Early obsevations....lol

[Hoda]

Her words...

- Oh Dios Mio!!! They talk about the violence in Colombia!!!

- There are some very pretty women here. And some pretty BIG ONES also!

- Why is every other commercial about a Lawyer?

- Is that a man or woman? Is that a woman or a man?

- Doesn't anyone here speak English?

- Why is F*** used soooo often in conversation here?

- Who pays $500 for a pair of shoes & 300 for a pocketbook?

- People here, are much much nicer than portrayed.

- You've gotten to good start in cleaning the house, now let me finish! There is clean, then there is LATINA CLEAN...LOL!

Yes the first few weeks have been a learning experience for the BOTH of us. Patience, patience & more patience is required. The first cool breezes are really kicking her azz! But she's handling it like a true trooper. Prepare to give her your time. Try your best to leave a bad day at the office, AT THE OFFICE!! Give your lady plenty of time to adjust to the way of life you've lived in all your life.

Keep ya head up, love is out there for ya......if ya ready for it!

[LouieB]

... in response to Early obsevations....lol, posted by Hoda on Oct 21, 2002

Detroit???  DC??

[Hoda]

... in response to where do live that there is more violenc..., posted by LouieB on Oct 21, 2002

which city had more crime! My wife just made the point of how our government points to violence in Colombia while projecting the USA as some sort of crime-free haven. She reads the papers & watches the news. Most the crime in the states is never reported to Colombia. BTW, we're living in NYC! There is violence everywhere!

[Pete E]

... in response to This was not about...., posted by Hoda on Oct 21, 2002

Howard,
I think crime here really makes the news.The sniper guy being a good example.More news time seems to be spent on this guy than any other issue right now.I for one am sick of hearing about it,just tell me when you catch the SOB.I don't want to hear endless speculation and rehashing of the same imformation.I think this  news coverage encourages a jerk like that.They made him the most important guy in the country.
Yes there is crime here.A whole lot less per capita than Colombia and much easier to avoid as much of it is confined to certain areas.Colombia is a whole lot riskier.It doesn't keep me from going but does limit my activities when I am there.
But I can understand Stivalis's reaction when you turn on the TV.
As for New Yorkers favorite word,Phoooch(kind of spit out,as if pronounced by Silvester Stalone),as in your Phoooching car,just a colorfull insight to the mentality of some of the characters there.I remember these guys working at a car dealers on Jerome Avenue,cussing each other back and forth.Not the best memories of New York.I think the rudest people I ever met were in New Jersey but maybe thats just because I spent more time there.I never spent enough time in New York to find the good places.You may be too proud of New York to tell her that its alot different than most of the country.

Pete

[Hoda]

... in response to Re: This was not about...., posted by Pete E on Oct 22, 2002

Bad news (crime) brings in more viewers. More viewers, higher ratings. Higher ratings, mean the networks can charge more for commercial space. Pete, it's been awhile since you've been here. You have got to hear the "colorful insight" of some of the newest arrivals...lol! BTW, I do tell Stivalis about the regional differences of our country. Once things settle down some, we're gonna do our tour of America. We're gonna fly out to (2nd best) west coast & touch base with the (Cali)fornia crew & then do Virginia & Washington DC.

Hoda...

p.s. After the visits, Stivalis will see for herself, why NYC is the worlds capital...LOL!

[Pete E]

... in response to Phoooching around....lol, posted by Hoda on Oct 22, 2002

Howard,
The new news about the sniper is he called in but they din't get much imformation.So the police are saying please call back we would like to talk to you(and trace the call).He might be crazy be he is not stupid.
I used to work for the city here.We had some bomb threats so a memo came out telling how to handle a bomb threat call if we got one.One of the questions we were supposed to ask the guy is "what is your name and address".Government intelligence can be a misnomer.

Pete

[Pete E]

... in response to Phoooching around....lol, posted by Hoda on Oct 22, 2002

Howard,
Once Stivalis sees California she may not want to go back to New York!
One thing about the US,there is a wide variety of places to live that are alot different from other places.One of my wifes good friends from Cali lives in the Oklahoma panhandle.Now to me that would rival New York in a place not to be!Not much crime but not much of anything.And tornados.They have a storm cellar and have used it.She does have a good marriage and is happy.
My wife was surprised to find latin people living next door here.We were over there the other night.There were 7 Colombians,including 2 musicians who entertained us.I was the only non spanish speaker in a group of 20 or so.
Small world sometimes.

Pete

[LouieB]

... in response to This was not about...., posted by Hoda on Oct 21, 2002

I always observe politicians promoting the USA as a haven of freedom or a beacon of liberty or similar cliches but not as a crime free haven.  

now on the other hand political violence in the US is quite rare but not so in Colombia.  If the American government or media contrasts the political stability of the USA with the political instablity and violence of Colombia, it is not the same as saying there is no crime in the USA.

street and organized crime is another issue all together and both the USA and Colombia have major problems dealing with that

[Hoda]

... in response to how has our goverment promoted the USA a..., posted by LouieB on Oct 21, 2002

Justly or unjustly depending on who you want to believe in the media. Colombia & other countries have taken a beating in the public forum. You can argue the distinctions between political violence and street violence if ya want too. But in our book, getting shot or blown-up ain't got dayyum thing to do with politics. Violence is violence, period!

My wife finds it incredible the amount of violence in our (USA) schools. Metal detectors & body searches are unheard in schools in Cali. She isn't alone in her observations (as someone on the outside looking in) or perceptions. Random & serial killings "may" be higher here in comparison. Arguements and/or chest-beating on violence here vs. there is a waste of time. Make no mistake about it, your life/day is a crapshoot, once you walk out of your front door....

[LouieB]

... in response to Relax...., posted by Hoda on Oct 22, 2002

I certainly do believe that there is a difference between political violence and street crime.

the IRA isn't fighting to eliminate public drunkeness.

the FARC isn't fighting for stricter drug laws.

the Conquistadors weren't just a street gang from Madrid who found their way to the Americas after taking the Nina the Pinta, and the Santa Maria out for a joy ride.

[Hoda]

... in response to Dayyum right its about politics ., posted by LouieB on Oct 22, 2002

but bullets & bombs don't have political affiliations! What's funny about the groups you've mentioned, is that they're all THUGS!!! It's about money & death to get what they want....

Dayyum, you sound familiar.....

[LouieB]

... in response to Believe that if you want to...., posted by Hoda on Oct 22, 2002

[This message has been edited by LouieB]

the IRA isn't out to rob the British.  nor are the Palestinians out to mug the Jews.  

anyway the point being, the US doesn't sugar coat its crime problem.  but perhaps with the difficult situation in Colombia with street crime, war, corruption, and the tenuous state of civil liberties, problems in the US are overlooked until one is actually here.

[Hoda]

... in response to but the people that use bullets and bomb..., posted by LouieB on Oct 22, 2002

the US doesn't sugar coat? Dude, when was the last time the US sent out travel advisory's about crime here? If you don't believe the travel/media monguls don't have an effect on what is being said internationally about the US. Your travels outside the US are still clouding your view of what is happening here.....

You said,

"but perhaps with the difficult situation in Colombia with street crime, war, corruption, and the tenuous state of civil liberties, problems in the US are overlooked until one is actually here"

Everything you mentioned above is happening here everyday!!! We're at "War", now!!! And if Dubya & the rest of the US oil cartel have their way.....We'll have a second front in Iraq!!!!

Last reply is yours. This can be a very interesting topic to dicuss, but I just don't feel it helps others here in their quest.

Take care......

[LouieB]

... in response to Oh Boy..., posted by Hoda on Oct 22, 2002

Your words:

My wife just made the point of how our government points to violence in Colombia while projecting the USA as some sort of crime-free haven.

can you give me an example of how the US goverment projects this?

[Craig]

... in response to how has our goverment promoted the USA a..., posted by LouieB on Oct 21, 2002

What he saying is that there is plenty of crime in the USA, what's so difficult to understand about that? Some people on this board have been using the Colombia is to dangerous to travel crutch for years ...Give it up...no one buys it.