silviat has left 497 comments

silviat comments on Any colombians in the NW of the US?

Hi everyone There are many colombians in this area, they are just hard to find. The last Friday of every month, a Colombian Night is held at Aztec Willies in Portland (In the corner of NE Broadway and NE 15th). Also, every year a 20th of July celebration takes place in a park. The last two I attended took place in Camas, WA. There was a Colombian restaurant in Renton (or Rendon?), WA. Very close to Seattle. We used to go whenever we visited the Ikea in Seattle but now that we have in Portland I haven't been to the area. Its name was Mexi-cali. There is also a Juan Valdes in the Macy's in downtown seattle. Here in Portland I think the most close to Colombian you can find is Cuban and Peruvian. Pambiche (On NE Glisan and NE 29th) serves delicious food and incredible desserts. Andina in the pearl has good Peruvian but it is pretty pricey, there are a couple unexpensive peruvian restaurants in Gresham, and there is a new Peruvian restaurant in NE Alberta and 25th or so, that I have yet to try.

silviat comments on flying through panama - cheap tickets

Thanks Jorge! Do you know if I would have to get my luggage and check it again when I fly through Panama? I was told that was the case when flying to from Col to the US through Mexico.

silviat comments on New Years Eve in Bucaramanga

Is there a calle 36 con carrera 52? That would be way up there. The one I am talking about (i imagine you haven't been there) is a "puesto de empanadas" that used to open only at nights, right where la carrera 36 and la calle 52 come together, after la presentacion. It was really famous when I lived there, you should check it out (if you eat street food). Well.. I'll stop writing and finish packing... I am so excited to be going :)! Ciao!

silviat comments on Sunrise Beach in San Andres?

Oh that was the subject of other post so I copy it for you http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/husbands-us-passport-will-expire-in-around-4-and-12-months-travelling-to-col-will-that-be-an-issue/ Anyway, it seems there'll be no trouble with that.

silviat comments on New Years Eve in Bucaramanga

Do they still sell the empanadas vallunas in the 36th with 52nd? yummm

silviat comments on Husband's US Passport will expire in around 4 and 1/2 months. Travelling to COL. Will that be an issue?

Ok so last news on this issue. Talked to Delta and they say it's OK as long as his passport is valid for the length of the trip... hopefully they'll think the same down there :) Silvia

silviat comments on Husband's US Passport will expire in around 4 and 1/2 months. Travelling to COL. Will that be an issue?

Our carrier is delta I have to call them but now I am at school so as soon as i get home I will and let you know.

silviat comments on New Years Eve in Bucaramanga

you live in Bucaramanga vicshere?

silviat comments on Husband's US Passport will expire in around 4 and 1/2 months. Travelling to COL. Will that be an issue?

Oh that's awesome vicshere... I wanted to read something like that... something like... I've done it and it was Ok. Thank you thank you

silviat comments on New Years Eve in Bucaramanga

oh well... in that case I think we are at about the same point because I haven't been there for a couple years so my advice will be outdated. The only timeless place that I recommend is Cafe Converso... make sure to take a couple hours to sit there and enjoy the charm... it's tiny tiny but so lovely.

silviat comments on Husband's US Passport will expire in around 4 and 1/2 months. Travelling to COL. Will that be an issue?

Wow so much useful advice. Thank you guys... Ihadn't been to PBH for a long time and I had seriously forgotten what a nice community this is. We'll call the carrier. Since we are flying tomorrow night (5 hours after I give my last final) renewing the passport doesn't seem like an option. But having read from you about the 3 months (at least somewhere it says it... I think I will print it), makes me feel better. We are staying for 3 weeks and he has 4.5 months left... so that is at least something. Thanks thanks thanks for the comments and the time you've taken to reply It's very much appreciated.

silviat comments on New Years Eve in Bucaramanga

Lots of parties and happiness in the streets... not much else. It's fun thought... we are going :)

silviat comments on Husband's US Passport will expire in around 4 and 1/2 months. Travelling to COL. Will that be an issue?

Yeah I know it's the best advice dogman... but we are leaving on wednesday... I just don't think there'll be time.

silviat comments on Fiance Visa - Legal help vs do it yourelf

If you travel a lot, aren't good with paperwork, and can pay the cost of a lawyer, I would advise you to just hire one. My husband hired one for the initial stage of the K1 because he was really busy at the time.

Then when we had to do the paperwork for the adjustment of status stage I did it myself because I had the time and, as other people has mentioned, it isn't rocket science if you follow the steps and consult visajourney.

Good luck

silviat comments on the ask me to wait for two weeks ??

that's super weird Usually when the reason they don't give you the visa is a background check they let you know about it.

Good luck girl. And about the wedding plans for june 20th, I would also make sure that those can be change. If you have hire anything (caterer, minister, music), you should start calling them a let them know there's more than a 50% posibilities that you have to change dates. Also tell that to guests if you have any.

Silvia.

silviat comments on Any colombians in the NW of the US?

Tell your friends If they would live in Portland they would understand what is "lack of colombians."

I think I've met a good percentage of the colombians in town and that is abot 20-25 people. There's no such a thing as colombian supermarket, my best hope is to find some products (similar to colombians but not quite the same) in the latin market. And finally, the closest colombian restaurant is at a 3 hours drive...

Maybe by comparison that will make them feel better ;)

By the way. Colombians in this forum in the portland area that want details about the 20th of july celebration please write your emails. I don't have all of the details yet but I am trying to make a list so I can notify people.

Anyway, I'll be posting the info here.

Silvia

silviat comments on Finally doing AOS Packet

sorry I just saw the message please post your email address and I'll send you our little and archaic checkl ist

hug

Silvia

silviat comments on Thank God, I finally got a Cita, now my question is do I have to buy a round trip ticket

yes with the k-3 you don't need a round trip ticket not even with the k-1

silviat comments on what is proof of wedding preparatiions ???

well, they didn't ask for it But part of our proof of relationship included copies of the invitations to our wedding, a letter from the person who was going to marry us, copy of the invitations to the party we were going to have in colombia (pre-wedding;)). Copies of the receipts of my dress, copies of the letters and emails exchanged with the caterer, etc.

Of course, if you aren't planning a big wedding you won't have any of those. In that case you need to follow the guys' advice and say that you are planning on getting married at the courthouse, or that you haven't make any plans for a big wedding because you don't know when you will receive the visa.

silviat comments on Finally doing AOS Packet

ohhh my message was posted... I thought it was erased!

silviat comments on Finally doing AOS Packet

oh I wrote a message and it erased :( Anyway in abstract it say that CONGRATULATIONS

It reminded you of including the 70 bucks for biometrics (in a separate check). It also said that unfortenately I don't think you can save by sending things together.

And finally it said that if you wanted me to send you my checklist I would be more than glad to do it...

Hugs and congrats again

Silvia

silviat comments on Finally doing AOS Packet

Wow congrats... so many changes! How was the wedding? Congratulations on your pregnancy, those are awesome news!

Remember to include the check for biometrics (I think they cost around 70 dollars).

I don't know if you already filled them or not but if you want to I can send you the checklist I used. We didn't get any RFE's.

Do you have the medical examination or the vaccination supplement?

Those are the things that I can think about...

I send hugs and again... CONGRATULATIONS!

silviat comments on She got it!

Cool! Congratulations!

Now tell her to get ready for the MALDITO driving test... I failed it today :(

But anyway... We'll be cheering her in your name.

silviat comments on Finally got the AOS approval email yesterday

Congrats motu We are very happy for you and Monika :)

silviat comments on AOS Interview - No sweat

I said I felt it coming not that it had already arrived ;)

Hugs

S

silviat comments on "¿les ha crecido la autoestima al casarse con un americano? ¿se sienten superiores al resto

modefoque no se si vas a encontrar muchas respuestas diferentes a lo que dijeron antes. Que uno no escoge de quien se enamora.

Y es verdad. Yo tuve varios novios colombianos, y uno aleman. Muy queridos todos (excepto por un par de desgraciados) independientemente de su nacionalidad... pero la cosa no funciono punto.

Ahora, con mi gordo todo funciono tanto y tan bien, y nos queriamos tanto que decidimos casarnos... Cuando el me propuso matrimonio yo no queria vivir en Estados Unidos porque y eso era algo que me tenia pensando. Pero despues me di cuenta de que mi lugar en el mundo es al lado del hombre que amo y que yo no queria vivir mi vida sin el, asi que aunque amo a latinoamerica muchisimo pues me fui donde el corazon me llevo. Y espero que algun dia podamos regresar a vivir en el sur donde la vida se disfruta mas...

En fin... volviendo a las colombianas crecidas. Ay gente pendeja en todo pais y en todo tipo de circumstancias... si nos molesta mucho pues ignoremolas y listo. Peor para ellas andar en esa maricada.

Con respecto a como les coquetean a los hombres extranjeros en Colombia... que cosa impresionante no?
Yo le dije a mi esposo: Yo no me voy a joder la vida espantandote viejas... si te quieres ir detras del trasero de una mujer asi de regalada por mi esta bien... llorare y llorare pero la vida sigue y peor perder el tiempo con un hombre pendejo (si se fuera con una mujer regalada el seria el pendejo no yo).

Y finalmente con respecto a las palabras en ingles... a mi tambien aveces se me cruzan los cables un poquito en los dos idiomas. Y no es por estatus (al fin y al cabo que estatus da confundir idiomas?) sino por tonta. Claro que desde que trabajo como interprete ya mi mente se ha aconstumbrado a andar en un idioma o el otro casi al mismo tiempo.


Silvia

silviat comments on AOS Interview - No sweat

I feel it coming on the mail :)

silviat comments on K-3 Visa Approved today

that's so cool congrats! I am happy for you!! urra!

silviat comments on AOS Interview - No sweat

Green card arrived in the mail on monday :) That was fast! :)

Silvia

silviat comments on Any colombians in the NW of the US?

hey guys This is in spanish but it's related to the NW and to Colombia.

If you want to know more on the event please respond here and I'll contact you with the person who is sort of organizing.

And even when the event is organized by a religious organization I don't think it'll be focused on religion but on helping people in Col. (for those of you that like me aren't religious).

Silvia

Apreciada Gloria:

Gracias por tu generosa y rápida respuesta. Nuestra idea es conquistar a los colombianos y colombianas residentes en Usa y Canadá para que desde su sencillez, puedan dar una mano a sus paisanos en Colombia. Muchos de ellos hacen esfuerzos muy grandes y envían dinero a sus familias. Nosotros queremos invitar a los que no tienen que hacerlo, para que nos ayuden a llevar a cabo programas sociales como los que viste en la Pagina web. Estamos invitándolos a donar des un dólar mensual. Lo que cada uno pueda en este compartir de corazones, de sueños y de esperanzas.

Voy a Portland para reunirme con los jesuitas que son los que hacen el recaudo del dinero para los Estados Unidos. La sede es en Portland. Así que podríamos disponer de la noche del 10 de mayo para encontrarlos contigo y algunos de tus amigos colombianos y colombianas y contarles de qué se trata e invitarlos a unirse a la fundación como donantes y también como voluntarios divulgando la fundación en su ciudad y su entorno. Cómo te parece?

Espero tu respuesta.

Hoy hable con Carmen Patricia que está al frente de un evento gigantesco: la participación de la fundación en la fiesta de Asofamilia del Berchmans: más de 5.000 personas se esperan y ella y las demás voluntarias están preparando una presentación de la Fundación que me tiene fascinado! Son como abejas, trabajando con un solo corazón y una sola alma, como decían de los primeros cristianos, buscando que “ninguno pase necesidades entre nosotros”

Que Dios te bendiga



Jorge Eduardo Serrano SJ

Director

silviat comments on AOS Interview - No sweat

Cool Well congratulations guys! Now she is oficially a "Permanent Condional Resident Alien etc etc etc".

I am glad it all worked out so fast for you :)

We received another notice of action notifying us the case was approved and that the green card should be arriving soon, so hopefully the misterious forces of the mail won't make my card get lost.

Besos

Silvia

silviat comments on AOS Interview in Portland... good!

that sucks That someone was making it hard enough for you so you had to change your name... ahhh people!

Be positive divina, there aren't any RFEs on the way... just a good and fast NOA2.

---

JMoon that's lucky... It's probably easier to deal with homesickness if you can go and get a bandejita paisa anytime you want ;). I am familiar with the area because my dad leaves very close by (Clearwater). It's very very pretty.

Ok guys I send hugs (my head hurts for too much sake last night :( )

Silvia

silviat comments on AOS Interview in Portland... good!

wow thats so nice! Congratulations!

That's really good news... funny comment about the birth control... hopefully ours will work because we are so not ready for kids. ;)

Where is that you guys are living? Well while she gets her EAD she could volunteer or soemthing like that... it's a good way to start meeting new people.

Congratulations again! That's a wonderful new!

silviat comments on AOS Interview in Portland... good!

that's sweet jmoon How are you guys doing?

---

thanks for the answer utc... You are really like a visa enciclopedia. :)

---

Motu how is it going? Did your green card arrive yet?

---

Ok guys I will go back to my last essay for my last final of this quarter... on Plan Colombia ;)

silviat comments on Fiancee had K-1 Visa approved today

that's cool congratulations... enjoy what's about to come and get ready for AOS :)

silviat comments on Airlines to Buenos Aires?

Lan and TAca are pretty cheap I don't remember which one it was, but I flew one of those to come back from BA in feb last year. It was pretty cheap and the flight was fine. It was long thought (because you must stop in Lima).

silviat comments on Any colombians in the NW of the US?

Actually bob the list is longer than we thought... they just don't come to pbh.

I just met a couple of colombians last weekend when I went to do my court interpreting exam. Then Seth met on the plane some guy who works in Intel with a colombian software engineer. Then we met other guy who was talking to us about some colombians friends of him.

Etc etc

I send hugs

Silvia

silviat comments on AOS Interview in Portland... good!

thanks for the info utc yeah the guy said the stamp is valid for 2 months so if it takes as long as it took for your wife then we're all set.

So how come some people gets it and others don't?

silviat comments on Advice Urgently !!

Arrowphx I hope things with your fiance's daughter get better. We send our best wishes and good energy.

Silvia (and Seth)

silviat comments on G325A - VERY IMPORTANT GOING TO Medallo Tomorrow

yeah chica I don't think it's a big deal... no worries.

silviat comments on AOS Interview in Portland... good!

yeah I didn't hear about the passport stamping before honestly. Did they take her EAD away?

Anyway you are right... what matters is that green card coming in the mail (and that the paperwork is over for a while!!!!!!).

We must go visit you so we can all celebrate. Maybe we'll do it next week after my finals for this quarter. We were planning on going to the beach but nothing is decided yet and I really want to visit Seattle (and see you guys)

I'll let you know.

thanks for your congratulations divina!

Silvia

silviat comments on AOS Interview - No sweat

Congrats! :)

silviat comments on Recipe for Ajiaco Bogotano

que rico! I am hungry already

silviat comments on Housing & internships in Bucaramanga

I sent you an email including my friends email. I hope you can contact him and that you guys can work something out.

Silvia

silviat comments on Housing & internships in Bucaramanga

there are many "residencias universitarias" (places where students can live and that include the three meals, laundry, etc.) in front of UNAB.

I used to study there and I used to live in Bucaramanga as well.

I know of one residencia that I would personally recommend, but it's closer to UIS than to UNAB (UNAB is not more than 20 minutes from that place). If you are interested please PM me.

Also, I have a good friend who is working on his project right now (electronic engineering) and he speaks good english. I am going to send you both an email so you can have some contact. Maybe he can help you find someone willing to work with you on your project.

silviat comments on Authorization to work at POE in Miami?

yeah in my case I haven't finish my Bachelors degree yet, so Seth got together with my college (before I came), and firgured out all I needed to bring. (oficially translated transcripts in a sealed envelope).

They took around a year of my two years of credits. But they also said that it varies a lot from college to college

Ok queridos I found a green plantain on the supermarket yesterday... and I am going to delight myself (and Seth too) with my pataconcitos with salt.

:)

silviat comments on My colombian wife is going to kill me!

so can you get it in the us? monpi I have the adobo already. I love it... I love its simple but so good flavor.

So can you get achiote in the US?

Yeah that my grandma used to buy in the tienda too... but she always called it "color". All she used to spice food was: "color", "comino", and "adobo". And tomatoes, green onions... oh and sometimes some herbs.

Oh it makes me feel so hungry again.

I better go back to study and to my flavorless version colombian food.

Actually for those of you that have adapted receipes please send them to me.

santapatita at yahoo.com
I already got one for cazuela de mariscos (with the products I can get here in Portland), and one for ajiaco.

Thanks!

silviat comments on Authorization to work at POE in Miami?

that's sweet thanks a lot... you are super sweet and so in love. Tell him that whenever he has a question he should be free to ask... Most of the time I can write soon (At least that I am going crazy between school and work... )

Ok now I'll go back to school and work

I send hugs for the 2 of you:)

ps. I understand that about the weather being irrelevant when you are with your beloved one. I dislike Portlands rain a lot... and I complain about it... but I wouldn't be anywhere else, because the man I love is here.

silviat comments on Authorization to work at POE in Miami?

well that's great if he gets involved with the latin community somehow he may be able to find a volunteer work or internship with one hispanich paper, while he has enough english to go on other areas.

Well I am glad you feel so latin... that will certainly reduce cultural crashes ;).

Thought I don't complain, my very very gringo has done a great job at minimazing those.

Well the other good thing is that he won't have to get used to the weather... that is really really really for some colombians that i've met.

Good luck chica... how exciting everything... I wish you the best smoothest process and that you can reunite very soon :)

silviat comments on My colombian wife is going to kill me!

Does anyone knows what that "color" is?

I think that if I would have it at hand I could try to prepair something a little similar to what she used to cook.

I really miss that food