Language barriers

[grant5432]

Hi!
  I just decided this past week to look for my future wife in S.
America.  I'd rather not go to Columbia so I'm focusing on
Peru.  Today I actually applied for my passport since I may go
in July with Latin Magic tours.  I don't speak any Spanish
however.   What percentage of these women (on this romance
tour) do you think I might be able to converse with somewhat
in English?   Any help is greatly appreciated.  I am ready to find
my wife!  

-Grant

[surfscum]

... in response to Language barriers, posted by grant5432 on May 21, 2003

Grant, I encourage you to continue with your interest in Peru. The people there are very friendly and as others have stated, if you do speak even a little spanish, it goes a long way with them. You won't meet a lot of women who speak spanish; I used blossoms.com and met a number of women and only a few spoke basic English. Petty crime is a problem in downtown Lima especially, although one of my dates had her purse stolen as she was getting out of the cab to meet me in Miraflores, a more upscale area of Lima. I keep a photocopy of my passport with my atm card and leave my room with only that and enough cash for the day.

While I haven't been to Colombia, it sounds like the girls there may be getting more demanding/descriminating. Dating gringos is a growing business in Peru and is not nearly as "agencyized" as Colombia, so I think you're getting a better selection. (I know I'll be flamed for those remarks! ;-)) The women I met in Lima were from a range of backgrounds and classes. Many were dentists or worked in the medical field, some came from "rich" families, others like my girlfriend, came from poor families. All said they wanted an american because of how the men treat them there.

It is safe to travel in the countryside almost anywhere in Peru and if you have the time, try to book a trip to Machu Picchu.  It's only a day trip from Cuzco, which is also worth seeing.  I rented a car and took my GF and her cousin all over Peru and we had a great time, although driving there can test your mettle (and the car's metal, too).

There is a much larger indigenous population in Peru than in Colomobia and it shows in the makeup of the people. The people of the coast are more european looking, but there are some enclaves of blacks descended from slaves. As you go into the mountains it becomes mostly indigenous or "mestizo." Of course, since Lima is the capital and cultural center of Peru, you'll see them all there.

The event will probably be in Miraflores, which I mentioned as an upscale area of Lima. It's near the coast and you could go to LarcoMar to see the ocean, or more romantic is Barranca, a little south of Miraflores.  Use a taxi to get to those places for only a few soles. Beware "Pizza Street" in Miraflores: the food is good and the atmosphere can be wild on the weekend, but there are many women looking to pick you up for a short time, if you know what I mean.

Well, I could ramble on, but if you want more specific info send me a note and I will answer as best I can.

[grant5432]

... in response to About Peru, posted by surfscum on May 21, 2003

Thanks for all the great info!  It still seems to me Peru may be somewhat
safer than Columbia.   Plus, I can see myself telling family members I'm
going to Peru on vacation more easily than telling them I'm going to
Columbia for vacation!

I wish I knew other Lima tours other than Latin Magic.  But unles I hear
anything real negative about Latin Magic, I may go on that one.  thanks.

[surfscum]

... in response to surfscum: thanks, posted by grant5432 on May 23, 2003

I just remembered that TLC has tours.  My novia and her cousing went this past Feb, I think and she had a story to tell afterwards.  It seems that a couple of the guys REALLY got into the dancing and started doing a strip tease.  They got down to their underwear and were even flashing what was left. My girlfriend told me that there were some 20-30 women around them, while the other 200 or so had little to nothing to do with them. Those guys had no idea what damage they did to the reputations of americans that night.

TLC's web site is: www.tlcworldwide.com, however they won't be returning until March of next year, so that's not going to help you. Oh well, I tried.

[Red Clay]

... in response to About Peru, posted by surfscum on May 21, 2003

Where are you in CA, north, south, central? My wife and I are coming to San Diego in June.

[surfscum]

... in response to Re: About Peru--Calling surfscum--surfsc..., posted by Red Clay on May 22, 2003

I live near Palo Alto. Where do you actually live and when are you in S. Diego and for how long? Perhaps we could hook up.

[Red Clay]

... in response to Surfscum to Red Clay, come in Red Clay....., posted by surfscum on May 22, 2003

We live in the Nashville TN. area, about 20 minutes NW of downtown off I-24.  Coming to San Diego June 11-15. You can email me with the link in my profile if you want.

[Red Clay]

... in response to About Peru, posted by surfscum on May 21, 2003

....that I agree it's basically safe to travel the countryside in Peru, just continue to watch your belongings in public, on buses, etc. everywhere you go. Almost all the terrorist/kidnapping/bombing activity of years past is now gone.

[surfscum]

... in response to Re: About Peru---I would only add....., posted by Red Clay on May 22, 2003

The latest Peruvian whipping boy is Alberto Fujimori. Say what they will about him, he did a LOT of good for Peru, like eradicating the Shining Path guerillas.  Peru's economy was a shambles when he was elected, thanks to Alan Garcia. As an aside, the animosity between "criollos" and indigenous people in Peru is so strong that Alan Garcia came back AFTER the statute of limitations had run out for HIS crimes in office to run against Toledo. He lost by 2-3% points!! Toledo is American-educated, Ph.D. in Econ, I think and is a decent guy, but he is too "indian" for many Peruvians.  Alan Garcia drove Peru to the ground; it was under his administration the Sendero Luminoso/Shining Path activity surged. Now they are re-trying all those who were convicted under Fujimori's martial law, including Abimael Guzman and his wife, who are the primary leaders of the movement. I love Abimael's pictures: he looks like Jerry Garcia, but in a black and white prison uniform and he ALWAYS has this rabid, frothing look on his face.  But he is one DANGEROUS man and if they let him go the country will once again be unsafe.

Anyway, you're right Red Clay, always be aware of your belongings. No need to be paranoid, not even in Lima, just be aware of what's going on around you.

[Red Clay]

... in response to Language barriers, posted by grant5432 on May 21, 2003

grant-
The others are correct about assuming that no one on your Peru tour will speak English. In my trips to Peru, about the only people who did were some of my wife's college friends (faculty) and the staff of a hotel that I stayed in once. My wife says to tell you that any effort to learn or speak Spanish will be appreciated and thought of as cute, no matter how limited it is. Oh, you'll see a few gringo tourists there who speak English, but you're not there for that. As I made my way around the Lima, I didn't encounter any strangers who spoke English, but I encountered ALOT of young ladies who were immediately interested in talking (and more) because I was an American guy who spoke functional (not perfect) Spanish. Even if you meet a well-educated lady who knows English, chances are her family won't, assuming things go that far for you someday.

Peru is a good place to look if you don't need alot of help from an agency. Your tour group might have someone to translate, you should ask them.

[grant5432]

... in response to Re: Language barriers, posted by Red Clay on May 21, 2003

Thanks.  Yes, I think Latin Magic has a translator.  Apparently they only
take 8 guys and have 6-8 women to each guy when In Lima.

[Golden]

... in response to Re: Language barriers, posted by Red Clay on May 21, 2003

Hey, Judith is fine. I talked to her couple days ago. I'll let her know that C was trying to get in touch with her. I'll let Pily know too. I know they werent able to hook up a few weekends ago, maybe they will have some free time soon to hook up. You know Pily is working a second job on the weekends now? She doesnt work every Sat or Sun, but usually one of them. How things going? You have to shoot me an e-mail.

[Red Clay]

... in response to Hey RedClay, posted by Golden on May 21, 2003

Thanks for the update. Yeah, it is time to get together again. Glad all is well with you, C. did say that P. was working some on weekends. Your trip is soon, right?

[Nico]

... in response to Language barriers, posted by grant5432 on May 21, 2003

[This message has been edited by Nico]

Hello Grant5432, You are about about to go on trip that will put you in a position where you will be making a life decision. In my opinion if you are going to be making a life decision in any matter,whether its buying a house ,getting an education, or finding a wife, you of course want to maximize your chances for success.I went on TLC tour and I was swamped. I think more so than the other guys, and not because I was any better physically or personality wise than them(the contrary is true), but I spoke more Spanish(Ok so I also salsa dance, that helps too). Well , I think that you maximize your chances for success by learning at least some Spanish. Aside from the obvious advantage of better communication, it also shows an interest in your Latin wife's culture. I mean you are going to expect her to speak English and accept various cultural differences in your country, right? Well, it is good if you can show by example by showing some interest in her language and culture. I have a close friend here in Denver who posts on this board, who is married to a Colombian woman. He speaks basic Spanish and enjoys Latin music and food.His wife seems really to like that.
You can't go wrong by learning some Spanish.Good luck to you Grant5432 you are really going to enjoy your trip.

[grant5432]

... in response to The more you give the more you get, posted by Nico on May 21, 2003

Yes, I wish I had more time to learn spanish.  I'm starting from ground
zero and would be leaving in 6-7 weeks if I go on the Latin Magic tour.  I
don't think TLC has a tour to Lima, unfortunately.    Darn, I wish I had
taken spanish in high school!