Exclusive Interview with Colombian Native

Jane: Hello, I want to preclude this interview by introducing Sheila, a native of Jamaica, having lived here in Colombia for the last 5 years, Sheila thank you for joining Myra and I for this interview.

Myra: Thank you Sheila!

Sheila: My Pleasure.

 

Jane: Myra and I would like to discuss a few general topics with you on local culture and I would like to start by asking you to give me your view on the cultural of greeting people?

 

Sheila: While it’s perfectly normal in South American culture to greet someone you are socially acquainted with by giving a kiss on the cheek, or in Western culture the shaking of hands is intended as a gesture of friendship, the people of many Asian countries may be alarmed by the boldness of a stranger who extends a hand or kiss, for they prefer to bow as a sign of goodwill. I was intrigued to learn of the various greetings that accompany other cultures for instance, In Greece, when greeting a person, a nice slap on the back takes the place of shaking hands, In Mozambique South Africa; the people clap their hands three times before saying hello. In the Southern
African region of Zambia, greeters are met by gently squeezing a thumb and in parts of New Zealand; some people press their noses together while closing their eyes tight.

 

Myra: I wouldn’t try this greeting in certain parts of Colombia, when your eyes opened back up your purse might be gone.

Sheila: This is true, so while we may not greet each other in the same way, it’s important to understand the various greeting protocols of a culture before venturing into that culture or maybe you can be adventurous and start your own greeting, you never know if it could become a social staple of life.

 

Myra:  Well tell us Sheila what you think of the traditional foods here in Barranquilla Colombia?

 

Sheila: Colombian Cuisine is very diverse and varies depending on the different regions of Colombia. In some areas I have visited along the coast, you will find seafood and coconut rice are traditional favorites made of corn dough filled with peas, carrots, potatoes, rice, chicken, pork and spices all wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled for several hours.

 

Jane: What is your favorite typical cuisine to eat?

Sheila: I would have to say; Bandeja paisa which includes grilled steak, chicharron , beans, rice, chorizo, a fried egg and an arepa. It is usually served with fried plantains and avocado. I absolutely love this dish.

 

Jane: Can you tell us about your visitations to the homes of those whom you’ve meet in Colombia? What were the common practices you observed?

 

Sheila: Well for starters, going to someone’s house unexpected is not usually considered rude, and the host is required to make the visitor feel very welcome, as if they were expected and are not interrupting anything. Calling to make an "appointment" to visit is not as common here as in North America.

 

Myra: But would the host try to hurry off the visitor to leave?

 

Sheila: Social politeness and proper etiquette are emphasized here in Colombia. Even if tired or busy, the hosts of the house always try to have a good word for strangers. When visiting, I had to learn to prepare to stay for a while to "chat." The quick "pick-up" or "drop-off" at someone's house just doesn't work in this culture. Even in business situations, it's not all business, and you should begin with a "Hello.

 

Jane: Ok… a subject of great interest to us girls, how about the shopping?

Sheila: The shopping for clothing was outstanding with various tailor shops throughout the city. You also had a couple of malls to shop at with a variety of choice clothing products to choose from. From designer jeans to designer shoes, dresses and even jewelry, the choices were endless. But the shopping is not just limited to clothing but there are a variety of other manufacturing goods and services to satisfy motivated buyers.

 

Myra: Well that will conclude this interview process, a special thanks to our guest, Sheila Murdock for your forthcoming answers.


Thank-you      

Barranquilla´s High Heel Race draws a mixed crowd

“I think everybody likes to wear a nice heel,” said Demetrio, 18,  who studies at the Colombo Ameriano. “I do it at home, why not in public?”

The annual Barranquilla High Heel Race passes in about three clickety-clackety minutes. Preparing for the main event, on the other hand, can take weeks.

 Demetrio spent two hours Tuesday donning a royal-blue evening gown, a blond wig and a pair of heels. But the past two weeks? He devoted them to crafting a glittering headpiece.

This is the 25th anniversary — it was in the spirit of freak flags flying that a sidewalk crowd looking typically Washingtonian intermingled with drag queens in the streets around Dupont Circle. Toddler-toting parents took photos with Lady Gagas. Dogs on leashes sniffed at winged fairies on roller skates. And men sauntered by, post-work, in business-casual slacks punctuated by sky-high patent-leather heels.

“People just think Barraquilla is just a lot of politicians,” longtime race organizer Juan Pacheco said. “This is another of the prime examples of why it’s such a fun city.”

Pacheco said that obtaining permits for a race crowd of thousands has become too much for one person to handle. So next year, he’ll hand the event over to Historic Barranqulla´s famous Streets, a nonprofit group that aims to attract businesses.

Near the starting line,  Demetrio stood with three friends. He said the race of about 70 runners was less about winning the trophy — a glass slipper filled with brandy — than it was about celebrating Barranquilla’s flashiest alternative community.

But the running-in-heels part — is that comfortable?

The answer, unanimously, was “no.”

Today, an idea manifested between my cousin Mayra and me. Mayra and I are currently attending Colombo Americano and taking English classes as one of several subjects that is part of the current curriculum for our chosen career path of bilingual administrative assistant.  After briefly confiding with one another concerning our current progress in English, we came to a joint decision to spend the entire day as Americans, communicating only in English as if we knew no Spanish and seeking activities throughout our city as American tourists. Although Mayra and I both studied English in high school, we both felt the importance of daily practice as an important accelerator to our ultimate objective.

10:07 AM – Jane talked on the phone with her cousin from the United States for 30 minutes in English only. Jane normally speaks with her Uncle once a week and requested to him to only communicate in English. Jane has traveled several times to the United States but envision expanding her traveling agenda to include more English speaking countries such as Europe and England.

10:34 AM – Mayra talked on the phone with friends and family from New York for 25 minutes in English only. These weekly conversations give her a telecommunication medium to reach out and interact with native English speakers. Mayra’s dream is to one day travel to the United States and other English speaking countries throughout Europe to experience the culinary and people of those countries.

1:30 PM – Jane and Mayra have lunch at an American based restaurant. The waiter was bilingual and we both insisted on communicating with him in English only.  During our lunch, we shared our dreams and hopes for attending the school, but also our ambitions and inhibitions once our studies have concluded.  Mayra’s hopes and dreams is to work in an English environment where she can continue to sharpen her English skills. Although her career search will begin in her home Country where she has ambitions for working for the Police, Army or any military forces, she is very much open to traveling abroad and would like to visit the U.S. to experience the language, culture and culinary. Jane wants to work in an English speaking country and see the school as the gateway to enhance her opportunities for improving her written and oral communication skills in English. In addition to the United States, she would like to travel to Europe and England and experience those cultures.

5:15 PM – Jane and Mayra stop at an internet cafe to chat on line with friends. Mayra signed up a year ago with a social network called “tagged”, an international chatting site where she has had the opportunities to meet people from various English speaking countries and uses this medium to enhance her English writing skills, grammar and pronunciations. Jane has been a member of windows live messenger and various other social networks and uses this as an opportunity to ask questions to become more educated and sharp on advance English concepts.

7:00 – Jane and Mayra sit outside at a table near a small disco where American music is being played. Both sing and follow the lyrics as they feel this is another medium to pick up not only more English words, but learn more about the culture as well.

8:00 PM – Jane and Mayra relax at home to their favorite television show friends. Mayra enjoys the show but pays more attention to the art of the English language. It wasn’t long ago, Mayra needed English subtitles to watch, but now fully understands what the plot and subject lines of the show are communicating. Jane enjoys the show and is able to pick up more hidden meanings in the comedy skits as a result of her time in the U.S. She is able to share these meanings with Mayra and both girls get a good laugh at the conclusion of the show.

9:00PM – Jane talks on the phone with her boyfriend from the U.S. In addition to regular everyday happenings in her life, she also uses this time to ask more advance questions on the English language. These daily conversations give access to another communication medium she can use to sharpen her skills.

9:20PM – Mayra talks with a classmate on her cell phone in English and shares her day’s experiences with Jane. Mayra feels by performing these exercises with her cousin, it gives her the confidence she will need in the future to interview with multinational companies.

10:45PM - Jane and Mayra reflected on their observations and social activities of the day and came to this conclusion; to learn English, true education is not limited to just a book, but taking advantages of the numerous resources that surrounds them, such as social media networking, radio mediums, telecommunication mediums, and various other social methods. Ultimately, what Jane and Mayra learned is their greatest desire is to obtain the skills that will open doors and leverage their employment opportunities to a wider, global and geographical base. This will afford them the ability to make intelligent decisions in employment opportunities based on choice and not just economic desperation.