Season 2 Discussion

[Lily247]

18 hours ago, Former Nun said:

I'm not so sure that Americans need this lesson from Pedro's family.   Pedro's sister and mother seem able-bodied; why doesn't their culture encourage them to be self-sufficient?  Like, get J-O-B-S.   He has other sisters who work and pay their own way.  "Helping" is one thing...creating a lifestyle better than one's own is another.

Im not sure whether or not Pedro's mother and sister work. I am assuming they work low paying jobs. Pedro's mother mentioned she needed a laptop for work. They do need to behave in an appreciative manner though towards Chantel. She is 50% the reason why Pedro is able to send TLC money back. Pedro's friends brought up a point that a lot of Americans say "screw u" or something to parents when they need help. In many cultures families help adult children after they get married by sharing their home and helping raise grandchildren, but that is not as common here. In return, traditionally Hispanic culture takes care of their elderly at home.

By the way, I am assuming that his family gets their own paychecks for appearing on the show. So I think that part of this is just storyline stolen from Mel/Devar (that was different as it was stipulated to the audience very clearly that Mel was financially well off from her own hard work and Devar planned to send back 90% of his paychecks.) 

[sleepyjean]

Quote

 I don't really like her either, but the way they treat her is terrible, calling her a prostitute and such.

Ok, but she IS a prostitute. That's exactly what she is. She graces him with her "hotness" and occasional sex in return for a lavish lifestyle. That's the deal she signed up for. She's been quite clear about that. It was never about love, mutual respect, camaraderie, building a life together, or even just mutual affection. It was 100% about money. That's why I don't understand why she gets so offended when Lourdes calls a spade a spade. Lourdes is crass as hell, but she's speaking truth.

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It's about Chantal being spoiled and entitled. How dare motherPedro and sisterPedro have a bigger apartment using money that Pedro could be spending on her? Clearly Chantal has always been the princess who is entitled to everything. While I think she has a right to be pissed off if Pedro is sending large sums to his mom every month without telling her, you would think they would have had that conversation before they got married.

This was one huge backfire on Chantel and her family. I'll bet any amount of money that it was her parents' idea for Chantel and Pedro to keep their money separate. I'm sure they told Chantel that she needed to protect her millions from this no-good, money-grubbing furriner. Never occurred to them that that meant she wouldn't know what he was doing with his money. It's clear she doesn't know exactly what he brings home or how he spends it. She figured she could be tight with her finances and he'd spend all of his on her. It shocked the hell out of her to find out she isn't his only priority. She thought she'd be able to carry his cojones around in her purse. Turns out she doesn't know her man as well as as she thought she did. Shocking, since they've known each other so long and had so many deep, meaningful discussions about their future together.

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Papa Chantel and son seem to feel very strongly about the bedroom/kitchen. So, if it's that deplorable, then I'd find them what I feel is a suitable place, find out if they can afford the monthly rent, and then help them with  deposits, etc.  OR they could move in with me until they get on their feet.

Oh they would absolutely do that - and were doing that - for Chantel. But they'll be damned before they'll spend one thin dime to support Pedro. It amuses me the way they go on about her sleeping "in the kitchen area," as if she's Cinderella, sleeping beside the hearth. They really do think the sun shines out of her rear end.

 

The real mystery to me is not why Pedro and Chantel are together. It's not why Chantel's parents refuse to see her part in any of this mess. It's not why Pedro's family is so unnecessarily hostile. No, the mystery to me is why Gege, who seems to be intelligent, kind, mature, and beautiful is BFFs with someone like Chantel, who appears to be almost relentlessly immature and self-absorbed? And how did Gege manage to find a quality black man in ATL while Chantel had to go to another country to find someone good enough for her?

Edited August 1, 2017 by sleepyjean

[Meowwww]

Re-watching.  Pao actually just said to Russ "it's time for you to start helping me". 

I just can't with the entitlement!!

[Lily247]

9 hours ago, MrSmith said:

There. That's better.

Nursing school

[magemaud]

The way Anfisa smirked (okay, she's got a perma-smirk) when she told her one and only friend in the US in next week's preview that "Jorge was my first" makes me wonder if one of the many plastic surgery procedures she had done was a re-virginification. 

[Guest]

I guess it's cultural, but Pedro is way too physically overbearing / aggressive for me.

[sleepyjean]

1 hour ago, Meowwww said:

Re-watching.  Pao actually just said to Russ "it's time for you to start helping me". 

I just can't with the entitlement!!

I thought it was hysterical when she said she was worried that she wouldn't work as much as she could because Russ would be hanging around, ruining everything. As if she'd been working steadily and now he was here, messing with her gig. It's pretty funny she's concerned about not working, when she's been sitting there for months, not doing one thing to actually get work. Not only was she not hustling, she was sitting on her bottom waiting for the work to find her. Is she planning to blame her continued lack of modeling work on him?...I guess I know the answer to that.

Edited August 1, 2017 by sleepyjean

[Guest]

57 minutes ago, Emmeline said:

I'm just doing some catch-up here and I cannot recall if Pedro ever signed the prenuptial?  Dear Lord say he did.

Yes, he did. But, unless they found him a Spanish speaking lawyer, he could argue that he didn't really understand what he was signing. I did read that plaintiffs cannot use video from "reality" shows in courtrooms,  so what we saw wouldn't matter. I think that Mr. and Mrs. Thomas should put Chantel's inheritance in a trust, unless things improve.

[Gigglepuff]

Pao really needs to get over this modelling idea. Does anyone remember Kirylham? Now that girl was model material. She was gorgeous. 

[Emmeline]

Thank you for the answer, I appreciate it.  I remember thinking at the time that the inheritance from her parents would naturally be a concern for them.  

[Former Nun]

10 hours ago, jackjill89 said:

22 hours ago, Schadenfreulein said:

Who the heck still calls their father "Daddy" at whatever age Chantel is? That was gag-inducing. 

Hmmm... I did sometimes. No one gagged that I was aware of. 

I can understand asking the question if one isn't familiar with all terms of endearment.  What got me was the "gag-inducing" editorial.

[Former Nun]

Loren's family and their "complete lack of knowledge" of Tourette's.  Why can't we take her father's comment as truth?  He did not know it was hereditary.  So WE can use computers and the Internet...and we have for years.  WE can do all kinds of research and get all kinds of information, misinformation, and "fake news."   Not every good and hard-working person in the United States can use a computer.  Can't we just give the guy and the topic a break?  Isn't his daughter's having Tourette's heartbreaking enough?

[CofCinci]

57 minutes ago, Gigglepuff said:

Pao really needs to get over this modelling idea. Does anyone remember Kirylham? Now that girl was model material. She was gorgeous. 

Kirylham is beautiful on the inside and out. On the update, the couple seems so happy.  It's nice to see one real couple on this series with genuine love and respect for their spouse. 

[CofCinci]

38 minutes ago, Former Nun said:

Loren's family and their "complete lack of knowledge" of Tourette's.  Why can't we take her father's comment as truth?  He did not know it was hereditary.  So WE can use computers and the Internet...and we have for years.  WE can do all kinds of research and get all kinds of information, misinformation, and "fake news."   Not every good and hard-working person in the United States can use a computer.  Can't we just give the guy and the topic a break?  Isn't his daughter's having Tourette's heartbreaking enough?

I have a hard time believing Loren and her father because she is most likely on an Rx stimulant for the Tourette's or antipsychotics or seizure meds (lots of meds to target specific symptoms - not quite sure what Loren struggles with).  These prescriptions require regular specialists appointments (2-4 times per year) in order to receive refills.

Plus, Loren has a Jewish mother.  Not to feed into stereotypes but...  if Loren coughs twice, she's asking about it -- and telling everyone she knows.  There is no way her mother was ignorant to the condition.

The family purposefully withheld the information from Alexi.

[jumper sage]

10 hours ago, Natalie68 said:

to take care of her parents graves.

I can get on board with this.

8 hours ago, funky-rat said:

I have some sympathy for Russ.  My husband just found himself unemployed under very shady circumstances.  His former employer is making it hard for him to get unemployment, and we're out of money.  He's been pounding the pavement - put in over 10 applications in 2 weeks - but no one is calling.  He interviewed at a factory doing line work, but they never called him back.  Pay was less than half of what he used to make, and he's considered overqualified (this was mentioned).  He's registered with job seeking sites, but doesn't really want to return to the industry he last worked in (and where he has the most experience), nor does he want to return to commissioned sales.  People say "Well, just go work in a factory or warehouse somewhere".  It's not that easy.  Even warehouses nowadays want someone with experience.  There's a job he can most likely get easily, but it's not a good situation.  No benefits, and pay is by the day, not by the hour, so if you work the projected 12-15 hours per day, then you're making less than minimum wage.  Factor in the 30 minute commute each way on his beater car that may not be able to take that, and it's simply not worth the time and the constant grind of being under time constraints.  We considered filing for disability (he has chronic depression) but we'd have to cash out his 401K to live for the next year or so while those wheels turn extremely slowly.  Russ is in a no-win, and we are too right now.  And it extremely sucks.  If I have one more person tell me "But the job market is so good right now...."  Yeah, if you want to work part time, or are in the healthcare field.  Otherwise, forget it.

I'll put a coin on the Buddha for you!  I get it!  Michigan is now a right-to-work state which means layoffs don't have to follow seniority rules.  I was laid off from a job that requires a Master's degree and state certification.  I worked there for almost 20 years and was very successful..............They replaced me with 4 part-time employees at very low pay and no benefits.  How someone just out of grad school could live on the pay while paying student loans is beyond me which is why none of the hired are staying more than 3 months.  I could go on but I won't.  Am thinking of you!

I completely concur with @NotEatingKale and @mamadrama

I can't believe I missed the original airing of this and it has to be the first time they don't rerun it on a continuous loop.

Edited August 1, 2017 by jumper sage

[Hero]

I laughed when Anfisa's grandmother said she looked fat. She's obviously not fat, but the terrible fillers in her face makes her look really puffy. Also, she has a HUGE head and the fillers really exaggerate that. 

[jpagan05]

On 7/30/2017 at 3:25 PM, Awfarmington said:

Having sex ONCE, 3 months after the marriage is extremely abnormal. Unless his wee wee fell off. So for Tom to defend that as normal (because men don't need to have sex all the time) is ridiculous. I get WHY Mo doesn't want to get it on with his wife, we all do. But come on, don't try and make her out like she's a sex maniac for wanting it more than once.

I think what Tom meant to say was that it was normal for women not to have sex with him.

[funky-rat]

14 hours ago, Former Nun said:

But by this time, wasn't Russ offered a job...within his education but outside his field?  The pay was much less than he made previously...after (probably) some years on the job.  The offer comes with benefits.  The most important thing to me was that Russ had been out of work FOR A YEAR.  It's often said that it's easier to find a different job if one is employed.

I have no idea.  My DVR isn't picking this up, so I'm at the mercy of the On Demand feature.

[Pepper Mostly]

6 hours ago, Suzy123 said:

I laughed when Anfisa's grandmother said she looked fat. She's obviously not fat, but the terrible fillers in her face makes her look really puffy. Also, she has a HUGE head and the fillers really exaggerate that. 

I see Anfisa's puffy cheeks and think bulimia. Grandma calling her fat? Probably happens all the time. The girl clearly has body image issues--sexy posing on FB and IG to show how hot and desirable she is, endless procedures like botox and fillers, even though she's so young. I bet she throws up everything she eats.

[Adeejay]

14 hours ago, Former Nun said:

Wasn't that mentioned in the first season...that Chantel can't understand why TWO of Pedro's sisters work, have a nice place to live, and support themselves--yet one sister and his mother do not?  

I believe you are confusing Pedro with Devar.  Last season, Melanie wondered why two of Devar's sisters had good jobs and were living well, while his other sister, Punkeshar was depending on Devar for support.  She couldn't understand why her sisters weren't helping her.  I felt Mel was justified.  

 

9 hours ago, CofCinci said:

Kirylham is beautiful on the inside and out. On the update, the couple seems so happy.  It's nice to see one real couple on this series with genuine love and respect for their spouse. 

I just can't get over the fact that 23 year old Alan had his eyes on 12 year old Kirlyam.  Even though he waited for her to be of legal age, it still seems creepy.  

[sleepyjean]

Quote

It's often said that it's easier to find a different job if one is employed.

I believe this is true. Also, the salary you are offered on a job is often influenced by the salary on your current or most recent job. I'm sure Russ was considering that as well. It's not just that he'd be making a lot less now, but that he'd be making less in future jobs. Let's say the oil industry picks up in a year or two. When prospective employers look at Russ's salary history, they'll see he's making $60k (or whatever it is) and base his offer on that, not on the fact that 3-4 years prior, he was making twice as much. He knows that by taking a much lower salary now, it may take a long time to get back to where he was before. At least that's how it works in my profession (which isn't oil and gas, so it may or may not be a comparable situation.)  Sometimes it is prudent to hold out for a while (if you can) until you can find a position at the same or similar salary level. But when you're unemployed for a long time, sooner or later you don't have the luxury of holding out any longer and have to take what you can get.

 

Quote

I see Anfisa's puffy cheeks and think bulimia. Grandma calling her fat? Probably happens all the time. The girl clearly has body image issues--sexy posing on FB and IG to show how hot and desirable she is, endless procedures like botox and fillers, even though she's so young. I bet she throws up everything she eats.

She's clearly not emotionally healthy and she and Jorge are toxic together. I hope they don't last because otherwise, all I see is her rage and bitterness growing, especially when age and all those procedures start to take a toll. She'll spend every day of her life bitter and resentful for wasting her time and youth and "beauty" on him, making sure he knows it, and making sure he suffers....and pays and pays and pays. And he'll spend the rest of his shlumping around like a victim. I dearly hope they don't procreate. That situation would be hell for a child.

Edited August 1, 2017 by sleepyjean

[Mrs. Hanson]

7 hours ago, jpagan05 said:

On 7/30/2017 at 8:25 PM, Awfarmington said:

Having sex ONCE, 3 months after the marriage is extremely abnormal. Unless his wee wee fell off. So for Tom to defend that as normal (because men don't need to have sex all the time) is ridiculous. I get WHY Mo doesn't want to get it on with his wife, we all do. But come on, don't try and make her out like she's a sex maniac for wanting it more than once.

I think what Tom meant to say was that it was normal for women not to have sex with him.

I think talking about the frequency at which you enjoy the fruits of your marriage with ANYONE is abnormal.  Or am I just kinda private about that stuff?  Danielle is not a maniac for wanting sex more than once, she is a maniac because she is a maniac.  Driving around the country with binders proving you are right?  Bonkers, baby!

 

8 hours ago, Suzy123 said:

I laughed when Anfisa's grandmother said she looked fat

I felt sad for her.  (Shocker there) as to have ANYONE tell ANYONE "You look fat" is cruel, let alone a grandmother.  If you are concerned about health, fine, take them aside and say it like that: "I am concerned for your health" and let the dialogue flow from there.  But to say you look fat is cruel.

[Toaster Strudel]

On 7/31/2017 at 3:52 AM, Former Nun said:

Think about it.  This is sex with Danielle.  

He picked her!!!

[Former Nun]

1 hour ago, sleepyjean said:

But when you're unemployed for a long time, sooner or later you don't have the luxury of holding out any longer and have to take what you can get.

I know and agree with everything in your post...but your last line says it all.  He has been unemployed for a year.  He owns a house in Oklahoma that he will (most likely) lose.  His credit report will be taken into account too. He needed to do something!

[Normades]

19 hours ago, funky-rat said:

I have some sympathy for Russ.  My husband just found himself unemployed under very shady circumstances.  His former employer is making it hard for him to get unemployment, and we're out of money.  He's been pounding the pavement - put in over 10 applications in 2 weeks - but no one is calling.  He interviewed at a factory doing line work, but they never called him back.  Pay was less than half of what he used to make, and he's considered overqualified (this was mentioned).  He's registered with job seeking sites, but doesn't really want to return to the industry he last worked in (and where he has the most experience), nor does he want to return to commissioned sales.  People say "Well, just go work in a factory or warehouse somewhere".  It's not that easy.  Even warehouses nowadays want someone with experience.  There's a job he can most likely get easily, but it's not a good situation.  No benefits, and pay is by the day, not by the hour, so if you work the projected 12-15 hours per day, then you're making less than minimum wage.  Factor in the 30 minute commute each way on his beater car that may not be able to take that, and it's simply not worth the time and the constant grind of being under time constraints.  We considered filing for disability (he has chronic depression) but we'd have to cash out his 401K to live for the next year or so while those wheels turn extremely slowly.  Russ is in a no-win, and we are too right now.  And it extremely sucks.  If I have one more person tell me "But the job market is so good right now...."  Yeah, if you want to work part time, or are in the healthcare field.  Otherwise, forget it.

I agree. My son went through something similar.  In my state unemployment lasts for 3 months, but most people don't even know that.  They just assume if you are on it that you're lazy.  The jobs are just as you described, part time and no benefits.  I also think a reason Russ might not want to take a job at a lower classification is that when you do try to get a job at the pay rate you are really worth, the new employer will try to low ball based on the lower wage you accepted.  Workers are not treated very well, especially in my state.  It's sad. 

One thing with Russ, though.  I would feel sorrier for him if I didn't get the feeling that he just wanted the hot girl.  He hooked up with Pao because the hot girls in Oklahoma wouldn't give him the time of day.  He wanted everyone to see him with his hot wife.  Now everyone is seeing LOTS of his hot wife.  I think he was really superficial and now he's stuck with an arrogant, selfish, superficial wife.  Makes me think: "Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it."  He's getting it now. 

[Quof]

Quote

to have ANYONE tell ANYONE "You look fat" is cruel

Fortunately, there are still some cultures where "attractive" does not equal "skinny", and it is actually a sign of health and prosperity to be "fat".  I know that's not how Anfisa's grandmother meant it, but Western views of physical beauty are really pretty screwed up.  See - Anfisa's lips, and Chantel's boobs.

[MrSmith]

29 minutes ago, Mrs. Hanson said:

I think talking about the frequency at which you enjoy the fruits of your marriage with ANYONE is abnormal.  Or am I just kinda private about that stuff?  Danielle is not a maniac for wanting sex more than once, she is a maniac because she is a maniac.  Driving around the country with binders proving you are right?  Bonkers, baby!

I agree with you that any such discussion is not a normal thing. If I had anyone asking me about it, I would tell them where to go with that. I'm not sure whether Danielle answered because she felt she had to or because she generally freely discusses such things.

1 minute ago, Quof said:

Fortunately, there are still some cultures where "attractive" does not equal "skinny", and it is actually a sign of health and prosperity to be "fat".  I know that's not how Anfisa's grandmother meant it, but Western views of physical beauty are really pretty screwed up.  See - Anfisa's lips, and both Anifisa's and Chantel's boobs.

When Chantel was originally on 90DF, I thought her bosom looked natural and not surgically enhanced. Now, I'm not so sure. However, you can tell for certain that Anfisa's had work done there.

3 minutes ago, Normades said:

One thing with Russ, though.  I would feel sorrier for him if I didn't get the feeling that he just wanted the hot girl.  He hooked up with Pao because the hot girls in Oklahoma wouldn't give him the time of day.  He wanted everyone to see him with his hot wife.  Now everyone is seeing LOTS of his hot wife.  I think he was really superficial and now he's stuck with an arrogant, selfish, superficial wife.  Makes me think: "Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it."  He's getting it now. 

This is what my wife and I think, too. There are plenty of beautiful women in Oklahoma. He just either couldn't get a date with them or he wanted someone "exotic". Well, now he's got it and all the baggage that comes with it. That said, even keeping that in mind doesn't make me like Paola any more.

[Lily247]

On 7/31/2017 at 0:12 PM, Quof said:

I thought she said she was studying nursing. Which, in reality tv language (ie. Judge Judy) means "personal care worker who changes adult diapers". 

Huh ? I think you are referring to a CNA. (certified nursing assistant). Or a PCT (personal care tech).  A CNA is the one who typically changes adult diapers and helps with spongebathing and typically makes about $10/hour. CNAs in many states dont need more than a basic training class that is a few hours long. 

A registered nurse (RN) which is what I am assuming Chantal is studying to become can make quite a decent income, depending if she chooses to work night shifts. 

[Quof]

I have no expectation that Chantal is actually studying to become a Registered Nurse.  If nothing else, there might be some mention of studying at some point, and she wouldn't be making prolonged trips to the DR.  And she doesn't seem to display a lick of common sense or book smarts, which should be prerequisites for admission to nursing school. 

My point was that every litigant on Judge Judy who claims to be a "nurse" is actually far less qualified than an RN, and uses the title in order to sound more educated and qualified.  I expect Chantal is doing the same.

[Pepper Mostly]

Chantel is "studying nursing" but who here can imagine that she'll be happy wearing scrubs all day with her hair in a ponytail and no fake nails? Not to mention having to deal with icky patients. Why do I think she aspires to work in a plastic surgeon's office?

[Lily247]

I think that the couples from this series who worked ou the best were the ones who seriously wanted normal, stable lives instead of cashing in on TLC. There was one couple from the first season with a young Russian fiance and in the epilogue she took a job in an optician's office. Also several of the couples procreated immediately after saying their vows and are now raising families. Some of these people try so hard to break into sleazy modeling (hello, Anfisa lingerie shoot!) and these couples seem the least happy. 

[Ivanova]

14 hours ago, sleepyjean said:

Ok, but she IS a prostitute. That's exactly what she is. She graces him with her "hotness" and occasional sex in return for a lavish lifestyle. That's the deal she signed up for.

So did Alla and Nikki, but we don't call them prostitutes...

 

It's strange how Anfisa's grandmother told her she has gained weight and then immediately said "if I go two days without you calling, I start to worry". It means, they chat regularly, not like she hasn't seen her in a few months, to make the observation about the weight gain.

[Lady Iris]

On ‎7‎/‎31‎/‎2017 at 0:58 PM, magemaud said:

Russ to Pao: "I'm sorry, mi amor, but you're going to have to start doing your roots yourself." 

Hah, if only, that's the least she can do. What does she bring financially into this marriage?

 

22 hours ago, islandgal140 said:

Loren went from not even wanting to mention having a condition to not shutting the hell up about it. 

Hee! I just love Alexi though, he seems like a decent guy overall.

 

16 hours ago, Mrs. Hanson said:

Who would have thought Wal Mart Tom would be the voice of reason!!!

Best never to travel down crazy street with a crazy person. Not that I agree with Mohamed with anything but I'd have taken a neutral position with Danielle as well.

[magemaud]

All those times Chantel went to the DR to see Pedro, I wonder where she stayed. I don't see how she could afford a hotel after paying for the airfare. Was Pedro living with his mother and sister then or was he in some kind of hotel employee housing like in "Dirty Dancing"? 

[Toaster Strudel]

I  wanted to jump at my TV and strangle Pop Trunk Tom. Danielle has been living  in a heightened state of romantic delusion for 3 or 4 years already.   She goes to that asshole's house (I am sure at TLC's behest)  and she's finally making sense and talking about reality. What does that jerk do? He freakin' gaslights her. Yes, Mo was taking thousands of dollars from women (often using the same pity story) and yes he was traveling to bang more attractive women, and none of that is Photoshop. Tom has the audacity to tell her the rat came for the right reasons? When she asked him whose side he was on, his eyes shifted, he hesitated, and claimed to be neutral. Neutral my ass. When she finally admitted that she she only had 'action' once, probably something he did as a technical shield against annulment straight from the loverat's play book, Tom responds like Danielle is some kind of nympho wanting it every day. Danielle should have thrown a USB key at him. I hated, as usual, Mo's smug attitude and seething anger at everything and everyone. He's really lazy and a professional victim. If Danielle is revenge minded,  maybe Mo can think about the consequences next time he lies to a marginally mentally competent person to get a green card, make her pay for everything, mooch off her and other women for 2 years, and refusing job offers before running off to Florida. Mo & Tom are both disgusting jerkwads.

Pao gets on my last nerve. Her stupid nonexistent gigs having her butt implants photographed by dodgy backyard photographers is more important than Russ' engineering career. Some times I feel like the city of Miami is a third wheel in that 'marriage.' Everything is about Pao and how Russ can bow down to her every whim and make every sacrifice for her fantasies, and all his concerns about things like, say, reality, are just poopoo'd as 'negativity.'  If she likes street empanada sellers in Columbia so much, she's free to go back and marry one - if you look at her face and listen to her voice cracking a little while she utters these ignorant and selfish words, you can tell that even she knows how stupid she sounds and regrets saying it as the words continue to come out.  Message to TLC: I'm really sick of dumb Pao photo shoots with backgrounds of beach weeds or sidewalks - not that I'll enjoy next week's photo shoot installment  in a studio with actual lighting.

The cosmetic procedure Anfisa place that went to was really sketchy, the guy (what were his qualifications?) already pushing for procedures to stop crow lines and forehead wrinkles. I'm 50+ and have neither. what a waste of money that would have been! Nobody could have predicted the dark bags under my eyes that I would still end up with, LOL.

Pedro is constantly droning on about !Respect! !His! !Culture! - he's so annoying. He still needs to discuss with Chantel the fact that he is sending money and how much they can afford each month. It's really just a tactic to shut down discussion, something he's very good at.  He has a habit of putting words in people's mouths, then angrily arguing as if they'd actually said these things. He is the one with the closed mind and he is very immature. It's impossible to have a productive discussion and a rational exchange of ideas with him.  Message to Father Chantel: your daughter 'points' at Pedro when he talks, too...

[Landlord]

6 minutes ago, Toaster Strudel said:

 

Pao gets on my last nerve. Her stupid nonexistent gigs having her butt implants photographed by dodgy backyard photographers is more important than Russ' engineering career. Some times I feel like the city of Miami is a third wheel in that 'marriage.' Everything is about Pao and how Russ can bow down to her every whim and make every sacrifice for her fantasies, and all his concerns about things like, say, reality, are just poopoo'd as 'negativity.'  If she likes street empanada sellers in Columbia so much, she's free to go back and marry one - if you look at her face and listen to her voice cracking a little while she utters these ignorant and selfish words, you can tell that even she knows how stupid she sounds and regrets saying it as the words continue to come out.  Message to TLC: I'm really sick of dumb Pao photo shoots with backgrounds of beach weeds or sidewalks - not that I'll enjoy next week's photo shoot installment  in a studio with actual lighting.
 

Wrong: Russ is the third wheel in her marriage to Miami.

[bellenoire]

18 hours ago, Former Nun said:

Wasn't that mentioned in the first season...that Chantel can't understand why TWO of Pedro's sisters work, have a nice place to live, and support themselves--yet one sister and his mother do not?  

That was Melanie and Devar.

[timesywimesy]

1 hour ago, Matias130 said:

Huh ? I think you are referring to a CNA. (certified nursing assistant). Or a PCT (personal care tech).  A CNA is the one who typically changes adult diapers and helps with spongebathing and typically makes about $10/hour. CNAs in many states dont need more than a basic training class that is a few hours long. 

A registered nurse (RN) which is what I am assuming Chantal is studying to become can make quite a decent income, depending if she chooses to work night shifts. 

Agreed. It's entirely possible that Chantal is going through an RN/BSN program, which not only pays very well, but the end result is a Bachelors Degree. I work in critical care medicine, and the number of RN's who then proceed to get their Masters and become Nurse Practitioners is on the rise. 

True, she may only be enrolled in an Associate's program, but even if she chooses to stop at the LVN/LPN level, she still has many options beyond being merely an "adult diaper changer."

 

And huge props and respect to the nurse aides who work in our facilities. They bust their asses for bottom dollar, and don't deserve derision from the likes of blowhards like Judge Judy. 

[Normades]

I don't have a problem with helping out family like Pedro has done, but he needs to talk to Chantal and come to an agreement on how much help they can give.  It made me angry when her dad and brother sat there looking down on his two year financial plan.  It sounds like they have a plan, but if Chantal can't have it RIGHT NOW it's not good enough.  Plus they wouldn't even try to understand that $100 in the US may not make much of a difference but it can make a huge difference in DR.  Her family is so rude and when they refused to get out of the van at his grandmother's house I would have been done with them.  I don't even understand why except that they were looking down their noses at someone else's way of life.  How awful that his grandmother had prepared food just to be disrespected like that.  I also wonder how they would feel if the tables were turned and they needed help.  Not everyone will agree, but I think family helps family.  

[Quof]

Quote

They bust their asses for bottom dollar, and don't deserve derision from the likes of blowhards like Judge Judy. 

JJ doesn't deride them.  They exaggerate their skills, intelligence, and training to make themselves sound more credible.  And we viewers find ourselves thinking "I hope I never have to rely on that barely literate human to administer my medications or change my iv. Oh, wait, I don't have to worry about that because that's not her job."  

[GoGamecox]

Is a 50-inch TV really a good deal in the end if you spend a few hundred dollars shipping it to the DR? 

[timesywimesy]

52 minutes ago, Quof said:

JJ doesn't deride them.  They exaggerate their skills, intelligence, and training to make themselves sound more credible.  And we viewers find ourselves thinking "I hope I never have to rely on that barely literate human to administer my medications or change my iv. Oh, wait, I don't have to worry about that because that's not her job."  

You're preaching to the choir here in some respects. I can't count the number of times that I've been managing a critically ill patient in an ICU setting and had a family member tell me that they are also a nurse...only to find out later that they were actually nurses aides once upon a very long, long time ago. 

 

"Reality TV Language" might often translate into unqualified diaper changer, but just giving the frequently undeserving Chantal the benefit of the doubt here. 

[Former Nun]

2 hours ago, timesywimesy said:

True, she may only be enrolled in an Associate's program, but even if she chooses to stop at the LVN/LPN level, she still has many options beyond being merely an "adult diaper changer."

In my state, 2yr community college programs grant a full R.N.   Of course, those with BSN (bachelor degrees) generally make a higher starting wage and get quicker/better promotions.  That's Arizona.  I don't know about other states.

[Former Nun]

2 hours ago, Normades said:

 How awful that his grandmother had prepared food just to be disrespected like that.  I also wonder how they would feel if the tables were turned and they needed help.

Pedro's mother and sister definitely started everything the WRONG way.  "Where's our TV???"   After being offered chicken feet (which the cook and her family refused to eat), it was probably difficult for Family Chantel to trust any food the angry relatives prepared.  Sad for the grandmother...but her daughter threw the first punch per se.

[AbbyLee]

On 7/24/2017 at 1:42 PM, poeticlicensed said:

I can just tell that there's no way Princess Loren would move out of the US. She wants Alexi to bring his family over to the US, but her moving, no way. 

I keep thinking - not only does she want to bring his family over to the US, but she's trying to bring them to Florida and then drag Alexei to New York. How would that work?

[Mrs. Hanson]

2 hours ago, timesywimesy said:

You're preaching to the choir here in some respects. I can't count the number of times that I've been managing a critically ill patient in an ICU setting and had a family member tell me that they are also a nurse...only to find out later that they were actually nurses aides once upon a very long, long time ago. 

 

Not to get off topic but I am a licensed special education teacher.  I want to preface my comments by saying anyone working in education works very hard, every day.  My issue is paraprofessionals talking about students and the rigors of their job and comparing it to teaching when they are not the licensed person responsible for educating youth.  Big difference.  

Back to the show!!

1 hour ago, Former Nun said:

Pedro's mother and sister definitely started everything the WRONG way.  "Where's our TV???"   After being offered chicken feet (which the cook and her family refused to eat), it was probably difficult for Family Chantel to trust any food the angry relatives prepared.  Sad for the grandmother...but her daughter threw the first punch per se.

Yes I agree - both families started out wrong and it all comes back to Chantel.  Liar liar horny underparts on fire!

[Barlowe]

Man have I got some opinions on this episode.

I've got some relatable personal experience with Loren's whole drama although I'm from Canada so it's not completely relatable. 

I had a family GP in the city where I was born but after a few years, we moved to a nearby city, an hour or so away and my mom wanted to still keep my spot and so she just took me to the local walk in clinic if I needed anything minor. On one visit when I was 9, a doctor suggested I might have mild asthma and gave me two puffers to try out and pretty much after that doctors just prescribed me asthma inhalers for mostly physical activity and when I eventually moved back to my old city, my GP followed along with the diagnosis and continued to prescribe me inhalers and occasionally additional sample ones when I was sick with a cough.  But I never went to a specialist until I switched GPs at 19 and was referred to a specialist that gave me an inhaler that's a lot more expensive but works even better than the one GPs had prescribed. A few members of my extended family have supposedly had asthma inhalers but there's not one person I can count that actually carries one around. I only did a bit of asthma research here and there growing up and I've never once thought about it possibly being passed to my possible children because while it's an impairment it's not that unmanageable or life threatening. It's boggling to me that Alexi's got this conspiracy theory that they were hiding her Tourettes because like my experience its the sort of thing we listened to what the doctor said, followed their advice and minimal info and never really gave it a second thought because it wasn't that extreme. I had a childhood friend that had severe asthma and would constantly make trips to the hospital in both cities and had to wear a face breathing mask, if I'd had similar situation I'd imagine there would have been more thought or worry but something so mild never really gave me pause and I can see where Loren and her family are coming from.

 

I'm not that educated on Dominican culture but I'd assume it to be a very patriarchal society where even if a women works she is supposed to be dependant on a husband or son. I'm even reminded of the American Gypsy show where one of the unmarried girls were forced to live with the family of the older brother until he picked a husband for her.  Chantel and Pedro live in a tiny studio because they live in an expensive city and money doesn't stretch as far.  Why on earth should they have a nice fancy place when they don't seem smart enough to think about investing and they're both only starting out whereas Pedro's mother probably worked to the bone to provide even that one bedroom they were all sharing with her minimal income. I think Family Pedro is greedy and entitled but no more than any other poor family that expects relatives in living in the West to bring American goods because they assume it's not as expensive as the home country or they can afford it. Even as a Canadian there are some companies where shipping the item from American costs double what the actual product in duties/shipping/taxes, takes nearly a month to ship and some don't even ship to Canada at all. Many Canadians I've known of either pay for mail boxes and have the stuff delivered and then just cross the border and either pay the duties afterward or smuggle it and pretend they had it all along.  A friend once had the thought of having stuff shipped to an American friend of theirs and picking it up on a visit.

I skip Mo and Danielle's scenes altogether so I won't touch on that.

 

If Pao hadn't gone the route of Instagram fitness model she would've been a nameless, dime a dozen fetish model if not in the sex work industry guaranteed. 

[Barlowe]

5 hours ago, magemaud said:

All those times Chantel went to the DR to see Pedro, I wonder where she stayed. I don't see how she could afford a hotel after paying for the airfare. Was Pedro living with his mother and sister then or was he in some kind of hotel employee housing like in "Dirty Dancing"? 

WIthout a doubt, Chantel was paying for airfare and staying in a hotel most times. She might have dropped into his family's place for a meal or he very well may have been living in employee housing but I don't know how common that is.

[Mrs. Hanson]

21 minutes ago, Lilacly said:

I skip Mo and Danielle's scenes altogether so I won't touch on that.

 

I envy you.  You can't unring a bell!

[Lily247]

4 hours ago, Former Nun said:

In my state, 2yr community college programs grant a full R.N.   Of course, those with BSN (bachelor degrees) generally make a higher starting wage and get quicker/better promotions.  That's Arizona.  I don't know about other states.

Either way, it is a very practical, responsible career route for anyone to choose to take.