Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

There was a new wait list posted April 9, 2011. Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. The dates that have moved are in BOLD. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before January 2008 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer waiting at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months ------ Feb - 2008 Child 13 - 23 months ---- Feb - 2008 Child 2 - 3 years -------- May - 2007 Child 2 years ----------- NOT LISTED ON NEW FORM Child 3 years ----------- Feb - 2008 Child 3 - 4 years

A reflection from Colombian Daddy: As a kid growing up in Colombia, I spent a lot of time playing outside with friends. One of those friends was a blondish kid whose face would turn beet red after a few hours in the sun and therefore responded to the nickname of Tomate (tomato). I was also friends with Largo (Long or Tall) Bayona, Tatoo Pérez (he was short), Enano (Dwarf) Higuera, and Flaco (Skinny) Miguel. At school I also knew, Gordo (Fat) Germán, Cara-de-Mico (Monkey Face), Pajarraco (Bird- looking ), and Azteca (A Native American-looking kid). At home, I lived with El Loco or El Viejo (My Dad) who was good friends with El Chulo (The Vulture ) down the street. Receiving a nickname, as a sign of being accepted into a group, may not be a uniquely Colombian thing. I think this is akin to what happens in the military or in other close knit groups anywhere. The difference is that in Colombia, without the constraints of political correctness, people tend to get labeled based on how

The status of the Ruiz Volcano was updated from yellow to orange yesterday. The orange alert means that the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Manizales (Volcano Observatory in Manizales) feels that there is a significant risk of an eruption in the next few days or weeks. This may impact families travelling to Manizales, Ibague, Armenia, Pereira, and perhaps even flights to and from Bogota (it is down wind and got over 2 inches of ashes in the last big eruption in 1985). You can read more about that eruption here: http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/2010/11/anniversary-of-armero-disaster.html and http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/2010/11/face-of-tragedy-omayra-sanchez.html Here is a link to a map of the area. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1C1CHOL_enUS406US406&q=nevado+del+ruiz&ix=seb&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1366&bih=643&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=xip5T_eDIOLXiQ