Where are you(beneficiary) from? | ¿De dónde eres?

[GJen 9]

I would have liked to list out all Spanish speaking countries, but apparently there's a limit as to how many choices I can make.

[mike101 8]

I would have liked to list out all Spanish speaking countries, but apparently there's a limit as to how many choices I can make.

GJen,

How could you forget Colombia : :

[GJen 9]

GJen,

How could you forget Colombia : :

jaja.. I didn't forget Colombia. Colombia would be under "South America(not Venezuela)". I would have liked to have been able to list out all the countries, but it only allows for 12 choices, so I grouped it into specific areas. I singled out Venezuela because that's where G is from and it seems like there are very few active members from Venezuela so I was curious as to where everybody was from.

[K and L 27]

There's more to South America than Spanish speaking countries/territories. Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Sandwich Islands, Falkland Islands, and Suriname are still generally considered as "Latin America" (as least per the most recent US Census, which defines "Hispanic or Latino" as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race") and none of them speak Spanish as their official language. Brazil's official language is Portuguese, French Guiana's is French, Guyana/ South Georgia/Sandwich Islands/Falkland Islands speak English, and Suriname is a Dutch speaking country. Granted, the English speaking ones are technically overseas territories and not sovereign countries...

Anyway, considering that Brazil is the largest country in South America -- in terms of land mass and population, Brazil by itself has as many people and as much land as the rest of the continent combined -- and is NOT Spanish speaking, it's kind of silly to lump it in as "other South America" while splitting out Venezuela.

[GJen 9]

There's more to South America than Spanish speaking countries/territories. Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Sandwich Islands, Falkland Islands, and Suriname are still generally considered as "Latin America" (as least per the most recent US Census, which defines "Hispanic or Latino" as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race") and none of them speak Spanish as their official language. Brazil's official language is Portuguese, French Guiana's is French, Guyana/ South Georgia/Sandwich Islands/Falkland Islands speak English, and Suriname is a Dutch speaking country. Granted, the English speaking ones are technically overseas territories and not sovereign countries...

Anyway, considering that Brazil is the largest country in South America -- in terms of land mass and population, Brazil by itself has as many people and as much land as the rest of the continent combined -- and is NOT Spanish speaking, it's kind of silly to lump it in as "other South America" while splitting out Venezuela.

Did you not read my previous post? I singled out Venezuela because my SO is from there. Also, I would have listed out each country where Spanish is spoken, but the poll limits choices to 12. Brazil would be under the "South America (not Venezuela)" catgeory. Any countries that did not fall under the categories I created would be "Other (not listed above)"

I don't need a geography lesson or to know what the "official languages" of each country is. This is not the Census. I'm just curious as to where people who happen to speak Spanish come from (even if it's not the "official" language of that country. I mostly created this because I see the Colombia thread is really active, but hardly anyone posts in the Gente de Venezuela thread.

[dakay ♥ 10]

I'm from the beautiful and friendly Colombia

[GJen 9]

I'm from the beautiful and friendly Colombia

I'd like to go there one day! I really wanted to enter Venezuela from Cucuta, Colombia, but my parents were nervous about me being a gringa and crossing the border

[dakay ♥ 10]

I'd like to go there one day! I really wanted to enter Venezuela from Cucuta, Colombia, but my parents were nervous about me being a gringa and crossing the border

I crossed the border from Cucuta a few years ago, I was in San Cristobal, but you know what is the risk? Chavez

[GJen 9]

I crossed the border from Cucuta a few years ago, I was in San Cristobal, but you know what is the risk? Chavez

That's where G is from.

I think my parents were more worried about me being kidnapped (a lot of similar stories had just come out right when I sprung my plans of crossing the border on them!) I didn't end up crossing it. I would like to go to Colombia one day, though. My suegra is from Colombia and she said Bogota is gorgeous!

[mike101 8]

That's where G is from.

I think my parents were more worried about me being kidnapped (a lot of similar stories had just come out right when I sprung my plans of crossing the border on them!) I didn't end up crossing it. I would like to go to Colombia one day, though. My suegra is from Colombia and she said Bogota is gorgeous!

My family and friends were also worried about me being kidnapped in Colombia on my first trip. I was also worried from reading the US State Department travel warnings but from what I've seen Colombia is a beautiful country filled with nice and humble people. On my last two trips I've visited Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Santa Marta. My fiancee is a "Costeña" and showed me around .

I'm excited to go back and visit Bogotá and it also looks beautiful from the pictures I've seen.

Like with most countries in South America.. The biggest threat you will probably face is petty theft so try not to attract a lot of attention to yourself and remain vigilant.

It also helped to know someone there in my case my Fiancee because she was able to guide me around, made sure that people didn't take advantage of me because I was a gringo, and keep me out of dangerous areas.