinos relationships, etc. I think there are obviously cultural differences around the world. I am usually suspicious of these types generalizations (sometimes there is a kernel of truth in them, but alot of people end up using generalizations to support dumb, racist, or irrelevant arguments). But, I figured I'd post the article any ...

Extradition of Chiquita Execs to Colombia

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17663719/

I think the "defense" is it was extortion or money to protect private property. Not sure I buy that, but I think it exists because of power vaccuum of national government being able (or willing) to provide security overall. Thoughts? ...

CNN should be ashamed...

I can't believe they are reporting in this way. I am watching Anderson Cooper and they are doing a report on the Cocaine Kingdom. Yes, they are talking about Colombia and "it's number one crop- cocaine." More negative press. Of course, drugs are an issue and I am not one of those who believe that Colombia is not without its flaws. But, man, why the sensationalist reporting? ...

English for everyone

This article caught my eye because of the comments on another post that decried immigrants lack of effort in learning English:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/education/27esl.html

Seems it is not so easy.

Another fascinating fact in the article :
'With immigrants accounting for half of the growth in the nation’s labor force from 1990 and 2000, and expected to make up all of the growth in the two decades to come, “the issue of English proficiency ...

Certificado del Migratorio

Anyone have a recent interview for K-1? I was reading on visa journey about a requirement for Certificado del Migratorio from DAS, which seems to be a recent new requirement. Wondering if anyone has experience with this and if it was asked for at interview. Also interested in the cost and time to receipt (3 days seems to be common wisdom). To be on safe side, I plan on including this at interview. Still, want to raise the issue for more info and to also give a heads up for those who are using ol ...

Good news!!!

Just received my approval for mi reina's 129-f petition!!! Can't explain how happy this is making me. Just figured I'd share this with y'all (damn, I must have been here in Texas long enough so my english has gone to hell). Jaja. Anyway, I am "wicked" happy right now (a Massachusetts-ism). ...

Paramilitary leader shot dead

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/12/28/colombia.paramilitary.ap/index.html

Nothing that shocking here. I think there will be more bodies that turn up as the tribunals investigate further the connection between the government and the paramilitaries. While violence is always a shame, I also think that in some respects this trend could signal a move away from the (more) violent past by finishing up "unfinished business." ...

Nature of crime in Colombia

http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B3EA61606-7247-43ED-822C-E47C861E4AAF%7D&language=EN

Two interesting facts from this article. First, the UN says Colombia has the highest crime rate in the world. Not sure where this is coming from (and I have a deep mistrust of statistics- easily manipulated, often the proponent forgets other variables, the list of ways to give a false picture is too long to go into here).
But the more interesting thing to me is the statement that ...

 


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