my fiance is a college grad, understands and speaks some english but nowhere near enough to continue working here as a professional. i'm fluent in spanish so we've communicated entirely in spanish since we met but what was more important to me was not the kind of education she got in the schools and university but rather the kind she got at home. it was more important to me that the woman i was looking for was honest and trustworthy, someone who would work at our relationship rather that make it more difficult. someone who was wise, who would understand that there will be an adjustment needed when she arrives here and will not complain or suck her teeth because things are different or not like she had planned.

lately i've been telling my fiance how cold it is in the northeast compared to barranquilla to prepare her for the change. i tell her that she will not have her family at arms reach whenever she wants and has to think about seeing them once a year. the point is that i've found that the education she got at home was more important because she has seen what it takes to have a successful and lasting realtionship which is much more important to me than anything else. her parents have been married close to 40 years with no incidents of infidelity, through economic highs and lows, in other words through the best and worst times and they are still all over each other after so many years. they've instilled in her the importance of love, family, community and how not to fall into the trap that many do of placing importance on their career, money, material items. i don't expect my fiance to come here and start working or learn english right away....communication has never been and will not be a problem. what i do expect is for her to know that her place will be with me, by my side and i expect her to be flexible and understanding and to always put us first, to do whatever it takes to make our relationship work, of course she will get the same from me. having a college education is great but don't turn away a woman because she doesn't have one. look at her family, her relationship with her parents, siblings, who her friends are, does she get along with them or is she difficult or like they say in colombia...ella es muy complicada.
JK

Parents that are still together and committed after 40 years provides a nice example if those values are directly being taught by the family.

With all the problems that we have with families here in America, I just wonder if education would play a better role for women that lacked this family experience?  Especially a latina that doesn't have that family structure.  You are correct there will be extensive change, so I just wonder will someone educated would cope better and be more determined to succeed.  All things being equal...

With LA women, the difference in culture and the continuous adjustement may just be enough to compensate for all of that.