Mid-fifties too late to start a new life in South America?
Posted: May 6th, 2013, 10:01 pm
In a couple of years I will be 55 and I am in reasonably good health. Should I just stay connected with Asia, where I am familiar with life, people and culture or should I make a start from zero in a South American country?
It's is going to take me at least a year (at my age) to have some level of functional proficiency in Spanish, is it worth the time and money investment in starting a new life in some place like Colombia? Or is it a young man's game?
I am going to check out SA for myself anyway, even if it's just for the sake of travel experience and I know I will have a blast, but I like to hear some thoughts about long term settling down.
My experiences in Taiwan have taught me that the Chinese culture is very difficult to penetrate and the rewards are not worth the huge effort needed. I can never walk into everyday cafes and food places or shops and just feel comfortable and relaxed, regardless of my Chinese ability.
People become politely uncomfortable (silence and pointing at things) or curios (where are you from and how long have you been here and what are you doing here and are you an American type of questions) or helpful in an exaggerated manner (nervousness) or forcing you to speak English (selfishness). And that's EVERYDAY! not every other day.
The Philippines is much better for integrating into but there is all the problems of safety, poverty, bad food, infrastructure - of course I would definitely try my best to make life as comfortable as possible for me if I had no other choice.
Is South America a compromise between these two worlds? Where I can at least learn and try to speak the language without too much incredulity on the part of the locals? Where there is an availability of decent and decent looking women. Infrastructure is not too bad and safety issues are not over the top and good food can be had etc.
If I was 20 years younger of course I would not hesitate but now I have to think twice.
It's is going to take me at least a year (at my age) to have some level of functional proficiency in Spanish, is it worth the time and money investment in starting a new life in some place like Colombia? Or is it a young man's game?
I am going to check out SA for myself anyway, even if it's just for the sake of travel experience and I know I will have a blast, but I like to hear some thoughts about long term settling down.
My experiences in Taiwan have taught me that the Chinese culture is very difficult to penetrate and the rewards are not worth the huge effort needed. I can never walk into everyday cafes and food places or shops and just feel comfortable and relaxed, regardless of my Chinese ability.
People become politely uncomfortable (silence and pointing at things) or curios (where are you from and how long have you been here and what are you doing here and are you an American type of questions) or helpful in an exaggerated manner (nervousness) or forcing you to speak English (selfishness). And that's EVERYDAY! not every other day.
The Philippines is much better for integrating into but there is all the problems of safety, poverty, bad food, infrastructure - of course I would definitely try my best to make life as comfortable as possible for me if I had no other choice.
Is South America a compromise between these two worlds? Where I can at least learn and try to speak the language without too much incredulity on the part of the locals? Where there is an availability of decent and decent looking women. Infrastructure is not too bad and safety issues are not over the top and good food can be had etc.
If I was 20 years younger of course I would not hesitate but now I have to think twice.
