Colombian punctuality..

[jediknight]

... in response to Colombian punctuality.., posted by valleydude on Dec 9, 2005

[This message has been edited by jediknight]

first of all i'm glad that you had a great time. i'm sure that i'm not the only one who would like to know how things went overall. i'd like to know about the prado and why you would consider this hotel again. i've never stayed there but a few people that have posted here didn't like it.

as far as punctuality, well one of the oldest jokes i've ever heard when i began my search in colombia was how notorious they were on being late. i heard that it was common for people to be hours late and think they were on time, in other words they would think nothing of it. i don't blame them even though i hate it but its part of their culture. i always arrive a little early just in case but they have no concept of that. my fiance knows how i am and respects that so we've never had a problem. luckily her family has instilled the importance of being on time.

a few years ago in bogota i was seeing a girl who would leave her house at the time we were supposed to meet. i allowed her to be late twice, both times over an hour. for those that know bogota you know this is not unusual because of traffic but people never learn to leave earlier and allow extra time. so the third time i told her to meet me at the mall at 7pm, she got there at 8pm and called me, i told her i was on my way. i got there at 9pm and watched her from the second floor for a 1/2 hour until i called her and told her that i was one block away, she was upset but understood how i felt waiting for her, i told her that it was important to me to be on time, she was never late again.

JK

[valleydude]

... in response to a few questions, posted by jediknight on Dec 9, 2005

[This message has been edited by valleydude]

First I want to say thanks for all the great responses.
I got a great over view and feel I can deal witht his better in the future. One of the first things that I read too was about "Colombian time". I thought I was prepared, but it really put a damper on things. The times that it happened, she would go by her house to change or have to run into work and say: "I'll be back in 2 hours" and she was usually at least an hour late. One time she said that she decided to take a nap. I chalked that up to the "Colombian Logic" that I had also read a lot about. I kept rationalizing it away, and it happened everytime. It drove me nuts. If it were a first time meeting I would have been gone. Instead, I had spent 4 months talking with her everyday so it was a bit more difficult. Ahhh ok enough. Thanks a million! I appreciate everyone's input.
Feel free to post some more. I am reading away.

I am answering here for Jedi... I'll post some more in a new thread about my stay and the el Prado.

V-Dude

[CelticUrge]

... in response to Re: a few questions, posted by valleydude on Dec 9, 2005

I grew up in south Florida. Started taking trip by boat and airplane to the Bahamas at the age of 16. Learned very quickly about the concept of "Island Time". Much the same.

[soltero]

... in response to a few questions, posted by jediknight on Dec 9, 2005

[This message has been edited by soltero]

Wrong place...sorry.

Proper placement above....

[mudd]

... in response to a few questions, posted by jediknight on Dec 9, 2005

good example of how to get it through to their wondering brains. had a girlfriend who ws always 30 to 45 minutes late every time i went by her house to pick her up. finally got tired and told her, "the next time, ill leave without you". so three days later, tell what time to be ready, show up, and of course she wasnt, so i left without her. she was totaly shocked i did it. needless to say, she was never late to be ready again.

[Fuzzyone]

... in response to Colombian punctuality.., posted by valleydude on Dec 9, 2005

Never gonna happen, she will come when she is ready that is it. My wife did
not come that late but I solved part of the problem with staying at her house
with her. She could not come late then. My wife was always late to work I gave
up telling her she was gonna be late she arrived when she arrived. Try to change
them not happening do your self a favor don't worry about it.

[Looking4Wife]

... in response to Colombian punctuality.., posted by valleydude on Dec 9, 2005

I agree wholeheartedly with Spanky and mudd.

In my experience, having met many agency girls, it was virtually AUTOMATIC that they would appear 30 minutes late like clockwork.  Extreme cases maybe 45 minutes late.

Over an hour, its time to move onto the next chica, ESPECIALLY if this is happening repeatedly with no profuse apologies and no measures on her part to make ammends.

I was stood up once, legitimately, by a girl who was interested in me but was legitimately sick.  Her error was that she failed to call.  I am still in contact with her to this day as a friend, though our romance fizzled for other reasons.

[mudd]

... in response to Colombian punctuality.., posted by valleydude on Dec 9, 2005

Was this girl a member of an agency? Anything over an hour is just plain rude, unless she had a very good explanation.  If this is a constant re occurring problem, maybe she is just not into you all that much, or she is just doesn’t have a clue that this really bothers you. I couldn’t put up with somebody being late all the time, is shows a lack of common courtesy and respect for the other person.

[Beattledog]

... in response to Colombian punctuality.., posted by valleydude on Dec 9, 2005

That would drive me crazy.  If someone does  not have the couristy and respect  for me to me on time, I would not have been there when she arrived.

Beattledog

[Spanky]

... in response to Colombian punctuality.., posted by valleydude on Dec 9, 2005

[This message has been edited by Spanky]

waiting over an HOUR is ridiculous, especially after the first date.  This is more then a punctuality problem.  Colombianas will hem and haw when meeting a new gringo about whom they know nothing. In America, my wife is generally a little behind when getting ready for appointments-dentist, school, etc. She is adjusting to new fashion here in the states, so this would be expected. She is getting better. Sorry to say, but su novia cannot be too interested in you. Did she offer to see you off at the airport?

[teoblas]

... in response to Colombian punctuality.., posted by valleydude on Dec 9, 2005

There are some colombians that are punctual and some that are not.  

In order to have a healthy relationship with somebody you have to accept them the way they are.  

For me I choose not to have a serious sentimental relationship with a woman if she is not punctual.... I will consider making an exception, but that is my general rule....