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ok guys, i'm taking the plunge, i'm headed down to cartagena this weekend for 2 weeks. i'll be meeting a young woman that i've been writing to and speaking to for 7 months. I got her address from Latin Destination, they sent me her mailing and email address, so I emailed her, she emailed back and it's been lots of letter writing since. I called her for the first time 3months ago, even though she wanted to speak around christmas, i needed more time to practice my spanish, luckily i've been studying hard and it's paid off because we communicate perfectly. she told me today how much my spanish has improved since we first spoke. my method? taping and watching colombian soap operas, betty la fea, por que diablos, la baby sister, paquita gallego, cafe, listening and repeating over and over again. i'm glad i've found these calling cards, they make it much more affordable, especially since there have been a few times when we've spoken for 3-4 hours straight.  she's going to be showing me around the city, introducing me to her family( i've spoken to her parents and grandparents) taking me out on the town, as you can imagine i'm excited. can she be the one? everything points to yes but as we all know, writing and speaking over the phone are different than meeting them in person, we'll see. all i know is that she's very family oriented, great reationship with her parents, mature, intelligent (college educated), with lots of everyday common sense, great sense of humor, fun to talk to and attractive, oh yeah, and she likes to cook...whether she's any good is something i'll find out soon enough. something that struck me about her that you guys might want to consider in the women you're corresponding with is how she reacts to the fact that you might be writing to other women. my lady asked me if I was, i told her yes, how many and she was very cool with it, in fact she encouraged me to write to and meet as many as women possible before making a decision and not to rush into things. unlike some of the other women I've been writing to, my cartagena lady never asked me specific questions about the other women. the other women i've been in contact with always ask about the "others", what's her name, how old is she, what does she do, is she pretty, etc, but my lady from cartagena never does that, she's very confident of herself and she concentrates on us when we speak or write and is not threatened by possible competition. well, wish me luck guys, i'll try to post updates while in cartagena and for sure will post a report when I get back.
steve

... in response to Flying down to Cartagena, posted by jediknight on May 22, 2001

Hey good luck Steve!  I am glad you realize that studying Spanish hard is important so you can communicate.  Yes, it will pay off as you have already realized.  Keep it up, because it takes awhile, but it is great to talk to the ladies in their own language.  Sounds like you have been building a good relationship and hopefully the chemistry will be there when you meet.

The calling cards make a big difference.  For many months I would talk an average of an hour a day with the novia.  Hey, I just found a new calling card that is good quality at 10 cents/minute.  E-mail me and I will give you the details.  

Have a great time!

Cuídate.

... in response to Re: Flying down to Cartagena, posted by Edge on May 22, 2001

An hour a day! Man..Edge...you're in love!  What's the name of that calling card?  BTW what's John Elway doing these days?

... in response to Re: Re: Flying down to Cartagena, posted by buzzy on May 22, 2001

Yes - the novia and I used to talk an hour a day for many many months.  Now we are like an old married couple and hardly speak :-).  Just kidding.  Although I still call her every day, mainly on the weekends is when we have our long conversations.  Anyway, the calling card is www.nobelcom.com.  It is the Nobel Colombia card.  I bought one yesterday and tried it out last night and it was a good connection for 10 cents, no connection charge.  Awhile back I had tried them but the distortion was terrible so I think they got the message and upgraded to using a better carrier.  They had sent me an e-mail telling me that they went to a better quality carrier.  I was having trouble with the Colombianita and union cards with not being able to get through on nights and weekends and sometimes the quality was bad.  So if anyone tries nobel.com, let me know.

You want to know about Elway??  Well, he is pretty well set up around here.  A few years ago he sold out his car dealerships to Autonation/Wayne Huzienga sp? for $80 million.  So now he just makes commercials for Wayne. John is available for the highest bidder.  He was trying some internet sports deal that fell through. To tell you the truth, I liked him as a quarterback, but I think Wayne Huzienga stinks and Elway is his partner.  When we were trying to land Boeing, they bring out John Elway.  When we were going after Alex Rodriguez, the baseball player, they bring out Elway.

So life goes on.  There a million stories in this naked city.  You remember the old TV show?

I just make sure I have plenty of jellybeans to keep the ole blood sugar level up.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: hello Mr. Buzzy, posted by Edge on May 22, 2001

Edge,
I tried the nobel.com card to Lima Peru, it was terrible !! It sounded like I was talking into a garbage can. I just got an e-mail from them yesterday saying they now have ATT, MCI and a few other carriers that serve the Lima area. I`m half tempted to try them again as they were 8.9 cents a minute. I now pay .39 through ATT, but the connection is perfect. If I do try them I will let you know.
                         Evan

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: hello Mr. Buzzy, posted by Evan on May 22, 2001

calling to Cali.  Terrible quality.  I got the same e-mail and tried again and it was a good connection, not great likes say AT&T, but good and I had no trouble getting through.  The 8.9 cents I believe is to Colombia major cities although it is a little more to Cali so I do not know what the charge is to Peru.  I will let you know how it goes and if you decide to try again, let me know.  Thanks.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: same thing happened ..., posted by Edge on May 23, 2001

Hey Edge,
I just got this e-mail about 2 days ago from nobel.com. It was for a special card for calling just Lima. I would imagine they have the same for Colombia though. The first ones I got from them was $40.00 down the drain, it was impossible to use.But this time they say they have top name carries, so I think I will try one again. I will let you know how they work, I will be talking to my girl in a few days again.
Later, Evan

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: same thing happe..., posted by Evan on May 23, 2001

My wife used it yesterday and today. Less than 10 cents per minute with NO connection fee. She said the quality was fine. She even made some calls to cell phones down there and had no problems.

At least for the DR, Nobelcom looks like a great deal. I should buy stock, knowing how much I'll be spending on those puppies!  Can't be as bad as $600-$900 phone card bills when she was still living down there!

... in response to Just got one for the DR, posted by Ralph on May 23, 2001

getting through to Cali, just like the other calling cards.  In the day, it is not so bad, but in the evening it can take awhile.  But at least the quality seems good.

... in response to Re: I had problems last night.., posted by Edge on May 24, 2001

I tried to call Lima last night with this new improved nobel.com card and had the same problem. Did I get screwed again ?

... in response to Re: Re: I had problems last night.., posted by Evan on May 24, 2001

I just called the novia and had no problem because it is during the day.  I think at night, many times, these cards get overloaded with callers.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: I had problems last night.., posted by Edge on May 24, 2001

I hope this is the case. (n/t)

... in response to Re: Flying down to Cartagena, posted by Edge on May 22, 2001

thanks edge, I also hope the chemistry is there once we meet. thanks for the calling card offer but i have one that charges me approx. 8 cents/min. it's called wordwide and they don't have any connection fees, so if i divide the call up into 2 or three, i keep almost all of the value of the card. i don't have one on me now but if you like i can post the customer service number when i do get one.
steve

... in response to Re: Re: Flying down to Cartagena, posted by jediknight on May 22, 2001

Yes - please post the information on the calling card because I am always looking a better card.  Is the quality good?

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Flying down to Cartagena, posted by Edge on May 22, 2001

yes, the quality is very good, even when I call from my cell phone with the 866 access number, which I do at night because i have a ton of minutes and sometimes I don't get home early enough to call from there.I use Freedom Call Worldwide prepaid phone cards, they give me 60 min for $5 when calling cartagena and bogota. call customer service at 800.643.3185 to see where you can get it in your area
steve

... in response to calling card, posted by jediknight on May 23, 2001

Steve - $5 for sixty minutes of good quality phone time to Colombia is a good price.  I am checking into it here.  I hope you have a great trip and a memorable time down in Colombia.  

Luke Skywalker and all the gang are proud of you and wish you all the best also.

Best of luck.

... in response to Flying down to Cartagena, posted by jediknight on May 22, 2001

Steve,

It definitely looks like you've put in alot of time in your search/adventure. She sounds like a keeper. By reading your post, it sounds like you've achieved a level of "chemistry" that I have rarely seen from guys who write first. Listen up fellas, you can go first, or you can write, then go. But you GOTTA GO!!!! No if's, and's or but's about it. Steve, your lady shows plenty of self confidence (not being concerned about the other women) & patience (waiting 7 months for your behind :-), you're lucky another guy didn't scoop her up..LOL!). Good luck & please post when you return....

Peace....Hoda

... in response to Good luck & best wishes Steve, posted by Hoda on May 22, 2001

Steve,
Kinda sounds like my experience went.  Just relax down there and have a good time, just use common sense.  Cartagena is just as safe as Cancun.  I hope it works out well for you....

Later,
Mike

http://www.sparhard.com/colombia.htm

... in response to Good luck, posted by JunFanTX on May 22, 2001

thanks Mike and Hoda for the well wishes, I'll post a report once I get back. Hoda, your point about her waiting and not having some other guy scoop her up is right on, I've asked and she has told me about the others that have written and continue to write to her, but she has told me many times that I'm the one she is interested in and writes to consistantly. knowing how and being able to communicate in her language, along with being honest and sincere is, I think, the difference that is setting me apart from the others. (keeping my fingers crossed but feet firmly planted)
steve