Martai has left 18 comments

Martai comments on Advice to Gringos

Reply to Mario I just replied to one message that sounded rude to me. I didn't know I had to read all the messages on the website in order to know whom I was allowed to reply to.
I truly apologize for my stupidity. I should have known better than address a 'Rock Star', but you know señor Mario, I didn't know he was soooo important....with two years seniority!!!. It's difficult to guess, you know.
Of course I'm not important in the least, I'm just a dumb Colombian Lady who happens to love her country a lot and thought somebody was insulting it.
Maybe there are things that shouldn't be said because they might be misinterpreted.
No, sorry, I'm not interested in reading Mr. Elmodefoque's posts, thank you. You may find them interesting and maybe funny, but I don't.
I came here to help, but don't worry, you won't see me around here again.
To answer your question, I apologize once more, but I have no idea what shoe leather tastes like since I have never had any to eat. Maybe you can tell me.
Keep enjoying whatever it is you enjoy here. So long.

Martai comments on Fires in Colombia

It's over The fire has been put out, thank God.

Martai comments on Fires in Colombia

It's over The fire has been put out, thank God.

Martai comments on Going to Bogota in September

Don't be nervous I can understand why you're so nervous.. I would be too..hehehe

If you boyfriend's family offered their home for you to stay, it means they are the typical hospitable Colombian people. Just be yourself. Good manners are very important in Colombia, for example at the table when eating. I'd be very careful with that. Always say 'thank you' and 'por favor'.
If your boyfriend's family has a 'gorgeous' house, they'll have at least one maid, maybe more. Be very polite with them.

Don't pretend to be what you aren't. You need them to like you for who you are. Try to enjoy your stay without feeling too nervous, it will show on your face.

Probably when they meet you they will give you a hug and a kiss. Most Colombian people are very warm. Try to be the same.

You'll make a good impression if you try to eat (and like) Colombian food -which by the way is very delicious- and if you admire the places where they take you. Say something nice about what you see. I'm not telling you to lie. If you don't like something don't say you did.. but if you do, tell them. They'll feel very good about it.

I wouldn't show too much intimacy with my boyfriend in front of his family. Some Colombian people can be very conservative and they might not like it and they'll get a very wrong idea of you. Kissing, or sitting on his lap, things like that, are out of the question with most parents. After a while you'll find out what you can and cannot do in front of them. Ask your boyfriend,.. he'll know.

Try to look pretty, clean and smile a lot. If you do all this, they'll love you.

Martai comments on Traveling to Colombia in august

Manizales I'll try to answer your questions even though I have never traveled to Manizales from abroad.
To start with, Manizales has a small airport. It's not an international airport. You'll go through customs and immigration in Bogotá. Most probably, you'll have to spend the night in Bogotá. Usually, the flights from the US arrive in the evening and going through immigration and lugagge claim will take quite a long time. Eldorado Airport in Bogotá is quite chaotic when these flights arrive, they seem to land all at the same time.
Also, you would have to go to another terminal for domestic flights to take your flight to Manizales. This is quite easy, there are buses that will take you there with no problem, but as far as I know, there's no late flight from Bogotá to Manizales so I doubt you'll be able to get a connection. I'm not familiar with the flights to Manizales.
Your lugagge will not be checked to Manizales because as I said, I'm sure you'll have to spend the night in Bogotá.
All airlines are about the same, just get the one that best fits your budget.
I can't tell you which days are better to fly.. airlines keep changing. Just find out on internet or with a travel agent what the best fares are.
I've seen many people traveling to Colombia with their laptops so I don't think there's any problem. But you better find out if you need to do something like reporting it before leaving the US so you won't have problems with customs.
I hope this will help.

Martai comments on permanent residency

Tell her to go to Colombia I was born in Colombia. I was a permanent resident in the US for 5 years, now I became a US citizen (without losing my Colombian citizenship). All this time, before becoming a citizen, I went to Colombia at least once a year for a month.
As long as your wife doesn't stay out of the US for more than 6 months, she won't have any problem at all. She has all the rights a citizen has, except for the right to vote and have an American passport. Tell her to make sure to take her Greencard with her, of course.
To enter Colombia she'll need, besides her Colombian passport, her Cédula de Ciudadanía. When she leaves Colombia she can get a 'tax exemption' at the airport by showing her Greencard as proof she doesn't live in Colombia. That's all.

Martai comments on Advice to Gringos

Señor Elmodefoque I don't see the reason for your unpleasant comments here. Of course you wear what you want, it's your problem, but don't expect anybody to 'lick your hairy greying old balls', Mr. Elmodefoque.

Colombia may be a 'third world country' as you very wisely state, but we don't kiss anybody's ass... sorry about that.

You can be sure nothing is going to happen to you if you dress the way they do in the 'first world countries'. It doesn't mean it's the nicest way, though. One thing I know, it's not the most elegant one.. butI know that's not important to you.

Nobody is going to insult, kill or beat you for what you wear. They might laugh at you.. but you have such a great personality that you couldn't care less.

Wear whatever you want. Or what's even better.. don't go to Colombia.. Avoid getting in touch with those 'pretentious third country ways'. They don't seem to match your great personality.

Martai comments on Advice to Gringos

Well done That was pretty helpful.. and true too. Customs are different in every country and of course Colombia is not the exception.

One thing I really miss here in the US is shaking hands when you meet someone. When my husband introduces me to one of his friends he or she just looks at me and says 'hi'. I feel kind of neglected.
In Colombia we shake hands and smile.. . and sometimes women kiss each other on the cheek. And then we usually start a very cordial conversation.

So, try to do that when you're introduced to a Colombian person. They expect you to shake hands when you meet them.

If a woman runs into a friend no matter whether it's a male or a female, they will usually kiss on the cheek.. Men never kiss each other but they always shake hands.

As for the way you dress, it depends a lot on where you are. It's all weather related. You'd never wear in Cartagena what you wear in Bogotá.. and viceversa. Medellín, Cali and Pereira, for example, are something in between.

You certainly can wear shorts if you are in Cartagena or any of the other cities and towns on the Coast. But you're expected to dress up depending where you are going. You wouldn't wear shorts to go to a restaurant, for example.

Anyway, these were my two cents.

Martai comments on My first trip to Bogota.

I'm very happy to hear that As a Colombian, I'm very happy you liked my country. You can't believe everything you read. The problem with the American media is they only talk about the bad things. They give people a very wrong idea or what the country is like. You need to go there to really know the country and its people.

There's many more cities and towns. Bogotá is very 'international' so to speak. If you travel to other cities you'll see the real Colombia and you'll love it. By the way, you'll love Cartagena too.

I feel very proud when people speak about my country the way you did. People in the US and in other countries around the world seem to believe all Colombians are drug dealers and guerrillas. Now you know it's not true and I'm glad.

Thanks a lot.

Martai comments on Where To Stay In San Augustin?

San Agustín Be very careful!!!. San Agustín is a beautiful and interesting place but.......... guerrilla groups are around there!!!! That's the type of place where I wouldn't take my 'gringo' husband.

Martai comments on Is it safe to travel to Colombia yet?

Safe Colombia I'm a Colombian married to an American citizen. We travel to Colombia at least once a year, sometimes twice and nothing has ever happened to us. We don't go to places that are supposed to be dangerous.

Cities are very safe. I could swear it's far more dangerous in New York City, Los Angeles, Detroit and Miami than in Bogotá. Only to name a few.

Just an advice.. if I were you, I'd speak Spanish all the time to my children. Nadie tiene derecho a negarle un idioma a un niño.

Go visit your country.. you might be surprised how beautiful it is.. and how safe!!!

Martai comments on three weeks and counting

Visiting Bogotá I already replied to this. Apparently you posted it twice. Look for the other thread and you'll find my answer.

Martai comments on three weeks and counting

Visiting Bogotá I already replied to this. Apparently you posted it twice. Look for the other thread and you'll find my answer.

Martai comments on three week and counting

Visiting Bogotá Bogotá is a beautiful city with lots of history and things to see. You want to see the old Bogotá, called 'La Candelaria'. Narrow streets and very old houses. There are some very cute little -and cheap- restaurants there.
While being in Downtown Bogotá don't miss the 'Plaza de Bolívar' and all that's around it. That's the HEART of the Country. You can also go see the 'Palacio de Nariño', not far from there, that's the President's home. It's beautiful.
You don't want to miss El museo del Oro (Gold Museum)of the Bank of the Republic.It's outstanding. You'll love it.
There are several very old and beautiful churches around there also. Be very careful where you put your wallet when you are in downtown Bogotá. If you have a camera be also careful. Don't let anybody get too close to you. Do not pay any attention to the guys selling you emeralds. They can be very annoying.

If you have time go to "Monserrate". On top of the mountain there's a church and the view of the city is fantastic. You'll love it.
The rest of the city, outside downtown, is pretty modern and the traffic is crazy.
There are some very nice shopping malls if you're interested and the towns around Bogotá are very lovely also.
If you have the time go to Zipaquirá and the 'Salt Cathedral'. It's UNIQUE. There's nothing like that anywhere in the world. It's amazing.
There are also several museums, one of the best is Museo Nacional. They are having some interesting Chinese exhibits right now.

Hope this helps. Have a glorious time in Bogotá. You'll find many good restaurants and for half the price you pay in the US.

Martai comments on American citizen marrying a foreigner

Just trying to help First of all, I don't see how doing things the right way would be a 'dreadful' mistake. You're right, it depends on the couple's situation. I've known Americans who have married in Colombia to a Legal Resident in the US. They didn't have problems, of course.
And as for bein vengeful, well... I've heard so many stories of papers that have been lost for a year or so and finally they show up. It may be a coincidenc but that's something that always has happened to people who have NOT done things the way the USCIS tells them to do them.
I wrote my experience here, It's never a good experience for anyone, it's pretty stressful. But doing things right helps... and helps a lot.
Of course people will end up doing what they think is best for them. Good luck anyway.

Martai comments on American citizen marrying a foreigner

Ok

Martai comments on Well, I did it... I'm Marrying a Colombian Girl

American citizen marrying a foreigner I'm a Colombian lady married to an American citizen for the last 5 years and living in the US. I already got my US citizenship.
The problem of Americans marrying foreigners is NOT only if you want to marry a Colombian citizen. It happens with EVERY person from a every different country in the world.

Before planning our wedding, we did some research and decided that the best and safest thing to do was to apply for a fiancée visa at the Embassy in Bogotá. It took a few months but it was worth it.

I arrived in the US and had no problems. We got married a week after I arrived and right away I applied for the Greencard. Everything goes very smoothly if you don't make mistakes and fill out the forms correctly. The first greencard, the conditional card, was issued to me 6 months after we got married. Two years later I filed for change of status. This time it took longer, sometimes they are very slow.

But let me tell you something..AND THIS IS NO JOKE!!! at the USCIS (former INS) they are "vengeful". And I mean it. If you don't do things they way they say and expect, they suddenly "lose your papers".. or take longer than they should. I've read here about people whose papers have been 'lost' and then 'found'. Don't you think that's very peculiar? They do NOT lose the papers.. They just leave them aside to punish you if you don't do things their way.

So, my advice is, get a fiancée visa and get married INSIDE the United States. Then you can go back to your spouse's country and celebrate or whatever.

I know cases.. several cases of Americans that married foreigners in their country of origin and the Americans ended up living in those countries because they never could bring their spouses into the United States. I know the case of a German lady and another one of a British girl.

So.. do NOT pay attention to what other people say. FOLLOW THE RULES.. and the people at the USCIS will be very happy with you and will not "lose" your papers.

Martai comments on When is a Gringo no longer a Gringo? Is it possible??

Gringo is not derogatory in Colombia I've heard that many Americans get upset when they are called 'gringos'. Some guy once got really angry at me because I tried to explain to him that the word 'gringo' was not a despective word in Colombia. He called me things much worse than that.
I was born in Colombia, I live in the US and am a naturalized citizen. Now my family and friends back in Colombia call me 'la gringuita'. There is nothing wrong with that. It's a word we use normally to call the people born in the US, but it's not offensive in any way. Those, who believe that, are very wrong. I cannot talk about the other Spanish speaking countries, I imagine it's different in every country. But I have talked to many Latin Americans and none of them.. just NONE of them has said it's a derogatory term. And of course only a very dirty and tangled and confused mind would compare it with the 'N' word.

martaif