I found "The One"

[nrvana]

Before I tell you of my fantastic situation, I would like to thank all the guys that participate on this board on a regular basis. You guys share so much priceless information. I would not be in the situation I am in without reading what ya'll have to say everyday.

I (32 years old) met a young lady from Cali (29 years old) via "friendfinder.com" (one of you guys posted that you could meet may women by using this web-site).  She was the most wonderful and beautiful woman I had ever had any communication with.  Beautiful, fluent in English (except for slang words), educated (a bacterialogist) and generally an angel. Friendfinder.com is a great place to meet women.  I recieved many return e-mails from some wonderful young ladies using this service.  Much more and faster responses than buying addresses and writing or e-mailing (at least for me).

Me and my special woman wrote e-mails and talked on the phone extensively from July through September. It got to be where my favorite part of the day was our daily hour on the phone and her cute e-mails I would recieve everyday.  I was planning my first trip to Colombia on September 13th.  I was going to Barranquilla with Sam Smith of I Love Latins.   By this time, she was the only girl I wanted to meet in person, so I asked her to meet me in Barranquilla.  She agreed and I bought her a ticket and she planned on staying three days with me.  Well we all know what happened on September 11th.  Needless to say, I did not have the "balls" to get on an airplane after that, so I did not go and I did not get to meet my lady in person.

We were both very dissappointed.  We continued to talk on the phone every night and became closer and closer.  Then one night I decided that I could not be without her anymore, so I asked her to join me here in Houston, Texas.   We are getting married in Cali on December 16th.  Everything is set.  She hired us a lawyer that is in Cali that is going to take care of all the paper work for us for $800.00 American.  This is very cheap.  Me and the lawyer E-mail each other everyday to keep each other informed on what is going on.  My lady has set up everything from flowers, to the place we will get married, to a sit down dinner for 45 people, to the night club we will have the reception.  I have paid for most of this..... it is extremely cheap.  All that I have mentioned including the lawyer will cost only around $4,200.00 American.  

The day after we are married, we will be getting on a plane and flying to Bogota to take care of all the legal "crap"  that has to be done to get her here so we can finally be together.  After spending hopefully only 3 days in Bogota, we will return to Cali where we will be spending Christmas with her family.  By the way, I am staying at the Intercontinental Hotel.  My lady likes this hotel.  Do you guys have any better or safer suggestions about my choice of lodging?

In closing, I just have a few things to say.  First, agencies are not the only way to meet that one wonderful latina woman.  I found friendfinder to be great.  Secondly, Sam Smith of ILoveLatins.com has been nothing but the best.  He has helped me and answered all of my questions during this process, even though I am not using his service at all.  I am not affiliated with him in anyway and this is not an advertisement.  He really does care about people ending up happy.  Lastly, about long-distance charges.  My phone bill in the first two months was outrageous (600-700.00 per month).  Now I have found a phone card that really works.  It is called TCC Picante.  Using this card you can talk 45 minutes for $5.00.  I have never had problems with the quality of their phone lines and have never had problems getting a line.  Now I buy 30 of these cards and use them througout the month.

Anyway,  thanks again to all you guys ( pack, Pete E, Hoda, El Diablo, patrick and many others).  Without you guys, I would not be so in love and so happy.  I would never have followed through on any of this and never found true love.  I welcome all your comments and any advice any of you experienced guys have to give me.

Thanks,

Nrvana (Jon)

[mudd]

... in response to I found "The One", posted by nrvana on Oct 28, 2001

dude, at the rate that you are going, you will be divorced in a year. lets put it this way... would you marry a girl here in the states that you have never met in person, and have only communicated by phone and by  e mails,i dont think so. good luck!!!!! your going to need it.

[nrvana]

... in response to I found "The One", posted by nrvana on Oct 28, 2001

Thanks to everyone who responded to my story.  I totally understand your cynicism about my situation.  All I can ask from you guys is to wish me good luck.  thanks for all your comments.

Sincerely,
Nrvana

[Buck]

... in response to I found "The One", posted by nrvana on Oct 28, 2001

To NRVANA,Hi,I'll get a lot of slack for this message but I'll take it.I wish you the best of luck.I am just starting my search.Love is a crap shoot.Poeple that have known each other for years get married then find out that they married someone different than they knew all those years.If you go into this knowing the odds then I applaud you.I think that all the flack you have recieved is actually guys trying to give good advice.It is good advice,but as so many have said there is not just one way to do this.So good luck & please keep us posted on your luck.Buck

[Aaron]

... in response to I found "The One", posted by nrvana on Oct 28, 2001

Jon,

Are you serious??? If this is really happening, I'm afraid that you will be just another one of those guys to post in the weeks to come about the Red Flags.

Any person that accepts or makes a proposal to get married over the telephone without meeting the person must be crazy, or has alterior motives.

She's not interested in you, and getting to know you for a meaningful relationship. However, she's interested in "Jon, that gringo who calls all the time, and what you can do to get her the heck out of Colombia."

Don't be a mule, fool.

Aaron

[Chris F]

... in response to I found "The One", posted by nrvana on Oct 28, 2001

Ya know..I really want to believe "your story"....however the only thought that ran through my mind after reading it was that it was "an indirect advertisement" for the friendfinder.com...dating service.

I could be wrong here...but did anyone else feel that way?

[Jeff2]

... in response to Re: I found "The One", posted by Chris F on Oct 28, 2001

But I tend to be cynical at times.

[pack]

... in response to Re: I found "The One", posted by Chris F on Oct 28, 2001

hmmmm...you may have a point there Chris F ?

[El Diablo]

... in response to I found "The One", posted by nrvana on Oct 28, 2001


Your story sounded great until the part about planning the wedding before you'd actually met. (-:  I'd say your gal sounds great, however I'd really recommend a couple visits before tying the knot.  Also, while $800 and later $4200 sounds cheap by U.S. standards, I'm not so sure it's cheap in Cali.  If it's only for flowers and a reception for 45, that sounds on the high side to me.  Anyway, good luck with everything....

El Diablo

[Wayne]

... in response to I found "The One", posted by nrvana on Oct 28, 2001

Jon,

Am I reading you wrong, or did you ask her to marry you before you have even met her.  In your post, you don't even mention meeting her, or spending time with her.  Did you leave this out of your post, or did you leave this out of your courtship.  I'm just curious.

From your post, it sounds like you have fallen for a voice on the phone.  How much time have you spent with this girl?

Wayne

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: I found "The One", posted by Wayne on Oct 28, 2001

I think you are right Wayne, I don't believe they have met in person.

   Better spend some time in person first, before proposing. Letters and phone calls can help weed out the sharks and golddiggers, but there's no substitution for time together. Heck, those of us who spent months together continuosly with our wives still have a curve thrown at us occasionally, although I'm happy to say my wife and I are VERY happy.

[pack]

... in response to Re: Re: I found "The One", posted by Red Clay on Oct 28, 2001

Ditto what el diablo,wayne and red clay said. sloooooow down!

[FenixRises]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: I found "The One", posted by pack on Oct 28, 2001

Ditto the above.
Plus if you search back a little bit you will find info from me about having your wedding.
I am able to have the service followed by a reception for 70 people, flowers, rings, music, photos, her dress and a suit for her son and a special singer for the service alone, for less than $2500.
And I thought I was going fast, still it is 5 months between first visit, second visit, third visit and marriage.
Fred

[Richard]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: I found "The One&qu..., posted by FenixRises on Oct 28, 2001

I'm from the Russian board. I agree with what others say about marrying someone you haven't met yet.

All of my friends are surprised I proposed on the second visit.  I'm beginning to think it might be smart to invest at least one more trip before binging Natasha over.  I would make the same suggestion to you.

[Wasp]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: I found "The One&qu..., posted by FenixRises on Oct 28, 2001

You proposed to a woman you've never actually met?
Repeat.
You proposed to a woman you've never actually met?