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mariannepino
  3/24/2022 12:16 EST

What are some common gaffs that expats make when first coming to Columbia. Examples: Do I greet the cashier? Do I tip? Do I need to ask for the bill or does it come automatically? Can I say hello to strangers on the street? Do I need exact change for the bus? Can I handle the produce/items in the mercado or do I need to ask for help first? Thanks for your answers to one or many of these questions.

WhoaNellie
  3/24/2022 13:47 EST

In Columbia it's pretty much like the rest of the US, but you may have some trouble with the southern accent if you come from the north. They speak more slowly than Yankees and are generally friendlier, though...

If you mean COLOMBIA...when in Rome, do as the Romans do. If your Spanish is good (and even if it isn't) a greeting is never out of place even if it's just "Hola". For a cashier that's all you need. For others you may wish to preface your question/statement with a polite "buenos días" or "buenas tardes".

For a meal, 10% is plenty for a tip - many Colombians do not tip at all and in many cases it is not expected.

Generally you do not say hello to strangers on the street, unless you are seeking help. In that case you could always go into a store and ask whoever is behind the counter. Do not appear overly friendly, that's a warning flag for many Colombians - and do not "dar papaya".

Exact change is always appreciated. For many things, people will be annoyed if you give them even a 20,000 bill (only a bit more than $5 USD) and many will protest they don't have change for that size a bill...

Many grocery stores are just like elsewhere - prices are posted. You can handle the produce to select what you want.

Just use common sense and be polite.

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Andresen
  3/24/2022 14:16 EST

1. Be observant 2. You don't have to tip everyone like you would in the States.

FSmitty
  3/24/2022 16:54 EST

Such pettiness over Columbia

tmnyc
  3/24/2022 21:07 EST

One can rely on Google Earth these days to see where Guyana is in relation to French Guiana, and Ghana in relation to Guinea-Bissau.

Vikingo
  3/25/2022 13:34 EST

Colombians are most generally much more polite than other nationalities. You will hear many times Buenos Días, Por favor, Gracias and Muy amable or Muy gentil, my favorite.
A word of warning: Do not wear real gold jewelry or an expensive watch in public. Colombians don't either.
Women here do not greet single Males in the Street, that would be misinterpreted. If a woman, a couple or a family yes. You always greet the cashier or they will greet you first.
Keep larger amounts of Money, your ATM card and an expensive phone on your body, not in your purse that can easily be ripped out of your hand.
Do not walk the streets un-escorted after dark. Be careful where you choose a taxi. Get the Didi app if they are available in your location. They are safer, well organized and have lower prices than taxis and they pick you up where you're at and you get the cost up front. Our minor girls take them all the time.

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Vikingo
  3/25/2022 15:19 EST

Most cities here have a very efficient, modern and well thought out transit system where you need to buy a card with either a single or with multiple fares to enter the bus terminal. There is a learning curve involved to know the different routes each bus will take and at times you need to change buses in terminals to get to your destination, but without additional costs. These buses also stop in between terminals on the side of the road at certain bus stops called 'parada'. To enter a bus at a parada you need the aforementioned card, you can't pay the driver.
If you find your card is empty of fares you yell: Alguién puede ayudar me? (Could somebody help me?) and someone will hand you their card and you pay them the 200 or 300 mil pesos once you stepped in the passenger compartment.
There are are often private bus companies, stopping at transit bus stops, they take cash, but you need to know what their route is and where their prescribed stops are.

ChipW
  3/25/2022 21:31 EST

Of course, those are all good tips, many of which are applicable to life in the 5 or 6 big cities. Life in the pueblos is much more relaxed. For example: walking un-escorted after dark - no problem, it is normal and common. At least in the pueblo I live in it is. And, women do greet men in the streets, here at least. Again, it is normal. Carrying large amounts of money - well, that's just common sense, isn't it - keeping it in a pocket and not in a purse or other bag. I've seen countless men pull wads of cash out of their pockets to give some to another person in the streets, nothing unusual about that, either. But then again, those are Colombianos, not extranjeros.

SkyMan
  3/26/2022 12:32 EST

SMitty...It's like someone spelling America like this.... Amerika. Not petty at all. Buena Suerte !

Vikingo
  3/26/2022 13:48 EST

A woman would be much more vulnerable to a robbery than a grown man. Our girls only leave the house in pairs.
Wife's cousin living in a small town was run down on her moto in an intersection last year. The person who did it took off and left her unconscious in the street. Police was called by an other motorist and they took her to a clinic. When she came to she discovered her cellphone
was gone. Just to show not only big cities harbor bad people.
BTW, she didn't wear a helmet and had a concussion. She does now, even though the helmet law is still not enforced where she lives.

nonames
  3/26/2022 19:16 EST

Great example Skyguy!

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