About getting flowers/price, etc

[OkieMan]

Hi guys,

I have noticed that many of the agencies advertise how you can send your special lady some roses or other gifts through them.   But, I think the prices seem to be very inflated, and I have never went that route.  But, if I wanted to buy some flowers, whether they were roses or not, what is a good and reasonable Colombian price for such things?  I am talking about me walking around town, seeing some flowers for sale and either giving them to the lady on the spot, or giving them to her later?  I have asked about other gift items in the past, so I won't bother with that now.  I am mainly focusing on flowers/ floral arrangements?  But, I would also like some help in qualifying this and comparing it to say, giving a lady a Mariachi band seranade?  I know that is supposed to be a big deal to them.
Overall, do the ladies really respond to them, or is it a sort of "run of the mill/ ordinary" thing to them?   I am sure there will always be different ladies responding in different ways.  If possible, I would like some examples/stories from some of you.

                                OkieMan

[Looking4Wife]

... in response to About  getting  flowers/price, etc, posted by OkieMan on Apr 23, 2005

Somewhere below you mentioned about stopping and getting a girl flowers "on the spot".

There may be other views on this, but personally I think this is cheesy.  I would try to avoid this in the US and in LA.  I mean you are the kind of guy that thinks ahead, that´s why you are asking questions now.  Unless you´re dating TOO MANY women :-), you can find a flower ahead of time.  Personally, I don´t want the girl to think that she is just an "afterthought"... like maybe her last would-be boyfriend (Latino/Gringo) did :-)

One exception would be if you have an established, relationship with a girl that:

1.  Is already in love with you (so ANY gesture is appreciated),

2.  AND you have gotten flowers multiple times for her before, so she can appreciate what seems to her to be a spontaneous expression of love on your part (whereas it may have really been a lack of planning in the first place :-)

My 2 pesos...

[OkieMan]

... in response to Oh yeah, Okie, one more thing..., posted by Looking4Wife on Apr 26, 2005

Good points.  I was mainly referring to maybe in a setting where we were sightseeing, and I happened to see a vendor or peddler on the street.  I just thought that might lend itself to some type of spontaneous gift.  However, I will admit that I have never done that before.  In the past, I have always gotten them and brought them to her (whoever she is) for some special occasion.

                     OkieMan

[Looking4Wife]

... in response to About  getting  flowers/price, etc, posted by OkieMan on Apr 23, 2005

Okie, from my limited experience, a sincere Latina will appreciate ANY small gesture... just as (I mean even more  than) any sincere AW would.

For example, I used to get girls (AW) multiple flowers (3, 6, 12)... until a girl (AW) that I work with told me that women often will appreciate a single flower more than a bunch.  Especially in the early stages of a relationship, the single flower goes a long way.

I have done the single flower thing with 4 different girls that I really liked, during my brief stint in BAQ.  Each girl appreciated it immensely.  2 girls responded with "what a great detail" (where "detail" is a Latina expression meaning a thoughtful/romantic gesture).

Here in BAQ (LA) they appreciate things we take for granted in the US.  For example, in the US I would NEVER suggest to a girl that our "date" is going to be going to the mall just to walk around and window shop.

To Latinas, EVEN MERELY GOING TO A NICE MALL to walk around can be such an INFREQUENT event, that for you to take them is actually a big deal.  I have taken several girls to the mall and/or to the movies. When I ask them when is the last time they have done something like that, the answer is ALWAYS something indicating a "long time" ago...

Just my 100 pesos...

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: About  getting  flowers/price, etc, posted by Looking4Wife on Apr 26, 2005

That's interesting.  I figured that is what girls do with their time - shop.  Well, I hope that you continue to have a good time in BAQ.  Give all of us a report when you return to the US.

                      OkieMan

[MarkNJ]

... in response to About  getting  flowers/price, etc, posted by OkieMan on Apr 23, 2005

Maybe this is a good time for some of the more experienced men here who either have wives or are very familiar with the customs and traditions of the Colombian/Peruvian or other South American country to explain what some of the differences are so that there is no misinterpretation or confusion on what is expected during this whole "dating/courtship" process.  If it is customary or a tradition to have a seranade before a wedding it might be nice to have something like that occur than to not do it and have some of the other family members be "rubbed the wrong way". "Why is this guy doing this or not doing this?"  On the other hand there might be some other type of "special treatments" that us men have done or were expected to do here in our country that if to be done there would be considered going overboard.   In the past I have been on both the giving and receiving end of presenting some small "tokens of appreciation" or gifts when I have visited and/or been introduced to the families of the latinas I was dating and there has never been a problem.  I am just wondering if there are any known differences or things to watch out for that might come to mind of some the more experienced veterans out here that would prevent us from making one of those "small social mistakes"?

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: About  getting  flowers/price, etc  ..., posted by MarkNJ on Apr 24, 2005

MarkNJ,

You hit the nail on the head!  That is basically what I am trying to learn. There can be customs and traditions on both sides that the other one is not aware of.  However, I would be very hard pressed to think of something that the latina would do or not do that would offend me (other than being dishonest with me).  But, I am asking for these examples with the concept that both parties are sincere and honest.  Frankly, I have not met this calena yet.  I will not assume anything, at this point. But, given the opportunity, I would like to continue to learn about her culture and customs so that if I desire to do something nice for her, it would not be perceived as either cheap or an insult; or on the other extreme, it would not be perceived as a "declaration of love". None of us want to be blindsided!  To me, the flower thing is a simple gesture.  I would also think that it would depend on the setting, and how far into a relationship a couple is.  If I should buy her flowers, I don't want her to jump to the conclusion that I just proposed, and I also don't want her to yawn with boredom either!  I have already gotten several little, inexpensive gifts that I can give to her, if all goes well.  But, the flowers seem to be something that the agencies are pushing; but I am sure the prices they show on their websites  are allowing them to make a healthy profit off the deal. I would rather go to some vendor or flower shop there in Cali, buy them, have her smile, and then see what comes next.  Who knows?  Maybe I will "get lucky"! ha

                                  OkieMan

[jediknight]

... in response to About  getting  flowers/price, etc, posted by OkieMan on Apr 23, 2005

flowers are CHEAP in colombia, i remember in bogota, in modelia, i found a florist and got a dozen of the most beautiful roses for $5, in barranquilla an arrangement with delivery was $20. a serenade should be left for someone very special, meaning a girlfriend or fiancee. don't make the mistake of giving a serenade too soon in a relationship, these are big deals and are done to express love, this is not run of the mill,so choose your woman carefully.

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: About  getting  flowers/price, etc, posted by jediknight on Apr 24, 2005

The first and only time I've ever gotten a mariachi serenade was the night before my wedding. My brother-in-law told me this was a Colombian tradition so we went out and hired a band to come to the house later that night. It was great and my wife and her family loved it.

[jediknight]

... in response to Re: Re: About  getting  flowers/price, e..., posted by utopiacowboy on Apr 24, 2005

[This message has been edited by jediknight]

in colombia, the times that mariachis have been sent to my girlfriend and her family have been for my girlfriends 15th birthday or when a couple celebrate their first birthday together as boyfriend/girlfriend which is what I did, for the grandparents birthdays, a wedding or prelude to that, an anniversary and on a few occasions when a guy has been in the dog house and is asking for forgiveness.

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: About  getting  flowers/pric..., posted by jediknight on Apr 24, 2005

Jediknight,

Your girlfriend is 15?  Wow!  Am I misunderstanding this, or are you a cradle robber? ha  Now my curiousity is really going!

                             OkieMan

[jediknight]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: About  getting  flowers/..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 24, 2005

no, she got her first mariachi at 15, practically all girls that turn 15 get this,our equivalent to the sweet 16, my girlfriend is 28 and the one i gave her was her second mariachi so you can imagine how much it meant to her, not even her ex boyfriend had ever given her one and they were together for a few years.

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: About  getting  flow..., posted by jediknight on Apr 24, 2005

Yo tambien, Jediknight. I asked my wife and she said normally she would have had a mariachi serenade for her quincinera when she turned 15. Unfortunately her grandfather had died and no one was in the mood for a party or mariachi music. So the one I gave her the night before our wedding day was the first one she had ever had in her life. Yes, it does mean a lot to them.

[jediknight]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: About  getting  ..., posted by utopiacowboy on Apr 24, 2005

strange the way things worked out about her grandfathers death and her quincinera but i´m a strong believer in things happening for a reason and the way i see it her first serenade, something so important was postponed to be given by the right man, i´m sure that made it a thousand times more special that her first was from you. good for you cowboy
JK

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: About  getti..., posted by jediknight on Apr 24, 2005

n/t