shazam has left 51 comments

shazam comments on

This has been going on for many, many years now and only recently has the press been covering it - defying Uribe's gag orders on the press. Finally.

shazam comments on HANDICRAFTS TRADE SHOW IN BOGOTA

FYI if you have a foreign passport, the entrance ticket is free.

shazam comments on Are there any Colombians that homeschool Kids, bilingual schools here are a disaster!

That's too bad about The Columbus School. I worked there 10 years ago and it was wonderful, but that director retired and apparently the new one IS THE DISASTER. Many good teachers and families have left. Most families in Colombia who homeschool are religious missionaries so be aware of that if you plan on creating social circles with them for your kids. If you homeschool with a Spanish tutor for several months but still want your kids to socialize, consider joining a club or get them involved in activities at the stadium. As well, if you've come to Colombia to work, ask around at work for ideas. Paisas, of all Colombians, are incredibly helpful and inclusive. They probably have ideas and connections better than any of us online can offer.

shazam comments on has anyone heard about this?

I live in Bogota, and a colleague from work was 'scopalamina-ed' just 6 months ago. Another colleague's mother had it happen to her a year ago. It's usually given to you on a paper or tossed in your face if they're really bold.

shazam comments on Short term furnished apartment rental Bogota

check out www.metrocuadrado.com they ought to have something

shazam comments on Does anybody know What kind of festivo it is in Colombia tomorrow? and Is it Nationwide?

All Catholics celebrate All Saints Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls Day on Nov. 2....but not all countries give a national holiday for them. and on a side note, this is why Halloween (All Hallows Eve) is on Oct. 31

shazam comments on Does Medellin have an "In Crowd"

If you have to ask, you're not in. And like most in crowds, you GROW UP in them, not just suddenly show up and get accepted.

shazam comments on Is "La Candelaria" a nice area to stay? What to do in Bogotá in two days?

Candelaria in December will be lovely. Yes, there are beggars and they're a bit dirty and persistent, but if you kindly tell them you haven't got anything, they'll leave you alone. Plus, with so many people on the street, they'll have others to focus on. Definately stroll up to plaza el chorro and people watch, and also to plaza Bolivar where there will probably be some sort of entertainment. Avoid going south of plaza bolivar as it has a rough reputation. La Macarena is a great area to visit for meals as many restaurants have opened in the last year. My favorite museum in the city is the Museo de Arte Moderno on septima with calle 22 and it's always worth a visit. If you want to shop, Zona Rosa, although a bit far, is great. There are also some cute little shops in the new Plaza 39 mall in front of the Parque Nacional on septima.

shazam comments on Guitar lessons in Bogota

My friend David gives lessons at a small school but also individually. He also speaks English. You can reach him at 232-5289. Tell him Kaly recommended him.

shazam comments on Amazon - tour operators OR lodges ?

Anyone know any Amazon tours or agencies that do off the beaten path tours? We've done the Aviatur/standard Amacayacu, isla de micos, etc. tour, but are looking to revisit the Amazon and do something a bit different.

shazam comments on Gay Bars

El Closet is up in La Calera...it supposedly fun, but rather inconvenient to get to and back unless you have a car. Theatron is THE gay bar in Bogota. It's between septima and cra 13 around cll 58. It's essentially three bars in an old theatre and they've got the best Halloween party in the city if you can get in. There's also a bar around there that used to be called Magnolia that's friendly to all, but I can't remember the new name. All that said, check out these websites for guides to the city: Go Guia del Ocio www.goguiadelocio.com Plan B magazine www.planb.com.co Cartel Urbano www.cartelurbano.com

shazam comments on If you had a choice what location would you live in in Medellin

hands down, Belen or Prado downtown

shazam comments on Swimming Pool Day Trip from Bogota?

Does anyone have any information on regular swim clubs in Bogota? I know Gimnasio Moderno has a pool, and I used to swim there but have since moved father south and therefore it is not as convenient. However their pool is clean, as are the locker rooms, and the swimmers there understand and follow lap lane etiquitte. Does anyone know of any other pools...for example in el centro? Or does anyone have any information on how to get into the Centro Aquatico out by Parque Bolivar?

shazam comments on hanging out?

Hostal Fatima in the Candelaria (you can find them on Facebook) is owned and operated by young (early 20's) Colombians who have all attended bilingual schools here and then studied and traveled abroad. They are super fun and knowledgeable. There are several places throughout the city where foreigners hang out, but it depends on what kind of foreigners you want to hang out with. The embassy people tend to stick to parque 93 and zona rosa...and to expensive places where many others can't afford to go. The young crowd is spread out according to taste. So your best bet is to go where you enjoy the scene, and you'll be sure to run into multi-nationals.

shazam comments on Libretta Militar

I appreciate everyone's insigts. If anyone hears of an upcoming Amnesty (when they offer libretta's to everyone that doesn't have one, no questions asked) please do post so others can be informed. Overall, I know it's possible to BUY a libretta regardless of strata, but the circumstances vary so greatly, it's hard to get a grasp of what the rules actually are. Or rather, if anyone even follows them.

shazam comments on Libretta Militar

Even beyond the fighting of the guerrilla, there's fighting with narcotraficantes; then they get mixed up with the paracos, their own battalions are often unaware of the movements of other military operations, they're often sent out into the jungle for months if not years at a time and there are land mines everywhere in Colombia. My school sends student groups to the hospital militar every month to visit with and take donations to the wounded soldiers...magazines, games, movies, etc. The soliders are only a few years older than my students, but they're missing limbs or have traumatic stress disorder and their lives were tough enough before the military. It's bad enough that the guerrilla and paramilitaries force campesinos to fight with them, but the legitimate government of the country shouldn't do the same.

shazam comments on Libretta Militar

Thank you...I checked the one from about a month ago, but mostly it was a lot of name calling and hot wind...not too much information. I didn't feel comfortable entering that environment to ask for information. It's not that I'm against serving in the military, as long as it's voluntary. But it's not, and unless someone plans to make a career of it, it's not worth the risk of dying. So I help out the younger brothers, newphews, cousins, etc. of friends who need it.

shazam comments on Libretta Militar

Very true...but also check out this article. Keep in mind, the website it's from is very far left... http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=63746

shazam comments on U.S. Embassy for U.S. citizens and the "Colombian Blockade"

The US Embassy in Bogota is the worst US embassy I've encountered in FIVE DIFFERENT COUTRIES! From what I'm told by those I know who work there, there is HUGE IN-FIGHTING among the staff and lots of politics being played to jerk each other around. It's the second largest in the world and they all receive enormous 'hardship' pay just to be here...they also get enormous apartments and countless restrictions on when and where they can go (i.e. 'No crowded places' - which is ALL OF BOGOTA!) Throw in as well that this embassy tends to draw Mormons to this post since the church is very big and very active here it makes for a weird mix. I've been to some of their 'socials' and I'm certain I'd have more fun drinking drano!

shazam comments on Arabic Speakers

Go chat with the owners of some of the Lebanese restaruants in Laureles. fonecia and I forget the name of the other one. They're both close to Bolivariana, circular 2 or 3...one just up from the setenta and the other near crispina's italian restaurant.

shazam comments on colombians in miami

I've got a feeling...EVERYONE is PRETENTIOUS to you Most latinos owning yatchs and large homes in Miami are most likely, if Colombian, as Colombiche says, upper class families who left when the problems started...which is typical of every culture everywhere. The wealthy and educated leave when the country goes bad.

Your use of the slur 'spic' and repetitive grammatical errors in ENGLISH, having grown up in the US and I assume if you were accepted into the marines, finished high school, are blatant signs of your own 'pretentiousness'. Namely, that anyone spending their money on upscale living is 'pretentious' compared to you and your friends who, either for lack of means or furgality, would rather boast about your poverty.

BIZARRE

shazam comments on Teaching English in Colombia

if your certified you can contact colegio panamericano which is the top bilingual school in bucaramanga. if you´re not a certified teacher, you might at least be able to get on their sub list

check out their website

www.colegiopanamericano.edu

shazam comments on

use common sense mexico is more dangerous than colombia at this point. the crime you MIGHT encounter here is no different than anywhere else.

just be smart

shazam comments on colombians eyes

it's not just colombians milky white eyes is a sign of cataracts. anyone can get it...even an animal!

shazam comments on Teaching English in Colombia

Teaching and Language Instruction If you're not a certified educator than, yes, forget about getting a job at a school...they'll only hire ceritified educators as the ministry of education requires.

Anyone can teach at a language institute so long as they are a native speaker and have finished high school. if you have a more advanced degree, try the universities or offer tutoring in those subjects...most schools will put you on their tutor lists if you ask.

as for foreign hire teachers pay versus colombian teachers pay...yes, they do make more if you include all the benefits. the actually monthly pesos salaries follow the same scale, however they are usually also given a dollar check monthly, semesterly or yearly, depending on the school as incentive for living overseas, and writing consulation reports on the benefit of having native speakers at the school. and yes, the usually also have their visas and flights paid for as well as apartments...but all this varies on the school and city.

in my five years in colombia working with the US accredited schools, NONE of them pay utility bills for anyone. that's ridiculous.

shazam comments on What is missing from Bogota

one more thing bogota would be better if we could get rid of the classism!

shazam comments on What is missing from Bogota

what bogota needs... is time to continue on the path they're on...things are getting better all the time. la la

however, i would love it if we had a national holiday designated to WASHING THE BUSES/CARS and SWEEPING THE STREETS. everyone would get to stay home from work, and wash vehicles, clean their patch of street and the next day we could all start off again squeaky clean!

:)

shazam comments on Buying mosquito repellent in Colombia.

soap in the black box it's called NO PI EX...i don't know about the spelling, but after you shower, you put it on while you skin is still wet, let it dry and nothing, NOTHING bites you.

i don't think there's DEET in it...but don't worry about it...you'll live!

shazam comments on Medellin during Christmas

the lights the lights while in medellin for christmas you must set aside at least one evening to stroll the parks along the river over which the city decorates with lights for miles. it's spectacular! on the night of dec. 8th...go into some of the middle class neighborhoods like laurels and belen to see the 'velas' and eat buneulos!

shazam comments on How good is chapinero

good neighborhood Chapinero is a mix of middle class, university students, artists and people interested in more than just the material things the parque 92/zona rosa crowd live in.

the buildings are older, but with character, and lots of new ones are going up. it's not a 'polished' part of bogota by any means, but it's interesting and there's always something going on for everyone's tastes. plus, it's not so expensive.

shazam comments on place to stay in Bogota

check the forum on this site called RENTING, SELLING APARTMENTS!

shazam comments on Top 10: Lies colombian women tell Men. ;-)

these are actually relevant to most women everywhere. except maybe the cultures where women are taught not to speak! ha ha

and now...who's got the top 10 list for colombian guys? we all know they're NOT blameless either!

i think the list must include this one: No, I've never been to a whorebar. ha ha

shazam comments on Americans in Bogota

as long as... you're not with the embassy i'd be in too. the embassy crowd has a ton of extra rules to follow and they tend to be a bit brazen in their sense of superiority to the locals here...i avoid them.

as well...the crowd from my work often hangs out at the pub in la t on friday afternoons...or lately we've been hitting the cheaper university bars. but we'd all love to meet people we don't work with to broaden our social circles.

count me in.

shazam comments on Myth of detached retinas from treadmills

just keep the treadmill inside the house! how old was the aunt who's retina detached on a roller coster?


my aunts retinas eventually deterioated...but she was in her 90's and i think their time was up!

shazam comments on Be careful on the night bus !

are you sure... often times the police maintain a presence on major roads such as bogota-medellin, medellin-cartagena, etc...and colombinas are very concerned about 'night air' and keep their faces covered...even the cops. it's quite possible the police stopped you just to check the drivers papers.

i recently took the bus from bogota to medellin and we were stopped by the police, who DID NOT board the bus, bus simply made us wait a couple hours with several other buses before allowing us to continue. turns out there was paramilitary activity up ahead and they merely wanted to keep us out of their hands.

shazam comments on Drug guide

glue sniffing street kids yeah there are lots of street kids sniffing glue and it's sad 'cause it will eventually kill them...but it takes away their hunger and THAT'S WHY they do it. feeling euphoric is a pleasant side effect, but when you've got no food, and none coming, it makes sense.

farm boys in the US start chewing tobacco for the same reason...then end up with mouth cancer. hunger is a powerful enemy.

shazam comments on Los Puentes en Medellin! (o Colombia)

public holidays i remember hearing somewhere that colombia has more public holidays than any other nation in the WORLD!

not sure if it´s true, but between october, november and december...we hardly have a full week of work ever!

shazam comments on

check out this site if you´re into electronica...this site lists most of the parties going on that usually aren´t in Plan B or GO Ocio and the mainstream world doesn´t know about.

http://ar.groups.yahoo.com/group/centralbogota/

shazam comments on THE TOP 10 LIQUORS

booze to bring depending on your recipient´s taste...

whiskeys - jim bean, johhny walker definately, easy to get in bogota but not many other places...and expensive

i´d of course, bring them a bottle of drambruie...mmm mmm good!

as for cristal, if you don´t like the thread, go to another one. talking about alcohol does not make one an alcoholic. however we might turn the argument to how one´s spelling might advertise their intoxication level...ha ha

shazam comments on Teaching English in Bogota

what do you plan on teaching? what area of certification do you have?

there are some schools that are on the Aug-June calendar (mostly the international schools) and some that are on the Feb-Dec calendar. most international schools already have their teachers for the year, but would most definately appreciate substitutes that are competent in the classroom and you could easily get yourself on their tutoring lists, which would help make ends meet until you do find a permanent job.

as well, the international schools do most of their hiring for the following year in february and march...so knock on their doors as soon as you get here before the directors take off. you might also consider places like "Teaching & Tutoring" which works one on one with kids who have flunked out of the top notch schools and are trying to catch up to re-enter in the following year.

good luck

shazam comments on

bum coffee table book with all these photos of bums, someone needs to make a coffee table book of them.

a friend of mine in japan used to take photos of drunken businessmen who never made it home the night before passed out on benches, street corners and curbs still in their suits clutching their briefcases...some accessorized with vomit even. he's looking for a publisher at the moment!

shazam comments on Colombia bashing?

la verdad es que... hay gringos (y otros extranjeros) que hablan mal de colombia.
hay colombinos que hablan mal de colombia.
hay colombianos que hablan mal de otro paises...espeicalmente los estados unidos
Y HAY GRINGOS QUE TAMBIEN HABLAN MAL DEL E.E.U.U. TAMBIEN.

pero no todos.

pues...es decir..STOP YOUR CRYING. you'd need a place to vent too, and would probably be whining a lot more than anyone on this site, if you lived in a foreign country.

shazam comments on THE TOP 10 LIQUORS

if you must drink guaro... aguadiente antioqueno is better than caldas or nectar in my opinion. but it ranks with zinfania in 'great drinks'. i'd take an absinthe any day over them all!

shazam comments on What minas "Quiebrapatas" do to a young colombian life

He was lucky to have access to a prosthetic leg Just a few months ago a poor kid from San Andres named Rodney, who'd been playing basketball all his life, and was quite good, got the opportunity to go to NYC to play in the leagues just under the NBA, went out with friends the night before he left and while going home, on scooters because they're poor, were hit by a car driven by one of the islands' richer sons who was drag racing. He stopped, checked his TIRES then kept going. Rodney lost his foot, then his leg just under his knee. He also lost his chance to play professional basketball and pull himself up out of poverty. The rich kid who hit him took off and word was that he was hiding out in Miami.

Rodney, last I heard, still doesn't have a prosthetic leg. And lots of people have been throwing and attending charity fund raisers for him.

shazam comments on Relocation to Bogota, Colegio Nueva Granada

THE best school CNG is THE most EXPENSIVE school in Colombia. As for the best...not really. It's a very good school, but San Carlos consistently has higher math and science scores than CNG and students at both Colegio Bolivar in Cali and Colegio Armenia in La Guajira have better spoken English hands down by the time they graduate. They use English more on campus than CNG does these days.

As well, most foreign teachers might enjoy their stay in COLOMBIA, but CNG in the last 6 or 7 years has developed a negative repuation among the international teaching community for irregularities and non-standard practice in its dealings with present and previous staff. At the end of the '02-03 school year, the entire foreign hire English department was replaced, the following year several teachers left in protest to the firings of other teachers based on planted rumors by a local teacher. Year after year, departing teachers report never receiving their deposits back, nor even word of how it was spent. Worse, many local hire teachers are in constant fear for their jobs and they tend to get fired at the drop of a hat.

All schools have their problems, CNG is not an exception. It is a very good school and probably one of the better schools to work at in Bogota, but I wouldn't say in ALL of Colombia. If you chose to work at CNG...make sure you have a life OUTSIDE of it so as not to get tangled in it's web of gossip, back stabbing and politics.

shazam comments on

it's all relative we're not earning DOLLARS here...we all work and earn pesos. so 15,000 cover for a sit down club IS expensive when you can sit down and have a beer elsewhere for 1000 pesos.

shazam comments on Weather in bogota?

It still raining this past week we've had rain nearly everyday. it's downpouring at the moment. when the sun is out, it's lovely, and you might get burnt as at this altitude it's powerful.

just bring sunscreen, an umbrella and closed toe shoes!

shazam comments on Escape from the Zona Rosa!!

La G (for gourmet district) is between cll 69 and 72, cra 5 and 6.

Claro Oscuro (69 & 6a) is great for drinks UPSTAIRS.
Armadillo (cra 5 & 70)is international food, expensive, but worth it.
Harry's Bar (cll 69 & 6a) is excellent, but pricey. his deli around the corner is also excellent and less expensive.
Michel Pastisere (sp?) (69 &6a) and Joyce (cra 5 & 70) are both great for coffee and onces
La Tienda de Cafe (same as in Usaquen) is now on cra 5 & 71...fun atmosphere, but pricey.
Hamburgueseria (cll 70 just above 5 by the spinning center) is a million times better than el corral for the same price.
Table de Michel (cll 69 & 4)is a fantastic french restaurant...but pricey

Many wonderful restaurants around the park in Usaquen as well.

Also, La Florida on Septima and 20-something, is a famous place for onces by the older bogotanos. good and not so expensive.

shazam comments on colombian slang

why not get a tatoo of some indigenous image instead? there's tons to choose from and those are much more interesting as a tatoo than a bunch of words

shazam comments on Relocation to Bogota, Colegio Nueva Granada

CNG-salaries/compensation CNG has a high reputation within colombia and the international school community. as far as schools go in colombia, they pay VERY well. however they only higher import teachers who have education degrees and certification. teachers are allowed at least one, but i think up to two children free tuition (i don't have kids so i'm not sure). They offer lots of professional development for staff and seem to be expecting more from staff...no more than any other US/Canadian/European school, but more than they've been used to apparently.

The kids and parents are the financial elite of the country. There's a general feeling of ENTITLEMENT and SUPERIORITY that they carry which is seen more with middle and high school students as their adolescence magnifies their insecurities so they then overcompensate. They can be holy terrors to work with. But at the moment I've got a gem of a class this year. Last year was wonderful and next year seems the same. However the one after that is living up to their reputation.

Parents are for the most part incredibly pleasant and friendly, however it's not always sincere. They'll turn on you if it's their child needing to be disciplined. We also have lots of US embassy and foreign business and diplomat children. The more they've travelled, the more plesant they are to work with.