To send (if so, how much ) or not to send ? That is the question.

[clone927]

The Columbiana I have seen 4xs & been talking for a yr & 1/2 now has asked me if I could help her financially. She says doesn't make that much being a pension sales woman. The money she makes is for her rent, groceries & utilities. She has a daughter that graduating from a tech college in Baq on 12/5. She tells me that she has to pay fees to the college for graduation. I guess for the ceremony,diploma,cap & gown. She would also like to have a small party for her daughter. She wants to get herself & her daughters new outfits & shoes to wear her daughter's graduation. I know that $1 USD = about $2000 CPs right now (according to Yahoo Finance. ) What are your thoughts on this ? If I send her money, how much ? 

Thanks,

Frank - Hou, TX

[william3rd]

Same one you are having doubts about?

Ask her how much she needs and see how resonable it is. . .

[utopiacowboy]

Not one red cent!

[fathertime]

Geez I have heard this exact story before, maybe a year or two ago.  I forgot how that one worked out. 

Based solely on what you have said, I would NOT send her any money at all.  Fathertime!

[singlefather no more]

Hey fathertime,

Yeah I think that was Miguel you were thinking about... His lady child was graduating from kindergarten..

How is it going with your lady? I will PM you.

Take care,

singlefather

[Montrealer]

I won't give you advice on whether to send or not to send, but I will tell you what the reasonable costs of what she wants so you know she isn't asking for more than she should.

Graduation and diploma are roughly 400 000  ($200 USD), but of course that can vary by school.  Tell me which school the daughter is graduating from and I might be able to find out since I live here.

The party, which is probably a house party with big speakers and everybody in plastic chairs in front of the house (that's the typical Barranquilla party), will probably run about 400 000 ($200 USD) at most, but the party can probably be done for half if it's kept basic and without alcohol.  Most parties only have two finger foods, 2 beverages, and a cake passed around.  At least most of the basic parties I've been to in Barranquilla.

New outfits and shoes for her and her daughter are a minimum of 150 000 ($75 USD) each if they want to look decent.  Higher you go the better they look.

[clone927]

Montrealer,

Thank you very much for your reply. I found your reply to be very inciteful ( did I spell that right ? Oh, well ). I @ least feel better that your #s & her #s are in the same ball park, so to speak.

Is the graduation & dipolma fee for renting the auditorium ( I assume ) & the diploma ? I don't think my parents paid extra fees for me to graduate. ( I could be wrong. )

I don't know what school her daughter is graduating from, but I can find out & get back to you ( here ). Knowing her, I think you're correct in it being a house party.

Can you explain to me why they ALL need " new outfits & shoes " to me ? Give me some insight on this. I was born & raise in a lower middle class neighborhood here in Houston, TX. When I graduate HS, my parents didn't buy me a " new outfit " a couple weeks before my graduation. I went through my closet & picked out a long sleeve button down shirt, nice, long dress pants & a black pair of dress shoes. Why can't they wear nice clothes that " already have ? "

Thanks,

Frank - Hou, TX

[Jeff S]

Because they're women. Men can wear the same clothes to many occasions. Women can't - at least they don't believe they can.

[el capitan]

Montrealer,

Thank you very much for your reply. I found your reply to be very inciteful ( did I spell that right ? Oh, well ). I @ least feel better that your #s & her #s are in the same ball park, so to speak.

Is the graduation & dipolma fee for renting the auditorium ( I assume ) & the diploma ? I don't think my parents paid extra fees for me to graduate. ( I could be wrong. )

I don't know what school her daughter is graduating from, but I can find out & get back to you ( here ). Knowing her, I think you're correct in it being a house party.

Can you explain to me why they ALL need " new outfits & shoes " to me ? Give me some insight on this. I was born & raise in a lower middle class neighborhood here in Houston, TX. When I graduate HS, my parents didn't buy me a " new outfit " a couple weeks before my graduation. I went through my closet & picked out a long sleeve button down shirt, nice, long dress pants & a black pair of dress shoes. Why can't they wear nice clothes that " already have ? "

Thanks,

Frank - Hou, TX

Frank, it's much the same with "graduating" anything in LAm, as it would be for you to get Baptized, First Communion, Confirmation, etc. if you were Catholic.  All of these are all important occasions in Latin Culture, and are "once in a lifetime" events.  Since they are, it is requisite to put your best foot forward, or as best a foot forward as you can.  I hope this makes sense to you, as thinking like this is pretty common in Latin America.

[clone927]

El Capitan,

I'm glad that I found out about this site. I want to thank you as well as Montrealer for your insights. It has really been very helpful.