I just saw this on another thread. The posting was by Lizzardo.

Is there a Cholera issue on Aruba?

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Obscurum Per Obscurious

chollers is the local name for drug addicts.

LOL! While it shouldn't be (we ARE talking about drug addicts & dealers!!!), it IS a relief. Sorry for my ignorance....

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Obscurum Per Obscurious

you are entitled to ignorance. you can't know something you have not had the opportunity to learn. at least you asked instead of assuming. that shows ignorance without stupidity, lol.

Thank you. I suppose you could close this thread as the title may alarm some.

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Obscurum Per Obscurious

nah, our members are used to anything. it might answer other newbies who see the word choller too. i swear that you are not alone in your mistake.

btw, it is pronounced with a soft 'ch' sound like in cheek

At least I will know how to pronounce it if I politely inquire of some street urchin lying in a gutter!

"Sir, would you happen to be a choller?"

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Obscurum Per Obscurious

Nothing scares OR surprises us!! We're a tough bunch! lol

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lol, usually they don't lie in the gutters. they prefer the beaches. hard to tell them from the tourists since everyone seems a bit high on aruba, lol.

just kidding. it is a problem all over the world but aruba is doing something about it. to be honest, from what i have heard, their plan is much better than what we do in the states. it may not wipe out drugs since that is unlikely anywhere on earth but they are trying to get a handle on it that we seem to lack here.

God forbid a dealer approaches us. My Princess is a Deputy Sheriff !!!!

Me? A quiet professor.

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Obscurum Per Obscurious

Also chollers are the 'homeless' which include drug addicts
and people w/ various problems.

They mostly hang out in town and on the outskirts. They
have their 'place' marked out. There is one who hangs out
on the statue outside the post office.

Most chollers are pretty good and don't bother people.
But of course there are some who are destructive.
To tell you the truth, they usually just ask for money
or a cigarette and are okay with it if you don't.... not
nasty.

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Aruba Kitten Rescue
www.arubakitten.org

it could happen and on occasion does happen. however, in 20 years we have never been approached and i know very few who have been. people are the same all over this world. understand that the island is not third world. it is an island with excellent schools and mandatory education. the literacy rate is higher than the states and the percentage of students entering university is greater than the states. crime is much lower than any other island and certainly lower than where i live in the usa. however, no place is perfect so always be prepared.

I am only joking. My Princess would not mess with anyone and the ONLY person she likes to "Taze" is ME!!!

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Obscurum Per Obscurious

hahahaha! love it!

I agree...with going to Aruba every year since 1988.
We have been approached about TWO times total by chollers . One time in downtown Orangestad. The second time was by the Eagle Pharmacy near the hospital area.

When I did volunteer literacy training in the US, I was surprised at the stats. You know, many people in the US are not totally illiterate, but estimates are as high as 20% who are functionally illiterate. Aruba appears to have much better stats...and the people get by in 4 or 5 languages. This is some proof that Aruba is NOT a third-world country.

Our track record with being pan-handled/annoyed is so MUCH better in Aruba than what we have experienced in US.

Not cholera, but there have been some concerns about dengue fever.

This has been an interesting thread. I've been visiting Aruba every year (and for many years three times a year) since 1985. I've never heard the term choller. Live and learn. I shall add it to my vocabulary. In all the years in Aruba I've never been approached by a panhandler. The educational system in Aruba is noteworthy and the manner in which criminals are dealt with is commendable.

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