Tag Archives: language
When Speaking Spanish Doesn’t Serve
Posted on 14. Nov, 2011 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Why some gringos may be better off picking up Latinas WITHOUT Spanish.
Alternate Title: Gonzo Crashes and Burns!
Gonzo is a gringo buddy in Bogota. Mikey’s a friend from St. Louis who recently arrived to learn Spanish and gain international business experience. Tetona’s the girl I was seeing at the time of this story.
We all went out drinking on August 5. I remember the date because Colombia had just beaten South Korea in the World Cup U-20 … Read more
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Fired Because of this Blog
Posted on 23. Jun, 2011 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I was fired from my English institute when the director found this blog.
Alternate Title: My 1st Professional Hit for Expat Chronicles
Back in April I went to the office of the English institute I taught for. Just a couple weeks prior, I’d successfully obtained my third work visa with this company (the third consecutive visa is worth two years!). So I wouldn’t have had to go back to DAS or the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores or deal with any horrible government offices concerning my being in the country. I was quite happy about that … Read more
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We’re Not All Americans, You Dumb Asses
Posted on 25. Apr, 2011 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I put the smack down on idiots who think everyone in the Western Hemisphere is American.
This piece will surely ruffle feathers, but what’s new?
You see, there’s the silliest trend of people outside the United States insisting that they too are Americans. I’d never heard this from Mexicans or other Latinos living in the States, only outside. Their logic’s simple enough for anyone who made it to 3rd grade geography. … Read more
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English Language Industry in Latin America
Posted on 25. Feb, 2011 by Colin.
SUMMARY: An overview of the English language industry including my experience with a failed business venture.
Alternate Title: Bogota English Immersions FAIL
I moved to Bogota from Arequipa, Peru in April 2009. The plan was to go entrepreneur and start businesses in Latin America. I planned to teach English part-time for as long as I needed the extra money. … Read more
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Paisas vs. Rolos, Medellin vs. Bogota
Posted on 05. Feb, 2011 by Colin.
SUMMARY: My observations on the differences between paisas and rolos, paisa women, and paisa culture in general.
Paisas are people from Medellin / Antioquia; rolos are from Bogota.
Check out this video of a paisa chick living in the US. Between 0:36 – 1:26 she talks about paisas and rolos. It’s translated to English below the video.
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Mis-Seduction of a Colombiana
Posted on 10. Dec, 2010 by Colin.
SUMMARY: This is the play by play of how a Colombiana’s got me slippin’.
After an early exit from Bricheraza’s place, I met with some friends and went out drinking. We went to a dance club in La Candelaria. I ended up dancing most of the night with two cute girls … Read more
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Rolos and ‘Marica’ in Bogota
Posted on 21. Mar, 2010 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I discuss the Bogota slang term ‘marica’, and the morons who use it.
‘Rolo’ (rola for females) is the slang term for bogotanos, or people from Bogota. ‘Marica’ is rolo slang for ‘dude’ or equivalent. It’s like ‘güey’ in Mexican slang.
DISCLAIMER: Do NOT use ‘marica’ in Spanish with non-Colombians. It’s similar to ‘maricon’, which means ‘fag’.
Friday night I found myself wasted alone at a bar. At the table next to mine was a tiny little beauty, also alone, with a huge bottle of aguardiente. This little girl couldn’t drink that much aguardiente if she had a whole day to do it so I assumed there were others at the table. Still, I asked her if that whole bottle was just for her. She replied in a friendly enough way so I moved over to her table. … Read more
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Contributed Story: Revolution in China?
Posted on 28. Feb, 2010 by Colin.
SUMMARY: An American expat in China explains his opinion on the prospect of revolution.
Western media will have you believe China’s government is immoral and oppressive, and that at any minute people will revolt to produce a modern democracy. I’m no expert but I’ve lived in China for almost two years now. This is my American perspective on the prospect of revolution… Read more
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Latinos’ Awful Writing Skills
Posted on 14. Aug, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: I explain how and why Latinos’ writing skills are horrible, concluding with what I believe is the root cause.
Disclaimers: Not all Latinos’ writing sucks. Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Mario Vargas Llosa, and Spanish-language journalists have proven they can spell and use punctuation. And if you’re a Latino reading this, you probably write well.
However, rank-and-file Latinos’ writing skills, including the college-educated, are comparable to mine when I was seven years old… Read more
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Buenos Aires, Argentina = Italy Meets South America
Posted on 08. Jun, 2009 by Colin.
SUMMARY: Description and pictures from my trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, including European City, Argentine Women, BA’s Nocturnal Culture, Food: BA for Carnivores, Language: Argentine Spanish, Tango!, and Conclusion: Buenos Aires Doesn’t Suck.
I was never eager to see BA because I’d heard they consider themselves European, they’re snobs, etc. South Americans say they’re stuck up, but I found them friendly. The city has a noticeable European feel. Many Argentines have blond hair and blue eyes. Very tall buildings with Italian architecture. I’d say Argentina is to Latin America as UK is to Europe. Technically it’s a part of, but not really… Read more
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