viajera75 has left 7 comments

viajera75 comments on Search: Apt or Hotel? Which is better?

CARNAVAL Hola, I´m looking for a place to stay during Carnaval in Baranquilla, 2006. If possible I would like to stay with a family. I can pay or I can teach English in exchange for room and board. I am now living in Bucaramanga and I speak Spanish. If you know of any such family that would be interested, please private message me. Thanks!

Hola, Estoy buscando un lugar para quedarme durante el carnaval en Baranquilla, 2006. Si es posible, me gustaria quedarme con una familia. Puedo pagar o puedo enseñar ingles en cambio por el cuarto. Ahora estoy viviendo en Bucaramanga. Soy extranjera pero hablo bien el español. Si conoce una familia que tiene interes, por favor enviarme una mensaje privada. Gracias!

viajera75 comments on Dumb questions about Colombia

I'm sorry those idiots made such a bad impression on Americans. It seems that happens way too often. I hate the fact that when I travel people always ask me a million obscure questions about politics, geography, current events, etc, just to test me and see if they can get me to prove the strereotype that all Americans are dumb. Trust me- most Americans are not idiots, it just so happens that the few who are end up saying a bunch of dumb stuff that everyone remembers and repeats to everyone else. But I cannot even begin to tell you how many European, Australian, Kiwi, Israeli, and sadly, fellow Americans I've met traveling who tell me they've been to South America and when I ask where, they say, "Mexico". Please just remember that there are smart people as well as dumbasses in every country in the world.

viajera75 comments on Tourists Held Near Park Tayrona

Hi gringoinbogota, You said you walked free for days on end in Yosemite? I guess you never heard about all the killings that occurred there. I would NEVER walk around Yosemite alone. In fact, I lived in Los Angeles, California for 25 years and that place is scary. You can't even wear certain colors for fear of getting shot by gangs and I never go out alone after dark. When I was in Jr High School, we had to stop having P.E. outdoors for a week and the school banned all hats, bandannas, and red and blue clothes because of a drive-by shooting right outside of the school. (And it was in a "nice" neighborhood. So do you think every tourist who comes to visit Los Angeles is an idiot knowing of all the dangers there? (I could list about a dozen more incidents I witnessed in L.A., but I don't have all day.) Anyways, I am also wondering why you think that tourists who come to Colombia are stupid, because I notice your handle is Gringo in Bogota...

viajera75 comments on Moving to Cali

Hola Expatriate,
Good advice. I would like to enjoy life in Cali, that's why I only want to work part time. Actually my main reason for wanting to teach English is so I can start getting experience for a killer volunteer job (Peaceboat) I want which requires 18 months of English teaching experience. I can't count the experience from my regular job which is teaching primary school. Anyways, whatever happens, I am looking forward to life in Cali.

viajera75 comments on Moving to Cali

Hi Caslug,

Well, I am hoping to have a 2-year contract at a school in Japan, which will start in August. If I get that job, then I will only have 6 months to stay in Cali before I have to move to Japan. (At the moment I am living in Thailand).

No, I am not Col-American, I am Whitey-white gringa, although I can speak Spanish. I figured if I can't get a work visa then I can just extend my visa for another 90 days after my first tourist visa expires. What do you think?

My main question is just whether or not I should try to find a job online before I go to Cali, or am I better off waiting 'till I get there?

Gracias!

viajera75 comments on Cali impressions

I am hoping to move to Cali for about 6 months to teach English. Carlos, I agree with your comments about violence in the States. I grew up in Los Angeles, California, and I have felt more unsafe there than I've felt in El Salvador, Cambodia, and other so-called "dangerous" places. One time I came back from a trip to Mexico only to find that I could not return to my apartment because the three blocks surrounding it (including the 405 freeway onramp) were closed off with police tape and surrounded by SWAT officers - they were chasing an armed robber (and this was in the San Fernando Valley, not some gang-infested ghetto). Another time I was going to visit my friend at night, and was planning to walk to her house which was about one block away, but she refused to let me come over unless I DROVE there in my car because she was afraid I might get mugged or raped on my five-minute walk over there.
Anyways, I have read some posts by people who seem to think life in the States is just wonderful, but it can actually be quite unsafe, especially in the big cities. I think most cities in the world can be dangerous, you just need to take precautions about going out at night, etc.

viajera75 comments on Open season on Pedestrians

The worst time I ever had crossing the street was in Vietnam. There seem to be no traffic laws there, and crossing is nearly impossible because the traffic comes at you from all directions and never lets up.