Colombian Cash or Credit

 

When is the last time a friend or relative asked you to lend them money? Or when is the last time you've asked a co-worker or acquaintance to lend you money? Chances are if you were born after the 80's your answer is never. Why would you? Money ruins relationships right....well it wasn't always like that because there was a time before credit cards.

Up until, well, now we too had never lent or borrowed money. In many ways being in Colombia is like going back in time. I have a cobbler on my street and I use him, along the same lines their is a seamstress, a bakery, a store where many people buy daily groceries. And my neighbors all know everyone's business. Credit is no exception.  Unlike the good ol' U. S of A, not everyone is elegable for a credit card and because of this people live pay check to pay check and are always short on cash. And, come to find out it is not out of the ordinary to ask people to lend you money.

How do you say no? It is hard and we never figured it out and that is why at the moment we have an actual list of the people who owe us money. Friends, neighbors, our taxi driver and a few janitors at school. As the end draws closer we are starting to wish we would have said no. It is awkward to be asking people for money even if it is yours.

In every Mexican restaurant I have worked at in the past, the employees did what the call cadenas (chain.) Although at first glance it appears to be a pyramid scheme, it is instead just a way to help people save money in places where banks are not trust-worthy and credit is not available.  You get a group of people you trust and you rotate who you give the money to. So month one we all give the 100 bucks to Tom, and he gets a 1000 bucks, but the next month we all give 100 to Bob and so it continues till everyone goes. It makes sense and after all these people were asking us for money I finally asked a co-worker if they do "cadenas" in Colombia she said yeah. Apparently not in our net-work...apparently it is easier to just ask gringos.

It's time to do some serious collecting.