Colombia's Rural Health Care Workers in Danger

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Muisca Indigenous Names, from Hunza (Tunja)

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In response to this week’s posts on names, I have received several e-mails asking about the names of famous Colombians and their stories and about Indigenous names. I plan to spend the next three days sharing some of them. Also, I will continue to post more in the future and you will be able to find them all by clicking on the NAMES link the LABELS section to the right of the blog. Name: AQUIMÍN ( pronounced: ah key MEAN) or AQUIMINZAQUE (pronounced: ah key mean ZAH kay) When the Spanish arrived on the plains of Bogotá, 1536, they found a great nation. In fact, it was the third largest group of indigenous inhabitants in America. They called themselves the Muiscas , which meant ‘the people’. Their language was called Chibcha . The Muiscas were not a united group, but rather a collection of city states. The majority of the power was held by two main cities – what today are called Bogotá and Tunja (in Boyacá). These two cities were mortal enemies and each enlisted the loy...
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Oldest Film Festival in Latin America

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Yesterday, the Cartagena Film Festival ( Festival de Cine de Cartagena ) began. This year organizers are celebrating the 50 th anniversary of the Festival, which makes it the oldest continuous festival of its kind in Latin America. * In the 1960's, the Festival was in competition with the festival in Havana. In the 1970's, it hosted many up and coming names and faces. The 1980's proved to be its Golden Years. Unfortunately, the 1990's brought decline to the event and up until 2 years ago, the Festival seemed to be on its last legs, losing prestige to other international and Latino film festivals. Skeptics and critics alike had all but written of the event. However, new leadership is bringing about a change. The movies being shown are now award contenders. Additionally, many homegrown Colombian movies are getting a showing at the Festival. You can read about one here: http://www.eltiempo.com/vidadehoy/ARTICULO-WEB-PLANTILLA_NOTA_INTERIOR-7300044.html For more...
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Quinceañera Parties in Colombia

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The word Quince in Spanish means 15. The Quinceañera is a girl who is turning 15 years of age. In Colombia (as well as many other Latin American countries), depending on the family's economic means, this birthday is celebrated with a special party -- a sort of coming of age party. This party, called the Fiesta de Quince , ushers the young woman from the world of childhood into the world of womanhood. However, the kind of party you get will depend on your economic station in life. The more wealthy your family is, the fancier the party, the poorer your family is, the more simple. However, no matter your station, there are certain elements that are part of nearly every Quinceañera celebration. #1 The Hair, Make-up and Nails. Every girl will have a special hairdo for the occasion. Most families will splurge and send the girl to the beauty salon where she will get he royal treatment -- hair, nails, make-up, etc. She needs to look her very best. #2 The Dress. Most 15 year old Colombi...
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