Sarge+ 3,436 Posted April 2, 2016 My trip to Colombia is coming up very soon. I want to keep a detailed account of the things I experience while I'm there teaching English for a year (but maybe longer if I like it!) I plan to use this thread to document my experiences with food, music, language, my job, sports, the city/country itself, general cultural differences, and, of course, women. I'll post detailed thoughts about the things I like, the things that confuse me, and the things that frustrate me. I'm sure I'll have more than enough material for all three. I'll also post pictures of foods, bars, women, cultural events, natural scenery, and more. Pictures will often be able to explain things I can't quite put into words. And though my Spanish is quite good relatively speaking, I am going to struggle a lot in the beginning. I suspect it will take me a good 6 months to really get my legs under me with the language. To that end, I expect the first half of the trip to be a lot more difficult and confusing than the second half. As my language skills improve, so will my social circle and the opportunities available to me. Also, I will definitely answer any questions you guys have that I don't cover in my posts. Don’t hesitate to ask the tough questions! This is going to be the greatest learning experience of my life. So, the more critical thinking I do, the better. 11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted April 2, 2016 (edited) Just don't type it all in Spanish, please. I am really excited for you and for you to fill us in along your journey. Enjoy it! Edited April 2, 2016 by Favre4Ever 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025 Posted April 2, 2016 So dope. I might come visit at one point. Not even lying. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted April 2, 2016 Looking forward to seeing a slice of Colombian life through your eyes. Should be awesome. Safe travels! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted April 2, 2016 Only post cute girls. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted April 2, 2016 My head is going to hurt every night for 6 months due to Spanish. Getting on here to type in English will be a welcome break. PRELIMINARY TRIP DATA SHEET This is information just about the country and city. Country: Republic of Colombia Capital: Bogotá Population: 48.5 million Official Language: Spanish Currency: Colombian Pesos (1 USD = 3,000 COP, roughly) Neighboring Countries: Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panamá, Brazil Bucaramanga - "The City of Parks" "Colombia's Beautiful City" Location: Northeast Colombia. 4 hours from the Venezuelan border. Population: 1.2 million (Metro) Climate: Yearly averages of 82* F during the day and 62* F at night. Considerable rainfall, but it might rain 20 minutes in the morning and be sunny the rest of the day. Industries: Footwear, clothing, natural gas, oil Signature/unique dish: Hormigas Culonas. Large, roasted ants. Sold in jars of hundreds or plates from street vendors. (Culona is also a word you can use to talk about a girl with a fat booty in Colombia.) Education: Bucaramanga is home to 11 universities. It is one of the most well-educated cities in the country. Employment: Lowest unemployment rate in the country, and salaries are very good relative to cost of living. Music: As with the rest of Colombia, salsa, cumbia, and vallenato are the most popular kinds. Reggaeton is also popular in many clubs. Miscellaneous: Bucaramanga has over 160 parks scattered throughout the city and the surrounding areas, among them being Chicamocha National Park. From wikipedia: Chicamocha National Park (Spanish:Parque Nacional del Chicamocha), also known as Panachi, is a Colombian national levelnatural park along the Chicamocha Canyon (Cañón del Chicamocha) located 50 km from the city of Bucaramanga, Santander. The site is a tourist attraction due to is spectacular landscape and the variety of outdoor activities that it offers such asparagliding, spelunking, bushwalking, camping, fishing, kayaking, rafting, mountain climbing, etc. The park is located on the highway between Bucaramanga and San Gil, 54 Kilometers from Santander's largest and capital city Bucaramanga. I will definitely be visiting there at some point during my stay. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FartWaffles 1,857 Posted April 3, 2016 Sarge marrying a busty Colombiana with family ties to the cartel confirmed. Super jealous dude, sounds like it's going to be an amazing life experience. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted April 4, 2016 A bald, white teacher by day. Drug kingpin by night. It's almost like I could make a TV show out of this... Tomorrow is the big day! I take a train to Philly tomorrow, stay in a hotel, then fly out on Tuesday. Let's do this. 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014 Posted April 4, 2016 Take care, Matt! I'm super proud of and excited for you, man. Very much looking forward to keeping up with your trip. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigBen07 285 Posted April 4, 2016 Stay safe and enjoy yourself! Looking forward to hearing about your travels 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted April 4, 2016 Thanks, everyone. The support is much appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted April 4, 2016 Sarge why you gotta become a drug lord? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted April 4, 2016 I'm in Philly now at the hotel. Pretty decent room. Tomorrow is going to be a very long, exciting, tiring day. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025 Posted April 5, 2016 Study up doggy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted April 5, 2016 Sarge why you gotta become a drug lord? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BucD+ 648 Posted April 5, 2016 So cool and extremely happy for you, Sarge! I know this has been a long time coming for you and knowing you the little bit that I do thanks to this awesome forum, you're an easygoing, fun-loving, open-minded guy and I think you're going to have an amazing time. Like everyone else here, I'm really looking forward to going on this adventure through your eyes via this thread. Stay safe, man! You're going to kill it there, I'm sure! Enjoy a nice Colombian cold one for me, will ya? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted April 6, 2016 I'm here. Tired as shit, but here. :) 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted April 6, 2016 Congrats on surviving three flights. Dunno how you pulled it off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted April 6, 2016 It sucked, lol. But I already made a few friends last night when I went to this little food place down the street from where I'm staying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted April 6, 2016 Initial impressions? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted April 6, 2016 Oh boy, where do I start? 1. The Spanish is going exactly how I thought it would. I can understand 50-60% of the words spoken in any given sentence. Sometimes I have no idea what they are saying though. 2. Colombians are very patient and polite people, the glaring exception being traffic. Holy shit they drive like movie stunt actors. 3. These people work very hard for very little money. I kinda knew that already, but seeing it first hand makes it a lot more real. But they are incredibly optimistic and upbeat. 4. Friendliness isn't just a characteristic of the people here. It must be in their DNA. In time I will have some concrete examples of this. 5. The women here are gorgeous. DIOS MIO (my god!) son muy bonitas (they are so beautiful) No pics yet because I don't have a local cell phone yet. Stay tuned. That's what I have for now. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigBen07 285 Posted April 8, 2016 Glad you made it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted April 10, 2016 Today I had my first encounter with the Colombian healthcare system. I was completely blown away, not only by the prices ($7 for the visit to the Dr. and only $3 for a month's supply of prescription-strength sleep aid!!!!!) but by the level of professionalism and care shown to me by the doctor and hospital staff.. I am really falling in love with this place. The people are just... exciting. For lack of a better phrase, they kick ass . But they are humble enough to not tell you they know that they do. And they will do anything to help once they hear your petty attempts to muster up a sentence in their language. Also there is a girl that is very interested in me. She has hung out with me every day or night at some point since I got here. Tonight she asked if I had a girlfriend back home and when I said no, she was surprised. "Oh no way, you are so handsome and fun to be with..." We'll have to see where this goes. I could keep writing more, but Ill cut this short for now. More to come. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted April 10, 2016 Sarge already ready to get some Columbian pussy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites