After 5 years of the search, I've found the

[Aaron]

ONE !!

I can't believe what I'm going through. I've been back from Colombia for over a week.

I was there for two weeks. I couldn't have too many introductions because I was tired of meeting people, but I continued anyway.

On my last intro, I met a girl that swept me off of my feet in more ways than one.

She's a beautiful girl on the inside and outside, and I'm sure that I don't need to look for anyone else. I'm not interested in meeting more women.

Yes, I was very picky, and I don't believe in love at first sight, but after I spent 4 days with my girlfriend, and spending time with her family, I realized that she was the one for me. I've been calling her everyday, and she is very sure about me.

She's not from Cali. She's not a big city person. She's from a smaller city of Colombia. I met her at an agency. I'm very protective about her details, so I wont devulge too much.

She comes from a large family, she's the youngest of 10. I was the first gringo that she met, and she came to our introduction escorted by one of her older brothers. When they met me, they asked me all kinds of questions, and put me to the test.

Then, I told her I was interested in her, and she invited me to visit her family. I stayed with them for 3 days at their houses.

She said I MUST return to visit her in September. I said OF COURSE !!!! We have been talking about marriage, but we don't want to rush into things too quickly. We have a time frame of about a year before we tie the knot.

Last week, I puchased an engagement ring of .5 karrot weight, diamond earrings, and a diamond bracelet, each set in white gold.

I'll be proposing in September.

p.s., Someone who I don't know sent food at Latinbest for me to taste. I was too full to eat it, sorry.  

Aaron

[thundernco]

... in response to After 5 years of the search, I've found ..., posted by Aaron on May 19, 2003

Congratulations & All The Best!

[Aaron]

... in response to Re: After 5 years of the search, I've fo..., posted by thundernco on May 20, 2003

n/t

[Brazilophile]

... in response to After 5 years of the search, I've found ..., posted by Aaron on May 19, 2003

Congratulations Aaron!

It sounds like you really did find a gem, at least to me, by the way she seems to have a good relationship with her family.  I wish you the best of luck getting to know each other better in the coming months.

I am curious about the jewelry you bought for her.  Maybe others can educate me too.  Is it safe for her to wear diamond jewelry where she lives?  Might she or her family become a target for robbery or kidnapping?  This has been discussed on the LWL.  The general consensus was that gifts we give to a novia should not be conspicuously above her general standard of living.  One guy proposed in Colombia with a modest ring and gave her a more impressive ring once she had arrived in the US.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: After 5 years of the search, I've fo..., posted by Brazilophile on May 20, 2003

Basically a person,particulary an unescorted woman,needs to be very carefull where she wears jewelry.I would say wear it only when very sure you will not be around thieves,and thats almost nowhere in Colombia.
My friends wife forgot and walked down to a little market in her neighborhood in Cali wearing her wedding ring.Its a bad neighborhood,starta one or two I think.A guy just ripped it off her finger,hurting her finger in the process.They wouldn't  be averse to cutting off the finger if they had to.Her husband replaced it.She told him make sure it is very loose,I don't want my finger hurt if it happens again.
Jewelry is just dangling out there saying steal me.
My wife has a purse that has a cute little pocket on the side for a cell phone.She went to downtown Cali with it.Somebody took the cell phone without her even seeing them do it.Not smart to advertise anything.

Pete

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: After 5 years of the search, I've fo..., posted by Brazilophile on May 20, 2003

Basically a person,particulary an unescorted woman,needs to be very carefull where she wears jewelry.I would say wear it only when very sure you will not be around thieves,and thats almost nowhere in Colombia.
My friends wife forgot and walked down to a little market in her neighborhood in Cali wearing her wedding ring.Its a bad neighborhood,starta one or two I think.A guy just ripped it off her finger,hurting her finger in the process.They wouldn't  be averse to cutting off the finger if they had to.Her husband replaced it.She told him make sure it is very loose,I don't want my finger hurt if it happens again.
Jewelry is just dangling out there saying steal me.
My wife has a purse that has a cute little pocket on the side for a cell phone.She went to downtown Cali with it.Somebody took the cell phone without her even seeing them do it.Not smart to advertise anything.

Pete

[Pete E]

... in response to Wear jewelry with extreme caution, posted by Pete E on May 20, 2003

A guy I know has been married to a lady fom Peru for many years.
He said in lima drivers wear their watches on the right hand so it will be harder for someone to reach in and grab it.Thieves came up with a trick.They would burn you on the left hand with a cigarete,you automatically grab where burned,then they grab the watch.

Pete

[Aaron]

... in response to Re: After 5 years of the search, I've fo..., posted by Brazilophile on May 20, 2003

Brazil,

Thanks. I never thought about what would happen if she tries to wear the jewerly in her country. I'll let her make the decision. She knows best.

The jewerly is really nice, and the diamonds are of high quality.

I originally thought of buying a single larger stone, but I realized that I could use the additional money to afford to visit her more frequently. Plus, I plan to send her some money each month for her things. So, I opted for a nice sized, but smaller stone for the ring, moderately sized diamond earrings (also of good quality), and a diamond bracelet (also of good quality). I got everything for a nice deal. There is a sale at the jewelry store in the mall near my house, so I was able to walk away paying one thousand for everything. This is way cheaper from what I was thinking about paying originally. You know, some of the cheaper solitar rings start at $1200.00, with diamonds not as high in quality.

When we get married, I'll probably go for diamond wedding bands for the both of us. They're not that expensive.

I'm trying to spend my money wisely. Being able to afford more visits, and sending her some money for her things is more important to me that buying an engagement ring over $1500.00.

Aaron

[lswote]

... in response to Re: After 5 years of the search, I've fo..., posted by Brazilophile on May 20, 2003

I thought I would toss in my wife's experience.  She lived in Bogota in one of the poorer parts of town (none of Bogota is slums, but the people where she lived are relatively poor).  I bought her a 1 carat marquis cut diamond when we got engaged last November and she wore it without problems until she came to the states in March.  I had suggested she turn the diamond in towards her palm when riding the metro and such but I don't know if she did or not.  She also wore a significant amount of beautiful (but for the most part inexpensive) jewelry and she never had any problems.

[wizard]

... in response to Wearing jewelry, posted by lswote on May 20, 2003

[This message has been edited by wizard]

My wife rarely wears expensive jewelry in public... When she does, she turn the stones toward her palm so no one can see... Especially when riding the metro or in a crowd... That is unless I am with her and then she is still careful... When I'm not with her in Bogota, she only wears her wedding band and not the engagement ring...

One difference is that Francy HAS been robbed before, more than once... Once in broad daylight at her work... I think this is what shapes a person's care for not displaying too much in public... If someone thinks you have money, you become a target...

Now about none of Bogota being slums... Hum, I guess you've never been to the southern barrios... Some of them a plenty rough and neither you nor I would want to be on the street alone after dark... Francy lives in barrio Bonanza, while not poor, it's not like being on the north side of town... She is very wary about people in public due to her experiences... Especially now that her Mom has announced to the neighbors that she has married a gringo...

[Aaron]

... in response to Re: After 5 years of the search, I've fo..., posted by Brazilophile on May 20, 2003

n/t

[Pete E]

... in response to After 5 years of the search, I've found ..., posted by Aaron on May 19, 2003

Aaron,
You got what HODA calls
thunderstruck.Congratualations!I know this has been an important goal you were very serious and sincere about.Normally I would advise caution but you are MR. caution so I won't worry about you.
I knew you would find someone. I just didn't know when. Every sincere and detemined guy will find someone.
Keep us posted.

Pete

[Aaron]

... in response to Re: After 5 years of the search, I've fo..., posted by Pete E on May 20, 2003

I'm very happy. Also, I never thought it would happen like this. I guess I was too busy trying to plan things, but it hit me unexpectantly. I'm just happy that I was receptive enough to allow love walk into my life.
Aaron

[Pete E]

... in response to Thanks, Pete. , posted by Aaron on May 20, 2003

Aaron,
I will post again again one of my favorite qoutes of all time,from "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran.
"And think not you can guide the course of love,for love,if it finds you worthy,shall guide you course."
For all our efforts we just have to let it happen to us  I think.If we push too hard we might do the wrong thing.
Another story someone told,about love being the elusive elf we chase around the forrest,never catching it.When you sit down on a log to rest it comes up and taps you on the shoulder.

Pete

[Aaron]

... in response to On Love,Kahlil Gibran, posted by Pete E on May 20, 2003

n/t