RE: advice on what country to visit (South America)
On safety.
I think the basics of safety are pretty obvious.
First. Don't go anywhere that you really don't belong. If a neighborhood is bad for a local, you have no business being there. Research and find out where the safe places are. And party with the middle and upper class. You'll find they are less eager to get into fights and that the places that are very popular, they all go to them anyways. Comparatively speaking, drinks are cheap so going to a classy venue with security that might be good. Also hot girls that can afford it or have friends that help them a bit, they go to the nice places anyways. If you want to go to a meth-head hangout to pick up some putas, well, you're asking for it.
Second. I found that I had a lot of success when I ignored the girls and talked to the guys. And let me tell you this, mi espanol es muy terrible. I suck at Spanish. I took it only at the Jr. High level and ignored it in favor of Japanese. But while waiting in line at a club and going solo, I talked to a dude there and we worked with his terrible English and my terrible Spanish and were even able to joke about a few things. I told him my friend was supposed to arrive at a certain time and I was alone until he got there-- but that I didn't have a phone and that the guy could be unreliable. I bought him a Corona ($2.50) and we chatted for awhile, his girl and guy friends arrived. He introduced me and I chatted up the dudes more than the girls, they were pretty amused. After awhile they went to dance and motioned for me to follow, I joined and didn't make any moves on the girls and just talked to the guys and enjoyed the scene. They then bought a bottle of Aguardiente and offered me drinks, wouldn't let me put in any money, and we got closer, were high fiving, usually signs of friendship. By this point they revealed that they knew more English than they had let on and that I was a cool guy. We talked and at this point the girls were like, who the hell is this suave bastard that our overprotective male friends are totally cool with. My non verbal game was fantastic and we didn't even really need to talk.
The women were very intrigued. But more importantly, later that night, when I was dancing with a girl, this Colombian local, who looks way better than me, tried to swoop on the girl, and was hostile when I made some light jokes. Immediately, my new dudes circle the wagons and basically tell the dude to fuck off. I spent the rest of the night with those guys and their girls. I kiss closed one who was really cute. Not hot as balls, but really cute. And I got her number. But not just her number, I got all of the dudes emails.
Long story short: don't come into the bar like some sort of slinky thief that's come to play prince charming and be a gringo. Come in as a man who connects with the community, who cares about more than stealing local girls, and who genuinely wants to have fun without being some sort of fuck count builder. The next night I went out with one of them to a new club with new guys and new girls. All were suspicious at the beginning, but I ran a repeat. First thing I do, I shake hands, introduce, and then joke around. If I see one of them eying a girl I try to set them up, if they're dancing a bit far apart, I jokingly bring them closer, then leave.
I found a girl I liked. Balls hot. Funny. A bit overconfident and a bit standoffish. Bitch shield, yeah, she had it up full force. Three hours later, in a thick Colombian accent, in English, one of my new friends says to me "She, she is crazy about joo."
We kissed and felt each other up in the car ride to a taco stand. I get all their contact info. I hit up the girls for information on music, and go to an outing the next day with the guys-- that outing is to a sports bar to watch the Superbowl. That outing was today, and I won a 10,000 peso bet on the Saints and we all had buffalo wings together.
When I come back my safety will not be an issue, one of the eight dudes I met will have my back. One of the many girls I met will help me do something. Safety is something a country mostly provides to actual members of its society and safety is increased when the number of people that want to protect you is high and the number of people that despise you is low. Work on this number and don't go into areas where you can't change it. Find out where you're safe or where you can make friends.
Caveat, I am 24. This does mean they are less likely to perceive me as out of my element. If you want to try bar and club gaming, it may be much harder. Granted the group I was with, the girls were mid 20s, the guys early 30s. Beyond 40, I'd adjust the game.
Third, money. Be smart with it, minimize the amount on you at all times to what you need. Watch the bar staff-- try to pay in near exact change. They'll scam you. Bring a pocket calculator, have them put the number out where you can see it. Numbers need no translations. I carry a dummy wallet, it's my old fake Prada wallet I got in Hong Kong. I keep enough money for a cab in my sock. I don't let cab drivers scam me. They use the meter and they give me change, once I get full change or close enough, they get their tip. On my way back from the Superbowl today, the cab driver said that he did not have change. Bullshit. He was trying to get double the cab fare by claiming he didn't have change. The difference was $2.50 out of $5.00 but I was not about to let him scam me. I told him that it's his job to have change and to take me to a nearby hotel ( a block away), free, and that I would get change for him. Did it and the guy left. Don't let your fear of being somewhere new interfere with your basic self-assertion on slimeballs that really pose no threat.
But be able to tell the difference between a racist scumbag cabbie and a potentially violent unconnected random. Don't even be alone with the second let alone get in any transactions with them.
Fourth, awareness. Don't get fucking wasted. Don't be hustled. Watch your drinks. Read peoples expressions. If things start to take a turn towards hostility, try to see it before it happens. I knew that the guy at that first club was pretty pissed, he must have wanted her earlier, it had escalation potential and the guy was built as fuck-- same time, this club has security. But we all know that getting into a pointless bar fight can really kill game and paint you as the aggressor rather than the victim. And the management doesn't like it. So be aware and avoid getting yourself into trouble.
Among all of these, I'd say the most important thing is Research followed by Awareness, which allows you to read if you can Befriend others, and is aided by smart Money management.
I feel 100% safe because I know that I am partying in really nice neighborhoods. The girls of la Zona Rosa and Poblado, they come here to party because it is nice. If this is not your country, research it like fuck.
My answer would be: Go to Colombia first. I love this place and these people, because I have successfully avoided the bad people that are most certainly somewhere in this town.
If someone asks you, why are you in Colombia: "Aventura".
If someone asks you, what you want: "El mundo".
If you need to elaborate, you're there for business. In fact, I would encourage people to build up a business relationship with the places you go to, because then when you say it, you can prove it, you'll network through business, and you can turn a profit if you're smart about buying. I'm a kid with not nearly enough cash for that. But I did well. If I had more time here, I'd get both of these girls to cook me dinner and I would take them out to nice places and enjoy the finer things. For now, I'm happy with creating the environment for future success here, enjoying my wonderful time in this gorgeous country, making lasting friendships, and kissing hot girls who are classier than diving into the arms of some first world savior. I'm also happy that my day2 with one went very well.
If I had strong command of Spanish, I would most certainly have been laid by both those girls.
But only one in 5 days isn't bad for a gringo.
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