I'm afraid to go to Colombia

[jela]

I found out this website by chance.
I'm a Korean girl. I'm suppose to go to Ibague Colombia for work next month. but I feel very uneasy about living in Colombia by myself. I naver been in South Amercia and I cannot speak Spanish at all.
I'm used to go about back street here in Seoul until over midnight with friends or by myself. however, everybody says that It's unimaginable thing in Colombia.
Please tell me how public security is out there? do you think there is no any problem to foreign worker?
and also I want to know that there is any foreign comunity in Ibague.
Your kindness reply would be big help to me.

[briloop]

... in response to I'm afraid to go to Colombia, posted by jela on Feb 5, 2002

I went to Colombia for the first time two years ago.  I stayed in Bogota, but took a trip to Ibague, and spent the night there.

I seriously doubt that there is much of a foreign community presence there, let alone a Korean one, unless there is an employer there that employs foreigners.  I didn't see any other foreigners in Ibague when I was there.

When I traveled from Bogota to Ibague, the passenger van that I was riding in was stopped by Colombian soldiers.  We had to get out of the van.  The soldiers searched us and the luggage we had in the van.  They were looking for contraband and arms.

In Ibague itself, I saw a military checkpoint, but we were not stopped.  

You don't have to go to Ibague by overland transportation.  There is an airport.  In fact, I flew back to Bogota.  It was about a 30 minute flight on one of those 50 passenger twin engine prop planes.

Ibague is not a major city in Colombia, like Bogota, Cali, or Medellin.  You will find few Colombians there who speak English.

[jim c]

... in response to I'm afraid to go to Colombia, posted by jela on Feb 5, 2002

anya hashimnica
  (Its the best I can do.)
    I am very interested in why you would be going to Colombia for employment, especially when you do not speak spanish. What kind of work are you involved in that would be needed in a country that has 30% unemployment. Very strange situation. Please enlighten us further and we can give you a more educated response. JIM C
PS your name is very unusual

[Pete E]

... in response to I'm afraid to go to Colombia, posted by jela on Feb 5, 2002

I have a relative from Ibague (Colombiana)and she is very concerned about her security when she visits her parents there,and she grew up there.Her family does have money and that makes them a target.Alot of Colombians even don't seem to understand the risk.If they don't appear to have money there is less risk,so the rich Colombians are much more worried than the poor ones.My wifes father lives south of Ibague and they don't worry about it and my wife will visit him,but they don't seem like targets,more like your average people.
So the question is how will you be percieved.There is a tendency to think any foreign person has money.If there are other Koreans living there who have moderate income this may dilute that thinking.If they think you are a poor working girl you will be OK.If they think you are a rich foreigner watch out.I personally would not go to Ibague.There are few foriegners and I think and I would really stand out.
Maybe you can get some imformation from the people who want you to work there.Is this a temporary assignment where you will be staying in the best hotels or a long term job where you will be living among the people?Your safety depends alot on where you stay and where you go.
Hopefully someone knows more about how Koreans would be percieved.I would send alot of E-mails to anyone who might have imformation.

Pete