One More Barranquillera in Londombia

[whitey]

(My hometown of London Ontario is sometimes called Londombia because there are so many Colombians here)
 
 Nazly arrived 3 weeks ago so I've been a little busy and quiet online here, but I thought I'd give everyone an update.
 
 She arrived on a direct flight from Bogota to Toronto at 6:30am in the morning, and my parents came with me to meet her.  Lots of hugs, smiles, and a few tears.  By coincidence and good fortune, my best friend's girlfriend S (from Bogota) was also on the flight, so she and Nazly spent a lot of time in the airport and plane getting to know each other. S has a very good job and flies frequently for business, has good English, and was a big help to Nazly getting through immigration.
 
 Afterwards, we all went to my parent's house (my buddy and girlfriend too) for a nice breakfast, then a few hours later hit the road for London and our new home together.  We had a great weekend together getting to know the city, showing her around the apartment, teaching her how to work the laundry machines, dishwasher, coffee machine, stove ... everything was either new or different from what she's used to.
 
 I had to go back to work on Monday, but some friends of mine from Barranquilla who live here were kind enough to take her under their wing for the day to go shopping, have lunch, and generally hear their perspective on life in London/Canada.  Later in the week, we went to their place for dinner and had a great time (and too many Coronas and glasses of wine - had a headache the next day!).  But, it was great for Nazly to get to know some people from her hometown here.  We also had dinner with my buddy and S, so lot's of opportunities to speak a little Spanish.
 
 Later that week, we had an interview at a government sponsored agency for recent immigrants to assess Nazly's level of English, and to get her enrolled in classes.  After 3.5 hours of testing, we were finally done, chose from one of many school options available, and had her enrolled to start classes the following week.  The classes are Mon-Fri, 9am until 2pm, free, and even bus tickets are paid for.  The school is only 10 minutes by bus from our apartment, so very easy for Nazly to get there.  Turns out there are 3 other Colombianas in her class of 15, so she doesn't lack for company.
 
 We've been spending a ton of time (and money ... hahaha) buying warm clothes ... because of course she has nothing for the climate here.  Lot's of long sleeve shirts, sweaters, turtlenecks, 3 coats, hat, gloves, warm socks, leggings, etc, etc.  She wears the leggings under her pants/jeans every day, even when it's 20 degrees Celcius!
 
 We had a great time this weekend.  On Saturday, we went to a small latino market and bought flour for making empanadas, and a special plant she like to make a kind of tea for menstrual cramps.  Then we went to this awesome new Asian grocery store that has a lot of the fruits and meats she's used to eating, including chicharron, cow heart, cow stomach/intestine (mondongo), etc.  She was in heaven!
 
 Today we spent the afternoon at an apple farm picking apples, taking pictures in the corn maze, going on a hay ride, eating apple pie and strudel.  Then we came home and she made empanadas with the new flour ... I'm stuffed.
 
 Our relationship is going great ... no surprises as we've know each other for almost 4 years now, and I was fortunate enough to have two 6 week vacations living with her in her home in Barranquilla (along with 9 other shorter vacations).  It's great waking up in each other's arms every morning and not having to Skype anymore!  The biggest change is speaking 75% in English instead of 99% in Spanish.
 
 In the next post, I'll pass on some of her observations about London and Canada ...

[Traveler]

Congratulations!  Hope to read your follow ups!  I wonder how she is handling the cold so far. 

[Zon]

superbueno.

you seem like a good Joe.   I am happy for you, and hope it only continues.   Best of luck

[fathertime]

Thanks for the report whitey! 
 
having fellow colombiana's closeby should really be helpful to your wife, so long as they don't start competing with each other in weird ways!
 
Fathertime!

[Kiltboy1]

Congrats Whitey
 
Looks like the dream has come true, except for the Mondongo(No Gracias)
 
KB

[z_k_g]

Congrats Whitey!

I have followed your journey closely.  I think I will be on the 4 year plan also....good to see you complete the first step, getting your sweetie home! 

Good Luck, keep us updated!

Zulu

[Alabamaboy!]

Great news Whitey! I hope things continue to go well for you and your lady. Enjoy!

[Researcher]

    Those of us that have actually gone through this type of process understand how you must feel right now.It's great that she is with you now and I will say congrats.From my experience I would also like to say this is where the "rubber meets the road". Both you and your lady seem nice and level headed so I'm sure you are off to a good start but I'm not going to sugar coat things here.Having a long distance relationship is different than living under the same roof.


     Researcher

[z_k_g]

Both you and your lady seem nice and level headed so I'm sure you are off to a good start but I'm not going to sugar coat things here.Having a long distance relationship is different than living under the same roof.


     Researcher

Amen Brother!

Z

[whitey]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

    Those of us that have actually gone through this type of process understand how you must feel right now.It's great that she is with you now and I will say congrats.From my experience I would also like to say this is where the "rubber meets the road". Both you and your lady seem nice and level headed so I'm sure you are off to a good start but I'm not going to sugar coat things here.Having a long distance relationship is different than living under the same roof.
     Researcher

Yes, much different and much better being under the same roof.  Of course it's only been 3 weeks, but it's really not much different than when I was living with her in Colombia ... just a whole lot quieter and not as much fun ... but more privacy and I'm not sweating all the time ... hahaha.

Nazly was just commenting a few minutes ago that she likes everything she has seen about Canada, except that the people and the culture are a little boring.  Tough to argue with that, especially compared to the coast.  She was also asking me what parties are like here, because there is a lot of talk about Hallowe'en.  I told her Utopia Cowboy's wife's opinion about gringo parties ... that they are more like meetings. 

[beginthebeguin]

Whitey, then if that is the case then all the Barranqilleras should call it "Aburridombia" jajajajajaja

[vikingo]

Whitey, must have been tough, being practically separated for four long years, except for a few occasions. Her getting used to the Canadian culture migt be an obstacle in the long run unless she gets to go home occasionally. Probably a very long and expensive flight.
The best of luck to you, Whitey, I mean it.

[Micky]

WHITEY -
 
I do not know how I missed this !!!!  Following along with you all these years,  wow!!  Finally !!  Could not have happened to a nicer guy.  The very best to you both,  for many years to come.  Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
 
Micky

[pablito]

Whitey, I'm so happy for you both, I bet you both can't wait until the snow starts to fall!  I'm glad she'll be busy, she'd go stir-crazy pretty quick if she had nothing better to do than wait all day for you to get home, especially in her first winter; I doubt she'll be going out too much, alone anyways. 


Make sure to get her some warm boots that have good traction, a woman I used to work with from Tanzania told me about her first winter and experience with snow and ice, and it involved a lot of slipping and falling until she realized she needed new footwear.

[robert angel]

(My hometown of London Ontario is sometimes called Londombia because there are so many Colombians here)

  But, it was great for Nazly to get to know some people from her hometown here.  We also had dinner with my buddy and S, so lot's of opportunities to speak a little Spanish.
 
 Later that week, we had an interview at a government sponsored agency for recent immigrants to assess Nazly's level of English, and to get her enrolled in classes.  After 3.5 hours of testing, we were finally done, chose from one of many school options available, and had her enrolled to start classes the following week.  The classes are Mon-Fri, 9am until 2pm, free, and even bus tickets are paid for.  The school is only 10 minutes by bus from our apartment, so very easy for Nazly to get there.  Turns out there are 3 other Colombianas in her class of 15, so she doesn't lack for company.
 
 We had a great time this weekend.  On Saturday, we went to a small latino market and bought flour for making empanadas, and a special plant she like to make a kind of tea for menstrual cramps.  Then we went to this awesome new Asian grocery store that has a lot of the fruits and meats she's used to eating, including chicharron, cow heart, cow stomach/intestine (mondongo), etc.  She was in heaven!
 
 Today we spent the afternoon at an apple farm picking apples, taking pictures in the corn maze, going on a hay ride, eating apple pie and strudel.  Then we came home and she made empanadas with the new flour ... I'm stuffed.
 
 Our relationship is going great ... no surprises as we've know each other for almost 4 years now, and I was fortunate enough to have two 6 week vacations living with her in her home in Barranquilla (along with 9 other shorter vacations).  It's great waking up in each other's arms every morning and not having to Skype anymore!  The biggest change is speaking 75% in English instead of 99% in Spanish.
 
 In the next post, I'll pass on some of her observations about London and Canada ...

Super glad that all is going great, especially all the above. Sent you an off line a while back--but as I expected, you're wayyy ahead already on the 'lingo' thingo!

[whitey]

Whitey, must have been tough, being practically separated for four long years, except for a few occasions. Her getting used to the Canadian culture migt be an obstacle in the long run unless she gets to go home occasionally. Probably a very long and expensive flight.
The best of luck to you, Whitey, I mean it.

Hey vikingo:

I loved almost every minute of the 4 years, although at times it was a little lonely.  I was fortunate though to have some holidays built up, and was able to make 11 trips during that time.  I was also laid off for a couple 6 week stretches that I spent with her in Barranquilla, which was fantastic.

The toughest part was the last 4 months before she came here, while we were waiting for her visa and I was out of work and didn't know when I would be able to bring her here.  But, as good fortune would have it, I landed a good new job at just the right time, and now we're able to begin our lives together here in Canada.

The flights actually aren't all that bad.  I drive to Detroit, and can fly Spirit from Detroit-Ft Lauderdale-Cartagena for between $450 and $650 return including taxes ... although it's been going up a bit lately.

I will need to get a US visa for Nazly though, for her to fly from Detroit.  The flights from Toronto to Bogota are ridiculous - $1,300!

[whitey]

WHITEY -
 
I do not know how I missed this !!!!  Following along with you all these years,  wow!!  Finally !!  Could not have happened to a nicer guy.  The very best to you both,  for many years to come.  Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
 
Micky

Thanks Micky.  I hope I get to Medellin again some day in the not too distant future - great city.  Would love to meet you and Dora.

[whitey]

Whitey, I'm so happy for you both, I bet you both can't wait until the snow starts to fall!  I'm glad she'll be busy, she'd go stir-crazy pretty quick if she had nothing better to do than wait all day for you to get home, especially in her first winter; I doubt she'll be going out too much, alone anyways. 


Make sure to get her some warm boots that have good traction, a woman I used to work with from Tanzania told me about her first winter and experience with snow and ice, and it involved a lot of slipping and falling until she realized she needed new footwear.

Haha ... thanks Pablito ... warm boots with good traction are definitely on the list.  We've been looking, but will have to pull the trigger in another few weeks!

[whitey]

Super glad that all is going great, especially all the above. Sent you an off line a while back--but as I expected, you're wayyy ahead already on the 'lingo' thingo!

Hey Rob - hopefully you got my email with a few pictures from a couple days ago ...

[whitey]

So, here are a few comments/impressions from Nazly about life in her new city:

- People don't worry about what they are wearing or how they look (messy hair, dirty shoes, sweatpants, don't wear makeup)

- We saw a girl walking downtown in shorts and a t-shirt at night in 8 degrees. Nazly was cold in her leather jacket and gloves, and thought this girl was crazy

- Not very many people are walking in the streets

- There are more cars than people (she was quite amazed to see the huge parking lots and all the cars at the mall)
 
- No one is outside in the neighbourhood gossiping or watching what you are doing

- Everything is very practical: meals (e.g. ready-to-eat salads and meals, coffee machines for making coffee, dishwasher, etc.)

- All the appliances in the kitchens have clocks (oven, microwave, coffee machine) 

- Everyone buys a lot of things here: more stores and supermarkets than in all of Barranquilla

- Lots of disabled people can leave their homes, have a normal life, transportation on buses (with walkers or scooters)

- Everyone has cars, there are hardly any taxis or motos

- Everything is very green with lots of trees (London is known as the Forest City)

- She really loves all the squirrels running around

- She was surprised that we have women bus drivers, and older (50-ish) women working in the grocery stores.  This would not be possible in Barranquilla.

[Micky]

Whitey -
 
All very good observations by Nazly.  The biggest difference,  that I love about here,  is the social intercourse,  just too much of  NA is,  car/garage - to where ever -  return.  Life here,  people in the streets,  the barrios,  big cities,  pueblos - one of the BEST things about SA.
 
Micky

[raycjs]

congratulation to you both, i am happy to see all is going well, remember to have a lot of patience....
 
 
best of luck to the both of you
 
Ray

[vikingo]

Whitey and other Canadians, there is a section in Facebook about colombianos who live in Canada:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4763131596

[chameleon]

Congrats Whitey. How long did it take from the day you got married to get her into the country? How's her english?

[whitey]

Congrats Whitey. How long did it take from the day you got married to get her into the country? How's her english?

Thanks Chameleon.  We were married at the end of July 2010, it took me until mid September to assemble and submit the paperwork, and she was approved in mid July 2011.  Her actual arrival was delayed until late September as I was unemployed for a few months.

Her English is not too bad ... not good enough to work yet, but improving every day.  She took a little English in high school and university, and then she took a one year English course at an institute in Barranquilla. 

Until she arrived here in Canada though, we spoke about 98% of the time in Spanish, so she didn`t have much opportunity to practice.  Now we speak about 80% of the time in English.

Today she had an oral exam at school and was very happy with the result (I received a text message with lots of happy faces).  The teacher graded her as ``master of level 4 and working in level 5``.  I think the program has 8 levels, so she`s doing well.