Different perceptions of Colombia

kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 22, 2008, 04:04:

bump

engage brain before opening mouth

kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 22, 2008, 05:14:

Oh Another one was looking for Colombia in Africa... no wonder she couldn't find it

and one asked me "so you speak Colombian" i said yes Spanish.... she was surprise she didn't know we spoke Spanish.. gezz where this people is getting their education?

And the funny one was i told a guy i was from Colombia and he started to tell me that he has a friend there and he wants to go and see her and then i said where in Colombia was his friend he said Vancouver! i went what? i said you are not confusing here Colombia with British Columbia? an afraid he was.. what an idiot didn't he recognized my accent ... i just couldn't be bother to talked to him anymore

engage brain before opening mouth

vicshere says on Mar 22, 2008, 05:40:

i to avoid stuipd people

listo

tw1st1 says on Mar 22, 2008, 07:44:

Ignorance is everywhere

MaFe says on Mar 22, 2008, 09:34:

Ignorance is everywhere...I always have to explain to people that Colombians come in all color, shapes, and sizes. I also have to explain about the dfferent terrains. I don't mind explaining when I know they are interested, but if they are just being ignorant because they just are, I don't waste my time.

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 22, 2008, 10:30:

I try to avoid them but they keep following me....

"We know all about your Colombia here in Finland" said an elderly aunt to me last time in Finland. "They talk about Colombia in the news, on TV. Theyre all murderers and terrorists and drugdealers and hookers there, so dont you come and tell us otherwise. We know."

I just walk away....
She follows me...

"Aren't you glad you have a nice, decent country here that you can always come back. Lucky for you to have escaped alive. Don't evevn think about ever going back. It's like winning on the lottery to have been born in Finland".

I walk away...
She follows me...

"At least that husband of yours is white ,well, a little brown but his features are European, and your kids could have been born here and nobody would have known...you're a lucky girl, Desi."

I walk away.

I have stopped visiting her...but I forgive her. It was just idle chatter, she is interpreting the little she has heard wit the brain capacity she has left...wasn't much to start with. I just can't keep on walking way and shutting up..

Ignorant, bigoted, racist people are everywhere.
Just walk away from them.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

MaFe says on Mar 22, 2008, 10:32:

Ah Desi, Dios mio, I am so sorry for all that ignorance..but so nice to see you handle it well!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

Lcacique says on Mar 22, 2008, 11:24:

When I was buying supplies to take to Colombia, a woman asked me "Why in the hell would you want to vacation in Africa?" I told her that I always wanted to see the Mayan Pyramids.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

adrimm says on Mar 22, 2008, 12:08:

While I can't speak to bigoted racists, I have to say that the ignorance is only fueled by what Hollywood and media show about "the rest of the world". If I didn't know better, I'd pretty much think that the only cars in Africa were UN trucks & vans, and that there were no cities on the entire continent.

durito says on Mar 22, 2008, 12:24:

I guess it's not just the US that's full of people that know nothing of geography, or other cultures (though we are really bad, 5 years into this terrible war and 85% of us can't find Iraq on a map)

msaucey says on Mar 22, 2008, 12:37:

Lcacique..."...Why in the hell would you want to vacation in Africa?" I told her that I always wanted to see the Mayan Pyramids...." classic! LMAO.... I'm going to have to remember that...

You guys are all much kinder then I am....

The little visibility there is of Colombia tends to be the issue, like adrimm mentioned, it's the perception portrayed in movies, that sticks to people's mind... they don't care to research anything that doesn't catch their attention and take anything in movies or television for face value...

Durito, I asked a High School student the other day, who the governor was and what the state capital is for California... They gave me a blank look, like I was on crack asking them such a question, just because they LIVE in California!...

argh... Stupid people should stop reproducing, it just makes things worse!

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

vicshere says on Mar 22, 2008, 12:44:

stupidity is contagious......don't follow stupid people and don't let stupid people follow you....walk away and let them think they are intelligent...that the biggest kick for me

listo

jorgegdiaz says on Mar 22, 2008, 13:14:

when living in TX I experienced some of these:
Q: Where are you from?
A: South America
Q: ...but this is the South of America, ain´t it?

Q: Why do you speak a different kind of mexican?

In an ESL class once a teacher asked me why I already knew implausible clauses (if/would/were).
Q: Do you´all have English teachers in Columbia? (yes, in Texas there is a seventh pronuon: You´all, that means yuo all...)

Q: Where is your accent from, are you russian?
A: I don´t have an Accent anymore, I have a Vw now...
Q: ...completely puzzled face....
... ( i had just exchanged my old Hyunday Accent for a Vw ! )


Cheers,

Man with hole in pocket feel cocky all day.

Lcacique says on Mar 22, 2008, 13:18:

Sure...outside of the Africa comment I always was asked if I was going there to party and do a bunch of blow. If not that, people warned me not to go because of the guerrilla violence (never the AUC violence). One lady claimed that Colombia has a large rodent the size of a small bear that often attacks and kills humans. I had a lot of people recommend Cancun, saying that it was a safe way to have the "latino experience" (whatever that means).

I did not go to Colombia as a tourist per se, nor did I go to hunt women or enjoy the illicit substances that people equate w/Colombia, I went to be surrounded by some of the most lovely people on earth: los colombianos. The only place I really wanted to visit was Valledupar and its surroundings because of my love for vallenato. I didn't get the chance. Nevertheless, my trip was far from a letdown, it was possibly the best experience of my life because it was close to a two month period spent in the company of an extremely warm and friendly culture that I sincerely love. I did some sight seeing, and it was nice...but my favorite memories are wrapped around simple moments spent with friends and strangers, in homes and on the streets, in the cities and in the pueblos...etc.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

Simon says on Mar 22, 2008, 13:20:

Colombia just brings out the ignoramus in a lot of people.

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

MaFe says on Mar 22, 2008, 13:22:

You know what's amazing? When I hear OTHER Colombians making up stories from their own country...In this case I don't walk away, I get even!

I mentiones this before, but when I lived in Europe, I ALWAYS heard all types of Europeans tell me how we had the best prostitutes, how easy Colombian women are!

I have also had central Americans ask me where Colombia is....which has me ask myself, "are people that stupid?"

I also had people ask me where in Europe is Colombia! OISH!!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

msaucey says on Mar 22, 2008, 13:45:

LOL... MaFe.... Seriously a scary world we live in..

Lcacique... Next time you go to Colombia, make sure to go in April for "La feria de Vallenatos" in Velledupar.... I'm crossing my fingers and hope to go next year.... I like Valledupar, first time I jumped off a cliff, I think I was 14 was in the river in Valledupar... pero, que maltido calor!

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

Lcacique says on Mar 22, 2008, 14:18:

msaucey: I have always wanted to go during the festival. Was the river that you jumped in the famous El Guatapurí?

"Cuando el Guatapurí se crece, al sentir mi pasion se calma (bis)

Es un rio que nace en la Nevada, que en todo el Cesar fuerte se siente

pero mi gran pasion la iguala el impetu de su torrente(bis)"

MaFe: How depressing!!!

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

msaucey says on Mar 22, 2008, 14:23:

Lcacique, I'm pretty sure you're like 99% correct that it is the Guatapuri... I don't remember, my uncle just said we were going to the river, and we said okay!

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 22, 2008, 14:30:

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

Desideria (Moderator) says on Mar 22, 2008, 14:31:

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

Lcacique says on Mar 22, 2008, 14:45:

yep...el Guatapurí! Thanks for the photos Desi!

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

El Polo says on Mar 22, 2008, 14:48:

"I like Valledupar, first time I jumped off a cliff, I think I was 14 was in the river in Valledupar... pero, que maltido calor"

Like this msaucey?

goin_south says on Mar 22, 2008, 15:12:

I don't think it's just ignorance about Colombia.
Most people just don't know alot about South America, as a whole.
Of course, where I live, they know 'Chavez', because this area is an 'oil field service-based' economy. And, everyone knows they use to smoke something from Colombia. Hummmh.. Peru? Mayans/Incans. Argentina? Chile? Trout fishing. Brazil? Festival and Pele/ Soccer.

I'd say 75% of North Americans don't know much more about South America.
Hell... as a kid growing up... Marlin Perkins and the Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom WAS all about Africa mostly.. and the 'other side' of the world... No One ever said much about South America.

and, thank you.

Lcacique says on Mar 22, 2008, 15:36:

Mayans = Mexico/Central America, not Peru. Sorry, g_s...don't know if you were saying that they were from Peru or not.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

goin_south says on Mar 22, 2008, 16:15:

okay. si. I've been studying Colombia for three years plus, and even I don't know some basics.. about S.A.... was the 'Incan' part correct?

and, thank you.

Lcacique says on Mar 22, 2008, 16:29:

Absolutely! The Incan empire barely stretched into Colombia to the North, ran through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and western Argentina. Their origins were Peru.

The Mayans were primarily southern Mexico and Northern Central America (i.e. Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, etc.)

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

bickerss says on Mar 23, 2008, 00:10:

ahh - but what about those Colombians who seem to think that I like to ski cause Australia (Austria??) is covered in snow!!!!!!

Lcacique says on Mar 23, 2008, 10:54:

bickerss: that is valid point. I have to admit that my knowledge (outside of knowledge about music in Aus/NZ, Australian Rules Football, wine in a can, vegemite) is quite limited. Austria, forget about it. It has mountains, that silly singing family was from there, Arnold is from there, uhhh...

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

Monpirri says on Mar 23, 2008, 16:42:

Talking about Austria, three things I remember about Austria.
Classical music/Opera House, Swarovski figures and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Lcacique, you mean the singing family from the movie "The Sound of Music" Oh, what a great movie.

The Sound of Music Tour - movie locations

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Lcacique says on Mar 23, 2008, 20:03:

Yes monpirri, that is exactly who I was speaking about...lol. I can't believe you found it online.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

Monpirri says on Mar 24, 2008, 20:16:

It's was very easy, Do-re-me…

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008