looks

[chevy]

It is my opinion that a decent looking american woman is less likely to accept the "average" looking joe. Assume he is not overweight, just plain looking in his face.Not handsome.
 Are the latin woman the same way or do they see us, our physical look, differently?

[lswote]

... in response to looks, posted by chevy on Feb 18, 2003

I think they see other qualities beside physical beauty.  My Colombian wife, who is very beautiful, is constantly telling me I am "lindo, lindo, lindo", which roughly translates as "pretty, pretty, pretty".  I am not a good looking man anymore and have no illusions about it, yet she insists I am very pretty.

In my opinion, truly handsome men scare some Colombian women, because the women realize these men will have a lot of temptation from other women and will likely succumb to the temptation.

[Edge]

... in response to Re: looks, posted by lswote on Feb 18, 2003

Hi Iswote - if you type in the word lindo in your translator = pretty.  However, the women generally use the adjective "lindo" when they are talking about a man's good personality, good character - his inner beauty versus the outside physical beauty.  They use other adjectives for the outer appearance - guapo, divino, atractivo, simpatico, chusco.

I could be wrong, but I think your wife is enamored with and is complimenting you with how good a person you are, your personality.

It is good to hear she is complimenting you since you are still in your honeymoon stage.  Just wait awhile until she gets to know you. (o.k. guys - it is just a joke :-))

El Gordito.

[lswote]

... in response to Re: Re: looks, posted by Edge on Feb 19, 2003

She also calls me gordito lindo.  She is the only person I allow to even insinuate I am fat, chunky, chubby or otherwise.  It bugs me everytime the translator program takes her sweet "gordito lindo" and spits out "pretty fat", but she is so endearing about it, I don't have the heart to ask her to stop.

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: looks, posted by lswote on Feb 19, 2003

There is something lost in the translation... My girl always asks me in Ingles if I'm boring!!! Her intention is to ask if I'm bored when we just kick back and relax... I try to explain, but she just doesn't understand the difference between bore, bored and boring... I have to laugh and say, no, me no aburren...

wizard

[Cali vet]

... in response to Funny..., posted by wizard on Feb 19, 2003

"Aburido" doesn't seem to mean boring/bored in the sense of having nothing to do at least in local usage. My impression is that its more towards despondent or at least discontent. However an activity can be "muy aburida" as in unsatisfactory or boring. "Aburidor" too as in "El es muy aburidor" which could also be "canson"/tiresome.

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Funny..., posted by Cali vet on Feb 19, 2003

Trust me, I know she doesn't feel that I am a boring person or that I am discontented in any way... When she asks me if I am boring (in english), she is usually wrapped up on my lap conveying a message that she wants to make sure that I'm not bored... If her intent/concern is whether I'm content or despondent, the message is the same... She just wants to make sure that I'm happy...

It's just one of those communications issues on the context and use of certain words in english... Between her english, which is very good, and my spanish, there are still some speed bumps...

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Re: Funny..., posted by wizard on Feb 19, 2003

I've always found that one confusing since boring is the translation we learn in our Spanish classes but hardly ever seems to be used that way here. Another one is "formal" which almost never seems to be used in the sense of formal occaision but instead to mean affable or pleasant. So many words so little time...

[lswote]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Funny..., posted by Cali vet on Feb 20, 2003

"That's rich" or "How rich". When's the last time you heard that one in English?  For my wife, it's a catchall for everything from great sex to a cute puppy.  I might get a handle on most the translations in a year or two but it will be much longer than that before I figure out how differently the words are actually used in Spanish.

[Cold Warrior]

... in response to Que rico, posted by lswote on Feb 20, 2003

the literal translation is 'How rich'. It translates as - how sweet.

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: looks, posted by lswote on Feb 19, 2003

Ask her to cook healthy stuff for you. When I was in Colombia M. fed me 5 times a day and I lost 10 pounds. When she gets here she plans to "take good care of my 'qerido' " ..and I'll probably loose 30 more..I don't mind, she loves to cook and the food she prepares is really good.

[lswote]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: looks, posted by Michael B on Feb 19, 2003

I lose weight everytime I go to Colombia, even though we often eat 6 times a day.  I am very much looking forward to her help with food when she gets here so I am no longer gordito, even if she says I am a lindo one.

[Kit]

... in response to Re: Re: looks, posted by Edge on Feb 19, 2003

Actually I think you are right. Lindo, divino and rico are to express general pleasure and contentment. Kinda like great, nice, groovy.

[Pete E]

... in response to looks, posted by chevy on Feb 18, 2003

I think there are 2 ways in which we are viewed differently
by a Colombiana,may not apply to all latinas,particularly those living in the US.
First,in Colombia a good man is hard to come by.By good I mean willing to be faithfull and also able to provide for his wife.A Colombiano with a good job is a hot item just like a gringo is.There is a shortage of them.Its different than in the US where its much easier for a man to make a decent income that would support a family.Its harder to come by for a woman.The US woman does not have this problem,there are lots of guys with good incomes and they tend to be much more faithfull than Colombianos.Here just being a good man doesn't get you much.A woman may also want young,tall,good looking and well to do financially.If she is good looking she can pretty much hold out for most of this.The Colombiana is not so spoiled.Most of them would like some of these things but they will settle for a good man who will be faithfull and take care of them.
Secondly,age is viewed differently in Colombia.For alot of the reasons above an older man is considered a better bet.He is usually more settled down and less likely to stray and usually more able to provide.
Its a different world down there.Much more real in many ways I think,and more in line with traditional roles between men and women.You won't find  " a woman needs a man like a horse needs roller skates " ( a qoute from a US feminist,which one I forgot) attitudes there.
This can vary,woman to woman and how they view a particular guy.Best to take alot of time to check out how you are perceived.And I think you are better off with a woman a little older(25 and up).She is more likely to be realistic.
Its  the reason we go south,being able to do better than here.My opinion why someone is not in a relationship.They can't find what they want and don't want what they can find.In Colombia its much easier to find what you want.

Pete

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Re: looks, posted by Pete E on Feb 18, 2003

[This message has been edited by DallasSteve2]

I think the points that Pete raises are accurate, but I would add one more important point:

In my opinion the percentage of attractive women in the Colombian population is much higher than the percentage of attractive women in the US population for several reasons:

1 - Widespread obesity has not permeated Colombia like it has the US due to differences in diet and lifestyle.  20 years ago maybe 1 out of 10 adult women were obese in the US.  I'd say it's closer to 1 out of 4 now.  And I'm not talking just a few pounds overweight and I'm not just talking about my age group.

2 - Women tend to wear their hair longer in Colombia which is more attractive to me.  US women tend to cut their hair shorter because it is a nuisance and because they want to be viewed as serious employees in the workplace and they think that being overly feminine and young looking detracts from that.

3 - Women tend to dress sexier in Colombia for the same reasons as number 2, and because due to a higher percentage of attractive women in Colombia there is more competition for desirable males.  And the women there need a provider more than they do here in the US because of the economy.

4 - Tatoos are rare in Colombia.  They are very common among young women here in the US.  For me, I don't care how beautiful she is.  If she's got a tatoo I don't want to marry her.

Conclusion, because there are less attractive women per capita in the US we have to present a more desirable product to win the attractive women here in the US.  Conversely, we can win a more attractive mate in Colombia because there is more "supply" there and they need a man more than the women here in the US.  

But if she doesn't really love you she will soon adapt to the new environment here in the US and you will probably loose her.  You must choose carefully.  It's easy to find a beautiful wife in Colombia.

Steve