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Post by wildstubby on Dec 31, 2016 21:41:08 GMT -5
I was wondering when it would end, but Colombiahelp.com failed to make its payment on the domain on 12/19/2016. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the site, Coladmin, (aka Steve Cohen), wrote comprehensive stories about his experiences in Colombia. He first came to Colombia as an international banker investigator-turned-entrepreneur, opening first his business in Bogota and later moving it to Medellin, with a satellite shop in Manizales. His experiences prompted me to consider looking for a girlfriend from Colombia. Later, I wrote a few articles for him from a neophyte perspective. Alot of his experiences were spot on and it was almost like reading a script when I was placed in similar situations. I learned quite a bit and enjoyed his counsel when I asked for it. Last year he kind of dropped off the face of the earth right after Thanksgiving. Somebody was minding the site but no new articles were added. He also has another sight called Chaoticness but there hasn't been a new entry there since June of 2015. I will certainly miss Colombiahelp.com because of its insight and it served me a place to ask questions and read real articles about Colombia where I was able to make informed decisions and ask questions!
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Post by barrumundi on Jan 1, 2017 0:04:44 GMT -5
Forums run by someone called Steve have failed many times in the past. Maybe it is a jinx or a gypsy curse jajajaja
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 8:03:14 GMT -5
Never heard of this guy and his Colombia website. A number of websites have come and gone over the years. I joined the old Poor But Happy site, but did not participate much until its reincarnation in this board. So, I take it Colombia Help dealt with more than just mundane Colombia topics if it inspired you to look for a Colombia girlfriend, wildstubby.
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Post by wildstubby on Jan 1, 2017 8:17:43 GMT -5
vago said: His site had a pretty successful run.I think he was up and running (~2008)about 5 years before I became associated with it. He felt compelled to tell the truth and dispell myths about dating Colombian women and Colombia in general. He didn't like how some of these travel agencies promoted Colombia as a 'very safe place to visit'. He posted crime statistics that were pretty accurate. Although he was pro-Colombia women, he chronicled the efforts of his best friend's attempt to find a suitable companion. To the point he was finished with Colombia and shifted his search to the DR. I learned a lot there. That's why I was sad to see it close up. There is a Steve Cohen on the staff of Colombia Reports. I don't know if this is him or not.
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Post by livinginmedellin on Jan 1, 2017 9:44:58 GMT -5
There have been many blog sites about Colombia that have come and gone. barranquillaliving.com didn't last that long - not a surprise. And barranquillaorbust.com/ ended up moving to Medellín and nothing posted since November 2015 so that one is essentially dead. puramedellin.com is another one that went away. Dave the guy that started medellinliving.com/ hasn't lived in the city for over a year but its still running as he recruited other writers. I recall seeing a study a while ago that the average expat lives in a foreign country for less than three years. So it isn't surprising that a bunch of blog sites about Colombia get launched that eventually go away.
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Post by wildstubby on Jan 1, 2017 11:06:46 GMT -5
Steve actually commuted between Colombia and Orlando, (where I think he lived). He got into designing, manufacturing and importing handbags and purses made in Colombia for the Colombian ex-pats living in and around Orlando and Miami. He sold off his businesses because he couldn't meet demand times due to customs holds and he could not find anyone that he would trust to run his business while he was away. I think he said that his assistant manager embezzled about $5K USD and set him up to be assassinated on a trip to the airport. He knew something was up when the cabbie decided to take a 'shorter route' to the airport. Fortunately for him, the cops had intervened, (surprise!) labeling the route dangerous and was directed to the airport via the 'normal' road. It was when he returned he learned of the assassination plot. He sold off all his Colombian assets but still maintained communications with the friends he did have there. The site was self perpetuating where the money he made from donations and advertising paid for the online fees with GoDaddy.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 11:57:25 GMT -5
"Steve actually commuted between Colombia and Orlando, (where I think he lived). He got into designing, manufacturing and importing handbags and purses made in Colombia for the Colombian ex-pats living in and around Orlando and Miami..."
I found many Colombia experts actually live outside the country. I live here, full-time, and rarely feel qualified to pass on information to other ex-pats or visiting foreigners. Like anything in this world, take what you read on websites with a grain of salt.
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Post by wildstubby on Jan 1, 2017 12:16:02 GMT -5
vago said: His site dealt more about dating Colombian women. As stated previously, I had found his observations to be right on the money. He lived in Bogota and Medellin for a few years before getting out all together. Although I never met him, I thought of him as a friend because the advice he dispensed was certainly true and he 'e-shepherded' me when I made my first visit to Cartagena, (and my first encounter with another woman in over 30 years!). Therefore I was truly saddened to witness his disappearance and even more so the darkening of his website!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 12:46:05 GMT -5
If I surrounded the phrase, Colombia experts, with quotes, my tongue-in-cheek comment may have been more obvious. Having just said that, it may be unfair of me to cast judgment on a website I never viewed.
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Post by dandl93 on Jan 1, 2017 14:26:18 GMT -5
Us expats that live in Colombia full time and have lived here full time for many years, most expats dont like what we have to say or will listen.
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Post by scott on Jan 1, 2017 15:03:15 GMT -5
There have been many blog sites about Colombia that have come and gone. barranquillaliving.com didn't last that long - not a surprise. And barranquillaorbust.com/ ended up moving to Medellín and nothing posted since November 2015 so that one is essentially dead. puramedellin.com is another one that went away. Dave the guy that started medellinliving.com/ hasn't lived in the city for over a year but its still running as he recruited other writers. I recall seeing a study a while ago that the average expat lives in a foreign country for less than three years. So it isn't surprising that a bunch of blog sites about Colombia get launched that eventually go away. I enjoy seeing the "selling everything, leaving Colombia" post on Facebook. Wonder why they are leaving and how long they were here.
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Post by jabberwocky on Jan 1, 2017 15:04:45 GMT -5
I am always a bit dubious of guys on the internet giving dating advice about Colombianas - while they certainly have some general similarities - they are still women - so one never knows what you are going to get( for both good and bad). Just check Dan's new post about what happens if you choose poorly.
I would think in general many ex-pats are a bit restless - unless they get married and put down roots - it would not surprise me that many move on to an new country - of course depends on your financial situation. If I was a single dude - not sure I would be planning to put down roots in Colombia in the future - maybe I would be on Bali Connections. I like Colombia but would be more mobile if I were single - but I am not so I better be happy with Medellin - or Pintada, maybe I can talk with wife into the coast - perhaps Santa Marta. But she is a Paisa and thinks anywhere else in Colombia does not measure up.
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Post by dandl93 on Jan 1, 2017 15:30:03 GMT -5
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Post by wildstubby on Jan 1, 2017 16:04:04 GMT -5
Vago: Don't worry about the generalization because you are pretty much correct! I guess that site was the exception. The interactions I have had with Colombianas, and what he told me to expect was right on the money! Although for my first trip, he advised me against coming to Medellin. He had some good stories and experiences from other gringos that he wrote about. One in particular where a fellow had a novia in Medellin and bought her a laptop. He showed up once, unannounced, to find she was cavorting about with another man, (local). So he stopped at her house while she was out. Her mother let him in and was glad to see him. He said he had to get his computer and she let him take it without any problems. In the end, the daughter threw a hissy fit because Mom let him take the computer he gave her! Others were typical gringo advice, what to avoid. Be careful of taxi drivers et al. It wasn't a bulletin board like here. It was where he would post a story and you could comment on the story or the thread as it trailed out.
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Post by jabberwocky on Jan 1, 2017 16:41:25 GMT -5
WS - never quite get guys who still live in US or wherever - visit Colombia to meet a girl, meet a girl, they call each other novios -but then returns home for 6 months and expects the novia it sit patiently? I don't believe that would work anywhere. They are just part-time girlfriends - nothing wrong with that as long as it is understood by both parties.
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Post by gallito on Jan 1, 2017 17:04:45 GMT -5
WS - never quite get guys who still live in US or wherever - visit Colombia to meet a girl, meet a girl, they call each other novios -but then returns home for 6 months and expects the novia it sit patiently? I don't believe that would work anywhere. They are just part-time girlfriends - nothing wrong with that as long as it is understood by both parties. Yes,it happens everywhere,"gf" in PI,DR,Jamaica,Thailand...add your name to revolving bf list. Colombianas have heard every mamacita line.
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Post by elexpatriado on Jan 1, 2017 18:12:44 GMT -5
Us expats that live in Colombia full time and have lived here full time for many years, most expats dont like what we have to say or will listen. everyone has different experiences and insights. Like a boss of mine once said " I will take a young engineer with 1 years experience, over an old engineer with 1 years experience 30 times over"
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Post by elexpatriado on Jan 1, 2017 18:17:27 GMT -5
WS - never quite get guys who still live in US or wherever - visit Colombia to meet a girl, meet a girl, they call each other novios -but then returns home for 6 months and expects the novia it sit patiently? I don't believe that would work anywhere. They are just part-time girlfriends - nothing wrong with that as long as it is understood by both parties. right on. Relationships of convenience. As long as both parties are in agreement
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Post by wildstubby on Jan 1, 2017 18:34:08 GMT -5
Yeah but if the hoops have been jumped through in an effort to produce a K-1 visa, then I would hope that all bets were off especially if there was an official engagement announcement. I have told the women I have been with that they are free to roam because they are not subservient to me in any capacity. But if I doled out the money to get a K-1 visa, then I would hope that was as good as a bond regardless of the length of time. Besides, with Skype, talking to each other face-to-face certainly helps reduce the distance! Speaking of visas, that was one service he did offer. Doing the required paperwork to obtain a fiance visa. I think his fee was only about $100 USD. But he said it was easy and didn't require a lawyer to complete the form.
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Post by jabberwocky on Jan 2, 2017 8:16:42 GMT -5
Agree - once a visa fee has been paid - then the relationship takes on a lot more significance, the fiancee visa is not overly difficult - just a lot of time, paperwork and dinero, but it is fairly straight forward. The fees in the US to become a citizen just went up , everything in the process is higher, luckily we are through all the green card processes - the next step is for the wife to become a citizen. My issue with the process - is that I have to times everything by 3 ( wife and 2 stepdaughters ) and I don't get any break - buy 2 get one free or anything like that.
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Post by wildstubby on Jan 2, 2017 9:38:04 GMT -5
I was very close to finding out about that ritual with the 'novia' I had in Santa Marta. But I pulled out of that nose-dive before I even arrived. Getting back to the point. The website had other good information, like how to rent a flat without paying the middleman fee, (I forget what it is called). He talked about the house where he lived in Manizales that was built into the side of the hill. He recommended not placing the shampoo or soap near the window sill for fear someone would steal it! Little tidbits that you don't normally consider.
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Post by jabberwocky on Jan 2, 2017 10:14:56 GMT -5
Haha - yea if it is not nailed down or behind something locked - consider it gone, I have never had anything stolen but am a bit careful - there is a reason why no one parks their car in the street at night.
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Post by gallito on Jan 2, 2017 18:26:12 GMT -5
Flirting on the internet:
It's all fun and games until someone buys a plane ticket.
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