I'm going in!

[jb]

"I personally can't think of a better way of ensuring that a relationship is mutally loving than to marry someone that really doesn't need to be married. " Did you mean someone who doesn't need to be married right away? Because last time I checked, not marrying, especially for women, is socially stigmatizing after a certain age...We can choose not to marry, but eventually once we get to a certain age people will wonder what is wrong with us if we have not married...

 I certainly would hope that if a person chooses to get married that it is indeed their choice and a decision they are making for themself and not some outside influence. 

once past the not married stage there may be several years and then a person's perception of a biological clock might tick tocking.
so i guess what i am saying there can always be reasons to marry that most would consider not the best reasons for getting married but a reason none the less. 


For me, I'm beyond the age of when most marry, but at the point of when my biological clock is ticking so to speak.  Or at least my perception ie some fear of if i don't have kids by a certain time how that would affect me or the kids, blah blah blah.  it's good to think things out. yet keeping in mind that often our perception of reality and reality are two different things, yet changing our perception of reality changes our reality.

technically i could have kids for probably over a half century and more.   I wanted to have kids before i was about 40.  now i'm thinking early 40's.  oh well, whenever it happens i'll appreciate it when it does.

[Calipro]

"I personally can't think of a better way of ensuring that a relationship is mutally loving than to marry someone that really doesn't need to be married. " Did you mean someone who doesn't need to be married right away? Because last time I checked, not marrying, especially for women, is socially stigmatizing after a certain age...We can choose not to marry, but eventually once we get to a certain age people will wonder what is wrong with us if we have not married...

Wow.   I'm talking about Colombian women in relation to gringos. I'm 50 and have never dated a colombiana over 30 the vast majority fall in the 19 to 25 age range so for me and most gringos....dating women that feel a need to marry because they feel they are getting over the hill is a non issue.
They usually have more pressing issues like how am I going to pay the rent and or feed my kids. These are the ones I avoid....and so do most Colombianos that have anything going for them. 
The older hot single women with cash aren't any easier to pick up than the super hot younger ones and probably less likely to put up with a gringo that can't put 2 sentences together in Spanish.

[InSanDiego]

Good for you. Some people are interested in marrying, not just dating

[V_Man]

<scratches head>
OK so I'm not on the exact same page as a few of you but that's cool.
No worries mate!

Thanks for all the encouragement guys.

I am starting to realise that maintaining a little focus on one particular woman is as much a challenge as the language issue.
It is going to be really very intersting to see how my Spanish skills go when on the ground. I suspect that the whole trip is going to be worth it just to improve my Spanish.

I don't know if it is Spanish or Colombianas or both but I find myself saying things in Spanish that would be extremely rare to say in English.

One thing that is pissing me off is that work has gone from busy to rediculously busy just when I should be ramping up my Spanish conversatoional skills and also getting organised. Ah well [snip] happens.

I had all my vaccines today. About 7 or more different things at once. Both arms feel like lead.
All up it cost me $500 AUD = US$550 however I'll get some of that back in due course. Bloody rediculous really.
Of course if it means I don't get yellow fever or heapatis then it will be the best money I ever spent.

Some of these women are staying up all night - and I mean literally all night just to talk with me, due to the time zone differences. They say all the right things and these are hot women. Each one of them is very unique in their looks but hot in their own way. So far I am discovering that the more I am myself the more attractive I seem to be. YMMV. It is going to be interesting to find out how much is talk and how much is real once I get there.

I am sure I am doing things all the 'wrong way' but one thing I expect is that it will be an experience to remember.

Right now I am having some fun and games with Avianca. Stupid bloody airline still hasn't sent me my tickets,

VMan.

[saleens7tt]

V man, I didn't catch when you were leaving for colombia, but seeing that you've gotten your shots already, I'm assuming its within a week or 2. I just wanted to wish you a safe trip, njoy the ladies and get back home safe. I'm also trying to get my spanish speaking skills together for my
"maiden voyage" to baranquilla in mar 12'. I have never spoken a word of spanish in all 48 yrs of my "young life" so it has become a challenge since I started learning a month ago. The pronunciation isn't a problem, its trying to remember what spanish word means the same in english. Making sentences is the 2nd biggest obstacle, but I am picking it up, slowly. As calipro said, if you can't put 2 spanish sentences together your gonna have a problem. Well if I went to colombia today i'd be in big trouble...anyhow, njoy your trip and make sure you shoot us a trip report.

[Gato4Astrid]

Right now I am having some fun and games with Avianca. Stupid bloody airline still hasn't sent me my tickets,

VMan.

I received Avianca tickets via online  (E-ticket).

[V_Man]

Hi Saleens. Thanks for the good wishes.

Compared to you I have a lot of Spanish. I don't want to discourage you but unfortunately that is not saying a lot. I'll tell you one thing though - nothing helps you learn faster than wanting to talk with a pretty Latina.

Vman.

[raycjs]

Good luck on your up coming trip....
 
have fun and enjoy your trip
 
best of luck to you
 
Ray

[V_Man]

Hey thanks Ray!
I'll try to keep your advice in mind. I have a mixture of excitement and something like apprehension.
I will remember to keep the fun and enjoyment aspect at the top.

I finally sorted out the mix up with Avianca and now I have those tickets.

Tell me guys did you have a similar problem to me?
Each woman that is serious about meeting me is determined to monopolise my time. 
I understand why. It's all been explained to me by someone that knows me well and also knows how Colombianas think.
I just wonder if I will realise quickly enough if any particular woman is not really serious about a long term future with me and is wasting my time. Of couse this is an impossible question for anyone else to answer. I just wonder how other guys have dealt with it.

[V_Man]

Oh! One more thing guys.
Can I get COP (Pesos) in LA or Houston airports?
If so, then can I guy pesos without USD or Euros?

[benjio]

Oh! One more thing guys.
Can I get COP (Pesos) in LA or Houston airports?
If so, then can I guy pesos without USD or Euros?

Wait until you get to Colombia and withdraw Pesos directly from your account with an ATM. It's much cheaper than any currency exchange house you'll find here in the states.
 
I don't understand your second question.

[fathertime]

Tell me guys did you have a similar problem to me?
Each woman that is serious about meeting me is determined to monopolise my time. 
I understand why. It's all been explained to me by someone that knows me well and also knows how Colombianas think.
I just wonder if I will realise quickly enough if any particular woman is not really serious about a long term future with me and is wasting my time. Of couse this is an impossible question for anyone else to answer. I just wonder how other guys have dealt with it.

Hey V-Man, it doesn't matter if a woman is determined to monopolize your time.  You have control over your time and must call the shots.  If a lady aggressively wants to see you and you don't feel the same, you let her down softly and do it quickly so as to not waste what little time you have. 


When you find a lady you REALLY want to get to know better, then my feeling is you go 'all in' and roll the dice.  You use all your time on her, and if it turns out she was trying to pull a fast one, well that is just how it goes, but many times that is not the case. 


You never have a real chance at developing a strong connection with one particular lady, if you are in constant 'play the field' mode.  Some trips you may not find any one particular lady so 'play the field' mode is appropriate.


 
Good hunting!
Fathertime!   

[Kiltboy1]

I wouldn't let you're lack of Spanish stop you from going down. But it should definitely be a concern and something you should strive to over come.                   

A lack of Spanish will relegate you to  the lower strata women that wake up every morning thinking "I really need to find me a man to take of me and my kids" as opposed to hot single women that are open to the idea of getting married but really don't have to as a matter of necessity.

Most guys are happier with the latter. But There doesn't seem to be a shortage of guys around here that sing the praises of the older ones with children which admitidly can be very apreciative. But it has been my experience that gratitude is one of the least enduring of human emotions.
I personally can't think of a better way of ensuring that a relationship is mutally loving than to marry someone that really doesn't need to be married.

 
CP is correct
 
My wife did not need to get married. She was CFO of PetroEcuador making 10 times the normal salary. She owned her home and car. Her parents had 6 homes they have under rental and a large finca that they sell the produce and 2 grocery stores. My wife lived an upper class life in Ecuador. She gave all that up to come to the USA and live a middle class life with me . We are now married 4 1/2 years and she is the real deal bar none. So, CP is right, better to marry a woman that does not need to get married then a woman that needs the security that marriage might bring
 
KB

[benjio]

 
CP is correct
 
My wife did not need to get married. She was CFO of PetroEcuador making 10 times the normal salary. She owned her home and car. Her parents had 6 homes they have under rental and a large finca that they sell the produce and 2 grocery stores. My wife lived an upper class life in Ecuador. She gave all that up to come to the USA and live a middle class life with me . We are now married 4 1/2 years and she is the real deal bar none. So, CP is right, better to marry a woman that does not need to get married then a woman that needs the security that marriage might bring
 
KB

With that much going for her and her family there....I would have moved to Ecuador.

[Kiltboy1]

With that much going for her and her family there....I would have moved to Ecuador.

I have a 14 year old daughter that I want to be here for and see every day . She starts High School this year. Also, I like the USA a lot and Ecuador is where we will retire as I have land on the coast. If the economy does tank completely, then we can move into her home and not miss a beat , but living in another country is Plan B for us.
 
KB

[benjio]

Definitely understandable with having a child here, and always GREAT to have a plan B.

[V_Man]

There is one that gives me the impression she wants to get married as her career goal. 
There is another who admitted she is not single, but actually in a relationship with a boy 15 years younger than her. There is another that is a r adio technician in areas where FARC are still active. I seem to have enough Spanish to identify these beauties.
 

Vman

[michaelb]

Wait until you get to Colombia and withdraw Pesos directly from your account with an ATM. It's much cheaper than any currency exchange house you'll find here in the states.
 
I don't understand your second question.

I think he mistyped, I think he met "get", as in can he get pesos without having USD or Euros....remember he is coming from Australia, so his cash will be in Australian dollars.......but your advice to wait until he gets to Colombia is still correct. Have a good trip, V_Man

[V_Man]

Yes, exactly Micheal. A typo. Thank you.


I forgot about ATMs. Thank you Ben.
 Do they have the Cirrus and the Maestro networks? My internet research tells me that they have Cirrus and this is the most commonly supported network there. I was just wondering if anyone can verify this.


Perhaps I should get a Plus compatible card as well. Although that one appears to be less common in some parts of Colombia from what I can tell.


I am going to spend a lot of my time in Cali and Bogota so perhaps I'll only have issues when I leave these cities for less urbanised locales. So I guess when I go into rural areas I'll just have to carry big wads of cash in the back pockets of the short shorts on my milky white gringo backside. 

[whitey]

So I guess when I go into rural areas I'll just have to carry big wads of cash in the back pockets of the short shorts on my milky white gringo backside. 

Just paste a few bills to your forehead like I do ... it's amazing how many new friends you'll make that way ...