Possible Relocation to Colombia, Need Advice

miamimike says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:01:

This topic has been discussed indepth here on PBH in the recent past, try using the search function as there is already a ton of good info here.

"You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana"

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greg17 says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:02:

If you have red hair, I am guessing that you have fair skin. Dude, the sun is brutal in Cartagena. You would have to take some serioius precautions, because you are already at risk for skin cancer.

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baby jesus!! says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:15:

my advice is...be prepared to take a beating in Colombia like a redheaded stepchild

Too many gringos messing with lower estrato chicas. The cultural differences are way too huge -- These same gringos wouldn't mess with some project living mami or trailer trash back home in the States... WHY O WHY do it in Colombia?!?!!?-rhydewithdis

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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:26:

As long as you dont look like this and have a fat wallet, you will be a very popular guy down there!

"PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!"

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:39:

azuno, thanks for the advice regarding merit. It's what I figured, but I had a very, very bad experience in another country so I'm gunshy as hell about the hair whenver I go to a new place until ppl set me straight.

mike, actually I did search but all I found about redheads was a few females wondering if they'd get bothered by guys. Since it's reversed and I didnt see any existing topics relating to redhead dudes I either missed it (totally possible) or it wasn't there. Either way, I tried. :D

greg, my boss and I talked about that and he warned me about something with the ozone layer. My skin isn't as fair as most redheads (I actually can get tanned cuz I have Italian in my family tree), but I still totally take your advice and will absolutely heed it. I'll use some crazy sunblock. Thanks for reminding me tho!

babyjesus, I was wondering how far into the thread it'd take for that one to come up. :D

Paisa, damned if I don't look just like him! jajaja



thanks to all again! i appreciate the wake-up/DUH smack!

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:42:

that we do, stephen. that we do. ;)

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:45:

oh crap. stephen I'm an idiot. somehow i thought the "kick a ginger" thing was in your sig and i didn't pay attn. just looked it up ... damn that's hilarious. good thing on nov. 20 i'll still be here in the states with people i'll kick back. :D

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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larryrn says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:46:

Dude - you will be fine. Cartagena is a great city - but has extreme in contrasts - ie: very rich and very poor. Just like Miami or anywhere in the US - you learn where to go and not to go.

Welcome to Colombia!

Larry

“Your source for Online Nursing CEUs” -- www.rn.org www.rnceu.us www.enfermeria.us www.enfermeriasite.com

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Loggi says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:51:

My Daughter has red hair so I dress her like a Colombian.
Seriously though, she has difficulty with everyone staring at her 24/7

Live for the moments you can't put into words

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miamimike says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:54:

Hey Quit talking about Ginges that way, Prince Harry is a Ginge and he's no wimp! USe a good SPF creme, 30 SPF is good enough, daily unless you are at the Beach.Then you need a 50. Anything more really isn't beneficial.

"You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana"

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:55:

thanks larry! I'm super excited about it and have heard great things, especially about the ppl. Just like anywhere else in the world including the US, COL has certain ppl/places to avoid. But instead of diving w/o looking i'll try to get my feet wet first and ease into it till i get my bearings.

now instead of worrying about the ridiculous i'll focus on trying to pre-learn Colombian Spanish so the poor teacher down there doesn't pull his/her hair out when I bust out my gringo speak. :)

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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apeters says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:56:

I have red hair, and I have a colombiana novia. I will also be moving to Colombia, Barranquilla specifically. In Colombia, there are few people with red hair, especially on the coast. I have had no problems and well, as u can see, Colombianas are still attracted to guys with red hair :P Yes I would definitely recommend sunblock, I will be havin the same problem haha... oh well! Other than that, if you are smart, social, and can easily adapt to new situations, Im sure you will have no problem with living there or gettin a girl there. The girls on the coast are beautiful, my barranquillera is just one example :) You will enjoy it Im sure! No te preocupes!

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 11:59:

Loggi, OMG, when I was a kid growing up here in the States everyone stared and wanted to pat my head, so I feel your daughter's aggravation. Sucks feeling "different" when you're young. When you get older you embrace it tho.

mike, yeah I watched some news "special" or something about SPF and how the supposed "ultra" crap is just unnecessary. I can't wait to check out some of the beaches on the coast!

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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apeters says on Aug 31, 2009, 12:03:

If you really are findin you arent havin much luck, Im sure I could hook ya up with one of my girls friends ;) Us redheads gotta stick together!

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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Aug 31, 2009, 12:10:

Cute as a button Loggi! Congrats! Does that little pony roll? move? is it real?

"PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!"

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 12:11:

apeters, thrilled to hear we "reds" are accepted and maybe have kinda a cool novelty to us in COL! Maybe we should split the cost on like a 50 gallon drum of sunblock. :)

And yeah, I never worry about my personality in new countries. I'm not a jerk, not overly cocky or a "tough guy," don't get drunk and stupid and walk into trouble, I know how to talk to ppl, am educated, etc. But you know how one life experience can "scar" you? That's what happened with my hair in a different country where some jerk (and his 10 buddies) wanted to beat me to death. I was told much later that the girls there were constantly talking about my hair (this was in Mozambique, not one of the tourist spots, so my hair was obv unique) and the guys got pissed (and drunk) and wanted to fight about it. It actually got kinda ugly but thankfully no one was hurt (but they were arrested). Still, now I'm always a bit on edge about it till i know it's okay.

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 12:13:

apeters, I hope I don't have to take you up on that (cuz we know what that means)! But I appreciate the offer and will friend ya through this site. You're right, we do have to stick together dammit. :D

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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apeters says on Aug 31, 2009, 12:22:

from my experiences in both Peru and Colombia, you get a LOT of attention from it, and most of it is good! Enjoy it, Im sure the ladies will love it! Plus, you are educated AND you have a good job...by the way, how did you get relocated to Colombia? Thats a big relocation! Government position???

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greg17 says on Aug 31, 2009, 12:24:

Look out chicas here I come.

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 12:59:

apeters, I was in Peru when I was just a very young kid, but I do recall (barely) that most of the locals seemed really curious about my hair and were always asking my parents (who both have brown hair ... go ahead and rip away jajaja) about it. But like I said that was decades ago so I almost only recall just tiny bits and pieces.

I got stupid lucky with the transfer. I'm a computer analyst/programmer, and our company was contracted to handle stuff for I believe two different firms and some sort of local government something or other; as you can tell this is a new development so I'm still short on all of the details (I'll not be moving until February at the earliest but I'm pushing for sooner so I can check out Carnival in Barranquilla). Anyway, about 2 years ago I asked my boss if we got any South/Central American deals if I could be considered. I even learned (sorta) Spanish to be considered for any open opportunities. Lo and behold this one came up and I got it. My Spanish is still really raw so they're gonna get me some language training, but I'm damn glad I learned what I did cuz as it turns out that's what sold the GM on giving me the slot.

I'm mad stoked about it. I've been around the world a bit but South America is new to me (at least as an adult), and I'm always up for a change. Especially considering that my very first girlfriend EVER was an American-born Colombiana, maybe that stuck in my subconscious or something cuz I've actually always wanted to go there but just never had the chance.

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 13:06:

GregYohn, yeah at this point, after the great advice everyone has given me, I'm now more worried about the sun. I'm not like Ben Stiller's wife in the Heartbreak Kid, tho, so I know someone like me better have legit sunscreen on.

While it's a super cool assignment, don't let it fool you into thinking I'm in charge. :D I've got as much say in who gets hired as my dog does, maybe less. I think we only hire inside the US and then send our people out as needed. At least that's how it worked for me and most ppl I know. Obv we always work with locals, and obv they get hired somehow, but how that happens I have no idea.

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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apeters says on Aug 31, 2009, 13:23:

well congrats on the new opportunity! I will be there in January, we should meet up for a beer or somethin for sure.

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barrumundi says on Aug 31, 2009, 13:49:

Hair dye.

http://poorbuthappy.com/yourthing/post/uploading-photos-for-dummies/

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el norteño says on Aug 31, 2009, 18:37:

Shave your head, and you won't have to worry about your hair color.

Yes, you do sound like a moron.

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 19:34:

el norteno, hurling insults also tends to make one sound like a moron, or at best a knuckle dragging dolt. Especially when i kindly asked for advice about a country to which i'd never been. guess i'd throw your last line back at ya.

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 31, 2009, 20:53:

Bienvenidos a Colombia, Langosta!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 31, 2009, 20:54:

But we are knuckle-dragging dolts.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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jimbo67856 says on Aug 31, 2009, 21:05:

cowboy, jajaja. aren't we all? I'd respond in appropriate Spanish to you but as I said I'm still working on my skills which, to be honest, are pretty bad.

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ---- Thomas Jefferson

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johnny2009 says on Aug 31, 2009, 21:18:

This is a great thread, if I started a thread about my own hair it wouldn't even get off the blocks

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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Sep 1, 2009, 04:24:

Colombianas are experts at dying hair as they themselves are coloring their hair on a weekly basis.. Its ironic most of the women are trying to get red hair and you might have ambitions to change colors.. jajajajajjajaj lol

"PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!"

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larryrn says on Sep 1, 2009, 07:53:

Don't worry too much about the sun. Here in Santa Marta daily I wear sunblock on my face typically wear a hat. The sun is intense yes - but you can deal with that - not a problem. You just need to make sunblock part of your daily routine!

“Your source for Online Nursing CEUs” -- www.rn.org www.rnceu.us www.enfermeria.us www.enfermeriasite.com

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ColombianBound says on Sep 1, 2009, 12:51:

Hell, my pale ass got burned just strolling around Bogota one day...

My mom/sister laughed at me when I got back, "After being in Colombia, shouldn't you have come back darker than your sister?"

Unfortunately, I got my dad's Scottish genes... to become a lobster in sunlight.

"The good die young"... so get out and live.

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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Sep 1, 2009, 15:37:

Arent you from West Ft Lauderdale? Where we have the worst Sun, heat and humidity down here with 90 degree weather EVERY FUKIN DAY? and you get burnt in Bogota?? pretty brutal.. lol

"PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!"

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ColombianBound says on Sep 1, 2009, 17:09:

PCL, you're right... but I'm a hermit in my native land... either that or a vampire... which is why i'm now getting ready to go out

"The good die young"... so get out and live.

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Rocco81 says on Oct 5, 2009, 10:06:

I dated a Colombiana from Cali and she had red hair. Like auburn red. I've met red headed Brazilians, Mexicans etc.

Really though why do you care? Your hair is red, so what? It's who you are. Anyone wants to judge just send them packing. If you go to Northern Euorope yeah there are plenty of reddish haired people. In Colombia you're gonna stick a little more than normal for sure and yeah some girls will actualy love it because its something they've never seen and other's will not like it, and like you said some just won't really care.

Remember Colombians have TV, they are not Aliens its not like you are something out of a folk tale.

Sic semper tyrannis

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