tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655683135628692725.post9166498089773723589..comments2024-03-29T02:30:11.538-07:00Comments on Mike's Bogota Blog: Time to Return?Miguelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15388030533444193686noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655683135628692725.post-4162933709171053022014-03-28T16:38:14.235-07:002014-03-28T16:38:14.235-07:00I imagine that one of this program's goals is ...I imagine that one of this program's goals is that the returnees will serve as seeds to attract others.<br /><br />I think it's really difficult for a developing country to keep talented, ambitious people (altho I do know of quite of few of them who live and work in Colombia) when they see more opportunities and higher pay overseas. <br /><br />That won't change for a while, at least. <br /><br />MikeMiguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15388030533444193686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655683135628692725.post-10968372553200270592014-03-27T10:01:40.308-07:002014-03-27T10:01:40.308-07:00There was an interesting article in CNN about the ...There was an interesting article in CNN about the “brain drain” of so many young, educated professionals who have left Puerto Rico. <br /><br />http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/22/us/puerto-rico-migration-economy/<br /><br />Instead of trying to lure them back with benefits, the government needs to figure out a way to keep them from leaving because once the “best and brightest” leave, it’s nearly impossible to lure them back if the underlying reasons for them leaving still remains. They may eventually return, but only after they retire or to be buried.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05198137408785239201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655683135628692725.post-39488104143455093042014-03-24T20:45:55.893-07:002014-03-24T20:45:55.893-07:00You're probably right. Which is why those who ...You're probably right. Which is why those who return here will probably do it for more abstract reasons, such as homesickness or wanting to contribute to Colombia. <br /><br />MikeMiguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15388030533444193686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655683135628692725.post-10997467752107419072014-03-24T14:08:10.762-07:002014-03-24T14:08:10.762-07:00Maybe, but I still don't see a return to Colom...Maybe, but I still don't see a return to Colombia as a first option for professionals in the US. The competition for jobs may be greater in San Francisco and New York, but there are plenty of places in the US with well paying options besides those cities. I can't really say those kinds of options exist here in Colombia. Maybe a rich kid with connections and a dad who is on the board of directors for some company could be set up pretty comfortably. Professionals and people with advanced degrees who don't get hooked up (engineers, doctors, dentists, lawyers), work ridiculous hours and don't make much to show for it.<br /><br />I think we are on the same page here, and I don't think there is going to be a huge influx anytime soon. Unless wages go up to the point where they actually parallel similar wages in the US (in terms of cost of living) and the Colombian workplace gets it's act together, I just don't see it.<br /><br />Could you imagine a professor at a university in the US transferring to let's say, La Nacho? I think it would be a pretty big eye opener. Things like student strikes, ridiculously bad infrastructure and walls that are merely a canvass for extreme political opinions probably ensure that most people with nice cozy jobs teaching in North America, don't want anything to do with many of the educational institutions here in Colombia; and we are talking about Colombia's "best" university. I mean, have you seen what time the university students got o classes here in Colombia? They are out and about at 7:00 in the morning. Go to a university in the US at 7, and you'll be the only person in the building. Why would you give up the freedom of scheduling your own classes and not having to wake up at the crack of dawn everyday? So you can be blasted by smog coming from a collective as you stand on the corner waiting for your bus....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655683135628692725.post-24966787756204038112014-03-24T14:04:02.204-07:002014-03-24T14:04:02.204-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655683135628692725.post-5616408712764437922014-03-23T19:21:44.611-07:002014-03-23T19:21:44.611-07:00You might be right...Which is why I think this off...You might be right...Which is why I think this offer would be most attractive to people nostalgic for home, or idealists who want to help their homeland. <br /><br />On the other hand, a person with a PhD in Colombia would be a big fish in a small pond. What's a PhD worth in New York or London?<br /><br />MikeMiguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15388030533444193686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655683135628692725.post-71160092513399634322014-03-23T15:04:59.890-07:002014-03-23T15:04:59.890-07:00I have my doubts about that. Professional workers ...I have my doubts about that. Professional workers here in Colombia are paid a pittance in comparison to their counterparts in the US and elsewhere. Also, I doubt that workers overseas are going to jump at the opportunity to work 10+ hours a day and wrangle with the often ridiculous commute times (especially here in Bogota) in order to make 1,000 USD a month. After working in the US or Europe, transitioning back to the inefficient office culture here in Colombia may be too difficult for someone who actually goes to work in order to get things done. Calling the Colombian workplace "organized chaos" would be putting it mildly. I have never seen people doing so much (or appearing to do so much) and accomplishing so little.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com