Medellin-If everything is in Spanish, how do you survive?

You learn some Spanish is the answer!

When foreign people move to the United States, we generally expect them to learn some English.  Why shouldn’t people in a foreign country expect someone living there to learn their language?

Usually, in the US, it is said in a rather rude fashion.  “You are in the US.  Learn English!”  In Medellin, people are very nice and helpful when I get stuck on some word (spaghetti strainer was a good one) and have to revert to charades, sign language, drawings (or grab a nearby dictionary).

If you think you will move to a city like Medellin and suddenly have the entire town start speaking English to you, you will be in for a rude awakening.  Oh, many of the people that can speak English will go out of their way to speak to you and practice, offer assistance or explain local modismos or cultures. For example:  They do not say they are pulling your leg here when they are joking with you.  They say they are pulling your hair! (Yo estoy tomando su pelo)

 It amazes me to see the visitors that come here and think if they speak English slowly, louder, add an “O” to the end of an English word like “Chair-O” that the locals will understand them easier.

I also get a kick out of people that tell me, “I told her I wanted her to meet me at the restaurant at 8:00 PM and she didn’t show”!  I always ask, “what did you say to her”. I usually get an “meeto mio in restauranto at 8:00.  OK?”  I laugh and say, “no wonder she didn’t show.  She didn’t have the slightest idea what you were saying….LOL!

A friend is planning to open a Spanish school here in Dec. or January and is going to be offering a Basic Spanish survival class 2 hours per day for 5 days (geared at the short term visitor).  I think he may have a hit on his hands!

Fun afternoon in Parke Lleras

I was sitting with a friend having coffee at one of the many small restaurants (Le Bon) in Parke Lleras the other day.  This is a frequent event for us and we can just sit, chat for hours and watch the beautiful Paisas walk by.

Well, this particularly attractive girl came walking by and we both became speechless and just sat there and stared.  She got about 5 paces past us, turned around and said, “you guys need to put your eyes back in your head” in perfect English. Turns out she had lived in Miami for about 10 years and had just returned a few month ago to her native Medellin.

Never assume these Paisas can’t speak any English.  They may just surprise you someday.

And yes, she had a coffee with us and chatted for about 15 minutes about Medellin lifestyles.  She was delighted to be back home!  She said Medellin was safer than Miami!!!

We asked her why she decided to move back and she told us she missed the climate, the friendly Medellin people, some of her family lives here, the Medellin nightlife and the food.  We asked her if she missed anything about living in the USA. She paused, thought for several moments and reponded, “not much”!

Casa Kiwi

Casa Kiwi, a well knowl local Medellin Hostel has recently expanded its operations to include a hotel type of room availability on it’s premises. They actually bought the house next door.  Some of the rooms have private baths.

This is a popular hostel for the student or budget traveler as it is within easy walking distance of the famous Parke LLeras in Poblado.

The owner is a very interesting young guy who made an 18000KM trip from Alaska to Buenas Aires Argentina on a motorcycle. (bypassing the Darien gap between Panama and Colombia by boat).

Medellin Las Alumbrados-Christmas Lighting

The lights were turned on this past weekend.  Somehow, if it is possible, they seem even bigger and better than last year and they are still putting up a lot of the giant Christmas decorations like trees, toy soldiers, snowmen and more.

It is an amazing display of Christmas decorations and a city that is proud of the annual event.

I’ll try to get some photos this weekend and post them next week.

There go the Medellin Homocide Stats

Just when things were going so well.  Medellin Colombia, once known as the murder capitol of the world, has in recent years seen a dramatic reduction in the number of killings per 100,000 people.  In fact, it has been reduced well below many US cities including Washington D.C., New Orleans, Detroit and Philadlephia at 20 per 100,000.

Since the first of November there have been a rash of serial type of killings of 11 women, mostly thought to be prostitutes or what they call PrePagos.

Many of the women have been shot, dismembered, strangled, drowned or bludgeoned.  The local police do not have any clues that they are releasing.  The only pattern seems to be that the women get calls from potential clients and show up dead the next morning.

It does have a lot of local people concerned but I guess if you are not a prostitute then you do not have much to worry about.

MTG

Favorite Parke Lleras coffee shop has remodeled

Many of us are creatures of habit.  We find something we like and stick with it unless or until we find something better.

My buddy and I often have coffee together at Le Bon in Parke Lleras.  Somedays we sit there drinking coffee, do a little girl watching, occasionally have breakfast and do it for hours.  We greet other ex-pats walking by and catch up on local happenings.  Now, my buddy goes there everyday.  I only go about 2-3 times per week but enjoy his company, lifetime stories and the comaradierie we share.

The owner/manager of Le Bon has become a good friend and even asked us if we would teach some of her staff some basic English.  We are working on that as we speak.

If you are ever in Medellin Colombia and heading to Parque Lleras between 10:00-12:00 and happen to be passing Le Bon restaurant, look for a couple of middle aged guys sitting there having coffee.  Stop by and say hello.  We’d enoy meeting you.

Chou

MTG

Medellin-signs of Christmas

The stores are filled with Christmas decorations and progress is good on putting up the decorations along the river.  Everyday you can see crews of people putting up the mammoth light show and Christmas characters.  Kids (big and little) are already hinting at what they would like for Christmas.  New cell phones, Ipods, moto’s, clothes and more.

Not much different than the US!

Hope you can make it down for the Christmas Lighting (los Alumbrados).  It is a sight to behold.

MTG

Colombia Trivia-Medellin Colombia

I have been discovering some very interesting Trivia facts about Colombia and Medellin and thought I would share a few;

Colombia changed it’s name 7 times since gaining it’s independence in 1819;

Pablo Escobar was once a member of the House Of Representatives in Colombia;

As of October, 2007, there were 145 high-rises under construction in Medellín, including 29 being approved, and 25 being proposed. There are more high rise construction projects underway and approved in Medellin than NY, Philadelphia and Los Angeles combined;

Medellin has the largest number of intenet connections of any city in Colombia;

 More later….

MTG