Insight: Colombian Avoidance Radars

[Traveller]

Another topic for the New Guys. Once again, Veterans know what I am talking about.
Your typical Colombian was not installed with Collision Avoidance Radars. I used to believe this whole heartily. But, now I have revised that assessment.
How many times have you been to the malls and someone just basically, runs into you. Or be walking and the person in front of you just stops. Many times, I have seen people just almost make an intercept course for you. What kills me are the people who will just stop in the middle of a doorway or hallway. They are totally oblivious that other people need to get by.  (Part of this goes hand in hand with Jim's theory of the Papaya.)
It just seems different to me, but in the States, people kind of sense someone is right behind them and if they want to look at something in a store window, for example, they get out of the foot traffic and get next to the window to look. It is generally a given, in malls in the States, you walk on the right side going one way and the opposite direction, you walk on the left. Just like driving. And, as with driving and traffic in Colombia, those rules and laws do not apply.
As I said before, I have to revise my previous allegation that Colombians have no Anti-Collision Radars. They do. I mean, how do you explain the taxi drivers. For as many taxis as there are in this city, you generally don't see any accidents. I have been in one the entire time I have been here and that was small fender bender. No, Colombians do have C.A.R. systems installed, but they are only set to Colombian frequencies. They know when each other are around and they make the neccessary adjustments to avoid them. But as Americans, we don't register on that radar. (Maybe, hold over stealth technology)
Actually, what it is, is the amount of personal space. In the US, arms distance in any direction is YOUR own personal space. Colombians do not have this concept. For example, I am at the movies and I am at the cashier's window. Someone woman comes right next to me looking in the cashier window. I'm like, do you want to read the serial numbers on my bills or what. Another time, once again in the movies, I am in line giving my arms distance to the person in front of me. You know, 2 or 3 feet. Another woman decides to change lines and gets between me and the person in front of me. So now, there is like 3 maybe 4 inches between me and this new woman and about the same with the woman in front of her. So you know, "Uh Um!" This new woman turns around and looks at me and says, "Oh, were you in line?" I would have loved to have said, "Well, Duh!" But, she seemed genuinely surprised and she was polite, so I didn't want to go that route. In the end, it was my own fault, I left my Papaya laying out. Another example, paying at the cashiers desk at the hardware store. My partner is paying for some stuff and there are like 4 people in line. As we said in the Marines, "Axxhole to Bellybutton." Seriously, no space between any of them. This concept can also found on any street in Cali while driving. I think Jim explains the Papaya theory the best where it relates here.
So, for the new and unitiated, be aware your basic standard Colombian Model does not have the capacity for personal space. It goes to about 0 to maybe 6 inches and that's about it. So, be ready for them to invade into yours. That can be a good thing if your on a date, but everyone else also has this view, so be careful.
Speaking of models, I SAW CAROLINA CRUZ LAST NIGHT!!! "Neener, Neener, Neener!"  Eat your heart out. WOW! Is she gorgeous. My friend makes some of the jewelry that the models were featuring at a show for a homeless childrens home. He goes, "Did you see the necklace Carolina Cruz was wearing? I made that?" I'm like, "No, sorry I didn't" Totally and completley blown away by how beautiful she is in person.
That's all for today.
K..................................................

[bogota vet]

... in response to Insight: Colombian Avoidance Radars, posted by Traveller on Sep 14, 2002

I heard Carolina Cruz has 4 kids !!!!!!

[Pete E]

... in response to Insight: Colombian Avoidance Radars, posted by Traveller on Sep 14, 2002

I noticed that in the malls in Cali.There is no traffic pattern.People will just walk right in front of you.They seem oblivious to it,no concept of order or right of way.This is a pet peeve of mine even here when people seem oblivious to those around them.I think we have an implied right hand rule as in driving.When someone heads toword me walking to their left,my right,I feel like telling them we are not in England.
I think there is a similarity to their driving but that is more serious so they will miss you if it comes down to it.It seems like the guy in front does whatever he wants and the guy behind is supposed to miss him,which they do,after giving him the horn.I think I have my wife mostly cured of laying on the horn.I tell only do it if it is neccesary,people get offended.What would really get me is she would reach over and hit the horn when I was driving and I would get the dirty look.One time she was driving and a lady in fronts car stalled.You could see she was trying to start it.My wife lays on the horn,the lady gives her the finger.Reminds be of a licence plate frame I read.It said"keep honking,I'm reloading".No joke you can get shot honking at someone in the wrong part of town.
My step son had this habit when he came here,he would just walk in front of people.One time a lady with a shopping cart just rammed him out of the way.He was complaining.I told him he just walked right in front of her.

pete

[Colonialjd]

... in response to Insight: Colombian Avoidance Radars, posted by Traveller on Sep 14, 2002

To Norte Americanos Latin America appears somewhat chaotic and disorderly.  Years ago I visited Germany and got kicked out of a public swimming pool for not wearing a bathing cap.  I also got fined because my bicycle did not have a bell on it.  As an American visiting Germany I liked the Germans a lot, but found them to be much more rigid and orderly than we americans are.

[Cali vet]

... in response to Insight: Colombian Avoidance Radars, posted by Traveller on Sep 14, 2002

In Colombia when standing in line you keep just a couple of centimeters between you and the next person, if you don't some one will break in. Once in line at the bus terminal in Barranquilla a guy cut in front of me then a moment later leapfrogged some others in front then did it again. He looked not nice and nobody protested. Even the airport, they don't try it in Miami but when you land in Cali there's always some guy that hurrys past everboby waiting in line and hops in right in front of the customs desk. It's kind of a badge of honor. At any kind of service counter like for popcorn at the movies you don't wait for the clerk to say "may I help you please" you just bellow your order as fast and as loud as you can. The clerks are used to that so if you don't you'll be the last to get waited on. I was sitting at the little restaurant and bakery near the entrance inside Chipichapi reading the newspaper and eating my lunch. A woman waiting for the payphone goes to grab the part I'm not physiclly holding on to. I barked "!No! eso es mio! and she just backed away, no "perdon" nada. It goes on and on. In the US now it's funny, I make people nervous because I stand so close in lines.

[burbuja2]

... in response to Re: Insight: Colombian Avoidance Radars ..., posted by Cali vet on Sep 14, 2002

If you're behind me in a line, please keep your distance!

[Cali vet]

... in response to Message to Vet, posted by burbuja2 on Sep 14, 2002

Naw I'll just cut in a few people in front.

[pablo]

... in response to Insight: Colombian Avoidance Radars, posted by Traveller on Sep 14, 2002

Is this the Carolina you mentioned?  Nice. http://www.nuestracolombia.org.co/m_lasmasbellas/carolinacruz.htm

[Traveller]

... in response to Re: Insight: Colombian Avoidance Radars, posted by pablo on Sep 14, 2002

Yep, that is her. Like an idiot, I didn't bring my external flash, so I didn´t get a good photo of her.
Here is a link to a photo of two of the models that were there, as well. They are going to be on my website pretty soon. Hopefully this coming week. Oh yeah, they are sisters. http://www.granmodelos.com/images/Pic1.jpg

[pablo]

... in response to Re: Re: Insight: Colombian Avoidance Rad..., posted by Traveller on Sep 14, 2002

Hey Traveler,

Can you contact me at my email address.  I tried reaching you at yours but it is an inactive email account.

Thanks

Pablo

[Traveller]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Insight: Colombian Avoidance..., posted by pablo on Sep 14, 2002

Go ahead and write me at xgrizzly@telesat.com.co

[bogota vet]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Insight: Colombian Avoid..., posted by Traveller on Sep 14, 2002

Are you the guy that is going to travel all of South America?  Lucky guy

[Traveller]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Insight: Colombian A..., posted by bogota vet on Sep 14, 2002

Yeah, beginning Oct 7th. First stop, Ecuador.
4 kids? Naw, I don't think so.

[bogota vet]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Insight: Colombi..., posted by Traveller on Sep 14, 2002

OK, she is too young , about21, it was some other model with a similar name.

What is the name of the website, that will record your travel journal?

My last visit to Cali about 8 months , the eccononmy appeared to be greatly improved in the city, from a few back. There were new cars all over, the roads were cleaned up. Is that true?

[Traveller]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Insight: Col..., posted by bogota vet on Sep 15, 2002

Hi,
Well, the website name is secret until I buy the domain name. Don't want someone buying it out from under me. =)
The rads still suck here. I saw a Coke Cola truck drive into one and it hasn't been seen since.
New cars are the truth. I saw great 65 Shelby fastback, candy apple red. There is a 65 Camaro running around. The other day, I saw a 87 Camaro with T-Tops. The owner of our building has a sweet 57 Thunderbird Coupe. Just mint condition. He drives that when he gets bored with his Porsche or his Ninja.
Od course, you always see the new SUV's and new Mercedes here, but you are also starting to se more classic cars.
Harleys are in abundance her. If you are close to 6 Av or 6A Av. on a Sunday you´ll hear evidence of that. Down the street from us, on Av. 6A, there are a couple of motorcycle shops and the have a lot of Harleys. Some of them are outstanding.