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Acts of kindness in Bogotá

As a new resident in La Candelaria, I have noticed a number of acts of kindness in my new neighborhood. I thought I´d like to share a few so others might chime in with other such acts elswhere in the country.

People give food to the homeless form their own plates in outdoor restaurants.

At the end of business hours, left over rice is often spresd out for the birds.

Dogs are fed by people leaving food around for them to find. The ownerless dogs of Bogotá are usually well fed and lazy. They amaze me by being able to fall asleep in the middle of the sidewalks with foot traffic all around.

Colectivo and Ejecutivo bus drivers often give people without money rides.

And last but not least, a word about Kusi M., a young woman no longer here who formed a one woman soup kitchen for the poor. Several volunteers helped her prepare and distrubute packages of hot food wrapped in banana leaves to the homeless of Candelaria. The group averaged 80 meals a night.

Unfortunately, Kusi is back in Oregon, and the soup kitchen is no more.

By LaloG on Dec 9, 2004, 17:11 in Friendly Talkzone.

caslug says on Dec 10, 2004, 10:47:

bump for goodness.. Lalog, thanks for posting your observation, i hope more people do.
Question, you said that this is in your NEW neighborhood, are you saying that the old neighborhood was not as "kind", where's your new neighborhood vs your old one? I hope you keep posting and keep this thread alive.

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Mariangela says on Dec 10, 2004, 11:34:

Interesting choice Lalo,
I have never heard of a foreigner that has chosen La Candelaria as a place to live, mainly because of the safety issue. Downtown Bogotá is not the safest place, and even the Bogotanos prefer living in the north part of the City. I am sure you found a lovely house. La Candelaria is really a beautiful area, filled with history and charm. Both my parents grew up in that area, about 70 years ago. When I visit Bogotá, they take me there to show me their old houses, schools, etc. I just want to know if you feel safe walking around at night, doing your shopping, etc.
Enjoy it! I am glad that you found happiness in Bogotá.
Mariángela

Mariángela

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Skippy says on Dec 10, 2004, 12:05:

Oh yes..... I was really amazed when I lived in Sao Paulo how wonderful people were. Every one watches each others backs and re willing to help the poor. In a city with so much violence it was wonderful to see such beauty of the the human spirit.

Yup

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ShazCas says on Dec 10, 2004, 13:26:

Hi Lalo! Lalo, aren't you the artist who wanted to move to Bogota with your partner? I've thought of you so often, wondering if you'd made it, if you'd found what you were looking for and if you thought the Candelaria was as amazing as I do! So glad to hear you've got a house there, from what you used to say when you posted here before, I think it's just what you were needing. I remember once you'd asked what areas of Bogota would fit the bill, and I had mentioned the Candelaria and Teusaquillo, where I used to live.

I'm glad to hear from you and good luck! I'd love to hear more of your impressions of Bogota!

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emilia says on Dec 11, 2004, 17:44:

any soup kitches in bogota pennyi am travelling soon and want to volunteer with muscle and some money to buy food for a soup kitchen en el sur, but i know better than to do it alone. Anyone know of any and anyone know of any orphanages where i can go and bring toys, food and crayons and books and clothes. will be in bogota in 2 weeks and want to be involved. soy bogotana pero vivo en el exterior

penny

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LaloG says on Dec 12, 2004, 16:44:

My old neighborhood was Phoenix AZ, USA—not very kind. Lots of gun play in the streets and the church oriented food banks were out of food to give out to the needy. Stray dogs are caught and gassed after 14 days, and restaurants throw food away everynight, amounting to tons. Etc., etc. I could go on, but I just think what little I´ve seen of Colombians so far they have more humanity and concern for the needs of less fortunate people and animals. And just try to get a free ride on a bus in that burg.
LaloG

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LaloG says on Dec 12, 2004, 16:51:

Yes, Marìàngela, we just got back from a stroll to the Plaza Bolivar to see the National Christmas tree lighted. Everyone was there, and the streets of Candelaria are deserted, but we felt safe enough. Actually, I spent 30 years in NYC which was and still is a decidedly unsafe city at night. I also lived in LA for a dozen years and wouldn´t walk the streets after 8pm nearly anywhere there. Candelaria is usually a very active place at night, what with the bars, little theaters, and general street life. So again, yes, we find it safer than we have been warned it is, like most of what we´ve heard about Colombia in general.
LaloG

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LaloG says on Dec 12, 2004, 16:58:

Hi ShazCas! I am one and the same. We are now living in our wonderful colonial style home on the oldest street in Bogotà. I´m teaching a free art class in drawing, color theory, color mixing, and oil painting, every Saturday morning. I´m busy writing a textbook to begin teaching English classes with in January. I´ve had so many requests for English classes, I thought I could earn a little money to help with our living expenses. Not much, because I don´t need to get rich, just survive comfortably. We are very happy here, so THANKS so much for the CANDELARIA Suggestion way back when.
LsloG

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lily says on Dec 13, 2004, 14:42:

i remember... I know there are some homes for orphan children that belong to ICBF.. you should call ICBF ( instituto de Bienestar Familiar) I know that those homes receive toys for the kids in christmas...

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sandra_pas says on Dec 14, 2004, 11:47:

emilia,you can do volunteering here really easily, the thing is if you want to donate food and toys go to tejido humano o la cruz roja, these are places that gather donations and take to towns and places outside bogota and also to really poor neighborhoods in bogota and other cities, and share it with people that really need it you know living in misery, you dont see many of that in the city, so thats my advice, but if you want to volunteer there are many many foundations here in bogota ill help you
my mail is sandra_pas at hotmail.com
sandraPAS

sandraPAS

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sandra_pas says on Dec 14, 2004, 11:53:

lalo im glad you live as happy as u do, just wanted u to know, yes despite all the misery u see here there is a lot of kindness and good people doing great things thats cause they find a lot of talent in those people and thats really good.
sandraPAS

sandraPAS

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LaloG says on Dec 14, 2004, 12:38:

I find Colombians to be very thoughtful, and kind toward each other as well as strangers like my partner and I. As for talent, these people are amply supplied with that stuff.

Of course, there are always people at the survival level that will prey on their fellow men. I´ve witnessed one robbery of a Colombian getting into a taxi. The thief ran up and grabbed his wallet out of his hand and was gone faster than a speeding bullet. The robbed one, looked disgusted, but told the Taxi driver to go ahead and leave. Afterward I thought the thief had been very creative, watching his prey for the exact moment when he wouldn´t be chased. JaJaJa.

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Lostgringo says on Feb 14, 2007, 04:04:

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 20, 2007, 09:10:

thanks for the alert the user's account has been cancelled.

Cheers,
Desideria

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe
they are free." —Johann Wolfgang van Goethe

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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poco says on Feb 20, 2007, 17:34:

Being gassed is not a gas. Stray dogs are caught and gassed after 14 days

Stray dogs are rounded up where I live and "done away with" Maybe they gas them or put them in big sacks and drown them.

Cats are immune to being rounded up. The cats are left alone. I think it has something to do with "bad luck". Maybe individuals who gas cats have never won the lottery?

This 1 MEG video makes me want to buy a Ford.

Somehow I don't think they are gassed. Maybe euthanized with a lethal injection the same as they are in the U.S. ? I see an opportunity for technical cross training.

Mans best friend has found a friend.

Colombian Chickens are crowing about the new President of the U.S. who will assure that From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

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kpennell says on Jun 14, 2009, 10:27:

Sometimes when people get on busses, a few bills slip out without them knowing..I always liked watching strangers tell other strangers that they had lost their money. It was a good reminder for me that not everyone is about aprovechando...

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lpdiver says on Jun 14, 2009, 13:22:

I have always been astounded by the kindness of strangers in Colombia. Ask for directions in my broken Spanish and more times than not I will be delivered there by some kind "stranger". Same thing ask for something in Exito or someplace similar. You will be brought to the product and probably steered to a better or cheaper one.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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