JChrisusa has left 37 comments

JChrisusa comments on IT guy looking to move to Medellin and get a job.

I was in the same situation as you as I was looking to move to Bogota. I am an experienced IT Manager with CCNA and windows server admin experience however I wasn't able to find anything. I speak spanish (however not perfectly) and the only few offers I had were lower than 50% of my actual salary. I wish you good luck, but I don't believe it is possible to switch from IT in the US to IT in Colombia.

JChrisusa comments on finding translation help!!

You guys are so cynical it is sad to see... Personally I wish you good luck. Not knowing the language is going to be hard but I spent three months in Bogota and learned the language there and it proved easier than I thought. Try to learn as much as possible before you leave, watch movies in spanish, listen to radio, music, try to read children's book. Without the basics, going is almost pointless. I arrived there and I could communicate the basic without too much problem, people were very understanding and I learned everything by myself before leaving. On the internet meeting thing, be careful, but if it doesn't work out, there are 1000's of amazing colombian women all over colombia so just be careful. Good Luck

JChrisusa comments on GRINGO NEEDS JOB IN COLOMBIA HELP

Any exciting jobs ! ! ! well that sounds like a great plan... I'd like a piece of that cake too... I'm looking for an exciting job in Bogota, preferably well paid and not too hard... anybody is know where I can find that? Thanks...

JChrisusa comments on student visa extension

You don't have to go outside the City to renew your student visa, you just have to go to the DAS (on 100th I believe) you can go with the transmillenio and walk east for about 2 km ... You will need paper that prove that you are enrolled in a school and also pay like $75 I think in a bank ... and a passport picture.

JChrisusa comments on IT jobs in Bogota?

Thank you all for your information... although a lot of them are pretty bleak. I am not looking to stay in the same salary range I am in the United-States. I understand that I will suffer a significant salary loss and I am aware of that. I am wondering what are my chances of finding an IT position considering I am not fluent in Spanish. I expect the significant salary loss however is it even possible for a non-fluent person to find a descent job? Thanks

JChrisusa comments on Spanish classes really valid for student visa?

You can get a student visa for studying spanish. I was in Bogota for 3 months on a student visa studying spanish with NuevaLengua in the Universidad de la Sabana. It was expensive, but I thought it was worth it.

JChrisusa comments on MBA in Bogota (information needed)

rhydewiththis, Wastelandlive, rhydewithdis and aztec, Thank you for your comments. I roughly had the same idea but I wanted to make sure I was not mistaken or underestimating the Colombian Universities. I will be going to Bogota for sure to perfect my spanish and studying there was one of my ideas however I don't want to spend two years and get a MBA that will be denigrated by my future employers in the US, Canada or Europe so I will wait and do that in the future in a western country. It looks like if I go to Bogota, I will find a job first and go there to work. Thank you for your help.

JChrisusa comments on

I think taxi's are getting harder to get because the security is getting better in Bogota... Everyone is hailing taxis in the street so no taxis are available for phone service... I used to call everytime but it became so impossible that I started hailing taxis in the street and have never looked back...

JChrisusa comments on Teaching English in Medellin

I don't believe the degree makes the teacher... through my University years, the most "educated" teachers have hardly been my best teachers. I have studied under many Phd professors who were not good at teaching and I have had many professors who were underqualified (BS) to teach in a University and who were excellent. Being a teacher is not just having a Education degree, is a lot of interpersonal skills and knowledge... and that can not be shown on a diploma.

JChrisusa comments on Bogota Fashion

It is hard to pack for Bogota... I just got back this week and honestly it is colder than I expected... have a jacket for the rain since it rains almost everyday, have a jacket for the cold... but during the day you might get some really hot weather so overall pack for warm weather... but don't forget something for the rain and the cold... in short, bring everything you have... lol

JChrisusa comments on How much money to take there?

Thanks a lot everyone, I really appreciate all this information and I am sure I will try to do as much as possible to keep my money safe. I would like to know the amount of money you would budget daily if you stayed in Bogota. How much money should i expect to spend there during my whole trip. Thank you. -Christophe-

JChrisusa comments on Recruiting Christians

"Every man has two countries, and one of them is France" (Benjamin Franklin) "I knew one person that had to wait 8 YEARS to get a phone installed in Provence!" Everyone uses cell phone in France... the cell phone network is much more advanced in France (And in Europe overall) than it is in the US. There is no such thing as years wait for an old phoneline !!! Insulting France, Italy and Spain like that is the reason most European hate Americans. Instead of accepting the culture difference and the economical difference you automatically assume that your system is better and right. I don't have to talk about Virginia Tech to tell you that the American system is not perfect either, but I won't tell you that the US is a third world country because 17% of its population lives below the poverty line, even though for European it is shameful (France 6.2%). 50% voting population in a presidential election??? is that civic duty? (France 75%) Learn to respect other nations.

JChrisusa comments on Recruiting Christians

FRANCE the laughing stock of Europe??? GDP in the world according to the world bank: 6th. Have you heard of the Napoleonic Code??? The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen ??? The French Doctors??? Poetry and Culture ??? Who is France... are you serious? Airbus, TGV, Renault-Nissan, Arianne, Dassault, Nuclear Aircraft carrier ! ! ! anybody say technology? Eiffel Tower; Cathedrales; Versaille; Arc de Triomphe; Le Louvre, palais des papes, Mont St Michel ... I guess we could work on our architecture... "Speaking as somebody with Italian ancestry and who knows the language" Oh my bad then... you must know better, I guess you must be right, France must be the laughing stock of Europe. You might want to tell everyone though: MOST VISITED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD: FRANCE (75,000,000 visitors per year) laughing stock of europe ! ! ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France (educate yourself)

JChrisusa comments on PBH Fantasy Football League

agreed... I'll do it if I can have Thierry Henry in my team... maybe as a wide receiver ?

JChrisusa comments on Recruiting Christians

Well I asked a simple question because I wanted to know how Colombian felt about the rapid religious change in their country and while a few answered the question, One person started personal attacks. I don't think asking people to respect other people's religion is too much to ask. Chelesupercono: I am not impressed at all by your personal attack on the Catholic religion, take your trash somewhere else . "for the love of God save them from the Catholics" !!!! Which is the curse of the Third World" "Any educated person that has read any of the bloodthirsty history of the Catholic church cannot be truly be swayed by all of that absurd pomp and circumstance" "only 15% of all Americans are Catholics!!! and have of that number do not practice that bullshit"

JChrisusa comments on How long will it take to become fluent in Spanish?

"I can't remember a single instance where knowing a French word (like "mot" for example) helped with the Spanish equivalent ("palabra")." ! ! ! Do you even speak French??? Amor = Amour; Unos, dos tres, = un, deux trois ...; lunes, martes, miercoles = lundi, mardi, mercredi ...; calor = chaud; frio = froid; muerte = mort; causa = cause ; ataque = attaque ... They are both Latin language and are very similar. French people can read a Spanish newspaper and understand the gist of it without having ever studied the language. Knowing french helps because the base for the language is the same. The same way if you speak Latin, learning French, Italian and Spanish become easier to learn.

JChrisusa comments on Rugby World Cup 07

After trashing England twice ... Including at Twickenham, France is ready to take the Crown... ALLEZ LES BLEUS ! ! ! Italy ! ! ! lol... some people just like to laugh...

JChrisusa comments on GREATEST THREAT OF KIDNAP - Colombia #4

Afghanistan I could understand but Iran is certainly not a dangerous country for kidnapping. You might be executed for breaking their laws or just being Catholic for that matter but it is their civil system that is messed up. The country itself is pretty safe from Crime, it is just not safe from the government who abuse its power.

JChrisusa comments on Safe Travel for Females

I would recommend you to be careful not because it is Bogota but because you are a 19 yr old girl traveling alone. If you don't speak the language and don't know the custom, be careful. No matter what city you go to, make sure you know your contact well and you trust them, a foreign environment is always dangerous.

JChrisusa comments on How long will it take to become fluent in Spanish?

If you spoke French, you spoke a Latin language. They are very similar and if you pickup up French easily, Spanish will probably be easier. If you were able to learn French in two years of HS and speak well (conversational French) Then I would think that it would take you a couple of months living full-time in Colombia maybe 3 or 4 (taking classes and everything). French and Spanish are very similar languages, (Except I believe French is harder). You can use that to give yourself an idea of how hard and how much time you will need.

JChrisusa comments on How long will it take to become fluent in Spanish?

"Took French for 2 years and it wasn't hard to pickup"? I know a lot of people who try to learn French and after years of full-time lessons still can't speak. Either you're a talented linguist or you're fooling yourself. How many languages do you speak fluently? Do you speak any latin language?

JChrisusa comments on Colombian Men

I promise, confidential information will go to my tomb with me :-)

JChrisusa comments on Colombian Men

Well I'm going to Bogota so I'll see. A couple a girls told me they want to dance with me there so I want to be careful about saying I can dance since I have never been to clubs there. I'm not bad here but I'm just wondering how different it will be down there. I'm sure eventually I'd pick up the difference, but I'm only there for 3 months so I don't know how much I'll be able to dance.

JChrisusa comments on Colombian Men

Definitely GIB, you got to dance it all, but Salsa you can dance with anybody even if you came with someone, however Reggaeton, I wouldn't want my girl to rub against other guys so I don't do it myself. Maybe you're right and women are just trying to prey you away, but I'm not worried, I like to give an opportunity to the girls who came to dance to enjoy themselves too. I don't like being turned down so I don't do it myself. I dance in Orlando FL and I'm afraid Salsa in Colombia is completely different... is it? I heard its a lot of footwork and a lot less turn and its a lot faster? Are the clubs crowded or do you have space to dance?

JChrisusa comments on Colombian Men

I kind of agree with LA_MONA, I don't usually turn down girl because I think it takes a lot of courage for them to ask someone to dance so she must really want to dance. If she saw I was with someone, I would just expect her to want to dance with me because of my style of dancing and not try anything funny ... of course I'm talking about Salsa not Regaetton. I don't dance Regaetton with anybody if I came with someone.

JChrisusa comments on Inside the mind of Colombianas

britz, if its not too personal, I would love to hear a little about how you met him etc... Are you in Colombia now? Is he?

JChrisusa comments on Colombian Men

Too much jealousy is bad... but lets be honest, a little jealousy in her eyes, a little fire when she sees another woman looking at you... that's just beautiful, it shows passion, it shows she cares, it shows she doesn't want to lose you. You can control your actions and not act crazy over it, but emotions are not something you can control. I think a little jealousy in the eyes is sexy and beautiful.

JChrisusa comments on

I personally think this is a temporary drop and a necessary correction. The banks are being a little cautious because of the freezing of assets by BNP Paribas due to increased high-risk mortgage done in the US. From what I see, I believe Colombia is a country with a bright future but a correction in the global economy is always going to affect smaller countries who rely and exterior investment to grow. I believe BNP was just trying to send a message to the US Banks to stop the high-risk mortgage and I think it was necessary, I think the affect will last a couple of month and the economy will pick up in the beginning of '08. But then I'm no Greenspan.

JChrisusa comments on Inside the mind of Colombianas

I know a couple of Colombiana who love colombia but still say that many Colombian men are unfaithful. I hang-out with a lot of South American so I can't really make a statement about Colombian Men, however they do go out a lot looking for girls... even the ones in relationship, cheating doesn't seem to keep them awake at night. But then I also know good faithful latinos, I just know a lot more Latino players than WASP players.

JChrisusa comments on Dating Customs in Colombia

Understand that its not easy to be a galant men today. Between the women who expect the Chivalry and frown everytime you don't hold the door and the women who scream at you because you tried to help her carry something heavy, it is impossible for the younger generation to be chivalrous. It is only a matter of time until you just avoid doing things for women completely because you are sick of getting screamed at for trying to help. I was raised with all those values and I still do it for my mother, sister etc... but not on the street, not anymore, I've received too much grief for trying to help.

JChrisusa comments on Dating Customs in Colombia

LA_MONA please don't take what I say as an insult, I certainly don't mean to offend anybody. French women are really independent and care to be respect as individuals, it seems most latin women really care to be respected and treated as women foremost and I respect that. It doesn't make Latin women dependent, just latin couples more interdependent and I think it only makes for stronger relationships. Interdependence is not a sign of weakness its a sign of faith in the person you are with.

JChrisusa comments on Dating Customs in Colombia

It does matter where you are! In France most women take their independence very seriously and do not want to be cattered to like children. Opening the door, paying for their food, driving etc... are not seen as chivalrous but insulting. French women enjoy the priviledges of feminism but accept the cost of being independent. Unlike American women who want to be independent until its time to pay the bill ... then Chivalry is supposed to pay the bill !

JChrisusa comments on Colombian - American Marriage Success rate?

Woaw, so in conclusion... - Don't get married to a Colombiana... - Don't bring back a Colombiana back to the US... hum...Though message... but that's what I wanted to know. (I know every situation is different, but roughly everyone seems to agree that a foreign marriage is most likely gonna head south after a little while.)

JChrisusa comments on I WANT TO MARRY COLOMBIAN GIRL

What's with the ALL CAPS?

JChrisusa comments on The Tooth Fairy in Colombia

Yep, in France the Tooth Fairy is a Mice... however the rate changes really fast so its hard to keep up. When I was a kid, i remember getting around 10 Francs which is about $1.5 ... but now I know children who receive between 10-20 euros ... ($12-$25)... i'm sure its really different in every household.

JChrisusa comments on

I disagree with what was said to this point, and I strongly object to comparing looking for a wife online to women trafficing ! While I can agree that meeting a bride online is certainly not the best way to meet someone you are supposed to spend the rest of your life with, you have to think that the only reason men are being forced to look for love online is because they can't find it anywhere else. Many of us on this forum are fortunate enough to have been raised in multicultural families or wealthy enough to travel and see those different cultures but what about the people who weren't. What if you were born and raised in the USA and you didn't want to be part of the "Rat Race" what if you wanted a good family, a good wife, children and you weren't able to grab one of the few family girls in this country? And what if you didn't have the money to travel to Colombia, What if you didn't speak a second language and weren't told that Colombia was safe, what would be your choice? Should you accept your fate and marry a spoiled little princess and spend the rest of your life chasing the Johnes for a better car, to pay for ingrateful children that will call the cops on you if you discipline them, a wife that will divorce you once she is bored of her marriage? Create a family that is more a marriage of convenience rather than a lovestory. I don't agree, I wasn't in the latin culture but I love it and I want to marry it. I am lucky to have the mean to travel to colombia, but if I didn't, I would try the mail order bride because I would rather take a shot in the dark of Colombia than keep on dating here forever girls that are not for me. Christophe "its not who you are within, but what you do that defines you"

JChrisusa comments on Help I need to learn salsa here in NYC or New Jersey!!

Hello. I am going to Colombia this year and I was in the same boat. I checked Arthur Murray but that was extremely expensive so i didn't do it. We have in Florida small studios where you meet with a group of people and they teach you salsa. it is $10 per hour (much cheaper than AM) and it is a lot of fun. I have learned a lot in there and I started not even knowing what was salsa. Honestly I would advise you to look online and there must be something comparable to what we have here in orlando. The studio I go to is called Salsa Heat.