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Friends And Neighbors In Colombia

A report by Human Development of Valle De Cauca in association with a development program of the United Nations called Pnud shows that in cases where an individual experienced a need for help in the case of some unforeseen event or emergency 74% said they felt they could count on family to help them out, 9.8% on neighbors and a whopping 4.4% said they could count on friends.

http://www.elpais.com.co/paisonline/notas/Agosto182008/homuci.html

By Atrevido on Aug 18, 2008, 06:29 in Friendly Talkzone.

Bill Turley (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 18, 2008, 06:51:

All I can say is when I have had problems and in need of help, Car probelms for example. I have had unsolicited offers of assistance in minutes not even 10 minutes. I have been without a car several times while the car was in the garage. Every time this extends into the second day people drop by to see if we need anything. My little dog was having pooh problems and howled in a very different way. People came to see what the problem was and to offer help. Linseed oil was the solution and administered with a neighbor's assistance.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

1 funny, 1 helpful.

sanandressi says on Aug 18, 2008, 07:25:

Bill,

You live in a small town right? People in small towns generally take care of each other. They also know what you are doing before you have thought of it LOL.

I think this is true throughout the world. Life is slower in smaller towns and people are not in that big rush. It is a better way of life in many ways me thinks.

"This train will stop in Tucumcari"

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webmanco says on Aug 18, 2008, 08:13:

Pueblo chiquito infierno grande

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Sam Salmon says on Aug 18, 2008, 10:32:

Another angle to remember is that in a poor place your friends are in as tight a situation as you are-asking them for help you know they can't give isn't a civilised way to maintain that friendship.

' a la orden!'

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Mononoke28 says on Aug 18, 2008, 13:17:

I've seen that in Medellín as well, but they always end up waiting for you to return the favor.

Diana

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Atrevido (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 18, 2008, 15:01:

The article mentions some small towns as well where trust of the neighbors is at very low levels:

"Entre tanto, la confianza hacia los vecinos también es muy baja, especialmente en varios municipios del norte del departamento, donde los niveles de violencia han sido altos, tales como Ulloa, Trujillo, Argelia, El Dovio, Tuluá y Andalucía".

I have personal experience with Trujillo and would certainly agree with it´s inclusion above.

Worth high lighting this too:

"Según el análisis, Cali es la única ciudad del país que presenta disminución del promedio en "solidaridad y mutualidad�? debido, en parte, al aumento del “oportunismo�? y a la disminución de la “reciprocidad.�?.

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Bill Turley (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 18, 2008, 19:50:

The visitors who came for the meet up in Somondoco felt the friendly nature of the people here

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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