[whodat689]

Is the safety of Colombia (Bogotá)mainly over hyped?

I spent 6 weeks in São Paulo, Brazil and before going after everything I heard and read...thought I would surely either be robbed, held for ransom,or killed from the way they make it seem.....I'm hoping this is the same way Colombia is and just use common sense obviously.

Second part of my question is....connected to the 1st on safety and if you thnik I can trust this colombiana or not?

While in Brazil I met a few Colombians studying portuguese in my class, they all seemed great/nice people the men and women.

The women seemed like so conservative and over the type nice...innocent. I wasn't too close with this one girl....but our entire group/class of students from all over the world were very close and we all keep in touch on facebook,etc very frequently.....so somehow she said I could visit anytime and I later accepted her offer and will be in Colombia within the next 2 weeks.

I'm just very nervous now going into this foriegn country, and can I trust her or is she setting me up to kidnapped/ransom robbed or playing?

I hear a lot about Colombian women, and never trust them....I barely know this girl really....she seems like one those people who are just too nice unless thats how colombian women are....both 2 that I met were actually like that lol the 3rd seemed normal.

anyhow, she seems like she comes from a nice family, has money shes educated has a lot going for her to risk on some scheme of setting me up...she has a bachelors degree,travels frequently around colombia, brazil

[pitt]

Well if you are wonder weather you should trust her then she probably gave you enough reasons not to trust, no? if you in doubt, dont go, but according to your description of this girl i think she is a good woman. What type of gangster woman will go to Sao Paulo to study portuguese.

[Spike]

(11-27-2011 04:00 AM)pitt Wrote:  

Well if you are wonder weather you should trust her then she probably gave you enough reasons not to trust, no? if you in doubt, dont go, but according to your description of this girl i think she is a good woman. What type of gangster woman will go to Sao Paulo to study portuguese.

agreed, i don't think that a girl who studies abroad will set you up for something.

Just use common sense but that's for every country you visit. Don't expect to get laid with her either. I had girls invite me to stay at their house just as friends.

If with unknown girl anywhere in the world, hide you stuff unless she appears to be rich. I literary just had a same night lay with a girl with a nice car and blackberry phone.we drove to my guesthouse and i banged her there and than she left. The whole thing from hello to goodbye took 3 hours. I don't have to be really careful around her, she already has more than me. (poor backpacker)

Lousy lay though

[pitt]

Neil what country you at now?

[Hencredible Casanova]

(11-27-2011 03:56 AM)whodat689 Wrote:  

Is the safety of Colombia (Bogotá)mainly over hyped?

I spent 6 weeks in São Paulo, Brazil and before going after everything I heard and read...thought I would surely either be robbed, held for ransom,or killed from the way they make it seem.....I'm hoping this is the same way Colombia is and just use common sense obviously.

Second part of my question is....connected to the 1st on safety and if you thnik I can trust this colombiana or not?

While in Brazil I met a few Colombians studying portuguese in my class, they all seemed great/nice people the men and women.

The women seemed like so conservative and over the type nice...innocent. I wasn't too close with this one girl....but our entire group/class of students from all over the world were very close and we all keep in touch on facebook,etc very frequently.....so somehow she said I could visit anytime and I later accepted her offer and will be in Colombia within the next 2 weeks.

I'm just very nervous now going into this foriegn country, and can I trust her or is she setting me up to kidnapped/ransom robbed or playing?

I hear a lot about Colombian women, and never trust them....I barely know this girl really....she seems like one those people who are just too nice unless thats how colombian women are....both 2 that I met were actually like that lol the 3rd seemed normal.

anyhow, she seems like she comes from a nice family, has money shes educated has a lot going for her to risk on some scheme of setting me up...she has a bachelors degree,travels frequently around colombia, brazil

Based on your description of her, I don't see any red flags. Are you generally distrustful about most people/women that you meet? Particularly from developing countries?

Colombians are among the friendliest people in the world, let alone South America. She sounds like a quintessential Colombian in that she's inviting you to stay with her (Colombians are well-regarded for their hospitality). I've met many Colombians like this. She also seems to be from at least a middle-class background in that you met her studying Portuguese in Brazil. That's a good sign. Keep in mind that many Colombians like this, especially the ones from elite wealthy families, are often subject to robberies and kidnappings themselves, so they often have a fear of the same issues you seem to be worried about.

I wouldn't worry, though. I've been to Colombia and it's a fantastic country, and I trust you will have a good time with this girl.

[garygroundwork]

Colombia is safe if u stick to the right areas and use common sense. i have had a few friends who have been robbed at gun point and knife point. i also know a canadian guy who got stabbed in cali... so lucky to have survived. he was getting robbed and tried to play the hero.

there are areas u just dont go after dark. as for kidnapping ppfftt forget it...no chance. the worst that will happen is robbed.

[KingofScotland]

You're probably not going to get robbed or kidnapped by this girl. How do you manage to live your life if you're so distrusting? I've been invited to all sorts of places by people I've met on my travels and never have any problems, it's very obvious to me when someone is dodgy and up to no good and if you're not able to work that out for yourself you probably shouldn't be travelling. No one here can tell you whether this girl we haven't met will have ill intentions for you.

[whodat689]

thanks for the advice scotland...your right. Deep down inside I believe she is a great girl...probably one of the best I've ever met in my life to be honest. She is so smart, passionate about learning, traveling...peaceful,etc

Then there is the 1% in my head thinking the worst will happen to me...considering I have a paranoid mother who thinks the worst and makes me think it's going to happen deep down inside when I know its really not a possibility. If I was so scared I wouldn't have bought the ticket and plan to leave in a week or 2.

[Sly]

(11-27-2011 11:28 PM)whodat689 Wrote:  

thanks for the advice scotland...your right. Deep down inside I believe she is a great girl...probably one of the best I've ever met in my life to be honest. She is so smart, passionate about learning, traveling...peaceful,etc

Then there is the 1% in my head thinking the worst will happen to me...considering I have a paranoid mother who thinks the worst and makes me think it's going to happen deep down inside when I know its really not a possibility. If I was so scared I wouldn't have bought the ticket and plan to leave in a week or 2.

haha my mom always thinks the worst also. I was planning on going to Colombia in a month but my mom would never let me hear the end of it.
So i chose the DR instead.
I think I'd blend in more in Colombia (Lighter skin, brown hair) but apparently Colombians would kidnap me and use me to grow drugs for them?
Anwways, You should be fine over there..

[KingofScotland]

(11-27-2011 11:28 PM)whodat689 Wrote:  

thanks for the advice scotland...your right. Deep down inside I believe she is a great girl...probably one of the best I've ever met in my life to be honest. She is so smart, passionate about learning, traveling...peaceful,etc

Then there is the 1% in my head thinking the worst will happen to me...considering I have a paranoid mother who thinks the worst and makes me think it's going to happen deep down inside when I know its really not a possibility. If I was so scared I wouldn't have bought the ticket and plan to leave in a week or 2.

Troll, right?

[rinestone]

(11-27-2011 03:56 AM)whodat689 Wrote:  

Is the safety of Colombia (Bogotá)mainly over hyped?

I spent 6 weeks in São Paulo, Brazil and before going after everything I heard and read...thought I would surely either be robbed, held for ransom,or killed from the way they make it seem.....I'm hoping this is the same way Colombia is and just use common sense obviously.

Second part of my question is....connected to the 1st on safety and if you thnik I can trust this colombiana or not?

While in Brazil I met a few Colombians studying portuguese in my class, they all seemed great/nice people the men and women.

The women seemed like so conservative and over the type nice...innocent. I wasn't too close with this one girl....but our entire group/class of students from all over the world were very close and we all keep in touch on facebook,etc very frequently.....so somehow she said I could visit anytime and I later accepted her offer and will be in Colombia within the next 2 weeks.

I'm just very nervous now going into this foriegn country, and can I trust her or is she setting me up to kidnapped/ransom robbed or playing?

I hear a lot about Colombian women, and never trust them....I barely know this girl really....she seems like one those people who are just too nice unless thats how colombian women are....both 2 that I met were actually like that lol the 3rd seemed normal.

anyhow, she seems like she comes from a nice family, has money shes educated has a lot going for her to risk on some scheme of setting me up...she has a bachelors degree,travels frequently around colombia, brazil

Sounds fine, trust your instincts. But if you're looking to humor some paranoia:

Where in bogota does she live? Which neighborhood or close to which transmilenio stop?
With whom does she live?
What is her occupation?

That is enough for many here to provide you with a stereotypical, biased rola profile