TLC service

[Rota20]

Hello all,

I recently decided to start searching for a wife in Latin America.  I have been considering the TLC service, but not sure if it works all that great.  How are the tours?  Also, how successful have you guys been?  I know some have been traveling for several years to just about every country in SA, but I don't have that kind of money or time.  What is the best country to go to find a wife?  Thanks

Jay

[denvermike]

... in response to TLC service, posted by Rota20 on Jun 24, 2002

Hi,

I have an opinion about TLC. I have expressed it a few times on this forum.  I would say that TLC is expensive, probably more expensive than any of the agencies. You will have the opportunity to meet lots of women in a two day period. The parties can be quite crowded and for some a bit
intimidating.  If you are out-going and talkative (in Spanish) you will have a chance at making two or three contacts for possible future dating.

I look at TLC as for the guys who may be a bit uncertain about traveling to foreign country for the first time.  They make it easy for you.  But, if you are more adventuresome, just pick a city, a few agencies and go.  

Neither approach guarantees anything. Whichever approach you use, you can probably expect several trips south before you finally find the one.

good luck,
mike

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: TLC service, posted by denvermike on Jun 27, 2002

I agree with Denvermike and have wieghed in on this before myself. TLC tours are a very expensive waste of time. That $1000 entitles you to attend two socials with (mostly?) different women and one pool party attended by the same woman. Not included are airfare or airport transfers any meals or lodging. In fact you are urged to stay at the hotel where the two socials are held because TLC also gets a cut of your room fee there. During the daytime most attendees fan out to local agencies where they spend more money for daily rates. For that thousand bucks you can join three agencies and spend a week at another and meet only the attractive women you've chosen to meet instead of wasting time trying to disengage gracefully from small pods of the fat the bad and the ugly as you try to clamber accross the folding chairs to meet one of the few attractive girls on the other side of the room. Attending one of those tours was the dumbest thing I ever did.

[briloop3]

... in response to TLC service, posted by Rota20 on Jun 24, 2002

I started my search for a bride from Latin America with letter writing.  I bought addresses from TLC.  That didn't work for me, so I took the plunge, signed up with an agency in Bogota, and went south on my own.  That didn't work either, so my next trip was to Cartagena, using a different agency.  It was there that I met the lady who is now my fiancee.  We plan to get married this fall.

I don't recommend TLC or any other agency that sells addresses or takes guys on tours to LA.  TLC is merely a middleman, extracting a level of profit, but not necessarily adding value to what you're paying for.  

In my opinion, the best thing to do is to go straight to Cali, or Bogota, or whatever city you choose to go to meet the woman of your dreams.  Sign up with an agency in that city; don't use a middleman like TLC.

Some people may disagree with me, but, I think the best city is Bogota.  It is the largest city in Colombia.  The U.S. embassy is there.  My advice is to find a lady who already speaks English, and doesn't have any children.

[greg]

... in response to Re: TLC service, posted by briloop3 on Jun 25, 2002

Gooood idea.. I speak no Spainish. How can Guys find those Latinas that already speak English? You found Your Love in Cartagena, things didn't work out in Bogota for You, so do why You feel Bogota's the Best city in Colombia?

[mck]

... in response to Find Women that already speak English?, posted by greg on Jun 25, 2002

I don't know, if you don't speak spanish I think it would be a very tough relationship the first few months. I am just glad I speak pretty good spanish and my novia speaks fairly good english and we both communicate at about 90%. Even with communication at 90%, there are still slight cultural differences that can be miscommunicated very very very easily. We have worked past all these differences and now it is pretty smooth sailing for me but the first 2 weeks she lived with me were by far the hardest and toughest times I have ever had in a relationship. It was not so much my novia and her personality, it was mainly hard because every day you have to comfort them and be extremely supportive. You have to remember, you are the the only family they have here, you are the only support she has and when that support gets lost, the relationship can go into turmoil. I have to give up time with my friends and family to be with her, but that is part of the trade off and something you have to do to make her comfortable and not get homesick. That is also why it is important to not boss them around, let them have their space, and let them make decisions. Do not try to make all the decisons for your novia. Try to treat her as a strong, independent woman who can make her own decisons and has a mind of her own. You have to remember, you are dealing with a human being here, and not just a piece a meat. If you treat them with respect, you will almost always get it in return. If she does not respect you, you made a bad choice. Even though Latinas are more traditional then American women, you cannot treat them like domestic slaves. That I think is the number #1 reason these relationships fail, because the guys are not there to comfort them and support them and they become homesick, frustrated and angry. I know I joke around alot on this board about my novia, but it is just joking around and I do not treat her bad in anyway. In reality, I treat her much different then the things I post on the board and we are both very commited to each other and love each other very much.

[greg]

... in response to when reality kicks in, posted by mck on Jun 26, 2002

good advice..Keep it Up. )

[briloop3]

... in response to Find Women that already speak English?, posted by greg on Jun 25, 2002

How to find girls who already speak English?  I am no expert on finding girls without the use of an agency in Colombia.  Most, if not all, agencies will know which girls speak good English.

I already gave me reasons why I think Bogota is the best - it's the largest city and the U.S. Embassy is there.

[Wayne1]

... in response to Find Women that already speak English?, posted by greg on Jun 25, 2002

From Wayne's Esposa

querido si viajas a un pais latino como Colombia en busca de una linda y buena mujer, pero que hable ingles estas perdiendo tu tiempo ya que ingles es una segunda lengua que pocas personas utilizan solo para asuntos de negocios
amigo es dificil pretender que una persona que vive en un pais de lengua hispana hable ingles.
pero tal vez tu puedas encontrar una mujer que hable ingles pero seguro que esa no te va a gustar.

[zzzz]

... in response to Re: Find Women that already speak Englis..., posted by Wayne1 on Jun 26, 2002

No hubiera podido encontrar mejores palabras .......Lo dijiste todo.

[briloop3]

... in response to Re: Find Women that already speak Englis..., posted by Wayne1 on Jun 26, 2002

It may be difficult to find a lady in a Hispanic country that speaks English, but, nevertheless, they do exist.

[Patrick]

... in response to Re: Find Women that already speak Englis..., posted by Wayne1 on Jun 26, 2002

Mi esposa estaba hablando inglés antes de conocerme y me gustó mucho!  Tienes razon que no hay muchas mujeres en Colombia que hablan inglés, pero tambien, no hay muchos hombres aqui que hablan español excepto los latinos.

Creo que las mujeres buscando esposos norteamericanos deben estudiar inglés y los hombres buscando una mujer Latina deben estudiar español.  Es probablemente más facil para el hombre aprender español que para la mujer aprender inglés pero ambos deben tratar.

[Wayne1]

... in response to Find Women that already speak English?, posted by greg on Jun 25, 2002

I don't get it.

We go to Colombia to increase our choices and options.  Then you want to narrow them down to nothing by only looking for women who speak English.

The English issue is nothing.  The character issue is big.  You learn a little Spanish, she learns a little English and your off and running.  Don't limit your choices.

If you are too lazy to learn Spanish, don't even get into this international dating thing because it is alot of work.

My wife spoke 0 English on Jan 1 2002.  Now she speaks pretty darn good English.  If I would have eliminated her for not speaking English, I never would have had this incredible women in my life.

And besides we are in their country.  What if they would only date guys that spoke Spanish.  Put the shoe on the other foot....

Wayne

[A1A]

... in response to Find Women that already speak English?, posted by greg on Jun 25, 2002

Greg,
 I used amigos.com for emailing latinas.  For about $30 for 3 months you can email latinas from all south american countries. You post your profile, picture if you want and go to it. If you list your picture, some will write you first also.  A good number speak english. There are many methods.
A1A

[Patrick]

... in response to Find Women that already speak English?, posted by greg on Jun 25, 2002

Most agencies list the level of English for each lady at their site.  Stay with those who get the agency's highest rating (whatever that happens to be) if you want someone who speaks English.  I wouldn't expect to find many ladies who are fluent though.  There's just not very many of them.  There are quite a few though with varying degrees of ability in the language.

You can also place a personal ad and specify that the lady must speak English.  You'll probably still get some responses in Spanish though.