The first rule for grocery shopping in Colombia is make sure you have some way to translate since all the items are written in Spanish.
Robert found this out the hard way....
After Robert got moved in the condo he needed to get some groceries so he went shopping. Washing powder was one of the items on his list of must haves. For over 5 weeks his laundry has been done by a laundry service via the hotel and now he was needing to wash some clothes. Well he bought what appeared to be laundry detergent, washed his clothes and LOVED how great the smell was. He decided to use the translation app I loaded on his IPhone and see what the scent was called since he liked it so much.
Well it should smell good....considering it was liquid FABRIC SOFTENER!!!!
Grocery Shopping 101.....Check the translation before you use it!!!!
Well at least it wasn't BLEACH!!!!!
Bless his heart....his clothes might still be dirty but at least they SMELL GOOD!!!!!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Let's Talk Colombian Peso's
If you are wondering...NO I have not made it to Colombia yet!!!
I'm in Dallas visiting with the kids and telling them bye. I'm still waiting on my passport to arrive and anticipate leaving around the 5th of September.
I've had my shots that are required, I've taken care of my eye visit while in Dallas and now I'm just waiting!
I've been studying my Spanish and I've also been trying to get familiar with the money conversion so I thought it would be fun to share how it works out from Colombian Peso (COP) to US dollars. Below I found a very helpful chart.
We finally received our contract for our condo and Robert is moving in on Tuesday. Monday is a Colombian holiday so it was pushed back a few days. It was really funny to read the contract and see our rental payment listed as $5,600,000. Yes we are paying 5 million 6 hundred dollars in rent!
I also received the inventory list of what is in the condo and let's just say...I have lots to buy to make it like home. The basics are there but what we as Americans are accustomed to having in our homes, kitchens and baths is lacking but it will be fun to personalize it and make it our on. I've done this before in Thailand and I can do it again, which I love a challenge so it will be fun! One thing I have found that is different in Colombia verses Thailand is that I actually have more options for shopping. I've already even been able to look online at what they have available in the stores and determine what I need to bring from home. The variety in bedding and linens seems to be lacking much like Thailand was so I plan on bringing that from the US.
I'll keep you posted on how it all works out.
Here is the chart that shows the conversion rate:
I'm in Dallas visiting with the kids and telling them bye. I'm still waiting on my passport to arrive and anticipate leaving around the 5th of September.
I've had my shots that are required, I've taken care of my eye visit while in Dallas and now I'm just waiting!
I've been studying my Spanish and I've also been trying to get familiar with the money conversion so I thought it would be fun to share how it works out from Colombian Peso (COP) to US dollars. Below I found a very helpful chart.
We finally received our contract for our condo and Robert is moving in on Tuesday. Monday is a Colombian holiday so it was pushed back a few days. It was really funny to read the contract and see our rental payment listed as $5,600,000. Yes we are paying 5 million 6 hundred dollars in rent!
I also received the inventory list of what is in the condo and let's just say...I have lots to buy to make it like home. The basics are there but what we as Americans are accustomed to having in our homes, kitchens and baths is lacking but it will be fun to personalize it and make it our on. I've done this before in Thailand and I can do it again, which I love a challenge so it will be fun! One thing I have found that is different in Colombia verses Thailand is that I actually have more options for shopping. I've already even been able to look online at what they have available in the stores and determine what I need to bring from home. The variety in bedding and linens seems to be lacking much like Thailand was so I plan on bringing that from the US.
I'll keep you posted on how it all works out.
Here is the chart that shows the conversion rate:
| COP | USD |
|---|---|
| coinmill.com | |
| 1000 | 0.53 |
| 2000 | 1.05 |
| 5000 | 2.63 |
| 10,000 | 5.26 |
| 20,000 | 10.52 |
| 50,000 | 26.30 |
| 100,000 | 52.60 |
| 200,000 | 105.21 |
| 500,000 | 263.02 |
| 1,000,000 | 526.03 |
| 2,000,000 | 1052.06 |
| 5,000,000 | 2630.15 |
| 10,000,000 | 5260.30 |
| 20,000,000 | 10,520.60 |
| 50,000,000 | 26,301.50 |
| 100,000,000 | 52,603.01 |
| 200,000,000 | 105,206.01 |
Monday, August 12, 2013
Terraza Del Mar
This is a picture of our new home in Cartagena Colombia. Bocagrande is what we would call the neighborhood or district as they call it.
We will be on the 25th floor of the building.
The company Robert works for requires that once we choose a condo it must pass a safety inspection by the company before we can move in. One of the requirements is that we cannot live on the 3rd floor or below and we are not allowed to live on the top floor of a building. Since this unit is on the 25th floor of a 29 story building we knew we would be fine on that issue. What we didn't know was there was an issue with a lock on one of the windows, yes Spiderman might scale the 25 floors and break in, so they had to arrange for this to be repaired and Robert can still move by the end of this week.
It will be nice to arrive and move right in to the condo.
I have some pictures to share but had an issue getting them to post to the blog. Once I work this out I will post them.
I love the view from the balcony of this unit and that was very important to me. I figured if I'm going to live on the Caribbean I wanted to be able to see it everyday! I also love the kitchen in this unit. Many of the units Robert looked at had galley type kitchens and I really wanted an open concept style. We got a 3 bedroom unit so we have plenty of room for guests.
This building has 2 pools, a spa, a game room, 24 hour security, and right on the beach.
I really think we will be very happy in our new home!
The company Robert works for requires that once we choose a condo it must pass a safety inspection by the company before we can move in. One of the requirements is that we cannot live on the 3rd floor or below and we are not allowed to live on the top floor of a building. Since this unit is on the 25th floor of a 29 story building we knew we would be fine on that issue. What we didn't know was there was an issue with a lock on one of the windows, yes Spiderman might scale the 25 floors and break in, so they had to arrange for this to be repaired and Robert can still move by the end of this week.
It will be nice to arrive and move right in to the condo.
I have some pictures to share but had an issue getting them to post to the blog. Once I work this out I will post them.
I love the view from the balcony of this unit and that was very important to me. I figured if I'm going to live on the Caribbean I wanted to be able to see it everyday! I also love the kitchen in this unit. Many of the units Robert looked at had galley type kitchens and I really wanted an open concept style. We got a 3 bedroom unit so we have plenty of room for guests.
This building has 2 pools, a spa, a game room, 24 hour security, and right on the beach.
I really think we will be very happy in our new home!
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Maps of Cartagena Colombia
The map below shows the hotels of the Bocagrande area. Robert is currently in the Hilton which is listed as #1 on the map, do you see the backwards C looking piece of land. Right on the tip with the water on all sides is the hotel. The condo we will be living in is located around #38 on the map.
This is a map I found that shows our building location circled in red before it was built. See the picture on the right, this shows the C shape of land that the Hilton is located on and gives you an idea of the location of our condo.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Questions...
Since I haven't left yet and can't blog about what life is like in Colombia, I thought I would answer some of the questions I've been asked lately.
1. WHY Colombia?
We are living here for Robert's job. For security reasons I will not be sharing on the blog any info about his employment here but if you are family or friends you already know that information.
2. Is it SAFE to live there?
This is the question we get asked the most. We believe it is and have done our research to support this. Cartagena, the city we will live in is a cruise ship port of call for numerous major cruise lines. The city of Cartagena is a tourist attraction. We are planning on taking every precaution while living in Colombia, just like we did while living in Thailand.
3. Where will you live and how expensive is it to live in Cartagena?
Our assignment allowed us to live 30 to 35 days in a hotel while looking for permanent housing. Robert is currently doing that but as a wife who has traveled both outside the states and within the states extensively, let's just say hotel life gets old fast! Robert met with a Real Estate Agent and began looking for a condo. Cartagena has a beach area much like Miami and this is the area we will be living in. After 2 weeks of Robert looking at units and taking pictures and videos and sending them to me we found a place we both love and are waiting for it to be ready. Now the other question I get asked is about how expensive is it? Our assignment pays the rent for us but if I had to compare the rents in Cartagena to living it the states I would say it is pricey. The area we have decided on is Boca Grande and we will be living in a 30 story building on the beach.
4. Why did you wait to go to Colombia?
We have spent the last 2 years traveling for Robert's job. When we left Dallas and packed the house I remember packing my passport. Once we began this journey I started to look for it, well I never found it! Once I realized I wasn't going to find it I started the paperwork for a new passport. Now I am waiting for it's arrival and then I will book my ticket and join Robert.
5. Will your family visit while in Colombia?
Yes we already have family and friends busy getting their passports and scheduling dates and times. We rented a 3 bedroom just so we would have plenty of room for visitors. The international airport is only 15 minutes from our condo.
6. What is the weather like?
Cartagena Colombia is tropical. It's located on the Caribbean Ocean. The climate will be much like what we experienced in Thailand.
7. What language do they speak and how will you communicate?
Spanish is their native language. I speak some (actually very little) and have been practicing key words. I also have downloaded a translation app on my phone.
8. How will you communicate with Family and Friends in the US while you are in Colombia?
We are still trying to work this out. We know we can face time for free via WiFi with anyone who has an IPhone. We can text and receive text for free via WiFi. Once we get moved in our condo we will try and get a land line and find a provider for long distance and international calling. For anything that is long we are using email.
9. How long will you be in Colombia?
Robert signed a 17 month contract. It could be longer or shorter, you just never know. Our Thailand assignment was for 1 year and we stayed almost 4 years.
10. How often will you be returning to the states?
We will be home every 11 weeks for a 2 week vacation.
11. What are you doing with your house, cars and all your belongings?
Since we are on Single Status we aren't given a shipment overseas. Instead, the company gives you a stipend to buy whatever your condo rental doesn't have. They will pay to store your belongings in the states, but we decided to keep our house and our youngest daughter will be living in our home. We are excited that every 11 weeks we still have a home to go home to. We decided not to store our vehicles either since every 11 weeks we will need them and Kaleigh will drive them from time to time to make sure they are OK.
12. What are you going to do with your time while living in Colombia?
Of course I'm not there yet so only time will tell, but I have some ideas of what I will be doing. I know our condo has 2 pools and since it is tropical I will probably spend some of my time enjoying that. It also has a workout facility and I know I will enjoy using that each day. I'm hoping that I will meet some other expat women like I did in Thailand and do some fun things with them. Robert has already met and spoke with a few women who are already there and they meet for lunch once a week and sometimes meet up to walk in the mornings. I'm planning on getting back into golf and hopefully can find some other women who golf also. Life still goes on overseas much like the states so there is grocery shopping, cooking and normal day to day things to take care of. I hope I can do some volunteer work also, I loved the time in Thailand that I was giving back to that country and hope there is something similar for me to do in Colombia.
13. Do you need a visa to live in Colombia?
Robert has a work visa to be able to work in Colombia. I don't need this since I will not be working. Since we are Single Status and will be leaving the country every 11 weeks no visa is required for me. In Colombia you can stay in the country for 6 months without a visa. Unless our visitors are planning on staying more than 6 months no visa will be needed for them either!
14. How will you get around in Colombia and will you drive while living there?
No I will not be driving and I didn't really drive in Thailand either. The company provides a driver and if he is not available while Robert is at work the company has a system in place for transportation for the wives. The neighborhood we will be living is centrally located to numerous establishments for dinner and drinks so if we choose we can walk. Also taxis are available and are cheap compared to the states. Since we have experienced this before with transportation I think we will adapt easily to the lifestyle.
15. What kind of food do they have?
Cartagena being a tourist area has a large selection of food to choose from. There are many US choices. McDonald's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken are all available, not to mention Hard Rock Cafe. From what I have seen online about the grocery stores I'm not worried about finding things we like to cook, but once I arrive and go for myself I will blog more about this.
Hope this answered some of the questions people have had. You can always ask anything in the comments and I will try to answer it.
I plan on blogging more in detail about all of the above once I arrive in Colombia and I will be sharing pictures of what Life in Cartagena is like.
1. WHY Colombia?
We are living here for Robert's job. For security reasons I will not be sharing on the blog any info about his employment here but if you are family or friends you already know that information.
2. Is it SAFE to live there?
This is the question we get asked the most. We believe it is and have done our research to support this. Cartagena, the city we will live in is a cruise ship port of call for numerous major cruise lines. The city of Cartagena is a tourist attraction. We are planning on taking every precaution while living in Colombia, just like we did while living in Thailand.
3. Where will you live and how expensive is it to live in Cartagena?
Our assignment allowed us to live 30 to 35 days in a hotel while looking for permanent housing. Robert is currently doing that but as a wife who has traveled both outside the states and within the states extensively, let's just say hotel life gets old fast! Robert met with a Real Estate Agent and began looking for a condo. Cartagena has a beach area much like Miami and this is the area we will be living in. After 2 weeks of Robert looking at units and taking pictures and videos and sending them to me we found a place we both love and are waiting for it to be ready. Now the other question I get asked is about how expensive is it? Our assignment pays the rent for us but if I had to compare the rents in Cartagena to living it the states I would say it is pricey. The area we have decided on is Boca Grande and we will be living in a 30 story building on the beach.
4. Why did you wait to go to Colombia?
We have spent the last 2 years traveling for Robert's job. When we left Dallas and packed the house I remember packing my passport. Once we began this journey I started to look for it, well I never found it! Once I realized I wasn't going to find it I started the paperwork for a new passport. Now I am waiting for it's arrival and then I will book my ticket and join Robert.
5. Will your family visit while in Colombia?
Yes we already have family and friends busy getting their passports and scheduling dates and times. We rented a 3 bedroom just so we would have plenty of room for visitors. The international airport is only 15 minutes from our condo.
6. What is the weather like?
Cartagena Colombia is tropical. It's located on the Caribbean Ocean. The climate will be much like what we experienced in Thailand.
7. What language do they speak and how will you communicate?
Spanish is their native language. I speak some (actually very little) and have been practicing key words. I also have downloaded a translation app on my phone.
8. How will you communicate with Family and Friends in the US while you are in Colombia?
We are still trying to work this out. We know we can face time for free via WiFi with anyone who has an IPhone. We can text and receive text for free via WiFi. Once we get moved in our condo we will try and get a land line and find a provider for long distance and international calling. For anything that is long we are using email.
9. How long will you be in Colombia?
Robert signed a 17 month contract. It could be longer or shorter, you just never know. Our Thailand assignment was for 1 year and we stayed almost 4 years.
10. How often will you be returning to the states?
We will be home every 11 weeks for a 2 week vacation.
11. What are you doing with your house, cars and all your belongings?
Since we are on Single Status we aren't given a shipment overseas. Instead, the company gives you a stipend to buy whatever your condo rental doesn't have. They will pay to store your belongings in the states, but we decided to keep our house and our youngest daughter will be living in our home. We are excited that every 11 weeks we still have a home to go home to. We decided not to store our vehicles either since every 11 weeks we will need them and Kaleigh will drive them from time to time to make sure they are OK.
12. What are you going to do with your time while living in Colombia?
Of course I'm not there yet so only time will tell, but I have some ideas of what I will be doing. I know our condo has 2 pools and since it is tropical I will probably spend some of my time enjoying that. It also has a workout facility and I know I will enjoy using that each day. I'm hoping that I will meet some other expat women like I did in Thailand and do some fun things with them. Robert has already met and spoke with a few women who are already there and they meet for lunch once a week and sometimes meet up to walk in the mornings. I'm planning on getting back into golf and hopefully can find some other women who golf also. Life still goes on overseas much like the states so there is grocery shopping, cooking and normal day to day things to take care of. I hope I can do some volunteer work also, I loved the time in Thailand that I was giving back to that country and hope there is something similar for me to do in Colombia.
13. Do you need a visa to live in Colombia?
Robert has a work visa to be able to work in Colombia. I don't need this since I will not be working. Since we are Single Status and will be leaving the country every 11 weeks no visa is required for me. In Colombia you can stay in the country for 6 months without a visa. Unless our visitors are planning on staying more than 6 months no visa will be needed for them either!
14. How will you get around in Colombia and will you drive while living there?
No I will not be driving and I didn't really drive in Thailand either. The company provides a driver and if he is not available while Robert is at work the company has a system in place for transportation for the wives. The neighborhood we will be living is centrally located to numerous establishments for dinner and drinks so if we choose we can walk. Also taxis are available and are cheap compared to the states. Since we have experienced this before with transportation I think we will adapt easily to the lifestyle.
15. What kind of food do they have?
Cartagena being a tourist area has a large selection of food to choose from. There are many US choices. McDonald's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken are all available, not to mention Hard Rock Cafe. From what I have seen online about the grocery stores I'm not worried about finding things we like to cook, but once I arrive and go for myself I will blog more about this.
Hope this answered some of the questions people have had. You can always ask anything in the comments and I will try to answer it.
I plan on blogging more in detail about all of the above once I arrive in Colombia and I will be sharing pictures of what Life in Cartagena is like.
The Beginning...
I decided to start at the beginning of this journey and explain how this all started.
As many of you already know we have done the expat thing before. We loved our 4 years of living in Thailand. I do believe once you live as an expat overseas it is in your blood and you always think about doing it again. Now don't get me wrong, when you come back to the states you are thrilled to be home, excited to have family and friends close by, but you still miss the excitement of expat life.
Our current story actually started almost a year ago.
Robert received a phone call from a friend who was also an expat telling him about a project in Colombia. At the time Robert was in the middle of another project and we actually talked about it like it was just a dream. We discussed Colombia and how exciting an international assignment would be, and that was the end of it. We both thought it was something that would probably never really happen, but it was fun to dream of that lifestyle again.
Fast forward about 7 or 8 months ago (and yes it took that long for all the paperwork and pieces to fall into place) and it became REAL! The talks began and as former expats we knew it could go fast or really slow. We decided not to share with anyone until we had a better idea of how REAL the offer was. Once we felt certain that it was going to happen, we had a family meeting with our children to discuss and decide if this was the right decision for our family. Our daughters are expat children so it is in their blood also and the decision was 100% in favor of this opportunity.
Next came the endless paperwork, Dr visits, work visa paperwork and finally the day arrived for departure. Leaving for an overseas assignment involves lots and lots of preparation both personal and work related. Decisions about what to do with your home, belongings and vehicles must be made. How to manage bills from another country, because we all still have bills. Credit cards and bank accounts must be notified about overseas activity. Doctors and dentists appointments must be scheduled. These are just a few of the important things you must do before you leave...the list goes on and on. So many things need to be done you begin to have dreams about more things you need to do before you can leave.
Finally as the odds and ends start to get marked off the list, you begin to focus on friends and family and the need to say good-bye. This for me is always the hardest part. I wish I could take everyone with me because I dislike good-byes. Actually I dislike change of any kind, yet I'm excited about this new journey. Yes, I know that doesn't make sense!
Departure Day is a day with mixed emotions. Since for me this day meant Robert was leaving first and I would be following him out about 4 to 6 weeks later it was a very emotional day. I was excited for him, scared, worried and sad that we would be spending the next several weeks apart. Unfortunately due to a lost passport I had to wait to join him and this added to my stress level. In a perfect world we would have left together.
The waiting was the next part of the journey. Waiting for him to arrive safely in Colombia. It seemed like hours and hours before I finally heard from him. It was almost midnight and he was suppose to have been at his hotel by 11:00pm so I was beginning to panic, then I got a phone call from some strange number and it was him. Hearing his voice was music to my ears! I was so happy and relieved that he had arrived safely. Prayers had been answered.
Now the REAL journey begins. Making a life in a new country with a different language and learning to adapt. I'll keep you posted as the story unfolds.
As many of you already know we have done the expat thing before. We loved our 4 years of living in Thailand. I do believe once you live as an expat overseas it is in your blood and you always think about doing it again. Now don't get me wrong, when you come back to the states you are thrilled to be home, excited to have family and friends close by, but you still miss the excitement of expat life.
Our current story actually started almost a year ago.
Robert received a phone call from a friend who was also an expat telling him about a project in Colombia. At the time Robert was in the middle of another project and we actually talked about it like it was just a dream. We discussed Colombia and how exciting an international assignment would be, and that was the end of it. We both thought it was something that would probably never really happen, but it was fun to dream of that lifestyle again.
Fast forward about 7 or 8 months ago (and yes it took that long for all the paperwork and pieces to fall into place) and it became REAL! The talks began and as former expats we knew it could go fast or really slow. We decided not to share with anyone until we had a better idea of how REAL the offer was. Once we felt certain that it was going to happen, we had a family meeting with our children to discuss and decide if this was the right decision for our family. Our daughters are expat children so it is in their blood also and the decision was 100% in favor of this opportunity.
Next came the endless paperwork, Dr visits, work visa paperwork and finally the day arrived for departure. Leaving for an overseas assignment involves lots and lots of preparation both personal and work related. Decisions about what to do with your home, belongings and vehicles must be made. How to manage bills from another country, because we all still have bills. Credit cards and bank accounts must be notified about overseas activity. Doctors and dentists appointments must be scheduled. These are just a few of the important things you must do before you leave...the list goes on and on. So many things need to be done you begin to have dreams about more things you need to do before you can leave.
Finally as the odds and ends start to get marked off the list, you begin to focus on friends and family and the need to say good-bye. This for me is always the hardest part. I wish I could take everyone with me because I dislike good-byes. Actually I dislike change of any kind, yet I'm excited about this new journey. Yes, I know that doesn't make sense!
Departure Day is a day with mixed emotions. Since for me this day meant Robert was leaving first and I would be following him out about 4 to 6 weeks later it was a very emotional day. I was excited for him, scared, worried and sad that we would be spending the next several weeks apart. Unfortunately due to a lost passport I had to wait to join him and this added to my stress level. In a perfect world we would have left together.
The waiting was the next part of the journey. Waiting for him to arrive safely in Colombia. It seemed like hours and hours before I finally heard from him. It was almost midnight and he was suppose to have been at his hotel by 11:00pm so I was beginning to panic, then I got a phone call from some strange number and it was him. Hearing his voice was music to my ears! I was so happy and relieved that he had arrived safely. Prayers had been answered.
Now the REAL journey begins. Making a life in a new country with a different language and learning to adapt. I'll keep you posted as the story unfolds.
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