The Gringa Dilemma: Is he married? Is he married not? That is the question...
In Latin America, it's difficult to know if the man courting you is actually available to do so. As a rule of thumb, men get married earlier in Latin America. Divorce is not as common here as in some other countries. A lot of men don't divorce, but decide that they are "separated" --even if their wives are not aware of this arrangement. Plus, many Latin men do not wear their wedding rings.
In Latin America, it's difficult to know if the man courting you is actually available to do so. As a rule of thumb, men get married earlier in Latin America. Divorce is not as common here as in some other countries. A lot of men don't divorce, but decide that they are "separated" --even if their wives are not aware of this arrangement. Plus, many Latin men do not wear their wedding rings.
It seems like having a girlfriend is kind of de rigeur. My chiropractor told me a story about one of his female friends who was approached by a guy who said to her, "I'm married, but I have only one girlfriend...may I take you out for dinner?"
And, alas, in general, American/Canadian/Western European men are not in Latin America to date gringas (they can do that at home); they're in Latin America to date Latinas, so that really doesn't work, either.
So what is a pretty, young, single American expat woman to do? Go young...
