Nanny Conundrums...

Dear Bogota Expats!

Wow, as most of will have at least one person or more helping us in our home, this can be a frustrating and bewildering process of learning, on both parts - both for the empleada/ninera and for you!

Some tips as we've been through a number of nannies even within our first 40+ days already:

• Make sure the person is someone you will be comfortable with in your home, has a good attitude, not too exigente (demanding)
• If the person is young with children (or even older with young children), consider that her children will get sick often and 1) make her sick, and 2) possibly not be available for work
• If the person is young and single, be aware if they do not go out late at night and do not have the energy to come to work
• Have a talk about all of your expectations:
• Feeding/sleeping schedule
• Arrival/departure time
• Payment schedule
• Vacation, sick leave, etc (if you are paying a salary)
• If they wear perfume, have long nails, what they wear (sandals, non-street shoes)
• If they are going to use/open anything in the house, they should ask; speak specifically about what machines/appliances they are allowed to use
• Lunchtime meals
• Cooking expectations
• Developmental preparation for the children - 
• If they are sick, they should not come
• Extra hours

Baking at high altitude... 8,261 ft!

Dear Bogota Expats,

Anyone bake at high altitude? Denverites? Yesterday I tried my first baking experience of chocolate chip cookies (The famous New York Times recipe!)... yes, a total flop (though still edible). Then I consulted King Arthur's webpage... increase the temp, decrease baking time, increase liquid, increase flour... I can see how all these would definitely help!

[Update Dec 8. 2013 - we had some Colombian friends over and they said something sort of simple... go buy some cookbooks for Colombia?  But what am I 1) to do with my recipes from the US which are excellent, and 2) what do I do when I leave with these Colombian recipes?  Maddening???

I did see amazon has a few recommended books, like Pie in the Sky... I might have to download or order those!]

Happy Baking,

Avila

high-altitude baking

The higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure. While this is an excellent environment for training athletes, it is a difficult one for baking recipes. Baking depends on the specific interactions of several kinds of ingredients: flour, leavening, fats, liquid. To complicate things further, individual microclimates vary greatly in the mountains, so the adjustment that works for you may not work for your neighbor down (or up) the road.

These charts are meant as a starting point, to help you convert recipes. Different types of baked goods need different adjustments, and we offer suggestions about where to start further on including adjusting chemical leavens according to altitude and baking cookies at high-altitude. It may take a few tries to get results you’re happy with; if possible, try to adjust only one ingredient at a time, so you can isolate the effect it has. Be sure to keep notes on what you’ve done, and try the smaller adjustments first when a range is given.

For more information…

Because high-altitude baking is a complex subject, we recommend a set of publications that cover all aspects of baking at 3,500 feet and up, from the Colorado State University Extension Resource Center. For questions, call toll free at 877.692.9358, refer, to their website, or at e-mail them.

• Changes at high-altitude
• Leavening
• Cookies
• Cakes, breads & more…

~ changes when baking at high-altitude ~

WHAT TO CHANGE	HOW TO CHANGE IT	WHY
Oven temperature	Increase 15 to 25°F; use the lower increase when making chocolate or delicate cakes.	Since leavening and evaporation proceed more quickly, the idea is to use a higher temperature to “set” the structure of baked goods before they overexpand and dry out.
Baking time	Decrease by 5-8 minutes per 30 minutes of baking time.	Baking at higher temperatures means products are done sooner.
Sugar	Decrease by 1 tablespoon per cup	Increased evaporation also increases concentration of sugar, which can weaken the structure of what you’re baking
Liquid	Increase by 1 to 2 tablespoons at 3,000 feet. Increase by 1 1/2 teaspoons for each additional 1,000 feet. You can also use extra eggs as part of this liquid, depending on the recipe.	Extra liquid keeps products from drying out at higher temperatures and evaporation rates.
Flour	At 3,500 feet, add 1 more tablespoon per recipe. For each additional 1,500 feet, add one more tablespoon.	In some recipes, a flour with a higher protein content may yield better results. Additional flour helps to strengthen the structure of baked goods.

And specifically  here is the section for baking cookies:

~ baking cookies at high-altitude ~

WHAT TO CHANGE	HOW TO CHANGE IT	WHY
Oven temperature	Increase 15 to 25°F; use the lower increase when making chocolate or delicate cakes.	Since leavening and evaporation proceed more quickly, the idea is to use a higher temperature to “set” the structure of baked goods before they overexpand and dry out.
Baking time	Decrease by 5-8 minutes per 30 minutes of baking time.	Baking at higher temperatures means products are done sooner.
Sugar	Decrease by 1 tablespoon per cup	Increased evaporation also increases concentration of sugar, which can weaken the structure of what you’re baking
Liquid	Increase by 1 to 2 tablespoons at 3,000 feet. Increase by 1 1/2 teaspoons for each additional 1,000 feet. You can also use extra eggs as part of this liquid, depending on the recipe.	Extra liquid keeps products from drying out at higher temperatures and evaporation rates.
Flour	At 3,500 feet, add 1 more tablespoon per recipe. For each additional 1,500 feet, add one more tablespoon.	In some recipes, a flour with a higher protein content may yield better results. Additional flour helps to strengthen the structure of baked goods.

VAT Tax Reimbursement - IVA-free shopping!

Dear Bogota Expats,

One of the great benefits of my husband's "diplomatic" status is that we exempt from paying IVA taxes.  In Colombia, there are different taxes - 5%, 8% and most common and worst of all, 16% tax for most non-food items and non-service items.  (Unfortunately if you go to a restaurant, it is counted as service and you cannot be reimbursed for any of those costs!)  Every quarter they collect taxes and after about 4 months, we will receive the reimbursement of each prior VAT tax submission.

So what information do you need?  Please see below the process and procedures to this:

• Keep all receipts that have IVA on them
• No need to keep the small credit card slips (ditafono)
• On each receipt, you will have find the following:
• Name of the company "sociedad anonima (S.A.S.)" which is often different than the name of the store/restaurant
• The company's NIT number
• Invoice number
• Address of the store
• Total amount of the receipt
• Total amount of the IVA

Other FAQs:

1. If it says "impuesto consumo" or "impuestos" on the receipts (mostly from restaurant receipts), do we include these?

- Please include the impuesto al consumo

2. On McDonald's receipt, for example, it doesn't explicitly say IVA, but it says "subtotal" then "Total aqui con IVA" - should I calculate the IVA amount myself?

- One of the requirements of DIAN is that the receipt should explicitly say IVA however please include those invoices, we will check if we can include  it. 

3.  What is the date from which you are able to claim VAT reimbursement from?  

- Ask your office administrator when you were issued your diplomatic number (though the physical card may not be in your hands just yet)

4.  Just to confirm, should any of the ditafono (credit card machine) receipts be submitted?  Should we keep them for our records?

- Credit card machine receipts are not necesary, 

5.  How should the receipts be organized, with a paperclip in order alphabetically?

- The receipts should be organized just as you said alphabetically with a paperclip

Happy reimbursements!

Avila

Private Clubs, Part II - First Invitation

Dear Bogota Expats!

Today, a lightly rainy afternoon, we were invited to Club Campestre Guaymaral by one of my husband's senior colleagues.  The club is located north of Bogota, about 45 minutes out of the city depending on traffic (which of course always exists)!  As we drove into the complex, it was extremely impressive, beautiful, verdant and very well kept up.  We passed horse stables, an expansive golf course, and saw many tennis courts in the distance and a lovely clubhouse!  In some ways, it reminded me of West Virginia's famous The Greenbrier Resort though the feeling is distinctively different.  Though also very 'white' there is a different feeling of 'white' in Latin America than the 'whites only' feeling of the American South.  (Both of course are a bit unsettling, but for me it seems a bit more pronounced - elitist - in Latin America.)

We had a delicious lunch - the special menu was focused on Mexican cuisine - and we were extremely well attended to, I must admit.  There are so many staff people underfoot, and even a dessert cart came out in the end.  [Of note, there were tons of young children around, including lots of strollers, and in Latin America they are always welcome and well cared for.]

We were told that as we hold diplomatic status, we would be exempt from paying the initiation fee, but would have yearly fees of about $5000USD - around $500USD per month.

We are considering joining a private club as a social outlet though I'm not sure if 1) this would the style in which we would like to live, and 2) if this would be worth it for us if we just went 1-2 times per month.  It seems the money could be spent in other ways in a more productive way for us.  We would like to see some other clubs, but I certainly did enjoy our time though I'm not sure about the elite feeling of a private club.

[Update Dec 11 - I wonder if the "invitation" to a club in Colombia is the equivalent of being "invited to an asado" in Argentina... words that are thrown around but never "cumplidas"?  I was recently chatting with someone from our new daycare (jardin infantil) and the person, who is actually fro Spain and married to an Argentine put forth this invite.  Thoughts anyone?]

Love and equality,

Avila

Language Classes - Perfecting your Spanish

Dear Bogota Expats

I've taken so many years of Spanish class, it's shocking that I still want to (and need to) brush up on my skillz.  I have been introduced to a number of locations in and our the Cabrera-Rosales area in which to take classes.  I took the test at Berlitz and tested at a lower-middle intermediate level - that pluscaum perfecto still kills me!

Anyways, ahem, I present a short list of places where you can take different types of classes (private, business-oriented, etc.)

• Berlitz
• Universidad de EAN
• Universidad de Sergio Arboleda

Happy learning,

Avila

Store Recommendations - U.S. Equivalents here in Bogota

Dear Bogota Expats,

Yes, as we live in a consumer society and we often need (or want) things that we are used to, it is great when you move to another country that you can find almost exactly everything that you want there - including down to the same brands.  In Seattle, the city where I grew up and where we just moved from (after living in Washington DC and Boston), there are some store-markers that I always want a reference point to - "What is the Whole Foods?" "Where the best cheese shop?" "What is the Target vs. What is the Walmart?"  You get what I mean?  Having lived around the world in various countries and having traveled significantly to others, I really know what I like and am very specific about it, especially as we all have the internet (and amazon.com) at our fingertips to read all the product reviews virtually on any product we may want to buy.

So below, as of a month+ into living in Bogota, I give you my list of U.S. to Bogota equivalents:

• BED BATH AND BEYOND - Home Sentry
• HOME DEPOT/LOWE'S - Home Center
• DESIGN WITHIN REACH - Elemental Store, Mesas Y Sillas (there are also many design and antique shops on Carrera 9 too)
• SAFEWAY-QFC-FRED MEYER - Jumbo and Exito sell everything, Surtifruver de la Sabana just has vegetables, meat, bread and dairy products
• TARGET - Jumbo, Exito for their home selection
• WALMART - not sure yet
• MACY'S - Falabella
• WHOLE FOODS - haven't really found it yet but the closest big and little market that is every few blocks here (in the north) is Carulla though it doesn't have a big organic-bent to it selection or offerings.
• PASTA & CO. - Pastaio (there is even one embedded within Exito)
• ICE CREAM SHOPS - We haven't been blown away yet, but we have tried the Popsy stands a few times, and it's ok, and there is a paleteria place near our house that is good, and we did try Crepes and Waffles that everyone raves about - but we've found their service quite poor and others have commented the same (more on that C&W later as it's an interesting business model that employs only single mothers...)
• EINSTEIN BROS./NOAH'S BAGELS - Central Bagels, though they only have 3-4 bagels available at any time and if you want other types, you have to special order them; they also have a general promotion of 5 bagels and a schmear for 15,000 COP but then strangely charge 10,000 COP for a single schmear - so you know what you have to do!  We have also been told Surtifruver de la Sabana has bagels too (only three types - plain, french toast, cinnamon raisin)
• Apple Stores - Mac Center
• STARBUCKS - Juan Valdez, Oma Cafe
• MICHAEL'S / JOANNE FABRICS - not sure yet
• UTRECHT ART SUPPLIES / BLICK ART MATERIALS - not sure yet

There are some store equivalents that I'm sure we've driven through and that our relocation specialist Yolanda has told us about but they are still to be verified by us:

• DEAN AND DELUCA?
• REI - They do have North Face stores here
• TRADER JOES?
• BEST BUY?
• MORE BAGEL SHOPS?
• HAIR SALON?
• ALTERATIONS?
• DRY CLEANERS?

There are many grocery stores here but Jumbo and Exito seem like the most comprehensive selections and are the biggest ones.  They are multi-story complexes with moving walkway escalators.

As far as fast food, almost everything is here.  I did eat out on Halloween lunch at Taco Bell, yes, there is a Taco Bell here (as well as Burger King, McDonald's, KFC, etc.)

May you enjoy all your shopping adventures in Bogota!

Avila

Colombianismos heard en la calle!

Dear Bogota Expats!

We have a lot of friends from Colombia, but I think we've never noticed all the sayings that they say more often in other countries where we've lived - or it could be the way in which they say it that makes it all the more interesting.  We have spent an incredible amount of time with our relocation specialist Yolanda and we always laugh when she says the following things - she is a crack up!  I will continue adding to the list as we hear more "colombianismos!"

• "Que pena!"
• "Que rabia!"
• "Ella es muy juiciosa."
• "Que rico!"
• "Esta muy harto" or "Comio harto" - our nanny says this all the time which means "A lot of that!"

• Todo dicho en diminutiva - jugito, cochecito, callecito, etc...

Interesting words we've learned:

• chulear - to mark off, to check off (a list)

Besos,

Avila