Ling: MEET DAVID, AN ORDINARY AMERICAN GUY LOOKING FOR LOVE IN AN UNEXPECTED PLACE. David: WELL, THE PROFILES DON'T SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT THEM. "I CONSIDER MYSELF AN AFFECTIONATE, SOCIABLE, "THOUGHTFUL, AND GOOD-TEMPERED LADY. "I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A CULTURED GENTLEMAN, "INDEPENDENT, HARDWORKING, AFFECTIONATE, SPORTY MAN WHO LIKES TO BE WITH THE FAMILY." Ling: DAVID WILL MEET WOMEN LIKE EDNA -- A 21-YEAR-OLD NURSE FROM BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA. EDNA WILL MEET PEOPLE LIKE DAVID, HOPING TO MAKE ONE OF THEM HER HUSBAND. IN A FEW DAYS, 10 AMERICAN MEN WILL FLY ALL THE WAY TO COLOMBIA TO FIND A WIFE. THEY WILL MEET HUNDREDS OF WOMEN, HUNDREDS OF EDNAS. David: I HAVE NEVER GONE ON ONE OF THESE ROMANCE TOURS, EVER. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EXPERIENCE. LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. [ LAUGHS ] OKAY. Ling: BUT WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF FINDING LOVE THIS WAY? AND JUST HOW FAR ARE SOME PEOPLE WILLING TO GO? AMERICA -- IT CAN BE INSPIRING AND BEAUTIFUL... IT CAN ALSO BE DARK AND UGLY. IT'S SO MANY THINGS... BUT IT'S OURS. IT'S... YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE FIND LOVE AT WORK OR SCHOOL OR AT A BAR, BUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING ON TOURS -- MARRIAGE TOURS. LET'S GO INSIDE. THESE AFFECTIONATE COUPLES ARE ON THEIR WAY TO A ROMANTIC DAY AT THE BEACH. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE IN LOVE, BUT HOW COULD THIS BE? THEY ALL JUST MET LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO. SO, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, AND HOW DID THEY GET HERE? THIS IS COLOMBIA, A COUNTRY ONCE KNOWN FOR DRUGS, KIDNAPPING, AND REBEL WARS. NOW IT'S THE NEWEST FRONTIER IN A WORLDWIDE BUSINESS OF MARRIAGE. AND THERE'S A WHOLE INDUSTRY SET UP HERE TO WELCOME INTERESTED MEN. MEET YAMI, MANAGER OF THE COLOMBIAN BRANCH OF A FOREIGN AFFAIR, OR A.F.A., AN INTERNATIONAL INTRODUCTION SERVICE. FOR A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS, A.F.A. INTRODUCES MEN TO FOREIGN WOMEN THROUGH ORGANIZED TRIPS THEY ADVERTISE AS "ROMANCE" OR "MARRIAGE TOURS." ONCE UPON A TIME, THESE WOMEN WOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED MAIL-ORDER BRIDES, BUT TODAY, WHEN YOU TYPE THOSE WORDS INTO THE INTERNET, YOU GET COMPANIES LIKE A.F.A. AT FIRST GLANCE, A.F.A.'s WEBSITE LOOKS LIKE IT'S SELLING A LOT MORE THAN MARRIAGE, BUT THIS YEAR ALONE, A.F.A. HAS INTRODUCED OVER 787 COUPLES WHO ENDED UP GETTING ENGAGED. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMING TO COLOMBIA TO FIND WIVES. WHAT IS IT ABOUT COLOMBIAN WOMEN THAT AMERICAN MEN FIND SO APPEALING? BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE DOWN-TO-EARTH, FAMILY-ORIENTED, LOYAL, FAITHFUL. THEY JUST WANT TO BE WITH THE PERSON THEY LOVE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE. THAT'S WHAT I -- MY CONCLUSION ABOUT WHY ARE THEY COMING TO COLOMBIA. BUT HOW DO YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T EVEN SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE? WAS THIS REALLY JUST SEX FOR SALE? AND WHO ARE THESE MEN PAYING MONEY TO MEET BEAUTIFUL COLOMBIAN WOMEN? I WAS ABOUT TO FIND OUT, AT THE GENERAL ORIENTATION FOR THE TOUR. YOU'RE GONNA SEE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL LADIES THAT IT'S GONNA BE SO OVERWHELMING FOR YOU GUYS. Ling: OVER THE COURSE OF A SINGLE WEEK, THE 10 MEN ON THIS TOUR WILL MEET HUNDREDS OF WOMEN AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, FIND LOVE... IF THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR. REMEMBER WHY YOU CAME HERE. REMEMBER WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE. YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR -- SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO YOU KNOW START A FAMILY. SO DON'T FORGET THAT, BECAUSE THE GUYS GO, AND SUDDENLY THEY GOT THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN FRONT OF THEM, AND THEY THROW OUT ALL THEIR CRITERIA. YOU KNOW, I HAVE THIS SAYING. YOU KNOW, "LOVE MAKES YOU BLIND, BUT LUST MAKES YOU REALLY, REALLY STUPID." SO FAR, THIS ALL FEELS LEGIT -- FORMAL OFFICES, ORIENTATION, TALK OF MARRIAGE, YET MORE THAN HALF OF THESE MEN ASKED US NOT TO REVEAL THEIR IDENTITIES. I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF THE MEN. SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY SEEM TO BE HERE TO FIND LOVE, TO FIND A SPOUSE TO HAVE A FAMILY WITH, AND WHETHER THOSE ARE, IN FACT, THEIR INTENTIONS OR NOT, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE EXPRESSING THAT THEY WANT TO FIND, SO... BUT IF THESE MEN WERE JUST LOOKING FOR LOVE, WHY DID THEY NEED TO TRAVEL ALMOST 2,000 MILES TO ANOTHER COUNTRY TO FIND IT? David: TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK I'M JUST AN AVERAGE GUY. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT ME -- AVERAGE HEIGHT, AVERAGE WEIGHT, AVERAGE LOOKS, YOU KNOW? SO, AS FAR WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER, I JUST THINK I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD PERSONALITY, AND I THINK I'M A FRIENDLY PERSON AND AN OPEN PERSON. Ling: DAVID IS A 49-YEAR-OLD CIVIL DESIGNER LIVING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. HE'S BEEN MARRIED TWICE. THE FIRST LASTED 19 YEARS, THE SECOND LESS THAN 4. David: FIRST MARRIAGE -- SHE WAS A GOOD WIFE. SHE WAS A GOOD WOMAN. WE WERE VERY HAPPY TOGETHER. EVEN OUR FRIENDS ALL THOUGHT THERE'S NO WAY WE WOULD EVER GET DIVORCED. IT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE THAT THINGS CHANGED AND THE MARRIAGE ENDED. I MET MY SECOND WIFE ON THE INTERNET. WE GOT MARRIED ABOUT NINE MONTHS AFTER MEETING EACH OTHER. SHE WAS A VERY JEALOUS WOMAN, AND SHE TREATED MY DAUGHTER VERY POORLY, CALLED HER A LOT OF BAD NAMES, AND I JUST COULDN'T TOLERATE THAT ANYMORE. Ling: DAVID HAS DATED FOR TWO YEARS NOW, BUT HE STILL HASN'T FOUND ANYONE SPECIAL. David: I KNOW THERE'S GOOD AMERICAN WOMEN OUT THERE, BUT THE ONLY WAYS YOU CAN GO TO REALLY FIND SOMEBODY IS GO TO A BAR, GO TO A NIGHTCLUB. A LOT OF MEN AND WOMEN, THEY JUST WANT TO HOOK UP. THAT ISN'T WHAT I'M ABOUT. I WANT TO DATE SOMEBODY TO FIND A LIFE PARTNER. Ling: DAVID HAS TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY. HE'S BEEN TO COLOMBIA BEFORE, AND HE FINDS COLOMBIAN WOMEN WARM, WELCOMING, AND FAMILY-ORIENTED. FOR DAVID, GOING TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY FOR A ONE-WEEK MARRIAGE TOUR IS NOTHING TO BE EMBARRASSED ABOUT. IT'S JUST ONE MORE WAY TO MEET WOMEN. DAVID ALREADY HAS A DATE LINED UP WITH A WOMAN NAMED CILIA. David: I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING HER, AND SHE SPEAKS NO ENGLISH, AND I SPEAK A LITTLE ENGLISH -- I MEAN, A LITTLE SPANISH. AND, UH...BUT I AM GONNA HAVE AN INTERPRETER THERE, AND SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA COMMUNICATE. Narrator: DAVID'S FRIENDS THINK HE'S NUTS. HIS MOTHER'S SKEPTICAL. AND HIS 19-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, LAURA, THINKS HER DAD HAS LOST HIS MIND. Laura: I TOLD HIM HE WAS CRAZY. [ LAUGHS ] I MEAN, I THINK THE WHOLE TRIP IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE FUN AND MEET WOMEN THAT COULD BE POSSIBILITIES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S JUST NOT THE GREATEST POSSIBILITY THAT HE'LL FIND SOMEONE WHO'S GONNA LAST FOREVER. [ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ] [ MICROWAVE BEEPING ] Ling: DAVID AND HIS DAUGHTER AGREE ON ONE THING -- HE'S STUCK IN A RUT, AND HE'S GOT TO GET OUT. David: AM I LONELY? NO, I'M NOT LONELY. BUT I'D LOVE TO COME HOME AND BE ABLE TO TALK WITH SOMEBODY AND INTERACT AND HAVE THAT BOND WITH SOMEBODY, BE ABLE TO DO THINGS ON THE WEEKENDS THAT YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO BY YOURSELF. SO THAT WOULD GIVE NOT MEANING TO MY LIFE, BUT JUST MORE HAPPINESS, I THINK. Ling: SO DAVID'S ABOUT TO TAKE A HUGE LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN. IN A FEW DAYS, HE'LL FLY ALMOST 2,000 MILES TO BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA. HE'LL MEET MORE WOMEN IN ONE WEEK THAN A LIFETIME IN HOUSTON. BUT MARRIAGE TOURS AREN'T ONLY FOR MEN. FOR COLOMBIAN WOMEN, SIGNING UP IS FREE, AND SOME THINK IT'S A FUN WAY TO MEET INTERESTING FOREIGNERS. JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO, 25-YEAR-OLD KAREN MET AN AMERICAN THROUGH A COLOMBIAN AGENCY UNCONNECTED TO A.F.A. THE RELATIONSHIP WAS PROMISING... IN THE BEGINNING. [ KAREN SPEAKING SPANISH ] Interpreter: HE SENT ME A LETTER AND A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, AND 15 DAYS LATER, HE CAME TO MEET ME. RIGHT AWAY, HE TOLD ME HE WAS THINKING VERY SERIOUSLY ABOUT ME. WE WENT OUT FOR THREE MONTHS. AFTER THAT, WE WENT ON A TRIP. AND THAT'S WHEN I BECAME PREGNANT WITH TANIA. SO I TOLD HIM, "WELL, NOW I'M PREGNANT. NOW WE DO HAVE TO MARRY." SO, WERE YOU IN LOVE WITH THE BABY'S FATHER? Interpreter: YES, A LOT. I SAID, "THIS IS THE PERFECT MAN FOR ME, THE MAN GOD CHOSE FOR ME." AND, REALLY, I WAS VERY MUCH IN LOVE AND TRULY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A PERFECT FAMILY. Ling: BUT IT WASN'T TO BE... KAREN DISCOVERED THAT THE LOVE OF HER LIFE AND THE FATHER OF HER CHILD WAS ALREADY MARRIED. NOT ONLY DID HE HAVE A WIFE AND CHILDREN BACK IN AMERICA, KAREN ALSO FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD A SECOND WIFE HERE IN BARRANQUILLA. Ling: WHAT IS IT LIKE TO LOOK AT HIS PICTURES? Interpreter: I WOULD LOVE FOR HIM TO BE WITH ME AND MY DAUGHTER, TO HAVE THE FAMILY THAT I ALWAYS DREAMED OF. Ling: EVEN THOUGH U.S. LAW REQUIRES MEN WHO GO ON MARRIAGE TOURS TO FILL OUT CRIMINAL AND MARITAL HISTORY FORMS, IN KAREN'S CASE, HER SUITOR'S ADULTEROUS PAST NEVER CAME TO LIGHT. SO YOU HAVEN'T LOST FAITH IN AMERICAN GUYS? Interpreter: I GUESS THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME COULD HAPPEN WITH SOMEONE FROM HERE OR ANYWHERE ELSE. WE HAVE TO ALLOW FOR OPPORTUNITIES. I SHOULDN'T CLOSE MYSELF OFF, BECAUSE I'M YOUNG, AND I WANT TO FIND A PERSON WITH WHOM TO FALL IN LOVE AND, LATER, MARRY. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THESE WOMEN ARE JUST HUNTING FOR A GREEN CARD, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE KAREN IS LOOKING FOR LOVE. BUT WILL SHE REALLY FIND WHAT SHE'S LOOKING FOR BY PARTICIPATING IN A MARRIAGE TOUR? Ling: IT'S NOT ONLY AMERICAN MEN WHO ARE TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES FOR DATES. DAVID'S DATE CILIA LIVES FIVE HOURS AWAY FROM BARRANQUILLA BY BUS, IN AN UNSTABLE REGION REFERRED TO AS THE "THE RED ZONE." WIDESPREAD DRUG TRAFFICKING AND YEARS OF VIOLENCE IN COLOMBIA HAVEN'T MADE HER SEARCH FOR A HUSBAND ANY EASIER. SHE'S COME ALL THIS WAY JUST TO HAVE LUNCH WITH DAVID. IN A FEW HOURS, DAVID WILL BE THROWN INTO A ROOM WITH ALMOST 100 BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AT THE FIRST BIG SOCIAL EVENT OF THE WEEK. BUT FIRST DAVID MEETS UP WITH CILIA FOR THEIR LUNCH DATE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, DAVID. HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THIS DATE? SHE'S HERE. QUITE NERVOUS, ACTUALLY. I WASN'T UNTIL I SAW HER. AND NOW -- NOW I'M NERVOUS. UNLIKE SOME OF THE MEN ON THE TOUR, DAVID'S LOOKING FOR SOMEONE CLOSE TO HIS OWN AGE. CILIA'S 42. GLAD TO MEET YOU. GLAD TO MEET YOU. [ INTERPRETING ] SHE SAID, "NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO." GOOD. YES. VERY BEAUTIFUL. GRACIAS. [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] SHE THINKS YOU HAVE A GREAT SMILE. OH, THANK YOU. [ LAUGHS ] GOOD, I DID NOT SCARE HER. OH, OKAY. [ ALL LAUGHING ] FOR WHATEVER REASON -- AND I CAN'T SAY WHY -- I JUST THOUGHT SHE WAS SOMEBODY I WANTED TO MEET SOLO. AND I ONLY DID THIS WITH HER, NOBODY ELSE. [ INTERPRETING ] I HAVE NEVER GONE TO WATCH SOMEONE GO ON A DATE, BUT DAVID AND CILIA ARE BEHIND ME, AND... LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING FAIRLY WELL. IT'S KIND OF CUTE, ACTUALLY. WHEN DAVID SAW HER, HE JUST THOUGHT SHE WAS GORGEOUS. SHE SAID THAT, "IN ORDER TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP THAT WORKS, "IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S FAITHFUL. GOOD COMMUNICATION... YEAH. SUPPORTIVE, ALL THOSE -- AND TRUSTING. HAS SHE BEEN MARRIED BEFORE? SHE HAS NOT BEEN MARRIED, BUT SHE LIVED WITH SOMEBODY. BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE JUST WITH ONE WOMAN. EXACTLY. YEAH. IS THAT TYPICAL HERE? Sí, IS VERY COMMON. Ling: THE DATE SEEMS TO BE GOING JUST FINE -- THAT IS, UNTIL THE PROVERBIAL BOMBSHELL DROPS. SHE WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE IN YOUR PLANS TO HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN? I CAN'T HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN. I HAD A...VASECTOMY, YEAH. THERE'S NO CHANCE FOR ME. [ INTERPRETING ] MM. SORRY. [ CHUCKLES ] YES, THANK YOU. I KNOW SHE SAID, I THINK, IN ONE OF HER E-MAILS THAT SHE WANTED A CHILD, BUT IT'S HARD TO TRANSLATE SOMETIMES. IS THAT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO HER? [ SPEAKS SPANISH ] IN HER CASE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SHE'D LIKE TO HAVE A CHILD. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. YEAH. BON APPéTIT. YES. Ling: AS THE DATE COMES TO AN AWKWARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE CLOSE, IT WAS CLEAR THAT, LIKE KAREN, CILIA WASN'T JUST HUNTING FOR A MEAL TICKET TO AMERICA. SHE WANTED MORE. BUT WHAT WERE COLOMBIAN WOMEN LOOKING FOR, AND WHY WERE THEY SO EAGER TO MEET AND MARRY AMERICAN MEN? 19-YEAR-OLD DAYANA LIVES IN SOLEDAD, A BARRANQUILLA SUBURB PLAGUED WITH POVERTY AND CRIME. IT'S A PLACE DAYANA WANTS TO LEAVE BEHIND, AND MARRYING AN AMERICAN COULD BE HER WAY OUT. HI,LISA.NA. DAYANA. SHE LIVES IN A CRAMPED, DARK APARTMENT WITH HER PARENTS AND LITTLE BROTHER. THERE'S NO AIR-CONDITIONING AND LITTLE PRIVACY. Y TU HERMANO? OKAY. DAYANA AND HER LITTLE BROTHER SLEEP IN HERE. DAYANA HAS A ROLE MODEL -- HER AUNT IS HAPPILY MARRIED TO A CALIFORNIA MAN SHE MET THROUGH AN AGENCY AND THINKS HER NIECE SHOULD MARRY AN AMERICAN, TOO. Ling: WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AN AMERICAN HUSBAND? IS PART OF THE REASON WHY 'CAUSE YOU JUST WANT A BETTER LIFE AND WANT TO LIVE IN AMERICA? Interpreter: I'VE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT AMERICAN MEN. THEY VALUE WOMEN A LOT. THEY ALSO RESPECT THEM, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE FAITHFUL. MEN FROM HERE, THEY ONLY THINK OF PARTYING AND NOTHING ELSE. THEY ALSO DON'T APPRECIATE WOMEN. THEY NEVER THINK OF GOING OUT FOR ICE CREAM, GOING TO THE MOVIES, OR HANGING OUT AT THE BEACH. I DON'T REALLY LIKE THE MEN FROM HERE. LIKE CILIA, DAYANA SEEMS DISENCHANTED BY COLOMBIAN MEN. TONIGHT AT THE A.F.A. SOCIAL, SHE HOPES TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF A FOREIGN SUITOR. WHILE GETTING READY, SHE AND HER FRIEND ROSA FANTASIZE ABOUT THE PERFECT AMERICAN MAN. BUT, TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE JUST THAT -- A FANTASY. DAYANA HAS NEVER BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE, BUT SHE HOPES TONIGHT TO MEET THE MAN OF HER DREAMS. BUT JUST HOW FAR AWAY ARE THESE DREAMS OF HERS FROM REALITY? MAKEUP...HAIR...WARDROBE. LIKE DAYANA, KAREN'S PREPARING TO MEET HER PRINCE AND, HOPEFULLY, TRANSFORM HER LIFE. Interpreter: I FEEL ANXIOUS. I'D REALLY LIKE TO FIND SOMEONE I LIKE. Ling: KAREN NEEDS TO STAND OUT AT THE SOCIAL TONIGHT. SHE'LL BE IN A ROOM WITH ONLY 10 MEN AND ALMOST 100 WOMEN. HER SISTER HAS HAND-SEWN A DRESS ESPECIALLY FOR THE OCCASION. LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, IT MUST BE PERFECT. BUT THE DRESS HAS SHRUNK IN THE WASH. [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] Interpreter: THIS IS A COMPETITION, AND ONE HAS TO FEEL CONFIDENT, BECAUSE HOW ONE FEELS IS HOW PEOPLE WILL SEE YOU. Ling: I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT KAREN AND THE OTHER WOMEN WERE SETTING THEMSELVES UP FOR DISAPPOINTMENT. BUT UNABLE TO FIND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR HERE IN COLOMBIA, THEY SIMPLY WANTED MORE... WHETHER IT WAS THE PROMISE OF A BETTER LIFE, ESCAPE FROM POLITICAL INSTABILITY, A FAITHFUL HUSBAND, OR ALL OF THESE THINGS. THEY'RE HOPING TO FIND THIS KIND OF FANTASY EXISTENCE IN AMERICA, AND THEY'RE WILLING TO STAKE THEIR WHOLE LIVELIHOODS AND FUTURE ON THESE MEN. HOPEFULLY, THAT FANTASY WILL BE FULFILLED, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY BIG RISK, TO ME, FOR SOMEONE WHO'S FROM A SMALL VILLAGE IN BARRANQUILLA. I'D LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT THE MEN ON THESE TOURS WANT MORE THAN JUST A GOOD TIME, AND DAVID GIVES ME HOPE. David: I THINK I'M A NICE PERSON. I LISTEN TO PEOPLE. I THINK I'M A GOOD FRIEND. IF I'M IN LOVE WITH SOMEBODY, I'M AFFECTIONATE. AND I LOVE TO LAUGH. THAT'S MY FAVORITE THING. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE FULFILLED UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMEBODY TO LOVE AND BE LOVED BACK. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT LIFE'S ALL ABOUT, IS HAVING THAT LOVE IN YOUR LIFE. ACTUALLY, I'M GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT'S A GOOD THING. HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT. IT'S A LITTLE INTIMIDATING AT FIRST. Ling: DATING CAN BE SCARY, BUT DAVID'S ABOUT TO MEET ALMOST 100 WOMEN. WITH THESE ODDS, WILL HE FINALLY MEET SOMEONE HE CONNECTS WITH? AND WHAT ABOUT THE WOMEN? THE CHANCES OF THEM FINDING SOMEONE TO MARRY ARE FAR LESS. THERE ARE ONLY 10 MEN. THE SOCIALS ARE THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE MARRIAGE TOUR. IT'S A PRIVATE, INVITATION-ONLY EVENT STAGED BY A.F.A., WITH 10 WOMEN LINED UP FOR EVERY ONE MAN. BUT EVEN THOUGH EXCITEMENT'S IN THE AIR, WILL DAVID, KAREN, OR DAYANA ACTUALLY MEET THE LOVE OF THEIR LIFE TONIGHT? Ling: NEARLY 100 STUNNING COLOMBIAN WOMEN, ALL COMPETING FOR 10 AMERICAN MEN. THE WOMEN SEEM PRETTY LAID-BACK. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN TO EVENTS LIKE THIS BEFORE. THEY KNOW EACH OTHER AND CHAT. BUT THE MEN ARE ABOUT TO WALK INTO A ROOM FULL OF OPPORTUNITY, AND THERE'S A SENSE OF ANTICIPATION IN THE AIR. THE MEN HERE TONIGHT WILL MEET EACH AND EVERY WOMAN. EVERY 15 MINUTES, THEY WILL ROTATE TO THE NEXT TABLE. Turizo: SO, WE'RE GONNA START NOW. YOU'RE GOING TO TABLE NUMBER 1. SO, YOU CAN GO. HAVING SO MANY PEOPLE ALL IN ONE ROOM WHO ARE BOTH SINGLE AND WHO WANT TO GET MARRIED SHOULD INCREASE THE ODDS OF FINDING SOMEONE, BUT WILL IT REALLY WORK? LOOK WHO IT IS. [ CHUCKLES ] THIS REALLY IS THE WILDEST THING. I FEEL LIKE I'M AT A HIGH SCHOOL DANCE, BUT, ACTUALLY, EVEN MORE AWKWARD. [ CHUCKLES ] DAVID FINDS HIMSELF SURROUNDED BY GORGEOUS WOMEN -- NOT A BAD SITUATION FOR "AN ORDINARY GUY," BUT HE STILL NEEDS TO IMPRESS THEM. WHAT ARE THREE CHARACTERISTICS IN A MAN YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE? OKAY. UNDERSTANDING... LOYAL... LOYAL. ...AND VERY LOVING. AND I'M NONE OF THOSE. I'M JOKING. BUT WHAT CAN A MAN REALLY LEARN ABOUT A TABLEFUL OF FIVE WOMEN IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES? Woman: SHE SAYS THAT HER NAME IS TATIANA. TATIANA? TATIANA. HOW TALL IS SHE? EXCELLENT. PERFECTO. I LOVE IT. WHAT SURPRISES ME MOST IS THAT, AMID THE SUPERFICIALITIES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN SEEM TO BE MAKING A GENUINE EFFORT TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. Man: IS EVERYBODY HERE FROM BARRANQUILLA? BORN AND RAISED HERE? YES. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR IMPRESSION, AS COLOMBIAN CITIZENS, OF YOUR OPINION OF THE U.S. [ SPEAKS SPANISH ] YOU'RE RIGHT. WHY ARE THEY HERE TODAY? DESPITE THE STEREOTYPE OF THE SUBMISSIVE WOMAN WHO CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, THE LADIES HERE TONIGHT ARE GETTING TO KNOW THE MEN, TOO, AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SET OF STANDARDS. I JUST THINK OF MYSELF AS AN AVERAGE GUY, AVERAGE HEIGHT, AVERAGE LOOKS, AVERAGE WEIGHT. JUST -- JUST AN AVERAGE, NICE GUY. [ WOMEN SPEAKING SPANISH ] David: UH-OH. [ LAUGHS ] Woman: SHE SAYS THAT, IN SPITE OF BEING AN AVERAGE GUY, YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED TWICE. YES. [ CHUCKLES ] SHE SAYS THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO "AN AVERAGE GUY." [ WOMEN SPEAKING SPANISH ] THEY SAY THAT NOW THEY EXPECT YOU NOT TO COMMIT ANY MORE MISTAKES, OR ELSE IT WILL BE YOUR -- YOUR FAULT. [ LAUGHS ] AS THE EVENING WEARS ON, THINGS GET A LITTLE LOOSE. DAYANA HAS DRAWN THE ATTENTION OF A MAN EASILY TWICE HER AGE -- LAMAR. THIS IS ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL LADY FROM COLOMBIA -- VERY, VERY ATTRACTIVE, GREAT PERSONALITY, AND JUST A BEAUTIFUL SMILE. THIS IS WHAT MAKES -- GRACIAS. THIS IS WHAT MAKES THE GUYS FROM THE U.S. JUST DIE TO COME TO COLOMBIA AND MEET SOMEONE LIKE THIS. AND I'M TRYING TO BUY A LARGER SUITCASE SO I CAN PUT HER IN MY SUITCASE AND TAKE HER HOME. [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] SMILE. SHE'S GOT BEAUTIFUL TEETH. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING WILL, YOU KNOW, DEVELOP, BUT I'M SURE GONNA PURSUE IT. YEAH, I KNOW HOW OLD SHE IS. SHE'S 20. AND I ASKED HER IF IT PRESENTED A PROBLEM, AND SHE SAID NO. ONLY TIME WILL TELL. Ling: DAYANA'S CLEARLY NOT INTERESTED IN LAMAR. MANY OF THE MEN, HOWEVER, DO FIND GIRLFRIENDS ON THESE TOURS AND GET ENGAGED. SOME NEW COUPLES GET MARRIED JUST DAYS AFTER MEETING, OTHERS UP TO A FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS LATER. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] Woman: [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] OKAY, HER NAME IS MARIA CRISTINA. SHE'S 40 YEARS OLD. SHE HAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER, JUST LIKE HER MOTHER. [ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] MARIA CRISTINA DEFIES THE STEREOTYPE OF THE YOUNG, DESPERATE WOMAN JUST LOOKING FOR A FIANCéE VISA TO AMERICA. SHE LIKES TO FLIRT... UH-OH. ...BUT TO CONQUER THAT SPECIAL PERSON. [ LAUGHTER ] YES, SHE'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT SHE'S ALSO A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN. SHE'S NOT LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO RESCUE HER. SHE'S LOOKING FOR A MATURE RELATIONSHIP. YOU'RE QUITE SUCCESSFUL AND INDEPENDENT, AND YOU HAVE SO MUCH GOING FOR YOURSELF. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A MAN? [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] Interpreter: MORE THAN ANYTHING, FOR HIM TO BE GENTLEMANLY AND RESPECTFUL OF WOMEN'S VIRTUES, BECAUSE HERE, WE DON'T FIND THAT IN BARRANQUILLA. THE MEN DON'T RESPECT WOMEN'S VALUES. I DON'T SEE PHYSICAL BEAUTY. I'M SEEKING INTERIOR BEAUTY. PHYSICAL BEAUTY TAKES A BACKSEAT WHEN YOU FIND SOMEONE WHO TRULY IS BEAUTIFUL INSIDE. THE REST DOESN'T COUNT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MARIA CRISTINA COULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR DAVID, IF HE'S OPEN TO RAISING ANOTHER CHILD. MARIA HAS A 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. [ SPEAKS SPANISH ] Interpreter: MY FANTASY IS TO BE A LITTLE OLD LADY HOLDING ON TO MY HUSBAND'S HAND. I THINK THAT I'VE MADE IT ALL COME TRUE -- TO BE A MOTHER, TO WORK -- BUT I'M MISSING THE FANTASY OF HAVING A MAN WHO TRULY LOVES ME. YES, THAT IS THE FANTASY I LACK. Ling: AS THE SOCIAL WINDS DOWN, THE MEN WORK CLOSELY WITH THEIR TRANSLATORS TO SET UP DATES FOR TOMORROW. DAVID'S FOUND SOMEONE HE'S INTERESTED IN, BUT IS SHE INTERESTED IN HIM? DID YOU MEET ANY MEN THAT YOU LIKE? [ INTERPRETING ] [ LAUGHTER ] Sí. YOU? ME? NO. YOU? UM...YES, YES. DEFINITELY. ONE, IN PARTICULAR. Ling: BUT FOR KAREN, OVER AT TABLE 4, THERE ARE ONLY TWO MEN LEFT TO MEET, AND NO ONE'S ASKED HER OUT ON A DATE. IT'S OKAY. I SPEAK NO ESPAÑOL. BUT IT'S OKAY. SO, HOW LONG YOU BEEN A COSMETOLOGIST? HOW LONG? DOS AÑOS. TWO YEARS. Ling: HAVE YOU FOUND ANYONE INTERESTING? NO. [ BOTH LAUGH ] REALLY, NO. REALLY? ¿POR QUé NO? NO. I DON'T KNOW. NO CHEMICAL. SO, ARE YOU FEELING DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU HAVEN'T FELT CHEMISTRY WITH ANYONE? KAREN. KAREN. Sí. Ling: KAREN HAS ONE LAST CHANCE TO WALK AWAY WITH A DATE. UH, I'M 25 YEARS OLD. I HAVE A DAUGHTER. SHE'S 1 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS. YES, VERY PRETTY, INTELLIGENT, VERY ENERGY. MUCH ENERGY. I LIVE WITH MY GRANDMOTHER, BROTHER, AND SISTER... AND THE BABY. NO, WE'RE STILL GOOD. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE FOR THEM? Ling: BEFORE THE TOUR ENDS, THE 10 MEN WILL MEET ALMOST 200 MORE WOMEN. BUT FOR KAREN, THE SHOW IS OVER. DAVID IS HAVING BETTER LUCK TONIGHT. HIS INTERPRETER HAS ASKED MARIA CRISTINA FOR A DATE, AND THERE'S GOOD NEWS. THANK YOU. [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] Woman: THANK YOU FOR INVITING HER. OH, YES. I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU. [ LAUGHS ] SEE YOU TOMORROW. "SEE YOU TOMORROW," SHE SAID. YES, YES, VERY GOOD. Ling: IN FIVE MONTHS, THERE'S ANOTHER MARRIAGE TOUR -- MORE AMERICAN MEN WILL FLY TO COLOMBIA HOPING TO FIND WIVES. BUT TONIGHT, KAREN LEAVES DISAPPOINTED. Ling: DAY THREE, MARRIAGE TOUR, BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA -- THIS MORNING IS DAVID AND MARIA CRISTINA'S FIRST DATE -- A TOUR OF BARRANQUILLA. I FEEL LIKE A CHAPERONE, BUT I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW A DATE WITH TWO PEOPLE WHO DON'T SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE WILL GO. MY HOUSE, MY HOUSE. OH, WOW. PRETTY! BEAUTIFUL AREA! UH-HUH. YES, YES. [ BOTH CHUCKLE ] LET'S GO. I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE, IN NO TIME AT ALL, THEY'RE HOLDING HANDS. [ LAUGHTER ] WHISKEY. YES. I HAD TO WONDER IF THE ATTRACTION BETWEEN THEM HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. I CHECKED IN WITH DAVID'S TRANSLATOR, CATALINA. AFTER TRANSLATING HUNDREDS OF DATES, MAYBE SHE HAD SOME PERSPECTIVE TO OFFER. DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT, EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE, THEY'RE COMMUNICATING WELL? BUT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO SOON TO TELL IF THEY'RE GONNA GET MARRIED. SO FAR, I KNOW THERE'S CHEMISTRY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE KISSED EACH OTHER, THEY -- THEY WERE HOLDING HANDS. THEY WHAT? YEAH. THEY DID. THEY KISSED EACH OTHER? DID YOU SEE IT? YEAH, AND I TOOK A PICTURE, AND I MISSED IT, THE PICTURE, SO THEY KISSED EACH OTHER AGAIN, FOR ME TO TAKE THE PICTURE. [ LAUGHS ] WOW. YEAH. YEAH, SO THERE IS CHEMISTRY. TRYING TO HIDE FROM US. [ BOTH LAUGH ] THEY'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR LESS THAN A DAY, AND THEY'RE ALREADY SNEAKING AWAY TO KISS. VERY GOOD. GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU. Ling: BACK ON THE BUS, MARIA CRISTINA PUTS DAVID ON THE PHONE WITH HER DAUGHTER, INTRODUCING HIM AS HER FRIEND. David: THAT WAS HER DAUGHTER. TALKING TO THE DAUGHTER ALREADY! [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] SHE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT TIME HER MOMMY WAS GETTING HOME. OH, NEVER. [ LAUGHTER ] [ HORNS HONKING ] Ling: I MET UP WITH DAVID AND MARIA CRISTINA THE NEXT MORNING. THINGS SEEM TO BE GETTING SERIOUS -- MARIA CRISTINA HAS BROUGHT ALONG HER 9-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, DANIELA. IT'S KIND OF CONFIRMATION THAT, IF YOU'RE REALLY INTO SOMEONE, YOU MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBLE THAN YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE. David: THIS IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE I LIVE. YOUR HOUSE? UH, YES. CUáNTO? AGE? 19. YEAH, 1-9. Ling: AND SO HERE WE ARE, BACK ON THE BUS, WHERE THIS WHOLE STORY STARTED, HEADING OUT FOR A ROMANTIC DAY AT THE BEACH. I'M SURROUNDED BY COUPLES. AND I REMEMBER A.F.A.'s WEBSITE LISTED ALMOST 800 ENGAGEMENTS IN JUST THE LAST SIX MONTHS. BUT THE ORGANIZATION CAN'T TELL ME HOW MANY OF THOSE COUPLES ACTUALLY ENDED UP GETTING MARRIED. I SPOKE WITH A.F.A. CO-FOUNDER KEN AGEE, WHO INSISTED IT WAS ALL ABOUT LOVE. KEN'S A BELIEVER, BECAUSE HE'S HAPPILY MARRIED TO A RUSSIAN WOMAN HE MET THROUGH A.F.A. 12 YEARS AGO. LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SEVERAL GUYS SEEM LIKE THEY'RE FALLING IN LOVE. HOW DO YOU KNOW, KEN? HOW DO YOU KNOW? I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. HOW CAN YOU TELL WHEN SOMEONE'S ACTUALLY FALLING IN LOVE OVER LUST? I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT THESE ARE SEX TOURS. IF THEY WANTED TO DO A SEX TOUR, THEY COULD DO IT FOR MUCH LESS. THEY CAN GO TO THAILAND OR COSTA RICA, AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY US ALL THE MONEY TO GO THROUGH OUR SERVICE. WE'RE REALLY SELLING THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND HAPPINESS FOREVER. WE GET LETTERS ALL THE TIME FROM BOTH THE MEN AND THE WOMEN THAT JUST SAY, "YOU WERE SO WONDERFUL. "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. YOU CHANGED MY LIFE. YOU MADE MY DREAMS COME TRUE." WE'RE SELLING THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND LOVE. SO MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO BE IN LOVE WITH THE IDEA OF LOVE, AND KEN WAS SELLING SOME PRETTY BIG DREAMS. TRUE LOVE IS AN ELUSIVE THING, AND THERE'S NO ONE RECIPE FOR HOW TO FIND IT. REMARKABLY, IN JUST A FEW DAYS, SOMETHING SWEET SEEMS TO BE DEVELOPING BETWEEN DAVID AND MARIA CRISTINA. BUT WAS IT REAL? AND WOULD IT LAST? Ling: AS THE WEEK COMES TO A CLOSE, I CHECKED IN ON KAREN ONE LAST TIME. [ CHUCKLES ] SO, HOW WAS SATURDAY... AT THE SOCIAL? OHH. SO-SO. Ling: KAREN'S NIGHT AT THE SOCIAL WASN'T ENTIRELY POSITIVE, BUT SHE PLANS TO KEEP HER PROFILE UP ON THE A.F.A. WEBSITE, HOPING TO ATTRACT A FOREIGN HUSBAND. [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] Interpreter: I'M GOING TO STAY SIGNED UP WITH THE AGENCY BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE MY PROFILE, AND IF THEY WANT TO MEET ME, THEN THEY CAN COME DIRECTLY TO ME. BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO TO AN EVENT WHERE I HAVE TO SIT WITH OTHER WOMEN AND BE THINKING THE WHOLE TIME, "WHAT DOES THIS GUY WANT?" OR WHAT ANOTHER WANTS. IT'S LIKE PUTTING YOURSELF IN A DISPLAY WHERE, IF SOMEONE LIKES YOU, THEY CHOOSE YOU. AND SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO CHOOSE. IT CAN FEEL LIKE ONE IS A PIECE OF MERCHANDISE FOR SALE. [ TANIA CRYING ] OHH. KAREN'S EXPERIENCE SEEMS DISCOURAGING, BUT SHE HASN'T LOST HOPE. [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] Interpreter: EVERYONE WAS MADE TO FIND ANOTHER PERSON. I THINK THAT I JUST HAVEN'T FOUND THE IDEAL MAN, BUT I STILL DO BELIEVE IN LOVE. I CAN NEVER STOP BELIEVING IN LOVE, BECAUSE THEN I'D BE AN UNHAPPY PERSON. [ TANIA LAUGHS ] FOR MARIA CRISTINA, THINGS HAVE TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY, AND LITTLE DO I REALIZE, I'M IN FOR A PRETTY BIG SURPRISE. BUENOS DíAS. HOW ARE YOU? HI. HOLA. MWAH! HOW ARE YOU? [ LAUGHS ] DAVID. "DAVID" WHAT? DAVID IS HERE? WELL, HEY. HOW ARE YOU? [ LAUGHS ] SURPRISE! [ Laughing ] GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. DID YOU JUST GET HERE, OR WERE YOU HERE LAST NIGHT? NO, SHE PICKED ME UP. I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN... THAT'S A LITTLE QUICK. THAT'S A LITTLE QUICK. Ling: I AM IN COMPLETE SHOCK. THEY SEEM TO HAVE FALLEN FOR EACH OTHER IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK. [ LAUGHS ] Sí. [ EXHALES SHARPLY ] MOMENT. [ LAUGHS ] AWW, SHE'S GETTING EMOTIONAL. Ling: MARIA CRISTINA LEAVES THE TABLE IN TEARS. SHE'S GETTING REALLY EMOTIONAL. HAS IT BEEN EMOTIONAL LIKE THAT BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU? UH, YES. YOU CAN REALLY FEEL IT. I TOLD -- I-I ACTUALLY TOLD HER IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO FALL IN LOVE WITH HER. YOU OKAY? I KNOW. I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL, TOO. I'M JUST WATCHING YOU TWO LOOK AT EACH OTHER. I MEAN, THERE'S THAT INDESCRIBABLE THING THAT'S HAPPENING BETWEEN YOU GUYS. I THINK IT HAS A VERY STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT SHE'S MY LIFE PARTNER. I MEAN, WHEN IT'S THE RIGHT WOMAN, IT'S THE RIGHT WOMAN. YOU DON'T QUESTION IT. YOU JUST KNOW. Ling: WHO KNOWS IF DAVID AND MARIA'S RELATIONSHIP WILL WORK OUT IN THE END, BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT, I'M HOPEFUL FOR THEM. David: WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK YOU COULD'VE WRITTEN THE STORY. I NEVER IMAGINED IT. WHAT? UH, FATE. FATE. FATE. "ENGLISH." ENTER. [ CHUCKLES ] Sí. YES. "FATE." YEAH. SO, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU TWO ARE BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND NOW? Sí. HA HA! [ LAUGHTER ] WELL, I GUESS THIS IS TO BE CONTINUED, HUH? Sí. [ LAUGHTER ] HOPEFULLY... ENDS VERY GOOD. LIFE TOGETHER WOULD BE VERY GOOD. Sí. OKAY. OH, NO! Ling: WAS THIS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT? AND WOULD THE RELATIONSHIP SURVIVE, LONG-DISTANCE? IT'LL STOP. IN THE END, I WAS LEFT WITH QUESTIONS. WOULD THE MEN WHO PAID FOR THESE MARRIAGE TOURS REALLY FIND LASTING RELATIONSHIPS? WOULD THE COLOMBIAN WOMEN, LIKE KAREN, EVER MEET THEIR AMERICAN PRINCE CHARMING? THE TRIP HAD COME TO AN END, AND I WAS STILL LEFT WONDERING, WOULD ANYBODY'S DREAMS REALLY COME TRUE?
