Rookie Question

[STEYEHAH]

Okay people, what is the deal with most guys going for Columbian women? What is wrong with Brazilian or Mexican or the others countries? Been looking at all the different agencies and I want to know why you guys think mostly Columbian. I have my own opinion but I wanna hear your reasons.
                       THANKS

[Hoda]

... in response to Rookie Question, posted by STEYEHAH on Aug 12, 2002


never came back to offer his/her opinion! Interest is listed as "Asian", but first post to board is here on the Latin forum. Looks like he/she was taking some kind of survey or something....

[Bueller]

... in response to Rookie Troll is more like it....., posted by Hoda on Aug 14, 2002

...another one of those granola-crunching, Birkenstock-clad Women's Studies majors with hairy armpits, doing research for a paper?

[Hoda]

... in response to Maybe she was..., posted by Bueller on Aug 14, 2002


that the name "STEYEHAH" has some smart-azz meaning behind it...lol

[pack]

... in response to I can't help but feel....., posted by Hoda on Aug 14, 2002

Hoda...the troll killer..strikes again!

[denvermike]

... in response to Rookie Question, posted by STEYEHAH on Aug 12, 2002

I have my own theories about the Colombian connection. In my opinion most guys go to Colombia to find a younger, more beautiful woman than they could possibly hope for in the USA, or their home country. There are many agencies that make it easy to meet women who are interested in meeting gringos, especially if you are not that comfortable about foreign travel.

I have said several times on the forum, that the beauty of the Colombian women is a bit oversold.  I have traveled all over Latin America (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Panama, Paraquay), and there are beautiful latinas everywhere.

So I tend to think that there is a bit of "group think" when it comes to finding a wife in Colombia.  

To meet a beautiful lady in Brazil or Chile you don't need an agency, all you need is a passport and an airline ticket, particularly in Brazil.  In Brazil, the women are very sexually aggressive, and competitive, and a gringo from the USA is highly regarded. In Brazil the women will pinch you on the butt to let you know they are interested. I travel to Sao Paulo on business from time to time, and it is always a treat to go out at night. Your sense of dating values will never be the same after a trip to Brazil.  If you speak Spanish, you can be understood by the locals.  However, understanding them is a whole different question.  

The women in Chile are more conservative than Brazil, but much more liberal than Colombia.  I presently live in Chile and it is quite easy to meet new women any weekend. You have to approach them first (unlike Brazil) but once you get the ice broken, they become very friendly very fast.

Most young women smoke, so carry a cigarette lighter, I have met more woman by just offering to light their cigarette.

As I have suggested in the past, don't limit yourself to just Colombia, there are many opportunies down here.

my $0.02
mike

[Bueller]

... in response to Re: Rookie Question, posted by denvermike on Aug 13, 2002

People here in the south of Brazil are more reserved. In Curitiba and Pôrto Alegre, they have a reputation for being kind of stuck up, by Brazilian standards. Here in Florianópolis, they are generally quite nice, and given the imbalance of women to men the women are quite interested in meeting a decent, one-woman man. Never heard of butt-pinching around here, though.

[Darkstar]

... in response to Re: Rookie Question, posted by denvermike on Aug 13, 2002

What do you suggest if someone does not speak good Spanish? It seems that this would be a very limiting factor for those areas that do not have some sort of support structure for the gringo (i.e. agency, friends, etc.)

Tim.

[denvermike]

... in response to Re: Re: Rookie Question, posted by Darkstar on Aug 13, 2002

There is no substitute for learning Spanish, even if going to Colombia. The agencies will help you meet them and help translate the first meeting or two, but after that you are on your own anyway. After you meet you still have to commnicate with the lady by phone or email, so learning Spanish is a must no matter what.  Phone calls can be really tough if you don't speak the language. Also not speaking Spanish will make the culture shock of your new bride even worse. Her level of frustration with the USA will be even higher if her new hubby doesn't speak Spanish.  You can be each others teacher.

One thing I did when first struggling to date a latina, we would alternate speaking Spanish and English for periods of time. Most latinas would love to learn English too.

You don't have to be fluent, just the basics will do at first. If you don't remember a word fill it in English, so many words are similiar they usually get it anyway. Spanish is a muy complicated language, and to be really fluent takes a lifetime. The words and phrases change with each country, Chile has some really strange Spanish.

I would make it a goal to learn Spanish, besides it is really cool to speak more than one language.

good luck,
mike

[Patrick]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Rookie Question, posted by denvermike on Aug 13, 2002

It's English that's tough! There are way more permutations and exceptions regarding pronounciation and many more irregular verbs in English than in Spanish.  Once you learn basic pronounciation in Spanish, you can pretty much read anything and pronouce it correctly (if you can make the proper sound with your mouth that is).

I do agree that it takes a long time to become really fluent though for most people.  I think a lot of people throw the word "fluent" around without agreeing on what it really is.  I know guys who say they are fluent but can't speak Spanish as well as I do and I definitely don't claim to be fluent.

And I think how long it takes someone to become really fluent varies greatly from person to person.  Those who really want to learn and work at it do well.  Then there's the people who move to a foreign country and live there for years without learning the language.  I know both Latinos in the US like this as well as US ex-pats living in places like Costa Rica who are like that.  They insulate themselves by keeping within their own ethinic group and never assimilate.

I knew a Costa Rican woman who lived here for two years who I almost swore had to be native born.  She spoke absolutely perfect unaccented English.  Then there are others who make only a half-hearted effort and make very little progress.  It really depends on the individual.

[pablo]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Rookie Question, posted by denvermike on Aug 13, 2002

Hi Michael

I have been trying to contact you for some time but have been unable to reach you on your supplied email address.  Would you please contact me off line as I have some questions regarding Chile.  Thanks.

Pablo

[chevy]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Rookie Question, posted by denvermike on Aug 13, 2002

I know one man who was 54 at the time he moved to puerto rico for a business venture. No spanish. At the 9 month mark he was 90% fluent. He was there for 3 years and was fluent by 18 months. Ditto for two friends of mine who went to med school in guadalajara(sp?)
  My friend had a colombian girlfriend who knew no english.Then she took lessons for 6 months in barranquilla. She was here for a visit and did great. She understood and could speak very well. Some people learn fast, some don't.
She was not fluent but if she lived here I think she would be within one year.

[Bueller]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Rookie Question, posted by chevy on Aug 13, 2002

A capacity for learning new words and languages is a natural aptitude which is stronger in some people than others, so this makes a difference, too. Not that this is an excuse for not learning Spanish or Portuguese-- after all, you managed to learn English, right? You just might have to put out more effort than someone else who is more gifted in that respect.
  Speaking of Portuguese, don't rule out learning the language of Brazil. Nothing wrong with the other LA countries, but there are gazillions of nice, pretty women down here, and more ethnic variations than flavors of ice cream at Baskin-Robbins. Portuguese is my third language, and so far the pronunciation of letters in PT seems to be closer to English than Spanish is.

[Darkstar]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Rookie Question, posted by denvermike on Aug 13, 2002

Mike,

I do speak some Spanish and I've taken classes in the past. I also have many tapes and CDs that I listen to while driving. I really do want to learn to speak Spanish at least conversationally.

I love the language and yes, it would be cool to be able to speak another language. There are many Spanish speaking people in my area, and sometimes I wonder if they are talking about me (not so nice!).

One problem I have is understanding them since they speak with a strong accent or so fast, and many times they do not have the patience to slow down or wait for me to look up a word or two I may need to complete a sentence. They have a hard time understanding my broken Spanish and southern accent as well! This may be a good test of how willing we are to work at it and thus a good indication of a long term relationship will work.

Maybe between my poor Spanish and her limited English we can communicate enough to get along and teach each other. Being in her environment around native speakers I think will help a lot. I'll do whatever it takes to get it done, but in the meantime I'm still moving forward with my plans to vist Colombia this month.

Thanks for the advise,

Tim.

[Jeff S]

... in response to Rookie Question, posted by STEYEHAH on Aug 12, 2002

This board is mostly Colombia based, the Asian board is mostly Philippine based, and the Eastern European Board is mostly Ukraine & Russia based. The reasons? - existing infrastructure (agencies) is certainly one of them, but I'd bet it's more because others have blazed the trail and can offer their advice, encouragement, and success stories. You can probably find a good woman anywhere first world, second or third.

-- Jeff S.