Beginning My Quest for a New Bride: Thanks in Advance for Your Advice!

[Osa]

so what is a "webcam courtship" like? 

[Jeff S]

About cellphones when you're traveling - Most of the world is on GSM, so you'll need a GSM phone if you want to bring one. A GSM phone is one that uses a SIM card. In the US, AT&T does, Sprint doesn't (I don't know about Verizon, T-Mobile and others) US phone companies also "lock" their phones so that you can only use them on their own networks. You can "unlock" GSM phones - unlock instructions are available on ebay for a couple dollars.

If you're planning to travel a lot, best bet is to buy an unlocked GSM phone - it should be equipped with quad band capability. Check the big online cell phone sellers including ebay for deals, and use your local SIM card here in the US and buy a prepaid SIM card at your destination. I bought an iphone clone for under $100 that has dual SIM card capabilities. I can keep my US AT&T SIM card in-place and buy and install a local prepaid SIM card in when you arrive. I've had Chinese, Japanese, and Mexican SIM cards in it and all worked just fine in those countries. The phone knows when a local or long distance SIM call arrives and will tell you and it will select the local service wherever you are for outgoing calls.

I always travel with a laptop so never use the phone for email, web or other functions so I really don't know how that works. I understand that if you have a smart phone, it can get horribly expensive if you travel as the phone is always checking the web for messages even if you don't use it - so beware. Check with your carrier to find out what costs/deals you can make when traveling if you're hooked on smart phone technology.

[utopiacowboy]

so what is a "webcam courtship" like? 

Let's put it this way. There are times when I miss those webcam days.

[Kiltboy1]

Hi Osa

I have not been to Cali since 2006, but before that , i made 15 trips there. It was dangerpus then and I am sure nothing has changed. But that being said, using common sense shall do you just fine. For a first timer looking for a nice hotel with lobby bar, you are best to stay at the Intercontinental, which is in the north of the city. If your lady lives in the south, I think the Radison is to the south. Sounds like your lady is thinking of you and family and your safety a lot and i agree with UT. I sometimes Miss The Webcam Days . Good luck with your quest as it should be a lot of fun and sometimes a lot of frustration-It's All Good.But have a plan A, B, and C if this particular lady and you do not have the right chemistry as webcams are a lot different(IE-Dress Size, hehe) then in person

KB

[olguitha]

hi guys my name is olga (not seans olga by the way, jaja) why dont you try to meet girls in couchsurfing webpages, those will be girls that speak enlish and are very open to other cultures, also its completely free.
thats all.
love
x

ahh also if you need some inside female perspective letme know

[jksun07]

To the OP,

Webcam courtship is pretty awesome -- I cam everyday with my gf.  She is near Cali and I'm in school here in California, so we're far away.  But the webcam pretty much saves us.  We use MSN Messenger which is free, but the cam quality isn't that great.  I don't know how Skype is...I'll try that out.  I met her on Livemocha.com, which is a website for learning foreign languages.  She was learning French and English, and I was learning Spanish.  Neither she or I was looking for a relationship in the beginning but things just fell into place.  I visited her after 3 months of webcam courtship back in August 2009.  It was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had!  It helped that she is a fast learner...she did not know much English at all when I first talked to her, but now her English is great!  She can use tenses correctly...it's like she jumped 4 or 5 grades in just 9 months of learning the language. 

One thing that I was cautious about was how much of a gold digger she was not because I thought she was a gold digger, but because I was taking a cautious approach.  I recommend looking into this -- there are many posts about red flags of a gold digger in the archives, such as issues with rent, medical bills, etc.  Although I knew she wasn't the gold digger type, that was the first thing on my mind to test out (but of course discreetly and indirectly). 

Before I went down to meet her, I told her I would be on a very tight budget and she didn't mind just doing things that were free or cheap.  Being a poor grad student, all I could afford were a small Chinese dragon statue, some I love San Francisco trinkets, and some $15 earrings.  She loved them and even felt a little embarrassed that she didn't get me much.  During my stay we went to a few malls, including Chipechape in Cali.  I asked her what she likes...that I have enough money to buy her a couple of things she likes, but she told me she didn't need anything, and to spend my money on souvenirs for my family.  She only asked for her bus fare and her food...and that was the least I could do for her since I took time away from her work at her shop.

I don't have any experience with agencies nor do I have a lot of experience in Colombia.  However, from being in Colombia for a month, I can tell you that if you're only 34 and fairly attractive, it doesn't seem like you would need an agency.  Girls on the streets, at least in Medellin and Cali, will give you the eye more so than here in the States.  Seems like Latincupid is doing you wonders, which in my opinion is probably all that you'd need anyway.

Anyway, buena suerte!

[utopiacowboy]

"I don't have any experience with agencies nor do I have a lot of experience in Colombia.  However, from being in Colombia for a month, I can tell you that if you're only 34 and fairly attractive, it doesn't seem like you would need an agency.  Girls on the streets, at least in Medellin and Cali, will give you the eye more so than here in the States.  Seems like Latincupid is doing you wonders, which in my opinion is probably all that you'd need anyway."

Got that right. It always amazed me the amount of interest that women would show in me even if I was with my wife.

[thekfc]

Just to add to what Jeff said.

In the USA, both AT&T and T-Mobile uses the GSM frequency.
If you are about to buy a new phone - best to get a "Unlocked" quad band cell phone. I got my unlocked phones thru Amazon.com & Dell.

Also, if you have service with either AT&T or T-Mobile (90 days+) - you can request an unlock code from them for FREE  - You are allow 1 unlocked code every 90 days.  After the phone is unlocked - just switched the SIM card.

I have used MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger & Skype. I mainly use Yahoo Messenger because my "girl" is more comfortable with Yahoo.

A good thing to invest in is MagicJack - install it in the USA (you will get a US number of your choosing - if available) & you can use the Magicjack internationally. While you are in S. A. any number that you (or your girl) call to the US will be treated as "local/nationwide" as the Jack was activated/installed in America - all USA based numbers will be treated as such - local calls.

[jm21-2]

I had problems using a foreign sim card in China with my smartphone. First, they're a bit more complicated to unlock (google for instructions on how to unlock yours), and second the internet connection type is apparently different from that for non-smartphones which made it so I couldn't use the internet with my Chinese sim card. I did use my American sim card to check my work e-mail every couple days and it was about a $90 bill. My provider is AT&T.

[dennislevy]

Hello

My name is Dennis I live in Colombia, there are emen on the board who have met me.

if you ve decided ot go to cali to meet this  woman, you will do beter in a furnished apartment the in a hotel and way cheaper. You can get a very nice furnished studio partment in Cali for like 35 dolalrs a night and less if you going to stay for more then a week.

I havent heard a lot aobut what other attributes you re looking for...other then a beautiful girl. The more specific you can be level of educaiton, family, does she work, what kind of intlligence is best suited for you, her personality...the more time you will save. Youmay not find the right woman imemdiately...but you have to have a set of parameters from which to work.

As ive read this thread....it seems as if you have shifted your emphasis form Baranquilla and using jamie Morrow s agency to going to Cali. There are no agencies in Cali that I would recommend...an agency is a reflection of the owner s committment to servcie and the attitudes of the people working at the agerncy qhen you are there. Agencies do not guarantee success,a  good one with a good owner and decent staff can keep you busy and no more. I dont beleive there is a good agency in Cali.

cali has a lot of eye catching girls, may of them with breast implants and lipo. Plastic surgery is cheap in Cali, among the cheapest citiesnthe world  and many women beleive that to draw attraction to their bodies is a good investment. 

If you re going to go to cali and try to see more then the present girl of interest.....You had also be prepared for cali Time....girls may not show up for a date with you or be spectaculalry late. The notion that a girl would actually use her own minutes on her cell (if she has any) and spend money to tell you that5 she wont keep the date or that she will be late.....is a completley foregn  notion to many girls.

As for budget, 3,000 to 6,000 to find a wife is peanuts.....Because even if you get lucky it will take more then one trip...and what you have to facotr in is if you find someone ...mayber she will need or want financial support aS part of the deal. You want to have a sexual relationship...gee....what a surprise you sound lile a man. Now ask yourself what she wants, especially if she is young and beautiful, form Cali and you ve gotten what you want.....A lot of girls may look ebautiful, are made up tot he nines...but they are very poor. 

A lot of social life in Cali happens in malls. and meals are at trhe plazas de comidas. its reasoanble by US standards, but it still adds up and even in a shopping mall like Chipichape, you asily drop 30 or 40 bucks for dinner.  f I were you I would save money  by finsding a furnished studio, buying amembership to colombian cupid for a month, say 20. USD, searching and sorting out the cali girls, writing messages, introducing yourself to them and tlelign them you iwll be in Cali between dates x and y
 
Ok and thats partof my reality check abot Colombia

[Osa]

I've begun a trip report for my forthcoming trip to colombia.   you can read/reply here:

http://www.planet-love.com/forum/index.php?topic=5048.0

[Bob_S]

A good thing to invest in is MagicJack - install it in the USA (you will get a US number of your choosing - if available) & you can use the Magicjack internationally. While you are in S. A. any number that you (or your girl) call to the US will be treated as "local/nationwide" as the Jack was activated/installed in America - all USA based numbers will be treated as such - local calls.

Now this is interesting.  With MagicJack, you still must plug in a landline phone into it to get connected.  But it seems that the makers of MagicJack will soon come out with a Magic-Femtocell that basically acts as a mini cell tower connection you plug into your computer.  With that, you'll be able to use your existing GSM cell phone to make VOIP calls.  Sweet.  If you're traveling internationally and don't want to mess with a sim card, you can still use your cell phone if you can find a wi-fi hot spot or a hotel with internet access.

[pat]

 Good Luck Osa!

[harley]

     Have a good time Osa.