A question for the So Cal Guys....

[valleydude]

I have always been curious about this, but finally decided to ask...

So how do you guys handle all the good things here to offer? You know, all those things that some people dream of: DisneyLand, Hollywood, Universal Studios, Rodeo Drive, etc...

My question is basically do/did you guys mention this when getting to know a girl?

I find myself avoiding things in my everyday life, just so I don't give off the wrong impression. For example: When they mention a movie, I'll want to say "Ohhh that was right by my work." or "I saw Tom Hanks on lunch today."
What did you do this weekend? "I went down and checked out the Academy Awards."

I rarely rarely do this, and when I did, I found myself being overly cautious afterward, and trying to explain the reality of things. This s*** would work great if I was trying to get laid and attract the wrong girl, but I'm not and these are things I like to do which are in my life.

Anyone else?

V-Dude

[littlebhuddha]

... in response to A question for the So Cal Guys...., posted by valleydude on Apr 9, 2005

The only selling points I used about San Diego were the weather, the natural beauty and the fact that half the city speaks spanish. I was always quick to point out how incredibly expensive everything was here. This was a pretty good indicator to them that they were expected to work once they learned the language. At first I complained about the traffic and crowds here but after my first visit to Cali I realized that the traffic and crowds in Cali were just as bad. Cali has twice the population in about a third the area. I certainly wouldn't paint California as the Promised Land. I agree with the post below that California has seen its best days. Although last year was the first year in the history of the state that we had more people leave the state than move here. One good 8.5 on the Richter and things will be a whole lot different.

[Seeker]

... in response to A question for the So Cal Guys...., posted by valleydude on Apr 9, 2005

Great question V-Dude. I suppose there is a lot of showing off we could do in Southern California. However, I down play my career, my lifestyle and everything else. I've only been asked once what car I drove in the U.S. by a Colombiana. I told her about my old truck, but didn't mention my new car. However, I still think they have the impression that we are very wealthy. Imagine a Calena visiting you at CaliVIP's mansion or at the property of Colombiansweethearts in Medellin.

I recently was asked by a Paisa what hotel I stayed at in Medellin. I stayed one night at a hotel charging 70,000 CP per night and that's the hotel I mentioned. I failed to mention that I also stayed at the Dann Carlton. Why? I'm trying to avoid gold diggers like the plague. Never the less, I don't know how effective I am. Given the limited opportunities in Colombia, it would be naive to think that part of the attraction to an American is not the increased opportunities and financial stability that comes with living in the United States. Still, I believe you can weed out most of the gold diggers, but realistically your amount of gold will be weighed by most women, American or Colombian alike.

[david hagar]

... in response to A question for the So Cal Guys...., posted by valleydude on Apr 9, 2005

Just tell them you are going to buy a farm and move to the country, with the nearest town being 15 miles from you. see what happens

beattledog

[doombug]

... in response to A question for the So Cal Guys...., posted by valleydude on Apr 9, 2005

The state's passed it's tipping point:  The negatives now outweigh the positives; the "takers" outnumber the "givers."  Need to buy or rent a house, enroll in a school or college, or visit an emergency room?  Get in line behind the cluster of folks who've arrived recently and can't speak a lick of English.      

A new "p.c." catch phrase for the 21st century that'll supplant human rights:  Immigrant Rights.  Citizenship doesn't count for much anymore in California.  I even see simple examples of this at my work.  Just yesterday, a Latina superivisor tweaks the rules enough to allow an obvious illegal immigrant (no state, county, or federal issued I.D.) the right to obtain something that a typical life-long resident of the state wouldn't be permitted under the same rules.  It's not the first time she's done this.  And whistle blowing won't get far in such an illegal-immigrant friendly state as California.

As I'm always acting like a clown at work, she apparently thinks I could care less about such things; that I'm too dimwitted to understand how immoral her action is.

I was in a relatively packed laundromat one day a few years back and caught a television program blaring a football (er, soccer) broadcast from Mexico.  On other occasions, in other places, it might be novellas or "Sabado Gigante" on the screen.  In any case, as I was doing my laundry thing, I was starting to get a little ticked off.  I kept dwelling on the fact that if I were to reach up and switch the channel to any program in English, it would probably provoke my laundry-mates into an anti-gringo rebellion.  "Just Do It!" is Nike's motto; "Just Deal with It!" is California's.  

Why is there an intense cattering to such an ungracious group?  If I were to return to Mexico (I'd lived there briefly before) and hoist a Yankee flag outside my apartment or atop my car antena, wouldn't it be rational for them to think me brazen and disrespectful?  Isn't it rational (and not racist) for a U.S. resident to view their brazen display of loyalty to some other nation as an affront?  

Another example of bash-the-host-gringos:  

A few years ago, a U.S. soldier shoots what he suspects is a rifle-toting illegal border crosser from Mexico.  Apparently, he'd felt that he was about to be fired upon, so he acted "pre-emptively" (using the hip, modern vernacular.)  A local U.S. based talk-radio program picks up the story, and its hispanic host rants about how unjust the soldier's action was, insinuating that the U.S. military was intentionally hunting Mexican illegal aliens.  

I'd heard the story, and recalled some details that the biased host left out.  So, I call into the radio show and calmly remind him--over the air--of a critical fact he'd neglected to mention to the audience he'd been trying to inflame:  The soldier who'd fired his weapon was a Latino himself.

   

[colgre]

... in response to Re: A question for the So Cal Guys...., posted by doombug on Apr 10, 2005

Well said.

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Re: A question for the So Cal Guys...., posted by doombug on Apr 10, 2005

"Why is there an intense cattering (sic?) to such an ungracious group?"

So that US businesses can draw on a large pool of un- and semi-skilled labor without paying high wages.  This enables them to earn very high profits.

For the Republican supporters on the list: For all the bravado talk about protecting US borders from terrorists, the Bush administration has recently increased the border crossing the requirements for Americans and Canadians, we will need to show a passport by 2008 instead of a driver's license or other government issued ID.  But nothing has been done to stem the flow of illegals from Mexico and other places, partly because those business owners making all that profit are diverting some of it to Republican re-election campaigns.

[colgre]

... in response to Re: Re: A question for the So Cal Guys....., posted by Brazilophile on Apr 10, 2005

The democrats deserve 50% of the blame as well as they pander for the Latino vote.

[Seeker]

... in response to Re: A question for the So Cal Guys...., posted by doombug on Apr 10, 2005

I respect your opinion. Let me begin by saying that I think it is hypocritical of Mexico to demand privileges for its illegal immigration of the U.S while they do not provide the same rights for illegal immigrants to their own country, for example from Central America. The U.S. should insist that any beneficial changes in public policy towards illegal immigrants in the U.S., must also be reflected in Mexico's public policy towards illegal immigrants from Central America.

However, as a Mexican-American, and this is how I choose to define myself, I don't think it is disrespectful to wear the logo "I love Mexico" in the United States. Would you feel the same way if you saw me wearing a polo shirt saying "Venice" which my family purchased for me while visiting Italy? I have a bumper sticker on my truck that says "I love Colombia." I think it's no big deal, although I could swear I once was stopped by a police officer precisely because of this bumper sticker. If you felt uncomfortable at the laundromat you mention, you could take your business elsewhere. I think you can isolate yourself to some extent. Of course, it will be difficult for you to insist that your gardener, house cleaner, busboy or janitor be a European American in Southern California.

[larrydarrell]

... in response to A question for the So Cal Guys...., posted by valleydude on Apr 9, 2005

Tell them about the reality:  hordes of aggressive intoxicated homeless people in Santa Monica and Los Angeles; skyrocketing real estate prices; high taxes (top rate of almost 10% applies to income over $45k!);  the worst traffic, by far, in the country.

[JBond]

... in response to A question for the So Cal Guys...., posted by valleydude on Apr 9, 2005

Try never to talk about what goes on here in So. Cal, a lot of Colombians think that everyone in the US are rich and live in big homes. Don’t flash cash around; you are just reinforcing the impression that Americans are rich. Try not to buy them anything besides a meal and a drink, giving them lots of gifts makes the girls think you are loaded and that’s what life will be like with you all the time. Somewhere I read a story about a girl who though the Golden Gate Bridge was really made of gold

I work in the Oil industry and I would say that I was just a regular employee working in a factory making car doors for a living. I live in West Los Angeles near Santa Monica, where small one-bedroom condos start at about $500,000. Protect yourself. Date your next wife a long time before getting marred. I recently had one of my wife’s relatives call that I never met asking for money.

Every an has opinion. I personally think that about 50% of the girls you meet down there are not looking for real love, you’re just a ticket out of there and their problems.

[Jake]

... in response to Re: A question for the So Cal Guys...., posted by JBond on Apr 10, 2005

I so agree with your last comment ........Jake