Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

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.

Yesterday's post about the phrase, "Qué Pena!", made me think of a song I have heard my husband play hundreds of times. It is actually called "Qué Pena!" It was written and performed by the Puerto Rican / Nuyorquino group known as LOS HERMANOS LEBRÓN -- (Pablo, María, José, Ángel, Carlos y Franky) but no Colombian's collection of salsa would be complete without the addition of this song. So, I thought I would share it with you. And "Que Pena" that they are not Colombian.

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...

True confession! When I was a kid, I loved watching the Muppet Movie . I think I had the whole thing memorized. For those of you who don't remember it as well as I do, here is a little plot reminder. Kermit leaves the swamp to seek after his dream of making millions of people happy. On his quest, he is spotted by Doc Hopper the owner of a chain of fast food stores that sell french fried frog legs. Doc Hopper wants Kermit to star in the commercials for his store. Kermit says no way and hooks up with the comedian Fozzie Bear. Then the two of them start a cross country odyssey to Hollywood, where they plan to break into show business. On the way, they run into Gonzo the Great. At some point Gonzo tells Fozzie and Kermit that his dream is to go to Bombay India and become a movie star. Fozzie responds, "You don't go to Bombay to become a movie star, you go where we're going -- Hollywood." Gonzo responds, "Sure if you want to do it the easy way." Okay, okay...