Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

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 ...

Being a Reciclador in Colombia is synonymous with what we here in the States might call being a "Dumpster Diver," "Garbage Picker" or "Scavenger." Recyclers in Colombia participate in an informal economy, combing the streets, garbage cans, dumpsters, and garbage dumps for recyclable material to then transport to either middle men or the actual recycling center. Wood, metal, aluminum, cardboard, and plastic are all fair game. Recyclers often also find treasures that they try to repair or repurpose. Recicladores are among the poorest and most marginalized people in Colombia. They are often seen driving horse or mule drawn wagons called -- ZORRAS (pronounced SOR RAS) -- see picture above. Photos by: Eduardo Zarate http://www.flickr.com/photos/eduardozarate/3512704623/

Having lived in a city with sub-zero temperatures, it is hard to imagine why temperatures in the 40s or 50s could possibly be so frightening. However, in Colombia they are -- especially for children. I am pretty sure that is has something to do with El Sereno. (For a more detailed explanantion of this phenomenon, please read Colombian Daddy's post: http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/2010/05/el-sereno-or-el-chiflon.html) Anyway, while in Colombia, be prepared to receive your child bundled in multiple layers. Also be prepared for the myriad of critical looks and comments you might receive if you later take said child out in what we more cold-hearty folk would consider weather appropriate clothing. Here is another unique tidbit. Even on sunny days, the fear of getting a whiff of a cool draft will keep a child covered in plastic. I guess this has the added benefit of keeping the child sleepy in a low oxygen environment :). Note: In the picture, the mother is enjoying a s...

Just had to share this video. So, Colombia!!!!

You can do your part in saving Colombian native arts. Watch this: Here are the 10 techniques you can vote for: #1. los Peyones (Weavings) of the Indigenous Wayuú from La Guajira #2. los Tejidos de Algodón (Textiles) from Charalá, Santander #3. la Alfarería (Ceramics) from Ráquira, Boyacá #4. la Sombrerería (Hat making) from Ancuyá, Nariño #5. la Marimba (Marimba) from Guapi, Cauca #6. las Alpargatas (Sandals) from Guacamayas, Boyacá #7. la Talla en Madera (Wood working) from the Amazons #8. la Cestería (Basketmaking) from Tinjacá, Boyacá #9. la Cestería (Basketmaking) from Indigenous Peoples of Nariño & Cauca #10. la Filigrana (Knitting with Gold and Silver) from Chocó You wanna know how I'm going to vote? See this past post: http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/2009/08/tia-isabel-our-famous-potter-of.html Now you go vote, http://www.orgulloperdidoclubcolombia.com/

When I got engaged to Colombian Daddy, one of our early discussions was about me changing my last name. Like most women -- almost 90% of married women in the USA -- I assumed that I would change my name. I clearly remember him saying, "Why do women change their names?" We talked about that being the tradition in most English speaking countries and that most men just assume that their wife will change her name. We talked about how people assume that if a woman keeps her name that she is trying to make some kind of feminist statement. His response, "And they think we are Machistas !" :) But seriously, in Colombia marriage has no impact on either person's surnames. This means that people keep their same surnames their entire life. If you were Lucía Reyes García before you were married, you will continue to be Lucía Reyes García after you are married. In the past, it was customary for a wife to use her husband's first surname (in social situations) ...

When I got engaged to Colombian Daddy, one thing that my parents -- born and raised in the good old USA -- wanted to know was why he had 2 last names and which one was his 'real' last name. Actually, in the Hispanic world, there is no such thing as a LAST name. In fact, if you were to directly translate the word LAST NAME into Spanish it would be ÚLTIMO NOMBRE. This phrase would be fairly meaningless in Spanish, and it is possible that you would even get the middle name of the person in response to a petition for a LAST NAME. The word used in Spanish in order to ask for what we call a LAST NAME is APELLIDO, which is more closely translated as SURNAME. In Colombia, as well as all Hispanic countries, most people will have 2 APELLIDOS -- called the FIRST and SECOND APELLIDOS. The person's first surname (apellido) is their father's first surname and the second surname (apellido) is the mother's first surname, what we call "the mother's maiden name in the...

As mentioned yesterday, Las Cabañuelas is an ancient method for forecasting the weather that goes back centuries. From what I have been able to read, it seems that the tradition started in Spain, but some campesinos in Colombia still use this interesting predictive invention. No matter the origin, it has the following procedure for forecasting the the weather. The first 12 days of January are the considered the ESPEJO (Mirror) of the year. If the day is hot, then the corresponding month will be generally hot. If the day is cold, then the corresponding month will be generally cold. If it is rainy, then the corresponding month will be generally rainy. You get the idea. The 1st of January represents what the weather will be like throughout the month of January. The 2nd of January represents the weather for the month of February, the 3rd = March, etc. Until we reach the 12th which represents December. However, the predictive ability of the Cabañuelas does not stop there. It starts ...

When people in Colombia think about Christmas, they think about today, December 24 th . December 25 th is just a nice day off, a day most people will spend sleeping. Let me explain. Known as Noche Buena , Navidad , or simply El 24 , December 24 th is the time when the essential traditions of Colombian Christmas celebrations take place. But before diving into what will happen tonight, a little background is in order. For most kids, the school year ends around the middle of November. This is true for University students as well. With tests and grades behind and even remedial tests and courses postponed until January, the arrival of December is akin to the arrival of a long awaited weekend after a hard work week. Maybe is more like the arrival of summer in places away from the Equator. Usually December also brings the end of the November rains and ushers in the beginning of bright, sunny days. Thus, everything is set for a month long celebration, and the build up to the 24 th be...

In a Spanish tradition, mothers would give their child's baby teeth to rodents with the belief that by doing so, their children would grow up healthy. It was from this tradition that the Ratón Pérez developed. Ratón means mouse in Spanish. Ratón Pérez is the Spanish equivalent to the Tooth Fairy. He visits little children bringing money or gifts when baby teeth are left under the pillow. The story of Ratón Pérez was changed and popularized by Father Luis Coloma who wrote a story called, of all things, Ratón Pérez. You can read the story, in Spanish, here: http://cvc.cervantes.es/actcult/raton/default.htm In our house, the kids have enjoyed the following book, which helps to integrate both cultures when a tooth is lost. You can pick it up at Amazon for less than $11 US and there is potential free super saving shipping :)

A few months ago, back in the States, our car got a flat tire. We were told that it would be impossible to fix the punctured tire. In Colombia, however, a similar puncture on the same type of tire can be easily fixed in just a few minutes. This little detour was fixed in 15 minutes, no appointment, no waiting. AMAZING! Oh, and did I mention it was 6:45 am. Double Amazing!!

Living where meat comes in neat little styrofoam containers covered with plastic wrap can never offer you the thrill of a CARNECERÍA. Here large chunks of meat and long sausage links hang in the open air where you can smell them and see the flies enjoying lunch. I am sure that they leave the meat out longer than the USDA would advise, but I have never gotten sick. And while I know this would make my mother's stomach churn, I have to say that I have never tasted better meat than what we buy here at the EL RODEO meat market. But definitely a cultural trip.

www.bicentenarioindependencia.gov.co What Celebration doesn't need a theme song? We saw Shakira's Waka Waka during the Munidal (World Cup). But, the Alta Consejería Presidencial para el Bicentenario de la Independencia de Colombia (The Presidential High Council on the Bicentennial of Colombian Independence) and The History Channel sponsored the creation of the Bicentennial theme song. The music was written by Miguel de Narváez and the lyrics by Andrés Camacho. The video features several famous Colombian artists: Carlos Vives , Maía , María Cecilia Botero , Andrés Cepeda , Cecilia “ Chechi ” Baena , Humberto Dorado , Silvia Tcherassi and Jorge Celedón . If you can read music, you can get it here: http://www.bicentenarioindependencia.gov.co/Es/Prensa/2010/Documents/BicentenarioPartitura.pdf Here are the lyrics: El sol hoy brilla mas. Mas de lo que somos hoy vamos a dar . Para construir un país mas unido una Colombia que brille mas. Mas de mi ...

One of the pluses of heading to Colombia this summer is that the country is in high gear in celebration of its 200 th anniversary of Independence. I want my boys to remember Colombia's Bicentennial the way I remember America's Bicentennial in 1976. I was the same age as my Little Colombianito the year my country celebrated its Bicentennial. For years, I had a Bicentennial quarter and 7-up bottle in my room. Not sure what trinkets we will pick up for the boys, but I want it to be memorable for them. For those of you who are not familiar with the story of Colombian Independence, here is a recap: The first movement for Independence from Spain which began in what is now Colombia on the 20 th of July 1810. On that day, a group of citizens known as Criollos (those of Spanish descent born in the Americas rather than in Spain), went to Don José González Llorente ´s home ( Llorante was a Spaniard) on the pretext of borrowing a flower vase for a dinner that was to honor the Roya...

On just about any bus, at any time of day, you may well see someone get on with a guitar, accordeón , or radio. Sometimes, a whole band will get on the bus. The performers will typically begin to play and sing, with the hope that you will give up some coins in return. These performers, often called CANTANTES (singers) or MUSICOS (musicians), not only perform on buses , but also on the street and in parks. For most, performing is their livelihood. It would be wise to keep a few coins in an easily accessible pocket to help support these performers. We plan on giving our boys some of their own coins so that they can decide which performers to share their money with. The CANTANTES perform all genres of music -- Rap, Vallenato , Rock, Folkloric, Salsa, even Opera. Here is a video collection of bus performers in Colombia. Rap Opera Vallenato Folkloric

BUS ETIQUETTE #2 -- VENDEDORES (Salespeople) Riding in a Colombian bus is a cultural experience in an of itself. I think that you shouldn't leave Colombia without riding a bus somewhere at rush hour or lunch time. One of my favorite things is the VENDEDOR (salesperson). This person gets on the bus with a backpack full of something he wants to sell -- colored pencils, candy, books, magazines, miracle drugs, soaps, lotions, etc. He will hand out a number of the items to people sitting on the bus. If one is offered to you, YOU TAKE IT! Even if you do not plan to buy it! You hold it in your hands while he gives his speech about the product. Some vendedores are hilarious. Others try to appeal to your humanitarian instinct. One time, a lady got on to say, "I have lost my house and my child is in the hospital, my husband died a few months ago and I am dying of cancer, etc" I'm not always sure how much of what they is true. Anyway, they speak really fast so that they can ge...

I am starting a new series, based on taking our little Colombianito back to Colombia for the first time since his adoption. Home just days before he turned 2, he is now 5 1/2 years old. Our journey will be labeled: One Family's Return Trip . You can follow daily here, or click on the label to the right in August to catch all of the posts in the series. I am also looking forward to bringing you more information from Emily -- One Family's Journey (to the right) -- as she talks about issues like: "What it was like to come home?" and "What to expect once you return?" ************************************************************** In preparation for our return trip to Colombia, we have been discussing etiquette in our home. There have been the usual reminders for the boys -- "Remember to say Por favor and Gracias ." But, there have also been a few reminders about etiquette issues that bear mentioning here. Over the next few days, I want to review sev...

Colombian Caracol TV has been featuring a weekly 30 minute special about different events and places worth seeing in Colombia. If you are in Colombia, you can catch the program on Sunday nights at 9:30. If you aren't lucky enough to be in Colombia, then you can watch past episodes here: http://www.caracoltv.com/colombiamascerca?menu=videos The programs are in Spanish, of course, but they are super!!! Even if you cannot understand all the words, in many of the spots the images are beautiful.

One of the first things that parents here in the US teach their toddlers is to say "Sorry!" We use the word all the time. A child spills his milk, "Sorry!" He bumps into someone, "Sorry!" He forgets to do something, "Sorry!" He rips a toy out of the hands of another, "Sorry!" Where would be be if after time out we didn't have an apology of "I'm Sorry!" We love Sorry so much, that there is even a game for kids called, what else, "SORRY!" Sorry, here in the Northern part of the New World, means to feel "sorrowful". It comes from a German word that meant "distressed or full of sorrow". When we say Sorry!, we are saying "Hey I feel really bad about what I just did !" It gives us personal accountability. Well, here is a cultural newsflash! Colombians do not tend to express their apology in the same way. This is not to mean that they are rude, on the contrary, they share your pain. T...

Today's post is brought to you by my culturally savvy husband -- thanks Esposo! Noticeably absent in this blog is a warning about a ubiquitous health threat rampant in Colombia. Most illnesses acquired in the Country, especially colds, headaches and upper respiratory infections as well as many other ailments, and even the worsening of certain arthritis symptoms, can and should be traced back to EL SERENO. While the exact nature of El Sereno remains a distinct medical mystery, any mother in Colombia knows that as the sun starts setting around 6 pm (although there have been reports of encounters with el sereno as early as 5 pm and earlier if it's raining) El Sereno begins roaming around in search for victims who, unaware of its dangers, haven't covered their mouths, noses, heads, shoulders and/or backs with several layers of clothing. As Colombian mothers will tell you, El Sereno's favorite victims are children. This helps explain why Colombian kids look like astronauts s...