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thelocogringo
  5/29/2015 20:23 EST

Invite
5/29/2015 01:16

Hi, I am taking the liberty of contacting you to request if you might be able to help me with useful information or make some introductions locally.

I am a published freelance writer based in California and while reading Expat Exchange (Colombia) came across your replies and comments and felt they had been carefully thoughtout, very useful and genuinely made.

In the recent past, I have concentrated my freelance writing efforts on travel. Travel and entertainment readers like stories to be personal, original and literary, not the usual guidebook recounting of where and what. The want to know about and sense the magic and wonder of a place, to know what it means to go there, to know how the visitor might be changed by the journey. They want to know about the people that live in a place, their regional customs, and where the locals hang out. Moreover, they want to smell the aromas, taste the food, and explore the streets and walk down the hidden paths.

I am planning for a 6 - 8 week trip to Colombia, preferably Medellin, to begin around July 10, 2015, with flexibility to begin either a bit earlier or later. My primary purpose will be to immerse in a program of learning Spanish and the local culture. Although I have studied Spanish on my own for the past six months, I feel that actually living in a place, among its people, hearing and seeing its native language will greatly enhance my Spanish learning experience. I will be looking into 8 -10 hours a week of language instruction, whether group or one-on-one, and staying in an apartment or preferably a homestay room.

Would you be able to give me information and recommendations as to Medellin language schools and accommodations? Since I will be on a budget, would you know of any persons/entities that you might formally introduce me to as 'sponsors' so that my tuition and accomodations would be complimentary or at a reduced rate? Such sponsors could be organizations or commercial enterprises, or even the schools themselves, such as ProExport Colombia. In return, I would be happy to use my English writing skills for reports, write-ups, correspondences, etc to assist and promote the activities of the sponsors in this regard. For travel-tourism activities, I would be happy to write stories of interest based on my Colombian experience for submission to popular travel resource outlets in North America and Europe.

If you would like links to some of my published stories, please let me know. I think you would find my stories very interesting reading, touching upon various subjects such as historical destination, local customs, outdoors, food and architecture.

I look forward to hearing good news from you.

Sincerely,

H. Quan, freelance writer/journalist


I wrote back:

Hello Sufer USA, I do not know of any one in Colombia that wants to give you free boarding or free Spanish lessons or free food or transportation or free anything.

The majority of Colombians live on somthing like $5 a day. The people with money are not giving anything away and the ones who have nothing are eager to help, if only they could.

I sugest you get a job, earn some money and pay for your vacation just like everyone else.

You sound like an email from Nigeria telling me about my million dollar jackpot.

Yours trully,

MARTIN

Edwinjcb
  5/29/2015 21:01 EST

hahahaha, good reply, Martin. I got the same impression, but heck, you have to give the guy credit for trying, right? Maybe there's someone out there so eager for a visitor that they will let him stay with him? If has no takers, maybe he can try out a hostel? Those places seem to magnets for tourists without money trying to live on the cheap.

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thelocogringo
  5/30/2015 09:32 EST

Private Message from Surferusa

Subject: Reply to you

Message:
Hello LocoGringo,

OK, you don't know of anyone....... No problema, senor. By the way, not looking for free food, transportation, or 'anything else" as I expect to pay for and subsist on local
street food, buy my own r/t air ticket to CO from the US via Miami, walk or take the local bus/metro, bring my own camera and laptop and one change of clothes and shoes aside from the set I will be wearing when I arrive in CO>

The lodging and lessons would be accepted on either a full or partial exchange, not free, for my English writing skills, with and from someone who could benefit.

Thanks for the suggestion about a job, which I do not intend to seek or take, especially one 'teaching English,' as that would defeat the purpose (taking time from) of my trip to immerse myself into the language and culture. My time there would be more of a learning experience than a 'vacation.'

Surfer

bigjailerman
  5/30/2015 09:40 EST

A petty crime including a 30 day incarceration is pretty cheap and includes cultural/Spanish immersion lol....

Waltercito
  5/30/2015 13:44 EST

Surfer guy, pay no attention to the sarcasm and snarkiness you encounter here. I know you are only following advice you've gotten from numerous university advisers, career counselors, and many others, regarding that "dream opportunity" that you just might be able to create for yourself. I've tried it all.

Thomas Edison, when asked about the 1,000 or so failures he had experienced in attempting the first light bulb, said that he wasn't discouraged; because then, he knew of 1,000 ways that didn't work, so he could focus on other approaches.

Keep fishing, keep asking - but obviously not here, although someone here just might know someone else, and some opportunities might appear for you. Don't let cynicism and negativity dissuade you from trying.

If I were you, I would target as many publications as you can: Newspapers, magazines, etc., not so much "civilian" forums like this. You might just get a "bite." Stay positive, and keep trying. There is a pretty good English-language news outlet, Colombia Reports; Adrian might be able to give you some guidance or information. Also, try Marcela at SeeColombia blog; she might have some ideas. You never know, they might tell you to "forget it," but at least you asked...

On the other had, notice the frame-of-reference expressed by the cynics on this forum - that you are just looking for a "free ride." Take note of that information, process it, and incorporate what you like; you might learn from that experience, too. Good luck.

thelocogringo
  5/30/2015 15:37 EST

Walter, of course you are giving a straight answer. Have you no sarcastic bones in you? Where is the fun in that?

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thelocogringo
  5/30/2015 15:38 EST

You do notice, the original poster is me.

Waltercito
  5/30/2015 16:46 EST

Si, Sr. Gringo Loco, tengo muchos huesos sarcasticos, pero Sr. Surfer es joven, preguntando por informacion en serio. Que pena, mi manera es ayudar. En fiestas o tomando con mis amigas, o cara-a-cara, yo puedo hacer mucho "mierda del torro."

Surferusa
  5/31/2015 03:54 EST

Walt, thanks much for the encouragement, you are surely unique within this forum. It would take much more from the likes of locogringo and edwin to razzle me. I had written these what turned out to be losers in earnest but they obviously twisted my request in a feeble attempt to enhance whatever image they thought they had here. I am confident of selecting a suitable language school and accommodations but am merely interested to investigate if there is a possibility of mutual benefit on the exchange, even a partial basis, of my published writing skills (locogringo & edwin take note "published") with a local person or entity. Thanks for the suggestion of Colombia Reports and See Colombia. I shall continue on my quest and hopefully able to report good results to you all. To bigjail - a stint in a local jail would be great immersion but I am a life-time card carrying, among other evident things, hetero.

Surferusa
  5/31/2015 04:19 EST

Muy bein, Walt, you told Locogringo off. Muchas gracias.

soystar1
  5/31/2015 08:51 EST

Published or not you have to never forget that your audience can receive your message and respond how they perceive the message. I would recommend that you stay away from offering the exchange of mutual services here in Colombia. People here will see you coming a mile away and leave you without your calzones.

Every report you might stumble upon is great but the real world life here is different. Don't forgot every article written is based on some motivating factor of that person or business.

I wish you the best while you stay here but please just remember two things: keep your money in pockets, and shy away from the over friendly person who is just to good to be true to help out the gringo.

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bigjailerman
  5/31/2015 10:37 EST

Words to live by..... Femmes make good neighbors especial here haha

thelocogringo
  5/31/2015 10:46 EST

Sr. Surfer,

How fondly I remember the days of my life in So. Cal. I spent many a day cutting class and thumbing a ride down Red Hill Blvd to 15th street in Newport.

Spending summers in the streets of Tustin and the once orange groves of The Irvine Rance, befor there was a city there.

When I was in high school, my counsler urgently tried to persuade me and my parents to enroll me into the Marines, they were accepting 17 year olds back then. He said that it would make a man out of me and allow me a future away from prison cell.


My first overseas adventure, I was 20 and backpacked through India and S.E. Asia with my GF.

I worked all summer hanging drywall by the piece untill I had saved up enough money to travel. We sure had a great time. Times sure have changed.

Small Walter is most correct, listen to him.

Waltercito
  5/31/2015 11:44 EST

Gringo, that last post is far more instructive and a great example of how things can be done when you're willing to take risks and think outside that proverbial box. You're much more helpful without all the snide sarcasm. (And, technically, it would be "Little Walter," but implying affection for the person named in the diminutive. But you probably already know that.)

soystar1
  5/31/2015 11:57 EST

Walter, I'm getting duplicate messages from you. Are you hitting the enter button twice?

Waltercito
  5/31/2015 12:05 EST

No, soy...happened last week, when one post appeared about 6 or 7 times. I blame it on the technology.

Surferusa
  5/31/2015 14:44 EST

??? stay away from exchange of services?? apply to gringos only? or also the paisas? suppose a local licensed attorney goes to a licensed dentist.....of course they each will see the other cometh a mile away...

An honest exchange of services, goods or money throughout the world depends on supply and demand ("motivating factor") and in Colombia ought to be no different so what are these other elements herein talking about, twisting and knocking it?

Your two things are well taken - don't flaunt my Ben Franklins and don't invite overly friendly local folks to my apartment. Gracias.

thelocogringo
  5/31/2015 18:16 EST

Surfer Dude,

"An honest exchange of services, goods or money throughout the world depends on supply and demand ("motivating factor") and in Colombia ought to be no different so what are these other elements herein talking about, twisting and knocking it?"

Are you kidding me? That is such a nieve way to look at things. Such an American viewpoint. Spoken like a fact of God.

There is a reason this is third world. You probally think that if given an opportunity, most people (Colombians) would make use of it. Just not so.

I sugest you put your hiking boots on and take a little walk around the world.

I have thousands of dirt poor, un employed people in my town. Unable to feed thier familys and buy lifes basic necessities. I have had these same people turn down employment because we require wearing shoes. Turn down jobs because we only allow a 1 hour lunch. Turn down employment because we do not play music while working. Turn down employment because cell phones are not allowed during working hours.

How does that fit into your basic business model.

Let your family starve because you can not work without a 2 hour siesta.

Amongst the middle and lower classes in Colombia, ambition is consered a character fault. "Ambiciosas" is how one Colombian insults another.

Grow up dude!

Surferusa
  5/31/2015 20:39 EST

Martin, more and more you appear to be living in the wrong country, u ought to extricate yourself out of such bitterness and head back to So. Cal, hit the beaches, and surf(ing) the USA instead of punishing yourself in the little town you described as almost being god-forsaken and in such deep squalor. Are there not stores, restaurants, services in CO that people go and do their exchange/demand & supply thing? One just about loses respect for another who knocks the foreign land he is living in and yet continues to stay. Somehow I am beginning to feel more sorry for you than the locals of whom you described so poorly

c5vette
  5/31/2015 21:37 EST

Hey locogringo "I before e except after c" doesn't really apply all that often. It's "their" not "thier" you seem to make that mistake often.

Surferusa
  6/1/2015 01:13 EST

May i join the spelling police team?
locogringo: naive not nieve, families not familys, their not thier (Corvette is right) and the Mexican Webster says it can't recognize
your self-made word "Ambiciosas" but luckily for you i researched it and found "ambiciosa".

thelocogringo
  6/1/2015 06:53 EST

Surfer and C5vete,

Thank you for the spelling tips. I know my spelling is atrocious, any time you want to correct me, it is appreciated.

I remember back in highschool, Miss Tilner. Freshman English. Repeated her class as a freshman, sophomore, junior and at the end of my junior year, she passed me. Not sure if it was out of pitty for me or embarrassment for her.

In my previous life, I always had a top notch secretary who took shorthand and excelled in her writing skills. I figured, If I can't spell, hire some one who can.

We are never too old to improve.

Surfer, if you read through my post, you will see many postings trumpeting the wonderfull things about living in this God forsaken, war torn corner of the globe.

This board is a place for everyone to express how they feel and think, good or bad. Any one can choose to ignore what they don't like, write anything they want and be anyone they want. It is just a bunch of Blah, Blah, Blah.......

Got to go, a table for a very important customer awaits me.

fecherklyn
  6/1/2015 22:03 EST

Surfer,
I feel the need to support "Loco" a bit, partly because my spelling is atrocious as well, but also because I found my self smiling with approval when he found some negative factors in the "local", as well as lots of positives. Isn't this normal? Surely anyone who only sees in one direction is wearing blinkers....is that not right?

fecherklyn
  6/1/2015 22:06 EST

Surfer,

Just read my previous reply and found a bundle of errors. The reason for all the errors is laziness about verifying my typos, rather than utter stupidity.

c5vette
  6/1/2015 22:35 EST

Haha Locogringo is a 1000% compulsive liar claiming to have ever had a secretary. Thank you for the laugh.

Surferusa
  6/2/2015 00:48 EST

klyn: no problema and not to worry. becoming (more) lazy shows you are assimilating well into the local culture and bit by bit losing your previous smartness.

Jackietrehorn
  6/3/2015 21:19 EST

Only one change of clothes? Am I the only one outraged at that? People in MDE tend to dress up more. You won't find so cal style cargo shorts and flip flops. Please have some class.

Surferusa
  6/4/2015 06:10 EST

Jack, I was just thinking of traveling light. But you are right, leave my cargo shorts, tank tops, and flip flops at home. What do you suggest I bring, to have an adequate wardrobe collection to at least not embarrass myself among the paisas

bigjailerman
  6/4/2015 09:29 EST

Bring whatever you like. They wear flip flops here all the time but don't get that vagrant beggar look. Don't be a stinky guy with same clothes day after day. Make sure you have long pants and a decent shirt and a nice pair of shoes if you are going to try to go into a government office, or meet a lady etc....

thelocogringo
  6/4/2015 09:35 EST

And the most important thing in your suitcase, a pile of Benjamins.

Surfer, they have a Price Smart in Medellin, just like Costco.

thelocogringo
  6/4/2015 09:35 EST

And the most important thing in your suitcase, a pile of Benjamins.

Surfer, they have a Price Smart in Medellin, just like Costco.

Surferusa
  6/5/2015 14:52 EST

Got it!
well taken.

Surferusa
  6/5/2015 14:52 EST

Got it, Marty. Maybe you can personally show me the place when I get there.

bigjailerman
  6/5/2015 15:17 EST

Enjoy your stay here..:)

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