well, i bought my ticket

[RJS]

I'm going to be spending 3 weeks there, 2 of which will be with the girl i'm talking to. She's taking me all over the place, including to her to her parents' for xmas. She's promised me lots of salsa dancing and has pretty much told me she'll spend the entire time with me if I want her to. It is going to be a good xmas.

[bundy_138]

Congratulations.  The first and biggest step to the whole process is getting on the plane.  I wish you great sucess in your journey!

Bundy

[markanthony7]

Where are the locations in Colombia you are visiting?

[RJS]

Thanks, Bundy. I hope it works out. On the surface she seems to have everything I want and we continute to speak on a daily basis. I feel like I won the lottery because I don't think anyone can expect a girl this great on their first time down there. Certainly, none of the other girls i've communicated even come clse. Even if it doesn't work out for whatever reason, at the very least, it will be an experience. I'm glad i found this forum and read the success stories because it encouraged me to get my ass on a plane.

Mark, I'm going to peru, not colombia. I will be going all over the place, but I'm still working on my exact in-country itinerary. I'm letting her plan my days and nights since she knows her country a lot better than I do. I'm just picking the hotels and flights. Even that's a pretty big job since we'll be going from town to town. I'm starting off where she lives in Trujillo (3 nights), then going to to Chiclayo (6 nights), then Colan (not sure how long). After that I'm going to fly to Cuzco, visit macchu pichu and maybe the rainforest in Manu. I'm not sure about this part of my trip yet. The most important part for me is the girl, obviously.

Btw, for all you guys that have novias, have you bought a ring yet? I was reading that in south america they exchange silver rings that get replaced by a gold wedding band upon marriage.

[bundy_138]

Yes, I already gave my novia her ring.  I haven't heard of anything speical concerning silver/gold rings.  I bought my novia a platinum and diamond ring, but she wears a platinum band while in Colombia.  Not very wise to show to much bling on the streets.  She can wear the diamond while in the the US, thats our agreement!   

Bundy

[utopiacowboy]

I gave my wife a small engagement ring. Now we both have gold wedding bands with each other's names engraved inside. I don't know if it's the custom but I like it.

[jm21-2]

I thought the girl just switches the engagement ring to the other hand when she gets married? Dunno...

[RJS]

I thought the girl just switches the engagement ring to the other hand when she gets married? Dunno...

I don't know, that's why i'm asking about it. I'm not sure what the custom is and it wouldn't surprise me if it didn't involve a diamond, especially when you consider the state of their economies. I know that the diamond engagement ring is a relatively recent phenomenon, even in north america. It has been fueled by debeers marketing campaigns over a long period of time. It's now ingrained in owe collective psyche. A similar thing has happened in Japan. Not so long ago, almost nobody gave diamond engagement rings, but now they're given in 80% of engagements.