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Colombia: Half and half:
I think you're half right!
Sorry, could not resist.
Colombia: Elderly patents & adult children:
Two questions about Colombian family norms.
#1- I have heard that when the elderly arrive at the point of needing help in day to day activities they are often taken care of at home by family members, true?
#2- When adult children complete their education and become employed while living with their parents, do they usually pay for room and board? Although a long time ago, when I was still living with my parents I paid my mother 1/3 of my paycheck, which I thought fair. I don't even know if that is still widely done now in the US, just curious.
Gracias
Colombia: Melgar visit with kids?:
Hola, I am interested in Melgar as a future destination. My Colombian wife and I visit her sister, husband, and 3 children (12-16-18) in Bogota for 10 days or so during Easter. Last year we spent a few days in Villa de Leyva and enjoyed it very much. We are looking into a few days in Melgar this year and would like any information you may wish to share. We may use Airbnb or a hotel in the downtown area as our base. Thanks, Sid in Sarasota
Colombia: Dentista:
Hola. Last July I had some prep work done for 2 molar implants and will return in April to finish up. The work was done by Marlon Becerra in Suba, Bogota. The practice was located in the Plaza Imperial Mall in Suba and I believe it is part of a chain. The operation was first class and very modern. Most of the work was done by a Colombian with limited English but a woman did some work and had fairly good English, she was the interpreter for the first guy when needed. Phone is: 6033232, web: marlonbecerrasuba.com if you want info and prices. One of my implants needed a bone graft so it took more time between visits. A local quote was $7,000US, I needed a tomography first which was $59US. I hope to end up quite a bit less and I also have in-laws in Bogota. Good luck.
Colombia: Christmas in Colombia:
Hola, I am interested in your choice of Melgar as a future destination. My Colombian wife and I visit her sister, husband, and 3 children in Bogota for 10 days or so during Easter. Last year we spent a few days in Villa de leyva and enjoyed it very much. We are looking into a few days in Melgar this year and would like any information you may wish to share. We may use Airbnb or a hotel in the downtown area as our base. Thanks, Sid In Sarasota.
Colombia: A new view of Bogota street people:
About a year ago I was looking for an obscure book on Colombian railroads in a Bogota, Colombia, bookstore. When the clerk indicated that they did not have the title, a woman at the counter said, "I may have that at home." After she gave me the book the next day I asked her if I could make a donation to her favorite charity, as no mention of compensation was made. She said, "Give it to some people on the street." I was leaving for home the next day so I had to wait until this year to comply with her wish.
I found myself looking for the neediest street people rather than looking away from them in a city of about 7 million population. I had several 20,000 Colombian Peso bills, about $6.60 US, to give to those that were in need. My method was simple, just walk up with a smile and hand them a 20K peso bill. Sandra, my Colombian wife, was my translator when needed.
#1 was a man on a bicycle collecting cardboard. I speak only a few words in Spanish but it turned out he had lived in London for a while and we had a brief chat in English.
#2 was a very thin black woman eating plain cold rice from a metal lid as she sat on the sidewalk.
#3 was a woman selling very short pencils sitting in a pedestrian underpass. When she smiled at me in thanks I could not help but notice her four missing upper front teeth.
#4 was an old man at a market area. I'm pretty sure it went for his food.
#5 was a man sitting on the floor of a city bus talking to himself. When I gave him the bill a few passengers applauded my gesture.
#6 was a young couple with a baby in a carriage that needed some money to buy Pampers. The wife hugged me and the husband shook my hand.
#7 was a Colombian "indian" (Mayan, Aztec?) woman sitting on a overpass for pedestrians selling small hand made gifts with her three children under six years old.
That was all I had time for on this trip but I will do the same in future years. They all showed appreciation for my small contribution that helped them a little on that day. Most encounters lasted but a minute or so but those faces will be with me for the rest of my life. I think those people were a gift to me. I am sure they all wanted a better life and I realized that a little kindness goes both ways.
To Carolina, the woman in the bookstore, thank you for opening my eyes.About a year ago I was looking for an obscure book on Colombian railroads in a Bogota, Colombia, bookstore. When the clerk indicated that they did not have the title, a woman at the counter said, "I may have that at home." After she gave me the book the next day I asked her if I could make a donation to her favorite charity, as no mention of compensation was made. She said, "Give it to some people on the street." I was leaving for home the next day so I had to wait until this year to comply with her wish.
I found myself looking for the neediest street people rather than looking away from them in a city of about 7 million population. I had several 20,000 Colombian Peso bills, about $6.60 US, to give to those that were in need. My method was simple, just walk up with a smile and hand them a 20K peso bill. Sandra, my Colombian wife, was my translator when needed.
#1 was a man on a bicycle collecting cardboard. I speak only a few words in Spanish but it turned out he had lived in London for a while and we had a brief chat in English.
#2 was a very thin black woman eating plain cold rice from a metal lid as she sat on the sidewalk.
#3 was a woman selling very short pencils sitting in a pedestrian underpass. When she smiled at me in thanks I could not help but notice her four missing upper front teeth.
#4 was an old man at a market area. I'm pretty sure it went for his food.
#5 was a man sitting on the floor of a city bus talking to himself. When I gave him the bill a few passengers applauded my gesture.
#6 was a young couple with a baby in a carriage that needed some money to buy Pampers. The wife hugged me and the husband shook my hand.
#7 was a Colombian "indian" (Mayan, Aztec?) woman sitting on a overpass for pedestrians selling small hand made gifts with her three children under six years old.
That was all I had time for on this trip but I will do the same in future years. They all showed appreciation for my small contribution that helped them a little on that day. Most encounters lasted but a minute or so but those faces will be with me for the rest of my life. I think those people were a gift to me. I am sure they all wanted a better life and I realized that a little kindness goes both ways.
To Carolina, the woman in the bookstore, thank you for opening my eyes.About a year ago I was looking for an obscure book on Colombian railroads in a Bogota, Colombia, bookstore. When the clerk indicated that they did not have the title, a woman at the counter said, "I may have that at home." After she gave me the book the next day I asked her if I could make a donation to her favorite charity, as no mention of compensation was made. She said, "Give it to some people on the street." I was leaving for home the next day so I had to wait until this year to comply with her wish.
I found myself looking for the neediest street people rather than looking away from them in a city of about 7 million population. I had several 20,000 Colombian Peso bills, about $6.60 US, to give to those that were in need. My method was simple, just walk up with a smile and hand them a 20K peso bill. Sandra, my Colombian wife, was my translator when needed.
#1 was a man on a bicycle collecting cardboard. I speak only a few words in Spanish but it turned out he had lived in London for a while and we had a brief chat in English.
#2 was a very thin black woman eating plain cold rice from a metal lid as she sat on the sidewalk.
#3 was a woman selling very short pencils sitting in a pedestrian underpass. When she smiled at me in thanks I could not help but notice her four missing upper front teeth.
#4 was an old man at a market area. I'm pretty sure it went for his food.
#5 was a man sitting on the floor of a city bus talking to himself. When I gave him the bill a few passengers applauded my gesture.
#6 was a young couple with a baby in a carriage that needed some money to buy Pampers. The wife hugged me and the husband shook my hand.
#7 was a Colombian "indian" (Mayan, Aztec?) woman sitting on a overpass for pedestrians selling small hand made gifts with her three children under six years old.
That was all I had time for on this trip but I will do the same in future years. They all showed appreciation for my small contribution that helped them a little on that day. Most encounters lasted but a minute or so but those faces will be with me for the rest of my life. I think those people were a gift to me. I am sure they all wanted a better life and I realized that a little kindness goes both ways.
To Carolina, the woman in the bookstore, thank you for opening my eyes.About a year ago I was looking for an obscure book on Colombian railroads in a Bogota, Colombia, bookstore. When the clerk indicated that they did not have the title, a woman at the counter said, "I may have that at home." After she gave me the book the next day I asked her if I could make a donation to her favorite charity, as no mention of compensation was made. She said, "Give it to some people on the street." I was leaving for home the next day so I had to wait until this year to comply with her wish.
I found myself looking for the neediest street people rather than looking away from them in a city of about 7 million population. I had several 20,000 Colombian Peso bills, about $6.60 US, to give to those that were in need. My method was simple, just walk up with a smile and hand them a 20K peso bill. Sandra, my Colombian wife, was my translator when needed.
#1 was a man on a bicycle collecting cardboard. I speak only a few words in Spanish but it turned out he had lived in London for a while and we had a brief chat in English.
#2 was a very thin black woman eating plain cold rice from a metal lid as she sat on the sidewalk.
#3 was a woman selling very short pencils sitting in a pedestrian underpass. When she smiled at me in thanks I could not help but notice her four missing upper front teeth.
#4 was an old man at a market area. I'm pretty sure it went for his food.
#5 was a man sitting on the floor of a city bus talking to himself. When I gave him the bill a few passengers applauded my gesture.
#6 was a young couple with a baby in a carriage that needed some money to buy Pampers. The wife hugged me and the husband shook my hand.
#7 was a Colombian "indian" (Mayan, Aztec?) woman sitting on a overpass for pedestrians selling small hand made gifts with her three children under six years old.
That was all I had time for on this trip but I will do the same in future years. They all showed appreciation for my small contribution that helped them a little on that day. Most encounters lasted but a minute or so but those faces will be with me for the rest of my life. I think those people were a gift to me. I am sure they all wanted a better life and I realized that a little kindness goes both ways.
To Carolina, the woman in the bookstore, thank you for opening my eyes.
Colombia: Bogota (Suba?) dentist for 2 implants.:
I need two implants (2 & 18) and am looking for a English speaking dentist to do the work. My wife's family lives in Suba and I would stay with them while there. I sent a PM to LaPiranha in response to a 9/15 dentist topic and I thought I'd shake the bushes again for suggestions. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Sid
Colombia: Best Way to Do Bank Accounts, Money Exchange Rates, Etc:
I agree with SkyMan...Last April I ordered $400 in pesos from Bank of America and a few days later I picked them up at a local branch. I believe the rate was competitive but I wanted to avoid the wait at the BOG Cambio booth. BOA charged a few dollars service fee.
Colombia: retiring in colombia:
Hola, I am interested in your choice of Melgar as my future destination. My Colombian wife and I visit her sister, husband, and 3 children in Bogota for 10 days or so during Easter. Last year we spent a few days in Villa de leyva and enjoyed it very much. We are looking into a few days in Melgar this year and would like any information you may wish to share. We may use Airbnb or a hotel in the downtown area as our base. Thanks, Sid In Sarasota.
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