Newbie on the block... HELP!!!!

[wizard]

Ok guys... I'm a newbie here and in need of a little advice...

First I would like to say that I have found more useful information here that anywhere else concerning the truth about searching for a latin soulmate... No BS, just insight into the REAL process... Both the positive and negative aspects of the process are openly discussed... kudos... And then there is the diversity of opinions of the group members... lol... Way more entertaining than summer re-runs...

I am planning a trip to Cali on June 20th with a group... Haven't decided which one yet... Since this will be my first trip south and my spanish is sub-conversational, I feel that I should attend a tour... If for no other reason to get the lay of the land, make some contacts and relax... More of a vacation with a subliminal mission...

Here's the issue... It seems that every agency in Cali is having a tour on June 20 - 25, including TLC... I was planning on going to the latin internet Villa, but based on the posts here I feel there may be a better choice...

1.)  No matter which agency I choose, with so many tours in town I will be missing some of the quality ladies... I know, "quality" is a subjective term... Based on this assumption, which agency draws the best pool of ladies from which to choose... Any recommendations???

2.)  Every website I have visited always quotes as to having 1000+ members, but their websites only display 50 - 200 photos/profiles... Of the 50 - 200 profiles only a few could truly be classified as 9's or 10's... Again, making the assumption that the webmasters would only post the best profiles to the websites, could it be deduced that only about 5 percent of the ladies in Cali fit in the 9 to 10 category??? Ok, Ok... Yes, beauty is a prerequisite of mine...

3.)  Checking tour info, TLC's price is 2 to 3 times more than anybody else... Are they really that much better than everyone else???

4.)  Have read the posts on the pros and cons of personal ad placement and where... Does anyone here have any experience on placing personal ads in Cali???

5.)  Anybody attend the Memorial Day tours??? How about a post...

Thanks guys...

[Patrick]

... in response to Newbie on the block... HELP!!!!, posted by wizard on May 29, 2002

One sentence you wrote really stood out to me in your post, "More of a vacation with a subliminal mission."

I think that's the right attitude to go down on your first trip with.  With that in mind, it doesn't really matter too much which agency(ies) you go with.  If money is not a concern, then perhaps the TLC tour parties are the right choice for you.  If you do want to save some $$$, then Cali Vet gave you some good advice.

One thing I'm virtually certain of after having gone through the process and watching many others go through it is this-  Your success is far, far more dependent on you yourself than the agency(ies) you work with.  Finding a loving relationship and marriage this way takes a lot of effort.  Those who go and marry someone after knowing them for 5 days may believe otherwise, but I think those marriages are the most risky and prone to failure as well.

Prepare yourself for the process.  Take effort to do everything to the best of your ability.  Determine what it is you really want in a wife (beyond looks!).  Present yourself in the best way you can, refining your own selection process to fit what you REALLY want in a woman as you go.  Work on how to determine whether the women you're meeting fit your criteria.  Study Spanish.  Lose your personal baggage if you have any and open your mind.

Everyone has different perspectives after meeting women in Latin America.  Some come away with negative immpressions.  Others are blown away with the culture and women.  With that in mind, I think you can gain only so much from reading the message board and talking with other men.  Until you yourself have been there and done that, keep your mind open and decide for yourself after you know the places and women.  It will be an on-going learning process and will undoubtly take considerable exposure before your opinions solidify.

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Newbie on the block... HELP!!!!, posted by Patrick on May 30, 2002

Thanks for the advice Patrick... Trust me, I have no misconceptions as to the importance and care that one needs to take when beginning an endeavor of this nature... The search for a life partner is not like buying a dog... Please excuse the analogy, but unfortunately, the MOB industry historically has been portrayed in this manner... It is only in recent years that this view has softened a bit... Just last week there was a piece on local television news in the Houston area about the MOB industry with interviews of agency owners... Imagine that!!! Basically, I believe that any service that can provide a vehicle for bringing two people together for the purpose of obtaining happiness cannot be all bad... All the agency does is make the introduction... The rest is up to us... Building a lasting relationship takes time, energy and patience... Doesn't matter if in LA or on the moon...
My story songs like a broken record... Failed marriage, multiple relationships, always ending unfulfilled and longing for the real thing... yada yada yada... I don't want to bash AW, but the current generation(s) of women in america have been raised to compete with men in the workforce... Therefore, they carry that competitive nature into their personally relationships... again, yada yada yada... We all know the story... At this point in my life I would travel to the end of the earth to find a failthful, honest and caring life partner... Those of us with the guts to decide what it is we truly want and then to go out to find it are the real men...

I did not mean to convey that my only requirement for a future partner was beauty... Nor am I looking for the 5 day wonder... God, that's scary... I have read the stories and honestly don't know how someone could make that kind of decision... Sorry if I have offended anyone, but in my experience the "lightning bolt" relationships rarely last... It's truly sad to fall in love with someone only to later find that you don't like them as a person... Been there, done that, saw the movie, got the T-shirt...

I am fortunate to live in an area with a large latin community, Houston Texas... My exposure to the latin community here has helped to narrow my focus on the SA countries for my search... Have been in a relationship with a latin woman here so I know the potential, but she was far too "americanized"... Assimilation into the community here would be far easier for a Calena than in other parts of the country... For the future I hope to retire in a LA country where the pace is a little more sane, the values run a little deeper and the cost of living more affordable...

I know what I want, willing to put in the effort and have my head on straight...

Again, thanks for the input Patrick...

[Hoda]

... in response to Newbie on the block... HELP!!!!, posted by wizard on May 29, 2002


Here goes...

C-Vet offered you some valuable $$$$ tips. Do the math first, so you can get more for your buck. You better believe, that many tours/agents/agencies will let you spend as much as possible. This is not to say, that they're dishonest. But they're (some, not all) thinking will be, if he wants to pay $1000 for something he could get for $500, why should I stop him? BTW, how long are you staying?

Number 1:
- Yes "quality" is subjective. Don't sweat the fact of the number of tours in the area. So what, you'll miss a few "quality" women. It impossible to meet all the "quality" women anyway...LOL! Once you start talking to a dozen or so ladies, you'll be begging to take a brake,from talking to so many ladies! Hang on, you're about to go on a ride, that you've never experienced before. BTW, there is NO AGENCY, has the market cornered on "quality" ladies.

Number 2:
- Don't judge the contents (ladies) by their cover (website). You'll find more than what's advertised, once you get there. Don't assume that a business in Colombia, would be run the same way here. Business is Colombia is run a little bit differently, than what you're used too....lol.

Number 3:
- Never went on a tour, can't help you there. I used an agency. I wasn't comfortable with the way tours operate. Don't get me wrong. Many guys have been lucky with tours. Many have been lucky writing letters.. There is no "ONE" way to find or be found by love.

Good Luck

[wizard]

... in response to Welcome Wizard...., posted by Hoda on May 30, 2002

Hi Hoda...

I knew you were going to nail me on the "quality" thing... lol... I know it sounded like I was standing over the butcher counter looking at the T-bones, but I had no better way of describing the type of woman I am searching for... Beautiful, yes... The only requirement, no... We all search for someone to complement our lives... Whether it is intellectually, spiritually or physically... We are all searching for the ideal partner... Why else would we travel thousands of miles in the pursuit of happiness...

Common sense tells me that no one agency has the corner on "quality" (there's that word again) ladies... I was merely asking if in anyone's experience they encountered an agency that had higher standards for screening applicants... I understand that Luz Amparo may fall into this category...

Once I get my feet under me as far as Cali in general, I will probably travel solo as many of the folks here have done... This first trip I consider a fact finding mission and to learn the ropes... Plus, like you said, get ready for an experience... The kid in the candy store scenario... I do understand that taking your time is imperative, but initially I will use the "immersion" technique... Gotta start somewhere...

I was just curious about the $1000 tour... Like the old story goes, a fool and his money will soon part... I will probably go with a local agency in Cali that has monthly group events... Best of both worlds... More personalized service along with the monthly parties... I intend on staying from 5 - 10 days depending on how it goes... If I meet someone I like I'll stay 10 days to get better acqauinted wiht that person...

Thanks Hoda...

[Hoda]

... in response to Re: Welcome Wizard...., posted by wizard on May 30, 2002

LOL.....

"intellectually, spiritually and/or physically" all fall under the "quality" column. I feel you (understand/agree/concur...lol) on the "where" (agency) one might want to focus on. It's just that with some ladies registered at more than one agency, the "quality" can be spread around a bit. By all means visit a few agencies & malls, clubs, etc...lol! In regards to the dreaded "Kid in the candy store" experience. Let me tell you, Yo! Remember to keep breathing & blinking...LMAO!

Don't forget the photo copy of your passport & try to get $40 to $80 in SMALL DENOMINATIONS of Colombian peso's BEFORE you leave. Yeah, the rate won't be as great as the ATM's. It just that for me, having a few pesos in my pocket upon arrival is a little more reasurring. Having these peso's will allow you have "Change" for the Taxi. Some drivers are notorious for not having "change"!!!

Peace...Hoda

[Cali vet]

... in response to Newbie on the block... HELP!!!!, posted by wizard on May 29, 2002

1. No agency draws the "best" women but they do often draw different women.

2. There's tons of beautifull women in Cali. Some of them sign up at agencies or go to the tour parties.

3. At TLC you pay $500 each for two "socials". The pool party doesn't count since it involves women who've come to one of the first two. For that price you can get one year memberships in two to three three agencies. Hard to beat if you plan to go more than once in a year. The tour is not chock full of "10s". The percentage is the same as the websites you've visited. A drawback of the tour is you have no background information whatsoever on the girls you talk to so you might find a pretty girl holding on to you for a precious half hour only to dicover in the end that she has three kids. I've been on a TLC tour and it offered no advantage over meeting girls through an agency. I think it's the least worthwhile option. You can be sure that the agencies will be throwing their own parties the week that TLC is in town since the men will be filtering out after the tour socials. Agency parties are definately worthwhile.

4. Save your money and effort. Instead visit as many agencies as you can.

I wouldn't write off Latin-Internet. I looked at their site recently and they have a lot of new and pretty faces. Their problem is being located so far from the others which are grouped up in the north.

I think the best stratagy is to visit as many agencies as you can since each will have a few very pretty girls then work out what you can with the owner to be able to meet them.

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Newbie on the block... HELP!!!!, posted by Cali vet on May 30, 2002


I'm going to pass on the TLC tour... Like you say, no real advantage paying top dollar for a tour that is only in town twice a year... It would be money better spent working with the local agencies as they know their clients (men & women) better... This should cut down on citas with ladies that don't fit my basic requirements, beautiful or not...

I agree that with latin-internet being on the south side of town is an issue... I do like the facility from the pics on their website... That was my first choice until I found this forum and read some of the other opinions... After this first trip I will probably return to visit them in the future...

If my experience is anything like some of the posts in this forum, I will be traveling back to Cali many times in the future... This first trip is relax, enjoy myself and learn the ropes...

Thanks CV...

[tommi]

... in response to Re: Re: Newbie on the block... HELP!!!!, posted by wizard on May 30, 2002

Read some of the past posts here and you'll find a common consensus on the best 2 or 3 agencys. Have never done the tour thing either and instead used an agencu my first two times to Cali. After that it's easy because you make freinds and acquaintances on your first trips.

Also...STAY AWAY FROM THE MEMBERSHIP FEES!!! Use the Pay as you go method and you won't have any regrets later...

I'll be there agin July 6th!!!!

Have fun and welcome to the board.