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Two Questions...

 
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JonnyBravo



Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 80
Location: Bogota, Colombia
PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:10 am    Post subject: Two Questions... Reply with quote
Hello all -- I've been a lurker on ESL Cafe for something like 7 years now. Everything from Korea to Czech Republic, China to Argentina has seemed like a good plan at one time. Now, I'm really heading off. I settled it by buying a plane ticket a few days ago to Colombia for October 26th, which leades to question...

1) I have a return ticket for a duration of time greater than is allowed by a standard visitors visa. I'm told that proof of onward travel is required. Im not sure how people plan many month backpacking trips if they are not allowed to return to their arrival airport beyond what would have been an expired visitors visa. Can I get a bus ticket out of the country somewhere online so I that I can bring it to the airport with me on my way out?

I have found several bus companies selling tickets online, but its all for domestic travel. Any other suggestions on how to circumvent this issue? I may end up going to ecuador for a bit anyway, so I wouldnt mind buying the bus ticket if I could find a place to do it.

2) I was sold on the idea of CELTA in Bogota but the only place to do it between my arrival and 2011 is at british council for 4 million pesos, which is something like $2,300 right now. Seems just a bit too expensive. My budget is slightly tighter than I expected and the price is a lot more than I expected. I am consiudering taking the Southern Cross course on the coast of Ecuador, which is similarly priced but includes food and housing for a month. Is CELTA the way to go? I havent looked at any other course options except for CELTA until now. Are any of the rest worth the money?

Thanks for your help in advance. I can't wait to get down there and share some of my experiences on here.

Jon
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fladude



Joined: 02 Feb 2009
Posts: 432
PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 6:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I am in a similar boat, looking for a CELTA for next year. thought I read that International House in Bogota offered a CELTA for $1595. I'm not sure if that is accurate as some people say that they do not offer one. I am not sure but I would check. I also looked into Southern Cross but was turned off by the fact that the company has a policy against ever hiring Americans. I would rather pay a little more and work with a company that doesn't discriminate.
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JonnyBravo



Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 80
Location: Bogota, Colombia
PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I think the price is about right for what I remember seeing IH offer it for. The problem for me is that they dont offer a course from the day I land (oct. 26) until early 2011. I wasn't looking to work for southern cross, just possibly take the course there, though I'd rather take the course in colombia.
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fladude



Joined: 02 Feb 2009
Posts: 432
PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 10:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
JonnyBravo wrote:
I wasn't looking to work for southern cross, just possibly take the course there, though I'd rather take the course in colombia.


I didn't want to work for them either, but that's not really the point.
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JonnyBravo



Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 80
Location: Bogota, Colombia
PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 10:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I guess its a fair point (and I am American as well). What's their justification?
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fladude



Joined: 02 Feb 2009
Posts: 432
PostPosted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 12:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
JonnyBravo wrote:
I guess its a fair point (and I am American as well). What's their justification?


They just told me (and I asked them) that they were a British only school and only taught British English. I guess by their logic, American English is inferior or something. Anyway, I decided that they did not really need American students. I'll give my inferior American money to someone else. They can stick strictly with the pound sterling.

I wouldn't want to learn to teach British English anyway...... Very Happy
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sroetem



Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Posts: 33
PostPosted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 7:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The british can be difficult to understand.
Many students all over the world tell me this. Maybe you're better
off speaking proper english.
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travelNick



Joined: 22 Feb 2009
Posts: 56
Location: Bogota, Colombia
PostPosted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The standard tourist visa is 60 days. You can extend it upt to 6 months. That's how you can have an onward flight for after your initial visa period.
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Daddyo



Joined: 19 Jun 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Bogota, Colombia
PostPosted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 11:50 am