Novlas

[Pete E]

OK,I have to vent a little,it may seem unlike me.
Spanish novelas are pretty much along the lines of US soap operas.Over dramatized with all manor of sneaky and manipulative people and a sprinkling of victims giving us a lesson in really bad human behavior and communication.You don't have to know much spanish to get the picture.
I would never in a million years got hooked up with an american woman who watches soap operas,but here I am with a latina thats hooked on basically the same thing.Seems we cut them alot of slack here.Is it because they miss their country and it reminds them of home?Is there a lack of good spanish programming?(yes,alot of really juvenile stuff).
If an american woman sat around watching soap operas we would think she was pretty stupid,right?Maybe its like turning the clock back 50 years or so to when it was more accepted here.
Sorry,I can't help being judgemental right now because it seems so STUPID.
Also,my wife hates conflict and  if I ever raise my voice,but here she is seemingly enjoying watching other people do it.
I know,I have a bad attitude right now.It just sort of hit me watching her watch the stuff.
Anybody out there figured out how to deal with this?I usually try to ignore it,but tonight it got to me.Maybe its because I would like the attention the inane program is getting.

Pete

[papa suave]

... in response to Novlas, posted by Pete E on Apr 10, 2003

I guess you could look at it from another standpoint. Women for the most part hate the programs we watch too. Wrestling, football, playboy channel, whatever it may be. You may be being a little too picky in tha tarea. It isn't hurting anything for her to watch the programs as dumb as they may be. If she is watching them 24/7, maybe there is a problem of neglect. If it's just few hours a day, I say let it go.

[Patrick]

... in response to Novlas, posted by Pete E on Apr 10, 2003

I'd suggest learning to live with it.  My wife isn't currently watching any, but she was a Betty La Fea addict.  She also followed one other one a while back.  She seems to like The Golden Girls now, which isn't a soap opera, but it still sucks.

Marriage to anyone is full of compromises.  You should get to do some of the things you want to do, she should get to do some of the things she likes.  Hopefully there's things you both like also that you can do together.  My wife thinks hiting a little while ball all over a golf course (and I do mean ALL OVER) is a stupid idea, but she knows I like it.  I think The Golden Girls is a stupid show, but if she's watching it, I don't try to turn the channel.

How's her English coming along?  One concern if she's watching Spanish language TV all the time is that she won't be learning English as fast as someone who's totally immersed in the language.  If she's working outside the house in a job where she has to speak English all day though, it probably won't be a problem.  Women who watch only Spanish TV, have all Spanish speaking friends, and don't work in a job that requires English can sometimes not make much progress.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Novlas, posted by Patrick on Apr 10, 2003

Patrick,
Thanks for your imput.I guess what bothers me most about her watching these shows is it takes the time period from 9-10pm and usually 10-11pm also.She gets home from work at 8.30 so sometimes when we go to bed I say "we meet again",the humor of which is lost on her.
Since I don't speak much spanish we have always communicated in english.Her english was way ahead of my spanish when we met,plus since she lives here and works here she needs to know english.Her english is coming along pretty well,I guess I would say she is 60-70% or so fluent,just about  good enough for a job that requires english.She works for a latin operated money wiring sevice,Dollex Dollar exchange.Almost all of her customers
transact in spanish,so there is little english learned there.She has studied english constantly since she has been here.Right now we have a private tutor,8-12 hours a month,plus he gives her homework.What she really needs I think is a job where she would have to speak english and she would pick it up real fast.
I had a talk with her the other day.She wants a better job.The job she has now she heard about through a friend.She has also applied for some jobs in the paper.I told her most jobs never hit the paper,so she should think about what job she would like and send out alot of resumes
to possible employers.My daughter in law just helped her put a new resume together and she is sending them out.
My 12 year old step son was almost fluent in english in one year.Now he rarely is lost for a word or a way to say it.They have been here 3 years.

Pete

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Re: Novlas, posted by Pete E on Apr 10, 2003

Sounds like you and your wife have hit that "comfortable" stage of the relationship... The phase where you start to take each other for granted... Settled into the day to day grind that sometimes defines life... It's easy to resent your partner if you don't feel fulfilled in the relationship... If both of you feel this way and you sense it in each other, things could spiral downhill quickly...

Could it be that you resent the novelas because she is more interested in them than in you??? No disrepect intended, but maybe you should explore the possibility... I know the soaps are stupid, but they come as part of the package, no matter where the woman comes from...

Patrick is right in that all relationships are full of compromise... Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet if you want things to work... Try to put some spice in your lives, do something spontaneous...

After all, men are from Mars, and women are from some other freeking galaxy...

[Edge]

... in response to Novlas, posted by Pete E on Apr 10, 2003

Pete - my advice is just go with it.  These novelas, many of which are colombian produced and filmed in Bogota, remind the ladies of being back home.  They are popular in colombia so the ladies get used to watching them there.  When they come here and can also get telemundo they naturally continue to watch them.  

My wife has her favorites and I used to also really like Betty La Fea also as well as Pedro El Escamoso.  She does not watch too many.  I haven't gotten into the current ones she likes.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Novlas, posted by Edge on Apr 10, 2003

Pedro was also a comedy,not the nasty novellas I was reffering to.My wife was reffering to me as Pedro la escomoso ,or just la escomoso,about the time it was showing.I'm not totaly sure the meaning,the dictionary says flake.Its like the joke was on me and I'm not sure what the joke was.
One thing I will say for Betty and Pedro they didn't milk them dry like shows here that stay on untill they totally die,but seemed to end them too soon.

Pete

Pete

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Novlas, posted by Pete E on Apr 10, 2003

Pete

I got hooked on Spanish telenovelas.  They are a great way to improve your Spanish and the women are hot.  I've particularly enjoyed Soñadoras, Amigas y Rivales, and Betty La Fea.  There's not any on right now I'm interested in, but Soñadoras and Betty La Fea are in reruns during the day now.  I'm thinking about getting a Tivo to record them.

They are also picking up our reality television.  I enjoyed their Protagonistas de la Musica where 20 or so hot young latinas and latinos were living together in a singing competition.  Now they have a new one with another group living together trying to land an acting role in, what else, a Spanish telenovela.

As I said, the women are hot.

Steve

[Pete E]

... in response to No help here, posted by DallasSteve2 on Apr 10, 2003

Steve,
I don't put Betty Le Fea in the same catogory.It was a comedy.I liked it even though my spanish is poor.My one thought was no wonder their economy is in the toilet,no work ever happened at the business location of Betty.
Its these awful drama fight sceem argue cry novelas I'm talking about.I think one my wife watches is "La Venganca"or something like that,I think its Mexican.Funny in one scene these guys are talking at this palacial estate.I told my wife "just a typical Mexican family,we don't need to worry about these people swimming the Rio Grand anytime soon."
I think there is  big escapist element in novelas.The people have money and are several shades whiter than the population.I think poor latinas like to look up to what they do not have.But if you watch you can see the money brings no happiness.Just awful human behavior,like daytime US soaps.Sickening actually.
I know,I am very judgemental.Just like wrestling,I think people who watch it can't be too bright.Actually my wife is very intelligent,but she watches this stupid stuff.Even though she is good person she loves action shoot em up adventures.Her and my step son get quickly bored if the action is not constant.
There was a moment last night where I was pretty tired of everything spanish.Anybody ever have that reaction?

Pete

[Pete E]

... in response to No help here, posted by DallasSteve2 on Apr 10, 2003

Steve,
I don't put Betty Le Fea in the same catogory.It was a comedy.I liked it even though my spanish is poor.My one thought was no wonder their economy is in the toilet,no work ever happened at the business location of Betty.
Its these awful drama fight sceem argue cry novelas I'm talking about.I think one my wife watches is "La Venganca"or something like that,I think its Mexican.Funny in one scene these guys are talking at this palacial estate.I told my wife "just a typical Mexican family,we don't need to worry about these people swimming the Rio Grand anytime soon."
I think there is  big escapist element in novelas.The people have money and are several shades whiter than the population.I think poor latinas like to look up to what they do not have.But if you watch you can see the money brings no happiness.Just awful human behavior,like daytime US soaps.Sickening actually.
I know,I am very judgemental.Just like wrestling,I think people who watch it can't be too bright.Actually my wife is very intelligent,but she watches this stupid stuff.Even though she is good person she loves action shoot em up adventures.Her and my step son get quickly bored if the action is not constant.
There was a moment last night where I was pretty tired of everything spanish.Anybody ever have that reaction?

Pete

[Pescador]

... in response to Betty was OK, posted by Pete E on Apr 10, 2003


I understand intermediate spanish and have taken lots of spanish in Costa Rica and Bogota. Costa Rica I ran into more people that spoke english but for the most part I heard and spoke mainly spanish. Naturally I think mostly in english and its natural to want to listen to your native language.  

 For example at times I would watch a cheezy movie in english while in bogota just to hear people speak english or a radio station. At times I felt like I was a fish in a bowl not able to swim around freely while I was adjusting to the language and culture.  

Maybe your esposa likes telenovas but id be willing to bet she does it to keep some part of her culture and just to listen everyday to some spanish speakers. You mentioned you dont know much spanish and you are tired already of spanish and you live in an english speaking world. Imagine if you lived in Colombia 24-7 then you can say you are tired of hearing spanish. What im getting at is your esposa will always think in spanish and her world inside her head will be spanish speaking always. Its something you have to accept even if she becomes fluent in english.
It could be just that she is a woman that likes soaps, but id bet she does it to listen to spanish and make her still feel conected a little to her latin culture.

Tenga una buena dia