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Colombia: English book store:
If you can't find a good English book store, look for where they have used books. Go there and tell them you will be back in a few days to see what English books they found. specify what type you want or they will bring out lots of kid stuff.
Colombia: Hotel costs & aptm costs:
look around this site with my identity. So you are coming here to teach. Good for you.
Problem is when you are coming. Jan. is okay but around Carnival time for a couple of days, they charge 3 times more.
Do not stay at approx. cra 53 on calle 76. Guellermo will ask you for a deposit and you will not get it back.
suggestions- when you 1st arrive , you will need a hotel room. Try City Suites Hotel (old name Atlantic Blue) at Cra.43, calle 79B. Clean, includes breakfast which is minimal but acceptable. Bargain and pay by the month. If they don't give you a good deal then bargain by the week. Pay what they quoted you for the month but get that by the week. They will quote you about 90 to 100 US/month but you can get that reduced substantially. Do NOT tell them I advised you to do this because the next time I go, they will not give me nor you a good deal. Draw back is that it is a hotel room and small. Tell them you want hot water for shower, and air condition, including breakfast. Wear clothes that is a little shabby or poor looking. It helps. They always want to get the better of the extranjeros.
The desk clerk will not have the authority to do this so give him a chance to talk to the boss. If boss is not there, say you will come back later. However you will have your suitcases with you, you may have to take it for a 1st week. Bargain again for the 2nd week etc till you get the price you want.
Another acceptable Hotel is Valclaire Suites at calle 72 and about cra 54 or 55. Bigger rooms and swimming pool.
Trouble with them is that you will have to deal with the manageress and not the owner but they will bargain a bit.
Holiday Inn is a rip off for what you pay and get and they are less prone to bargaining.
Tell them the Canuck sent you.
Aptm will cost you furnished, about $1,500,000 Col/mos and up = about $700 to 800 US.
When you are in Baq look around for an aptm to rent in levels 3 to 6, 3 being poorer and a little more dangerous. At levels 5 & 6 it is pretty safe. Never show your wealth.
You are going to find that renting, fully furnished is quite expensive for what the property is worth. When renting , go look at the place in mid afternoon when it is the hottest. That will give you some idea of how much electricity you will have to pay. Elec. here is expensive, double the US if you live in the upper strata. Find out what levels 1 to 6 mean. Do not live in levels 1 or 2. Too dangerous.
locales safe- Villa Santos (level 6), Buenavista Mall area(6), Unico mall area (3/4), Del Prado area(4/5),
I suspect that you are teaching English at a colegio or upper class school, and that wages should be around 4,000,000/mos. You will probably be getting paid double what the other teachers make. Don't tell them because they will be jealous. If so, then the school is probably in a safe area. I am a retired teacher.
Hope this helps.
Colombia: City Information: Pereira:
Stay at the Colonial Hotel. It is clean and not expensive. Tell them the Canadian recommended it.
Colombia: Barranquilla Colombia...Where are all the Expats?:
You can try my friend, Ricardo at 316-632-5296
Colombia: Moving in May/early June to teach English:
Colombia: Moving to Barranquilla in January:
1-Teaching in Baq (Barranquilla) Prospects are probably good. If you have a recognized teaching degree from a reputable university from US or Canada, it should be accepted. I would look only to private schools. The public ones are not well funded and usually in rough neighborhoods. I spent a total of about 14 mos. of & on in Baq. As far as I could gather, there are probably about 5 or 6 good private schools. And English is very popular. Also, 2 have moved to Puerto Colombia (level 6) , just outside Baq. Marymont I think , comes to mind. I also spent about 4 mos. in Pereira in central Col, coffee district and met 3 English teachers, 2 yanks & one Canuck.. The one yank I knew told me she was making about $2000 US/mos. It was in the #one district of Pereira. You can live well on this. 2-Housing- They have 6 levels (strata) of economics mainly to help subsidize the poorer neighborhoods with paying utilities. I would look for only levels 4, 5, or 6. Level 6 being the best. That would probably be in Buenavista, where they have a beautiful 2 part shopping complex. You may wish to contact my friend there, Ricardo (he is in real estate) at 011-57-53560434 or 011-57-316-6325296. Good luck with these damn telephone #s. It is tough to call from out of country if you do not speak Spanish. I get very good results with Skype. He is one of the most honest persons I have ever met, whether in US, Canada or anywhere else in the world. I do not know if he can help you, if he gets a cut in finding rental housing or whatever. I know that he sells other peoples real estate for a fee. 3- Immediate accommodations when you get there (hotel) I recommend Atlantic Blue Hotel now called Intersuite Hotel on Cra. 43 #79 B or Versaille Suites. If you stay at least several weeks to a mos. or more, I would bargain. I have stayed at both and for my pocketbook they are reasonable and clean, with wifi. and including a breakfast, such as it is. Just do not tell them that the Canuck told you to bargain as they will be tougher on me the next time I go.
Colombia: Teaching jobs/apts for rent in Medellin??:
I was in Pereira, Colombia for about 3 months. There I met 2 gentlemen who had lived in California for a number of years but decided to return to Co. Both had started teaching esl classes and they were far from fluent. I also met 3 Yanks and a Canuck , all with degrees, probably teaching degrees. They were teaching in a private school in the # 1 district and were making about $2000/mos. which is very good for Co. Off course you would have to commit to a full year of teaching if in the regular school system. I am sure that they are always seeking esl native speakers also in Medellin. You may want to check it out. The only way you'll know is by going there and searching.
Colombia: Apartment in Barranquilla:
Por me two bits worth. I stayed at Atlantic Blue several times for up to 3 mos. duration. I also bargained because I was staying so long. You could also. It's clean, and desauno comes with it. I also stayed at Versailles Suites which is closer to shopping. Both are acceptable and clean. Versailles has a pool. Tell them Norm the Canuck referred you. Maybe next time I will get a better deal. Atlantic Blue has a better desauno but I know that Versailles desauno (also included) was trying to improve. If you are wheeling and dealing, play one against the other. However NEVER mention the price of one to the other. That is unethical in the realm of bargaining. Just say that they beat the price you just quoted sir. me Espagnol es bueno, si?
Colombia: How Best to Xfer Funds From Colombia to U.S.?:
I would check with HSBC and Citibank which are both represented in Colombia. So if you have an account in the USA with either bank, use that one.
Colombia: visa application:
Hi, Ya gotta search the internet for prices. However understand that real estate here in Col is not operated like RE in US & Canada where you have multiple listing services. Each agent has their own little monopoly of houses/aptms. etc... and it is hard to find sometimes on the internet. Now may I suggest a book that just came out in the last year I think. It was written by an International Living writer or editor- not sure which. Her name is Kathleen Pedicore/Pedicord? Title- Living and Investing Overseas. I subscribe to their newsletter, which does have good tips but a lot of adverts. So I took a lot of it with a grain of salt. However, after reading her book and reading her online comments on this site, about defending Medellin and Colombia in general I now have more respect for her. She poses good arguements. As for prices- I can only quote what I was renting in Barranquilla (2009) for about 4 mos. Top floor, 13th, 4 aptmcondos. Mine was a loft overlooking the living room. Clean, about 5 yrs old. I was paying rent about $1000/mos. which included utils, condo fees, and rental, and cable. So, curious , I asked what the place was worth. The owner/landlord told me about $50,000 US. Sounded pretty cheap to me for the return on money. Last year he sold it for $52000. Now Peddicord/e is, I think , just starting to invest in Medellin. That may be significant. Dont know. Once you get down to Med. then you can check prices out for real.
Colombia: Passport questions:
Two options, the first I know, the 2nd Im not sure. 1- Remember, 90 days and no more or they will fine you on your way out. If your plan is over 90 days, simple solution. Just go to a DAS offce (Passport & Immig.) and renew for another 90 days. 2- Not sure about returning. I think you could return the same day but check that out.
Colombia: Pereira, Risaralda, Where to stay and not to stay.:
I am staying at Hotel Colonial, Clle17,Cra5 Good price, good desauno but take it at the restaurant, not at the hotel. Clean, good price, nice staff. Staying 2 mos. till end of Dec. After a week, I finally figured out how to handle the hot water. Put the hot on full blast. Then adjust to cool it with minor adjustments. Controls are not like N America. However, 1st nite in Pereira I had reserved and stayed at Hotel Suite Center, thinking it looked good. What's the old saying? Looks good from far, but it is far from good. Dirty entrance, gotta lug your big suitcase up 2 flites, dirty, very old used carpets. The whole place turned me off. The reviews gives it a pretty good rating, true. But who is writing these lies? Maybe the management. It is, was, and always will be a dump. Yah, the price is good and that is all.
Colombia: Working in Colombia:
I would check to see if you the requirements as an insurance agent for Col. As for a licensed investment adviser , I have no idea. I would guess , that in Col you may not need many qualifications to sell investments. It/s worth checking it out. In both those jobs I'm sure you would need a high knowledge of Col. Spanish. And if you have experience in both from the US that could be used as an added bonus including English skills. At the present, I understand that Col is booming, and unless influenced by Europe & US then it should be good for the next 5 yrs. maybe.
Colombia: rental help needed, cartagena, barranquilla:
http://www.laguia.com.co/laguiadefault.htm
Try that.
Colombia: Condo for rent in Barranquilla:
If you need a broker in Baq. who speaks English, he is my buddy, and very honest and works very hard for his clients.
Name of Ricardo, & ph. # 316 632 5296
Tell him "Norm sent me." And I do not get a cut. Don't need it.
Colombia: Looking for Canadians/Americans in Cali:
I'm a Canuck from Barranquilla, eh!
Anyone else out there, a Yank/Johnie Reb, Brit, or Frenchie or separatist from Quebec?
Colombia: Dealing with the Canadian Embassy.:
Has anyone had dealings with the Canadian Embassy where you were trying to get a pension recognized by the Colombian Government in order to become a resident?
Colombia: Moving to Barranquilla in January:
1-Teaching in Baq (Barranquilla)
Prospects are probably good. If you have a recognized teaching degree from a reputable university from US or Canada, it should be accepted. I would look only to private schools. The public ones are not well funded and usually in rough neighborhoods. I spent a total of about 14 mos. of & on in Baq. As far as I could gather, there are probably about 5 or 6 good private schools. And English is very popular. Also, 2 have moved to Puerto Colombia (level 6) , just outside Baq. Marymont I think , comes to mind. I also spent about 4 mos. in Pereira in central Col, coffee district and met 3 English teachers, 2 yanks & one Canuck..
The one yank I knew told me she was making about $2000 US/mos. It was in the #one district of Pereira. You can live well on this.
2-Housing-
They have 6 levels (strata) of economics mainly to help subsidize the poorer neighborhoods with paying utilities.
I would look for only levels 4, 5, or 6. Level 6 being the best. That would probably be in Buenavista, where they have a beautiful 2 part shopping complex.
You may wish to contact my friend there, Ricardo (he is in real estate) at 011-57-53560434 or 011-57-316-6325296. Good luck with these damn telephone #s. It is tough to call from out of country if you do not speak Spanish. I get very good results with Skype. He is one of the most honest persons I have ever met, whether in US, Canada or anywhere else in the world. I do not know if he can help you, if he gets a cut in finding rental housing or whatever. I know that he sells other peoples real estate for a fee.
3- Immediate accommodations when you get there (hotel)
I recommend Atlantic Blue Hotel or Versaille Suites. If you stay at least several weeks to a mos. or more, I would bargain. I have stayed at both and for my pocketbook they are reasonable and clean, with wifi. and including a breakfast, such as it is. Just do not tell them that the Canuck told you to bargain as they will be tougher on me the next time I go.
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