Colombia Club Part II

[ryna 132]

Yea the would have been a problem, then I'm sure I would have been dealing with a Felony Theft charge..

Yea, it doesn't appear they caught it since they scheduled the appointment.. Her age is entered correctly.. Maybe it's no big deal... I just hope I didn't make it worse by sending in the corrected forms by email...

Anyhow, hope all is well with you and your wife...

Kenny

Don't sweat it, man.. I made a typo or two in my I-129F supporting docs and it didn't even cause an RFE. Putting 2010 for DOB is such a "DUH" error that, even if you hadn't sent a corrected one, they would probably just want a corrected/amended one at interview time, but it won't hold anything up or affect you.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Yea the would have been a problem, then I'm sure I would have been dealing with a Felony Theft charge..

Yea, it doesn't appear they caught it since they scheduled the appointment.. Her age is entered correctly.. Maybe it's no big deal... I just hope I didn't make it worse by sending in the corrected forms by email...

Anyhow, hope all is well with you and your wife...

Kenny

I had a great time in Bogota for the Interview (October 7, 2009). I'd love to relive that couple of weeks again. But, I have my Leidys here to talk about it over dinner and laugh about the weather and how cold both of us were.

Life is very good for both of us here, and I thank God that we met when and how we did that summer day in Barranquilla.

[kennym 275]

I had a great time in Bogota for the Interview (October 7, 2009). I'd love to relive that couple of weeks again. But, I have my Leidys here to talk about it over dinner and laugh about the weather and how cold both of us were.

Life is very good for both of us here, and I thank God that we met when and how we did that summer day in Barranquilla.

Ken,,,

That's great.. How was the adjustment to the US for her.. what are the main things she misses from Colombia?

I know Colombianas love to just get out and have drinks with family and listen to music, how do you and her deal with some of those things?

Kenny

[DanVanessaSiempre 0]

What is the plan, Dan? I would suggest that Vanessa return home and wait for the Diomesa package to arrive. That's my opinion. Things can be difficult to plan due to the variables being so different there. Good luck.

We thought so too, bought the ticket tonight to return that same evening...

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Ken,,,

That's great.. How was the adjustment to the US for her.. what are the main things she misses from Colombia?

I know Colombianas love to just get out and have drinks with family and listen to music, how do you and her deal with some of those things?

Kenny

Leidys says she misses her Mother's cooking. She misses talking with her neighbors, her extended family. She misses the music being played on the streets, on the bus, etc, but because of YouTube and all of the MP3 cds we bought, and the XM-type radio stations on Direct TV, and here in the LA area radio stations play many kinds of popular Latin music, although, Vallenato is virtually unheard of here.

We have a local place in Long Beach called 'Alegria' that plays all Salsa and Merengue music. Downtown LA has 'The Mayan' where she was able to see Grupo Niche/Charlie Cardona. There are plenty of great performances there year-round. Her friend 'Sofia' (Derek y Sofia) is her best friend - they talk daily and we visit most weekends.

Just spend as much time talking with your Fiance as possible when she arrives. Being alone at home everyday can be depressing and difficult to adjust to. Plus, most Americans don't speak a 2nd language, so finding friends is challenging. Adjustment takes time, patience and understanding on all sides.

Leidys (pictured w/Charlie Cardona) backstage at Grupo Niche's concert in April

Leidys & Sofia, Sofia's daughter Annie, and her husband Derek (yesterday in Redondo Beach)

Edited September 7, 2010 by Ken y Leidys

[kennym 275]

That's some good stuff Ken...

I often worry how my Fiancee will adjust.. I am with you on the support and patience thing... I live in a small Texas Border Town, (Del Rio) which is about 98% hispanic, so the language thing isnt such a worry...

My concern; some of the first things you pointed out; the way friends and people hang out on the street inmost places in Colombia, shes from Medellin, Bello area, the way you can just walk out of your apratment down 1 or 2 doors and buy an Aguila - Cerveza or a carton of milk and hang out and chat with the store owner and run into an aunt or uncle on the way back... Just simple things that we don't find in the US, at least not where I live...

I also travel extensively with my job, ussually fly out on monday mornings and return friday night.. I will leave her home many times alone... (I am a work for a Manufacturer as a Field Engineer.) I do however, intend to take a couple weeks vacation once she arrives, and maybe, her and I will drive to my assignments instead of me flying every week at least maybe for the first few weeks..

I wonder how I'll keep her from getting to bored.. I know she wants to continue to improve her english, so classes will keep her busy a few days a week, she'll enjoy the fitness center as well, but I am sure she'll have her moments strugling with the boredom. It'll be some time before she can work, so we'll need to be creative...

I can't nor do I expect her to be suzie homemaker, so her and I will try to come up with somethings to keep her occupied...

Anyhow, really nice photos of you and your wife and your friends... Keep in touch..

Hey, one other thought, I will be in the LA Area in a few weeks, maybe we can meet. As it looks now, I'll be there for a couple weeks.. Actually the interesting things, I'll be there right up until the time I leave for Colombia for the interview...

Kenny

Edited September 7, 2010 by kennym

[Robert de Bonda 3]

Leidys says she misses her Mother's cooking. She misses talking with her neighbors, her extended family. She misses the music being played on the streets, on the bus, etc, but because of YouTube and all of the MP3 cds we bought, and the XM-type radio stations on Direct TV, and here in the LA area radio stations play many kinds of popular Latin music, although, Vallenato is virtually unheard of here.

We have a local place in Long Beach called 'Alegria' that plays all Salsa and Merengue music. Downtown LA has 'The Mayan' where she was able to see Grupo Niche/Charlie Cardona. There are plenty of great performances there year-round. Her friend 'Sofia' (Derek y Sofia) is her best friend - they talk daily and we visit most weekends.

Just spend as much time talking with your Fiance as possible when she arrives. Being alone at home everyday can be depressing and difficult to adjust to. Plus, most Americans don't speak a 2nd language, so finding friends is challenging. Adjustment takes time, patience and understanding on all sides.

Leidys (pictured w/Charlie Cardona) backstage at Grupo Niche's concert in April

Leidys & Sofia, Sofia's daughter Annie, and her husband Derek (yesterday in Redondo Beach)

Ken, you are making me really jealous. hahaha. I envy the time that you are now spending together; not in a bad way. Just a little tired of the waiting. Willdefinitely try to head out to LA in the late winter/early Spring. I hope that good adjustment experience is not limited to the California crowd.

[Nystu 2]

Ken, you are making me really jealous. hahaha. I envy the time that you are now spending together; not in a bad way. Just a little tired of the waiting. Willdefinitely try to head out to LA in the late winter/early Spring. I hope that good adjustment experience is not limited to the California crowd.

Robert, whenever your honey needs her Colombian fix try bringing her to NY, head to Jackson Heights and you'll be all set

[Robert de Bonda 3]

Robert, whenever your honey needs her Colombian fix try bringing her to NY, head to Jackson Heights and you'll be all set

Hey Nystu, I have Roosevelt Avenue programmed into my GPS. I plan to be there often. I still have family in Queens; and I have plans to come and hang out with you and yours when my fiancee gets here. Don't get me wrong, I love Ken and Leidys and am really happy for them, just kind of dealing with the stress of checking our I-129F status 2 or 3 times daily only to see the same initial review message with a last touch of 7/26/10.

I bought an old house and I am currently renovating it. It gets real interesting when I reach out to my fiancee for advise on colors or fixtures and she has no idea what I'm talking about. I could wait until she gets here but we will need a place to stay and for now this is going to be it. I'm trying to leave a few "unnecessary" rooms untouched so that she can fully put her imprint on them.

I took off today to get the renovations moving; so off I go. I'll check back in later.

[bramirez04 2]

That's some good stuff Ken...

I often worry how my Fiancee will adjust.. I am with you on the support and patience thing... I live in a small Texas Border Town, (Del Rio) which is about 98% hispanic, so the language thing isnt such a worry...

My concern; some of the first things you pointed out; the way friends and people hang out on the street inmost places in Colombia, shes from Medellin, Bello area, the way you can just walk out of your apratment down 1 or 2 doors and buy an Aguila - Cerveza or a carton of milk and hang out and chat with the store owner and run into an aunt or uncle on the way back... Just simple things that we don't find in the US, at least not where I live...

I also travel extensively with my job, ussually fly out on monday mornings and return friday night.. I will leave her home many times alone... (I am a work for a Manufacturer as a Field Engineer.) I do however, intend to take a couple weeks vacation once she arrives, and maybe, her and I will drive to my assignments instead of me flying every week at least maybe for the first few weeks..

I wonder how I'll keep her from getting to bored.. I know she wants to continue to improve her english, so classes will keep her busy a few days a week, she'll enjoy the fitness center as well, but I am sure she'll have her moments strugling with the boredom. It'll be some time before she can work, so we'll need to be creative...

I can't nor do I expect her to be suzie homemaker, so her and I will try to come up with somethings to keep her occupied...

Anyhow, really nice photos of you and your wife and your friends... Keep in touch..

Hey, one other thought, I will be in the LA Area in a few weeks, maybe we can meet. As it looks now, I'll be there for a couple weeks.. Actually the interesting things, I'll be there right up until the time I leave for Colombia for the interview...

Kenny

Hey Kennym my boyfriend is also from Bello Medellin, what a small world! he just got here to Ft lauderdale Florida last week. he loves it here he misses his family and all that stuff u and ken talked about but so far he loves it. once he starts working is when i know he will be 100% happy here

[kennym 275]

Hey Kennym my boyfriend is also from Bello Medellin, what a small world! he just got here to Ft lauderdale Florida last week. he loves it here he misses his family and all that stuff u and ken talked about but so far he loves it. once he starts working is when i know he will be 100% happy here

Yea, Bello is a cool little community, I like the way the people are there.. Whenever, I would go there, I would stay in my fiancee's apartment.. When she went to work, I would get out and walk around.. I gotta tell you, my fiancee used to worry about me a little, and I probably shouldn't have done it, but I really enjoyed visiting with the people in the nieghborhoods there.. It was amazing how warm and friendly everyone was...

It was kinda cool when they saw a gringo walking around.. they were interested to see what the gringo was doing in the area, but that was what started some interesting conversations... I may have been niave, but I certainly never felt threatened or unwelcome... We currently don't live in Bello anymore, we have in a apartment in Calasanz now which is near Diamonte Mall...

Anyhow, congrats on getting your boyfriend here and Best wishes..

Edited September 7, 2010 by kennym

[ryna 132]

Yea, Bello is a cool little community, I like the way the people are there.. Whenever, I would go there, I would stay in my fiancee's apartment.. When she went to work, I would get out and walk around.. I gotta tell you, my fiancee used to worry about me a little, and I probably shouldn't have done it, but I really enjoyed visiting with the people in the nieghborhoods there.. It was amazing how warm and friendly everyone was...

It was kinda cool when they saw a gringo walking around.. they were interested to see what the gringo was doing in the area, but that was what started some interesting conversations... I may have been niave, but I certainly never felt threatened or unwelcome... We currently don't live in Bello anymore, we have in a apartment in Calasanz now which is near Diamonte Mall...

Anyhow, congrats on getting your boyfriend here and Best wishes..

Yeah, here in Bogotá, I do the same thing - go for walks, explore the neighborhood and talk to people as best I can. She likes to say that I know her neighborhood better than she does, and to a certain extent, it's true because she's only lived here since March and I've had far more free time during my visits to explore. In this area, I mostly stand out only when I open my mouth but I have to say that I was definitely a curiosity when we went to visit her parents and the rest of her family in her hometown in Boyacá. From the number of looks I got, I don't think too many gringos make it out that way very often (even the policeman seemed confused when he saw my U.S. passport when our bus was stopped for a police/military checkpoint along the way)... Or, it just could have been (since everyone there knows everyone else) that they were just trying to figure out who was with her (in general.) In any event, I never felt uncomfortable or unwelcome either... well, except at the checkpoint. That was definitely strange and uncomfortable to me the first time. (By the sixth time, I was a pro.)

[Mononoke28 135]

that is crazy....we are waiting at least 5 months to just get into the NOA2 stage, CR1 is incredibly slow. Why the huge difference? Honestly it makes me a little pissed off

apeters,

Approval all depends on the service center you have to send your petition and how busy they are. Currently, the amount of petitions for CR1 visas has gone up since they raised the fees on all K1 visas. Financially, it makes more sense to file for a CR1 than a K1 where you still have to file for AOS and pay an additional $1,010.

Check out the Timeline Search so you can see other people who have filed for a CR1 in California and you'll get an idea of how long it took them to get approved. It's usually between 3-6 months.

Diana

[bramirez04 2]

Leidys says she misses her Mother's cooking. She misses talking with her neighbors, her extended family. She misses the music being played on the streets, on the bus, etc, but because of YouTube and all of the MP3 cds we bought, and the XM-type radio stations on Direct TV, and here in the LA area radio stations play many kinds of popular Latin music, although, Vallenato is virtually unheard of here.

We have a local place in Long Beach called 'Alegria' that plays all Salsa and Merengue music. Downtown LA has 'The Mayan' where she was able to see Grupo Niche/Charlie Cardona. There are plenty of great performances there year-round. Her friend 'Sofia' (Derek y Sofia) is her best friend - they talk daily and we visit most weekends.

Just spend as much time talking with your Fiance as possible when she arrives. Being alone at home everyday can be depressing and difficult to adjust to. Plus, most Americans don't speak a 2nd language, so finding friends is challenging. Adjustment takes time, patience and understanding on all sides.

Leidys (pictured w/Charlie Cardona) backstage at Grupo Niche's concert in April

Leidys & Sofia, Sofia's daughter Annie, and her husband Derek (yesterday in Redondo Beach)

Ken

i am so glad Leidys is having a great time and her and Sofia became so close thats awesome im sure it makes it alittle bit easier for her having someone she can relate too. i cant wait for you guys to come to Miami so we can finally meet you guys! saludes a mi amiga!

[Robert de Bonda 3]

There is a busy day coming up at the Embassy for VJ'ers. On Thursday 9/2, 3 couples will have their interview. Let's wish luck to:

Allan & Patricia

Mike & Andrea

Jen Barbieri & Nicolas Riveros

Hope that you will all be celebrating Thursday night and all weekend long.