ElViajero has left 34 comments

ElViajero comments on american looking to live in medellin

Jmbone, I can help you with your translations. I am from Medellin, but living abroad and I like to promote also my country, and of course, my city, Thank you for your interest in it. You can send me an email (albeiror24 at gmail.com)
El Viajero Paisa.

ElViajero comments on

It depends of course of many things and circumstances, pow wow! Political meetings are just not important for us: they all mean the same: long and unmeaningful speeches and... no one wants to come at time for a political meeting, please pow wow! Wives around the world do not care about money... that is the husband's job, actually. Well, try to come late to a Colombian school or in a Colombian factory and you will see what happens! Come late to a Colombian bank or come late to an appoitment with a Colombian boss... you will see how British Colombians can be. The rule is this: do not be the first to come to a parranda, fiesta, party... try to come as late as you can, that means good manners. Colombian girlfriends ALWAYS come late (normally 15 to 30 minutes later and... please, do not tell her she is late or you are going to have a big and real problem). In La Costa, please do not get appoitments between 12:00 and 15:00.

(The Return of the Paisa Traveler)

ElViajero comments on algunos consejos...

Apreciado elefecuté, te escribo desde bien lejos de Colombia y te envidio. A mí me quedan como dos años más lejos del terruño y ya quisiera estar yo en ese viaje tuyo. Pues hermano, el mejor consejo es que disfrutés el país con todo lo que ello es. Que las precauciones que debés tener en Colombia son exactamente las mismas que debés tener en París, Roma, Nueva York o Tokio. En Londres no te meterías a callejones de mala muerte a media noche ni te la pasarías en antros o cosas por el estilo. Pues en Colombia debés utilizar el mismo sentido común que en cualquier parte. Que la malicia indígena no se pierde, así esté en reposo por algunos años en nuestra vida de expatriados. Ya verás que ella en cuanto entrés en el añorado, amado y puro espacio aéreo de la "patria de los tres mares", la Colombia tropical, la mejor esquina de América, la Tierra del Dorado, la Macondo ancestral, te regresa como boomerang. No te hagás el remilgado, el gringo o el no me toqués, que eso es condenar tu estadía a la aburrición. Disfrutá Colombia con toda su música, su parranda, su baile, su gente amable, su sencillez, su manera de ver la vida tan descomplicada... disfrutá que eso es lo mejor que te pueda pasar: ir a la tierra más maravillosa del planeta. ¡Pa qué más ole!

El regreso del Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on An open letter to the Gringo haters on this forum

Buzbeech (or beautiful gringo)… I think much Colombians have nothing against gringos (the word used in a good way). Crime is anywhere in the world (this days a cousin of a friend was killed in Sweden, a country supposed to be safe). Surely our history and politics can be a strong point of view that place your country in a bad feeling in many ways, but that does not mean that the common citizen must be seen in a bad way. I have many friends coming from Gringolandia and I consider they are good people. Jokes are normal as well. Surely nobody hates you because “you are Beautiful”… in a beautiful country with so much beautiful people, beautiful gringos are welcome. Colombians joke a lot of, so, don’t do the gringo and try to understand.

But you touch a real interesting point: . I consider that is in many cases real. It can be understood from Colombians that unfortunately had to leave the country because violence and we can say nothing in that sad case. But it is also real that in many cases Colombians abroad make a lot of preventions to foreigners coming into Colombia giving the impression our country is in fact a very dangerous place to visit. Surely it is necessary to prevent visitors to Colombia, but it is also important not to exaggerate.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on Colombians, you can not visit Jordan!

Andres_despentes, normally I avoid to defend my country just pointing out the same defects in others. I use to do that only when I see that others have just the bad intention to run down our country easily. Knowing many foreigners, it is easy to make a distinction between those who do not know Colombia and have the idea they get from international mass media and those who have been in Colombia. I have learnt many answers to bad commentaries on Colombia. Here some… maybe you know more.

-So… you are Colombia, maybe you have coca, eh?
R/ so sorry sir, if you like it, you got the wrong person.

-Is it true everyone in Colombia has a gun?
R/I really don’t know about it. Sure neither myself nor my family. But I know that all the people that use them, normally buy it in countries like… yours.

-It is well known the Colombian politic is the most corrupt of the world.
R/ I don’t believe so much in politicians, but I am sure your politicians are not better than the ones of my country.

-Terrible the statistics about Colombian street children…
R/ Sure, but also we use to be happy about all those institutions and people working on this reality in my country… didn’t you know about them?

-Yes, Colombia, the most violent country of the world.
R/ Yes, we got that world investigation. If you are so well inform about Colombia, maybe you know all about our fights for peace, justice and development as well. But just tell me about your country… is it a kind of heaven?

Well, sure, they are just point start of further discussions. What would you answer, being you Colombian or a friend or Colombian?

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on what is a paisa?

Sure Martin, it is not my intention to give the Word of GOD. I really do not pretend it and I do not see others as they are students in an university room. I really like good discussions and to be challenged by ideas, proposals, knowledge… I hope it is not disturbing for my friends in this great group.

Nada como una buena discusión con un buen amigo, tomando un buen tintico.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on teaching english in colombia

I have learnt English in Limerick, Ireland, where no body could speak Spanish around. The teachers never used any Spanish word to make me understand. Surely, in the beginning I was so confused, but I could leant quickly just because my Colombian desire to say something funny in English to my unforgettable Irish friends. So, I think there is not need to know Spanish for teach English to Colombians. Nice for you to learn Spanish, and please do it, but do not worry.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on Colombian Muslims

You can visit so Maicao. There there is the biggest mosque in Latin America, though the Colombian Muslims are a real minority. There you can find Muslim women and men wearing Arab Muslim clothing.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on teaching english in colombia

Marcitos, I think it is a good idea to learn English from someone unable to speak Spanish. It is a real challenge for you and make you to think in English soon.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on what is a paisa?

Ehhhhhh! Pues parece que nos excedimos, home. Mmmm my friends, “…The theory that Paisas have a Jewish origin…” is just that: a theory, as it is written down. Actually it is very important to continue our studies about the origin of the Colombian people. Main reason: to build our identity and national unity. History and ethnography are very important matters in that intention, but also can be a little dangerous if it is not conducted well. Paisas (and I am referring to the original meaning of it, so antioquenos, quyabros, manizalitas, pereiranos) belong first to the Colombian nation and have as every single Colombian from Leticia to Riohacha, from Pasto to San Andres, the mestizaje. Simon Bolivar said it in his Speech of Angostura: we are not Africans, we are not Europeans (I can add now we are not Jews), but we are Americans (again, in the original meaning of “American”: a person from the American continent), though we have from African and Europeans some thing.

Listo hermano,

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on My last post.

Colombia to love

So beautiful is the life with dark and light. The most beautiful poems were written in moments of solitudes by romantic hearts that were cast down in no way streets. “!Juego mi vida! !Bien poco valía! ¡La llevo perdida sin remedio!” said the taciturn Leon de Greiff citing Erik Fjordsson. It was I, the man of the far boarders that read this lines in a corner of the Mediterranean sea, with a book of Porfirio Barbajacob, and cried out a “Yo tuve ya un dolor tan íntimo y tan fiero, de tan cruel dominio y trágica opresión, que a tientas, en las ráfagas de su huracán postrero, fui hasta la Muerte... Un alba se hizo en mi corazón.” Do not let Colombia, the country of your love… love is not a long spring … and this is the best of it: love is a succession of time, weeks of romantic songs, months of tedium, years of passion and a century of happiness and I… “No me canso de andar por tus collados,de recorrer tu cuerpo y tus colinas, de sembrar en tu tierra desgarrada por mi pecho de espadas y de espinas” like says Carlos Castro Saavedra.

How to let a country of fantasies, dreams and nightmares, where illusion walks the streets and love can appear in smiling faces in cities of mythical names. I say with Jose Asuncion Silva “la intensa voz de ternura que vibra en el alma amante como entre la noche oscura una campana distante, saca recuerdos perdidos de angustias y desengaños que tienen ocultos nidos en las ruinas de los años”.

I do not want to lose this opportunity, to love in Colombia and feel the rains of verses in the Andinian horizonts. It was Dario Jaramillo from an empty room murmuring “Poseso por una resonancia, el eco armonioso de un lugar sin ruidos, bañado por la luz amarilla de la luna llena: una roca de grafito refleja sus destellos y ella se mira en este espejo sin nubes por testigo. Poseso por una resonancia, alguien dentro de mi aparece y me transforma, una risa de otro que recoge la luz preferida por la luna. Puedo oír el eco del silencio absoluto, Es el sonido de la sombra de la hierba Iluminada por el metal de esta luna precisa. Poseso por una resonancia, El tiempo transcurre en varios ritmos, pero no hay pasado en este cuento, alguien que soy yo, dentro de mi aparece y me dicta cosas que ignoro.
Y obedezco”.

She could not keep her promise to say nothing and looking with despair the book of Beatriz Rivera, recited for me her “Amigo, mi amigo:
Déjame seguir siendo este silencio que se viste de risa en las mañanas, cuando el sol, como un regalo luminoso y cálido me derrite la vida de alegría. Déjame que yo siga persiguiendo respuestas y esculcando en mi alma para hallar mis estrellas, para saber cuanto de luna o de lucero tengo o si soy, simplemente, una nada que sueña.”

El Viajero Paisa
http://albeiro-rodas.tripod.com

ElViajero comments on what is a paisa?

You ask about the “Paisa race” (La raza paisa), so here some reflections, but it is not an easy discussion as well. First I want to make an clarification, second some historical facts and I will finish with a big discussion that has been present along the Colombian Republic history and comes and goes from time to time.

First the clarification: Normally “Paisas” refers themselves as a “race”. It must be understood in a cultural identity background and not literally as it means. There are only three races (white, black and yellow…). If “Paisa” were a race, so then “Costeños”, “Vallunos”, “Boyacenses”.

Second, some historical facts about the race conformation of the “Paisas”: in the pre-Hispanic time. Antioquia and Eje Cafetero was inhabited by Catios, Nutabes and Tahamies, among other minor groups. They belonged to the Caribbean linguistic group. They were so strong and proud of their people, that many preferred to commit suicide than become slaves of the European invaders. Their presence still in the region either as pure groups as mixed in our identity. Their names and mythology are an important part of what is a Paisa today. The colonization of the region was conducted from Santiago de Cali following down the Cauca River. It was delayed for a long time because the mountains were so high and difficult that the Spaniards were not so much glad to take the territory. The perspective of get gold, of course, moved their heart to begin the enterprise. The first Spaniards who got into the region were preferable from Extremadura were there are cities and villages like “Medellin, Caceres, Trujillo”. Extremadura, in the West of Spain, is a region so much influence by the Portuguese proximity, so many surnames and names are usually from this other Iberian country. They were so much involved in the Crusades and it marked their strong character to go always looking legendary battles against the “unfaithful”. Established a colony in the region with the mysterious name of “Antioquia”, the province was linked first to the progressive Santiago de Cali and after to Cartagena de Indias. The first economical activity was mine and cattle raising. For this reason the first Africans came to the region. The ones who were brought into what is Antioquia and Eje Cafetero today were from the center of Africa, especially Congo. Very humble people, great warriors, a nation of artists, with a rich natural religiosity that mixed very well in the Indios and Extremadura cultural backgrounds. But slavery in the Paisa region wasn’t successfully. It is well documented that the Spaniards in the region considered that it was more economical to pay a worker that to have a slave. This fact isn’t mention in the history of slavery, but it is necessary to study more in profundity because it’s so much important not only in Colombian but in all American history. Something really strange, while in other places slaves were considered just necessary, in this part of the Spanish Empire were held as workers. African were located of course near the mines, and it is the main reason the modern Paisas from the more mountainous parts are preferable white and those near the ancient mines (like Bajo Cauca, Magdalena Medio) are preferable black or dark. But most of the Africans, after they gained their real freedom, settled the forest in the Atrato region (today Chocó), while the mountains were preferred by the whites, especially the places that after would become the Zona Cafetera. This natural distribution was even stronger after the 17th Century: to Cartagena de Indias came a big group of migrants from Andalucia (Spain) looking so late the myth of El Dorado in America. The proud Cartagena authorities did not see these new comers with happiness and willing to get rid of them, send them to the most unimportant region of Nueva Granada: Antioquia, a mountainous and forgotten place. They came and settled the ranges mixing soon with the other population.

To finish I want to mention a famous historical discussion: The theory that Paisas have a Jewish origin. Nothing has been real proven about this theory, although scholars (locals and foreigners), have spent time in it. Some elements are usually argued to “demonstrate”: The natural vocation for business. The deep Catholic religiosity that is explained in the fact that the Spaniards that came were neo-converted from Judaism to Catholicism, so to keep away from Inquisition (Actos de Fe), they showed a strong Catholic loyalty. The great proliferation of Old Testament names (Efrain, David, Lillia, Estella, Ester, Ruth, Abraham, Israel, Porfirio…) and Jewish surnames. The strong love for their land (regionalismo paisa). Their normal exaggeration so similar to that of the Jews people. Some names of Paisa cities and villages are like the ones of Holy Land (Jericó, Alejandría, Armenia, Betania, Filadelfia, Palestina, Salamina). Even they say some traditions like big families, the use to go Mass Saturday night in stead of Sunday morning, the presence of two kitchens and some country houses, and so forth, that can be relative elements. Some intellectual Paisas have contributed to this myth of the Jew: Miguel Angel Osorio, the poet, preferred the pseudonym Porfirio Barbajacob (a Jew one) and argued all his life that Paisas were Jews. The Caleño author of “La María”, Jorge Isaac (he was a real Colombian Jew), decided that after his dead, his body must rest in “La sefardita de America” referring to Medellín (Sefardita means the Spaniards Jews). Today the Spaniard Jews in Israel are known by that name (Sefarditas, Sephardits in English) coming from the Hebrew pronunciation of Spain. This myth of the Jew has been used time to time, especially in national political fights. A clarification: the Colombian Jewish communities (around 14.000 Colombian Jews) are situated in Bogotá, Medellín and Cali and they are not Sephardit themselves, but descendants from the German Jews that fled the II World War.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on what is a paisa?

Paisa race You ask about the “Paisa race” (La raza paisa), so here some reflections, but it is not an easy discussion as well. First I want to make an clarification, second some historical facts and I will finish with a big discussion that has been present along the Colombian Republic history and comes and goes from time to time.

First the clarification: Normally “Paisas” refers themselves as a “race”. It must be understood in a cultural identity background and not literally as it means. There are only three races (white, black and yellow…). If “Paisa” were a race, so then “Costeños”, “Vallunos”, “Boyacenses”.

Second, some historical facts about the race conformation of the “Paisas”: in the pre-Hispanic time. Antioquia and Eje Cafetero was inhabited by Catios, Nutabes and Tahamies, among other minor groups. They belonged to the Caribbean linguistic group. They were so strong and proud of their people, that many preferred to commit suicide than become slaves of the European invaders. Their presence still in the region either as pure groups as mixed in our identity. Their names and mythology are an important part of what is a Paisa today. The colonization of the region was conducted from Santiago de Cali following down the Cauca River. It was delayed for a long time because the mountains were so high and difficult that the Spaniards were not so much glad to take the territory. The perspective of get gold, of course, moved their heart to begin the enterprise. The first Spaniards who got into the region were preferable from Extremadura were there are cities and villages like “Medellin, Caceres, Trujillo”. Extremadura, in the West of Spain, is a region so much influence by the Portuguese proximity, so many surnames and names are usually from this other Iberian country. They were so much involved in the Crusades and it marked their strong character to go always looking legendary battles against the “unfaithful”. Established a colony in the region with the mysterious name of “Antioquia”, the province was linked first to the progressive Santiago de Cali and after to Cartagena de Indias. The first economical activity was mine and cattle raising. For this reason the first Africans came to the region. The ones who were brought into what is Antioquia and Eje Cafetero today were from the center of Africa, especially Congo. Very humble people, great warriors, a nation of artists, with a rich natural religiosity that mixed very well in the Indios and Extremadura cultural backgrounds. But slavery in the Paisa region wasn’t successfully. It is well documented that the Spaniards in the region considered that it was more economical to pay a worker that to have a slave. This fact isn’t mention in the history of slavery, but it is necessary to study more in profundity because it’s so much important not only in Colombian but in all American history. Something really strange, while in other places slaves were considered just necessary, in this part of the Spanish Empire were held as workers. African were located of course near the mines, and it is the main reason the modern Paisas from the more mountainous parts are preferable white and those near the ancient mines (like Bajo Cauca, Magdalena Medio) are preferable black or dark. But most of the Africans, after they gained their real freedom, settled the forest in the Atrato region (today Chocó), while the mountains were preferred by the whites, especially the places that after would become the Zona Cafetera. This natural distribution was even stronger after the 17th Century: to Cartagena de Indias came a big group of migrants from Andalucia (Spain) looking so late the myth of El Dorado in America. The proud Cartagena authorities did not see these new comers with happiness and willing to get rid of them, send them to the most unimportant region of Nueva Granada: Antioquia, a mountainous and forgotten place. They came and settled the ranges mixing soon with the other population.

To finish I want to mention a famous historical discussion: The theory that Paisas have a Jewish origin. Nothing has been real proven about this theory, although scholars (locals and foreigners), have spent time in it. Some elements are usually argued to “demonstrate”: The natural vocation for business. The deep Catholic religiosity that is explained in the fact that the Spaniards that came were neo-converted from Judaism to Catholicism, so to keep away from Inquisition (Actos de Fe), they showed a strong Catholic loyalty. The great proliferation of Old Testament names (Efrain, David, Lillia, Estella, Ester, Ruth, Abraham, Israel, Porfirio…) and Jewish surnames. The strong love for their land (regionalismo paisa). Their normal exaggeration so similar to that of the Jews people. Some names of Paisa cities and villages are like the ones of Holy Land (Jericó, Alejandría, Armenia, Betania, Filadelfia, Palestina, Salamina). Even they say some traditions like big families, the use to go Mass Saturday night in stead of Sunday morning, the presence of two kitchens and some country houses, and so forth, that can be relative elements. Some intellectual Paisas have contributed to this myth of the Jew: Miguel Angel Osorio, the poet, preferred the pseudonym Porfirio Barbajacob (a Jew one) and argued all his life that Paisas were Jews. The Caleño author of “La María”, Jorge Isaac (he was a real Colombian Jew), decided that after his dead, his body must rest in “La sefardita de America” referring to Medellín (Sefardita means the Spaniards Jews). Today the Spaniard Jews in Israel are known by that name (Sefarditas, Sephardits in English) coming from the Hebrew pronunciation of Spain. This myth of the Jew has been used time to time, especially in national political fights. A clarification: the Colombian Jewish communities (around 14.000 Colombian Jews) are situated in Bogotá, Medellín and Cali and they are not Sephardit themselves, but descendants from the German Jews that fled the II World War.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on Would you go back to live in Colombia?

Of course, I would like to live again in my Promised Land Yes, of course. I love to know countries and people, cultures and ways of life. I have studied so much about history and geography of much countries in every continent. I have seen much cities, regions and places. It was my dream when I was a little boy in Medellin. But sure, every single day of my life I dream with my Colombia. Every day I read about Colombia, I get the Colombian radio and TV in Internet, I Chat with my friends in different Colombian cities. My room here in Jerusalem is a Colombian small place. When I meet a Colombian for me is like a relative. Sometimes I am angry with all our conflicts, but it is because I love that “Promised Life”. I said like the Psalm about Jerusalem: “If I forget thee, O Colombia, let my right hand forget her cunning” (Psalm 137: 5).

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on Which Latin American countries ask visa to Colombians

Hey boys, thank your for your comments: I just asked for a small travel by land to Latin America and I got your interesting views on Colombian women. Colombians need visas almost everywhere in this planet: we are a very “suspected” specimen, unfortunately… I remember my travel to Bangkok… a very elegant and smiling young man like me waiting behind a group of rude American teenagers that even laughed on the face of the Thai police guys. The teenagers went ahead immediately and for the elegant Colombian young man was pointed a “special” line, line number ONE… Kindly I went and I read “HIGH CONTROL” hehehe.. I was in line with citizens of Muslim and African countries… Colombians don`t need visa to Israel (three months), at least you cannot pass the “kind” interview of the “kind” Tel Aviv police guys first. If you have in your passport visas to other countries, especially Europeans, it is easier to get an USA visa in any other third country. I think single young people in Colombia have more problems to get visas to USA. Easy for us visas to Malta… hehehe… nice place for summer (no recommended for English studies… they don’t speak English like the tourist agencies say to Colombian young students in Bogota, but the beautiful Maltese language (half Arab, Third Italian, Third English…) Easy visas to the beautiful and welcoming Ireland… even now that Irish have to get visas to Colombia.. you know why. Spain… well… “La Madre Patria” (sure “Defensor de la colombianidad” shall not like this expression)… no much problem to go into Spain even after E.C. OBBLIGATED to Spain and Italy to ask visas to their always welcome Colombian visitors. Maybe you don’t believe but there was a time where Colombians could go around the world without visa: since 1820 (less the Kingdom of Spain for a small international problem with it, of course) until the 60’s approximately… after that… we could go without visa around Mars (that is twice the size of the Earth)… the problem is that you need visa to USA to get the plain there… hehehe.

About Colombian women… just this: an Arab boy told me that he would like to have a Colombian girl as a wife. I answered: Sure guy! There are plenty Colombian girls keen to married an Arab man… only you need to know who is the chief at home (An Arab male does not believe it… hehehe)

Well, friends, going back to Latin America… how is it possible to travel for example from Cartagena to Panama? Is it possible? I think we Colombians do not know our own region… I mean, we know about our neighbors what EFE and other agencies tell us… I have proved it here, when Europeans and Asians ask me for my neighbors… only I can say general things and “ideas”. The same the other Latin American countries have superficial ideas about Colombia. If we do an inquiry to Colombians about, for example, who is the President of El Salvador, surely… 0% I make joke of a friend of mine (Rep. Dominicana) that has been in Europe almost everywhere, but never has been in the AMERICAN CONTINENT… I said… sorry guy, you cant say you’re “American”… The only thing he knew about Colombia was Vallenato and Carlos Vives… Shakira and Pibe Valderrama…

El Viajero Paisa
Now trying to know Latin America…

ElViajero comments on Colombian culture what surprises you what do you love and hate about it

Spigrimace, you are completely right in that… surely many Colombians share that same opinion. Oldgringo says right also: it is a long time inherited brought from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in 1492. I think family is an excellent value we need to keep in Colombia. Social problems in our country, especially things like urban violence in the poor quarters of the big cities, have just the origin in the fragmentation of families. See for example that expression of the classic “sicario” boy saying “la cucha es la cucha, papa puede ser cualquier h.p.” Peace and progress in Colombia have to start not only protecting that natural value of togetherness of the Colombian families, but promoting and developing it as well. Our identity has to see very much with our rural origins. The 70% of the population living in urban areas does not mean that Colombians have already a complete culture of the metropolis. Our cities are actually very young in comparison: their boom started just in the 30’s (last century). The majority of the inhabitants of our cities are people coming right from the countryside, so just the new generations are the firsts really been born in cities, but their parents and grand parents are or were campesinos. For this reason the regionalism is so much strong, where in every city of region people think they are the centre of the country or even the world. Flirting is a deep part of a Colombian male. Surely, only speechless guys don’t do that in Colombia, but in stead they use other things. A friend of mine, a beautiful lady from Ireland, can not forget her stay in Cartagena: she went to buy something and the man of the store said: “Mamacita, para usted lo que sea”… That never happen in Dublin.

ElViajero comments on I want to live in Colombia - Any advice

The following are some fragments of the Article 96 and 100 of the Constitucion Nacional de Colombia that can be interested for you:

ARTICULO 96. Son nacionales colombianos:
1. Por nacimiento:
a) Los naturales de Colombia, que con una de dos condiciones: que el padre o la madre hayan sido naturales o nacionales colombianos o que, siendo hijos de extranjeros, alguno de sus padres estuviere domiciliado en la República en el momento del nacimiento y;
b) Los hijos de padre o madre colombianos que hubieren nacido en tierra extranjera y fuego se domiciliaren en territorio colombiano o registraren en una oficina consular de la República.
2. Por adopción:
a) Los extranjeros que soliciten y obtengan carta de naturalizaci6n, de acuerdo con la ley, la cual establecerá los casos en los cuales se pierde la nacionalidad colombiana por adopción;
B) LOS LATINOAMERICANOS Y DEL CARIBE POR NACIMIENTO DOMICILIADOS EN COLOMBIA, QUE CON AUTORIZACIÓN DEL GOBIERNO Y DE ACUERDO CON LA LEY Y EL PRINCIPIO DE RECIPROCIDAD, PIDAN SER INSCRITOS COMO COLOMBIANOS ANTE LA MUNICIPALIDAD DONDE SE ESTABLECIEREN, Y;
c) Los miembros de los pueblos indígenas que comparten territorios fronterizos, con aplicación del principio de reciprocidad según tratados públicos.
Ningún colombiano por nacimiento podrá ser privado de su nacionalidad. La calidad de nacional colombiano no se pierde por el hecho de adquirir otra nacionalidad. Los nacionales por adopci6n no estarán obligados a renunciar a su nacionalidad de origen o adopción.
Quienes hayan renunciado a la nacionalidad colombiana podrán recobrarla con arreglo a la ley.
* Artículo modificado por Acto Legislativo 1/2002.
ARTICULO 97. El colombiano, aunque haya renunciado a la calidad de nacional, que actúe contra los intereses del país en guerra exterior contra Colombia, será juzgado y penado como traidor.
Los colombianos por adopción y los extranjeros domiciliados en Colombia, no podrán ser obligados a tomar las armas contra su país de origen; tampoco lo serán los colombianos nacionalizados en país extranjero, contra el país de su nueva nacionalidad.

ARTICULO 100. Los extranjeros disfrutarán en Colombia de los mismos derechos civiles que se conceden a los colombianos. No obstante, la ley podrá, por razones de orden público, subordinar a condiciones especiales o negar el ejercicio de determinados derechos civiles a los extranjeros.
Así mismo, los extranjeros gozarán, en el territorio de la República, de las garantías concedidas a los nacionales, salvo las limitaciones que establezcan la Constitución o la ley.
Los derechos políticos se reservan a los nacionales, pero la ley podrá conceder a los extranjeros residentes en Colombia el derecho al voto en las elecciones y consultas populares de carácter municipal o distrital.

You can have the full text in http://www.georgetown.edu/pdba/Constitutions/Colombia/col91.html
With the text also in English… Our Constitution is one of the largest constitution in the world. I good subject for a post…

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on I want to live in Colombia - Any advice

Jimmy, thank you very much for that love for our country (surely your country). Bolivia for us is a great country, near to our origins as well, a “bolivariano” country, so our brother. I am really surprise that many foreigner, especially in Europe, with a little knowledge of our South American geography, use to confuse Colombia with Bolivia, and it is just because the name: Colombia reminds Bolivar, our common Libertador, than Venezuela. We wish one day to our Latin American countries a best future and a common progress.

I confess it is really surprising that a man living in a First World country has the desire to move to a country like Colombia. Many young Colombians would like to move to countries like Canada looking a best life. I myself am studying abroad, and sure, I would like to live in my dear own country, but I need first to finish studies, to work and to have the enough to be able to have good conditions to have a family, a house and so forth to be really happy. Surely you can get that in Colombia, working hard and with constancy, but for a young Colombian today to study or work abroad is a good opportunity. But I really tell you, the most important is your happiness. If you are a person of good and courage, and you have really love for people and the country, you can be very happy in our country as there are many Colombians living there as well. A good country can not be measured for its incomes, but for the happiness of its people and for the hope they have in their hearts to do a best future. None of the rich countries of our time have been made rich since ever: they were created by courageously people, who have believed that everything was possible with work and constancy. We need that for our Colombia as well: people who believe in Colombia and is ready to work for it, being inside or outside the country.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on Meet Manuel Elkin Patarroyo, the colombian who created the world's first safe and effective malaria vaccine

Manuel Elkin Patarroyo is a genius, not only for his excellent scientist work, but especially for his really love for humanity. A man with this heart is a very good model not only for us, Colombians and Colombian friends, but for the Humanity. Good for all those men and women that work quietly doing good for the world. We can see then that the bad boys have more publicity in the Mass Media and, sure, bad boys are looking for that. Congratulations Manuel Elkin Patarroyo.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on What is the Colombian opinion of Bush?

Well… few words to say from a Colombian living in Jerusalem… about Bush…

He is a very famous man, well known in the Middle East… in South America… in the Far East… and so forth…

But being pragmatic, the real question is what Bush thinks about Colombia. Actually Colombians should not be interested in who is sitting in the WH… this is a USA’s problem. The problem is what about our own country. That is the same position WH thinks about the rest of the world. I am sure that if Sadam H. had been “kind” to Bush, he would be now his best friend and his long history of dictatorship in Iraq would be no matter for Bush. The same, applying the same: if Bush is so kind to Colombia… That is politic. Bush: a politician as any other around the world… the difference is that he is the president of USA and not the one of Malta. As Malta has so little influence in Bogota, so… Bush is most important to us, no his name, but his politics toward us. But Bush is not USA, anyway, and I am convinced that behind every president there is a great bank. Kerry… ho… a contradictory man: no to the dead penalty, yap to abortion… Religion is a private matter… mejor un hombre consecuente…

El Viajero Paisa
(160 words this time…)

ElViajero comments on This is a great site!

Well Steve... welcome to town... prepare to enjoy Colombia... so beautiful, so kind and other things... welcome, benvenu... what for start? tinto, aguardiente, ron, chicha, guarapo or just a soft drink?

Sientase como en casa,

El Viajero Paisa
(26 words only)

ElViajero comments on THE COLOMBIAN ROLE

Raleigh1590… I do believe in the Colombian system of education… Literacy in Colombia is up 90%, and that is excellent. But there is a unbalance… so much professionals, few jobs for them… so much young people that think that only university gives the key to happiness, less technicians. More affluences to the cities, the countryside becoming a war camp or a “finca de veraneo”. A countryside boy has little opportunities to a good education, so he must go to the big cities.

(El Viajero hablador keeping his promise to be un hombre de pocos palabras)

ElViajero comments on THE COLOMBIAN ROLE

Okis friends… sure… I promise I shall be shorter in my posts…

1. I am not against globalization: enemies of globalization seem to me as the feudal of the Middle Age against the new class of the cities. I belong entirely to this century. Globalization, being born in an economic context and with early beginnings since the discover of America, has a lot of benefits for humanity. The last Tsunami in the Indian sea was in 1883 caused by the Krakatoa volcano… In that time the world was less concern about the victims as today we are, thanks to our modern globalization. This discussion, for example, can be only because we have Internet, though we all are far away in the planet.
2. Of course, if I have not intentions to “demonizar” globalization (I use the Spanish term because I don’t know the correct term in English), I haven’t also the intention to say that it is the right ideal of our planet, since it has its great limits: for example, there is more poverty in the planet today than before (maybe I am wrong). To which kind of globalization we must address our entire human community? That’s the ethical question.
3. I did not point out USA as the author or first responsible of globalization… not I have mention “interventionism” or “imperialism” with these… that is a tinto for other hall. Colombia, New Zeland, Malta and, of course, USA, have big responsibility of which world we want to have.
4. Solidarity… it is the idea… in the logic of globalization (no intervention), we can globalize solidarity. Sure… tourism to Colombia, very welcome… the tourism itself is a good hand to a country. In the Colombia case, it is a good way to say “I believe in you, Colombia.” Good also the inversion in it, and the good courage to all those small Colombian business people, for example. Support to all those artists, to sport, to the Colombian industry… and solidarity, of course. No paternalism. The affluence of tourism gives an idea of how is the situation in a country… I think few Colombian tourists would go now to visit Baghdad, even free.
5. The role of Colombia is also our responsibility. I call the attention on the deep causes of what Colombia is today for the World. “Nada del hombre me es ajeno”, said the philosopher. What happen today in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka… is my concern also. Remember that according with the scientist, the earthquake in the Malaysia plateau was so strong that has made vibrate the rotation of our entire planet (we didn’t feel that, but all of us, from Iceland to Islas Malvinas, were vibrating in the space, as a bell). Just to say that all of us are connected and we can not be indifferent of what happen to others.

I stop here… sorry… we Colombians talk a lot…

ElViajero comments on THE COLOMBIAN ROLE

Really I have not mentioned USA in the post as the responsable for nothing... "Clearly the rules are those of the economic power, upper politics and good intentions. Even flags are less meaningful before the power of money." So globalitations does not mean the control of any especial government. Really sorry if it was understood like that. Beside all the international critic on USA, its foreign politic and in particulary the Bush´s government, I prefer not to give opinions, because politic is a difficult subject to put in words and lest here. In the other side, deffending Colombia, I ask the same treat for any country and I know a lof of Americans near the suffering of people around the world, so it would not be sincere for me to speak bad about a country where I have a lot of good friends, sensitive people to the world. Globalizations is not a country, but any country today... Colombia itself participes of that logic... It is true, the article was very long and could make this confusion. I am sorry again. The main idea is about solidarity, no politic and I don't discuss about politic.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on Colombian Spanish

Okay Constancia… you talk about Colombianismos… we have a lot of. But about Colombianismos it is good to know what they mean for a culture. Colombianismos are kind, romantic and tender. Of course, I am talking of good Colombianismos, because there are a lot of for insult somebody, for erotic and other functions. We Colombians are very creative in make Colombianismos. It is a reality from Leticia to San Andres. Colombians exaggerate so much in the language: I think around three billion times in proportion to any other Spanish speaker nation. The diminutives are a way to say indirectly that you are the most welcome. Inside a diminutive there is included a tender “I like you”. “¿Querés un cafecito?” has not meaning literally in English (“Do you want a “little” coffee), but the expression would mean something like “I really like you and I would like to share with you, so let me invite you to a coffee”. I have a friend from Barcelona that a day decide to walk some kilometers from a spot until Tunja and, finding a farmer (boyaco), asked him “¿Disculpe señor, queda muy lejos la ciudad de Tunja?” , the gentle farmer (as the good boyacos are) answered: “AQUICITO NO MÁS”. Hey, try to translate it literary in English: “Just little here”, so “just here”… Horror!!! An adverb in diminutive… technically impossible. But the man from Barcelona was so admire of that and understood well that included in the correct information, the farmer said also with the diminutive form that “you are the most welcome”.

Colombians ask in the morning “¿Cómo amaneció”? Being so much Colombian I asked this to a friend from Republica Dominicana (a Spanish speaker country) and he answered rudely “En la cama”! (On the bed). You can be sure that Colombians are not asking in which position you were sleeping, but it is the best way to say “Good morning, did you sleep well?”.

Other day I have met a friend, a lady from Argentina and I asked as a Colombian “¿Qué has hecho?”… “What have you done?”… the gentle lady, not to be rude with me, started to describe me in general words the activities she has done the day before… until I realized that she did not understand that I have used a Colombian greeting. I explained her I wasn’t asking information of her activities, but just a “How do you do?” that is for us an informal way.

Foods can change name just from a region to another: ask in Colombia what is “perico”… in Medellin a little coffee with milk; in Bogota an egg… it is also a knife for thieves… and drug…

“Gamin” is a street boy… a word that was taken from French when some NGOs of that country came to help street children in the big cities some decades ago… for some people can be pejorative, for other no and you can find jeans with that name “gamin” meaning youthful… If a person is bad clothed Colombians can say “¡Qué gamín!”, but boys and girls can give that world a meaning of modern and informal “me gusta verme todo gamin”.

In the North of Colombia (Costa Atlantica) ladies can be turned young: “Hable con la NIÑA MARÍA ROSA” … “talk with the girl Maria Rosa”… that doesn’t mean that Maria Rosa would be a girl but a woman, near to our affection… could be the teacher or a relative or a good loved friend. In stead in the entire Colombia Republic in the popular langue a “VIEJA” is a very beautiful and cute girl. “I like Colombia very much – said a German – because here the elderly is seen young and young elder…”

Colombians use a lot of “usted” with new acquaintances… Even if you are referring younger people to you, the first is to refer as “usted”, formal (though it is changing with the new generations… but Colombians from Bogota, Boyaca… can be more conservative in this sense). After a good familiarity you can use “tu” or “vos” if you are in the West part of the Colombian Andes.

“Chino” does not mean in Colombia necessary a person from China, but a boy, especially in Bogota and Boyaca where the word is use with tenderness for the children “¡Cómo es de bello mi chino!” that you can make more tender if you make a diminutive of this word, “chinito”. A missioner sister from Bogota working in a school of Cambodia, in Southeast Asia, said about the girls of the school: “Estas chinitas son muy juiciosas”… the problem was to get if she was calling them “chinitas” because they are Chinese people, or “chinitas” because they are girls… as a Colombian I can guess: because they are girls, beside her rollo accent. In other regions like Antioquia “chino” can be pejorative to a young boy.

“Pollo” of course means in Colombia chicken, from Leticia to San Andres, from Ipiales to Maicao… But it can mean in other context “young person”. “Estás muy pollo”… “You are so young”… well, in Spain you know the meaning of “polla”, besides “female chicken” is also the male reproductive organ… so a Colombian young man from Bogota in Malta met a young woman from Madrid and asked her how old (bad question for a woman)… I am 19 y.o. “Nooo, pero si usted está es muy polla”….

Bien… I think it is enough for today. I hope it could be useful for friend foreigners visiting our paisito… take care with the chinos… think twice which kind of perico you want… admire with respect the viejas and, if you are thinking to ask the hand of any good vieja, talk first with the niña María… Vistase bien gamin and maybe you are going to have a lot of young acquaintances… but take car from any gamin in the street, ellos son muy vivos… if you want to know more about Colombianismos, write to me AQUICITO NO MAS… and start with a gentle “usted” and vos vas a recibir a gentle tu…

El Viajero Paisa, su merced….

ElViajero comments on Maria llena eres de Gracias

A COLOMBIAN PICTURE IN STATISTICS

Let us see a moment a picture of our country in statistics. There are around 41.5 million persons living in the national territory (from Leticia to San Andres), included foreigner residents and excluded Colombians who live outside. From all these men and women 64% live in poverty. The literacy in Colombia (for men and women) is 91.3%. Infant mortality is 19% (in 1,000 births). 7% of Colombian children have malnutrition. 91% of Colombians have an improved water source. 55.27% of Colombian families have their own house. In a population of 38.248 men and women from around the country 14,725 are employed, 1,577 unemployed and 12,607 inactive. 1’106,499 Colombians belong to ethnic groups. 493,160 Colombians are black. In general: 10% black Col… 1% indios Col… 20% white Col… 73% mestizos and a small minorities integrated in the Colombian population are Arabs, Chinese, Jews and others.

If you gather 100 Colombians that represent our national reality:

A Colombian is indio.
Ten Colombians are black people.
20 Colombians are white people.
74 Colombians are mestizos.
60 Colombians are under 24 years old.
64 Colombians live under poverty.
40 Colombians have a job.
91 Colombians have a good literacy.
99 Colombians say that they are Roman Catholic confession.

Likely, the indio and the ten black Colombians live under poverty. The same for the majority of the mestizos.

Then, a film on Colombia reality is really difficult to make. It is very embarrassing and sad when someone try to stress that reality, maybe like business. For example it is not hidden that the international mass media isn’t interested in show from Colombia good news, but anything that remarks the bad international image and reputation of our country. Just a detail: when a reporter to an international mass media makes any inform from Colombia, he or she should use always terrible backgrounds, and not those of an urban Colombia as they use when they do any inform from London of NY, for example.

The other side is if we desire to show to the world only the good things. What can we show so? The happy 36% of middle and high class Colombians? The 40% of Colombians that have a job? The rich areas of our country where there is not political problems, where the people live better than in France? The international hotels with tranquil views where everything happen at its time? Should we show a Colombia as a First World country? Sure, we can do so… we can show Barrio Kennedy only, El Poblado, Cali South, San Andres beaches, El Rodadero, la Zona Cafetera and Bocagrande… but… what with the others?

I think the best is recognizing that we have a social and political problem and that we have a lot of excellent values. The great lights of our country, the ones that causes to be proud of Colombia, are the things that give us hope and courage to continue working, and the ones which we need to improve … not in the benefit of some Colombians, but of every single person that lives inside the Colombian territory. That a boy or a girl of the Paez culture in Cauca would have the same opportunities in our country that a boy or a girl from Barrio Kennedy.

These kinds of movies like “Maria plena de gracia” can be disgusting, but it helps us to understand that we must keep walking through a best society. This is our utopia and our really pride as Colombians. Colombia was not built in a year. It has a long history of men and women that have contribute to built that utopia: the dream to have a great country in the heart of the American continent.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on

Well, we must be clear in what we have in Colombia and how we present our country to foreign visitors. Living in Israel (the “second dangerous” country of the world after Colombia according with international statistics), gives a clue. Many people use to ask me “Is it safe to visit Holy Land”? I use to answer: yes, it is. Just avoid some places (locals can tell you), follow the instructions… keep the safe line. But we have the duty to inform that there is a reality and that we can not hide it just because we love our country home very much and we want the world knows that we have a beautiful land and people in Colombia. That is true. Almost all the foreigners I have known, and which have known Colombia, use to say how great is the country to visit. Beside it we must inform that there is a reality of a political and social conflict, that the advices of foreign countries to their citizens are not exaggerations and if you visit Colombia you must have more cares about your travels there than if you visit France, for example. Surely, you can be killed in Paris as well, since terror is anywhere today. Actually a lot of foreigners go into Colombia for several reasons, not just tourism, but business, education and other activities (we hope legal) and much of them have a good idea and knowledge about what Colombia is and what kind of problems it has. To a young man looking for adventures and wanting to be a hero for a Hollywood film (“Columbia Pictures presents: A Colombian survivor”), I do not recommend to visit Colombia. If you want to be a hero, better go know to give a hand with the Tsunami victims in Asia. Or help with the studies of a Colombian boy and girl (there a lot of waiting an opportunity for give to Colombia a best future).

By the way, there is a young friend here in Israel that wants to study in a Colombian university. I recommend Colombian universities because I consider them very good and with an excellent international level. But the same: some friends of mine tell me that it could be not a good idea because the problem of kidnapping foreigners. I would like to know your opinions about. Especially if there is a case of a foreigner studying or that has studied in Colombia. Thank you.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on Colombian Spanish

Certainly, English speakers are from Mars, Spanish speakers are from Venus. But remember that Spanish speakers are the fastest growing population in the United States. Surely, there are a lot of Chinese and Vietnamese, but it is easier to get alone with Spanish than Mandarin. Spanish culture has a strong value of relationship. They are more conversational, with more greetings and background information, family is very important in any decision and so forth. It could be read as less pragmatic than English speakers. But it depends from which point of view we see pragmatism. USA is now the economical centre of the world, so, as a world ruler it imposed its natural language, just as Romans imposed Latin around the Mediterranean basin, Chinese Mandarin in Far East and Mahomet Arab in the Middle East. In that case pragmatism is that the others must learn the language of the actual ruler and not vice versa. You can be sure that most business men, industrials, scientist and intellectuals in Colombia can speak a very fluent English. But I am not sure that all these same ranks of persons in USA can speak Spanish (being it the second language of the world… and growing.) We all can be sure that your wife can start to use English perfectly and continuously if it is necessary. Until now no… knowing that she has the fortune to have a good husband that loves her Spanish. But I have known persons from English speakers countries, living in non-English countries for several years, that cannot use well the native language… just because the people speak to them in English… Asking a man from London why English speakers do a little effort to learn foreign language, he answered: practical… everyone is learning English… Sure, but just for economical proposals. Shakespeare would be worry about… his beautiful mother tongue been held as a simple tool for bank transactions. A very clever Arab young man, in an excellent English, told me some months ago in Jerusalem: I can speak English, but Americans cannot speak Arab… I know what they think because I know well what they say, in stead they know very little what I think because all I say they must translate. Many years ago a very important rector of an American university came to visit an important university in Colombia. The rector of the Colombian one lead the guess through the institute showing every thing, with the help of a translator. At the end the American gave thanks for all the kindness, but respectfully said: Only I want to ask you how it happens that a very clever and well prepare man like you cannot speak English… The other answered: I am very sorry for that, sure… but if you prefer we can speak in French, Italian, Greek, Latin or Hebrew. Sure, the Colombian one just could avoid this situation being more practical and taking some weeks to learn some English. I am agree with you: he wasn’t pragmatic.

I want to finish with a beautiful part of the poem of Shakespeare, The Passionate Pilgrim, and I ask someone to make it more pragmatic:

WHEN my love swears that she is made of truth,
I do believe her, though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutor'd youth,
Unskilful in the world's false forgeries.
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
Although I know my years be past the best,
I smiling credit her false-speaking tongue,
Outfacing faults in love with love's ill rest.
But wherefore says my love that she is young?
And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O, love's best habit is a soothing tongue,
And age, in love, loves not to have years told.
Therefore I'll lie with love, and love with me,
Since that our faults in love thus smother'd be.

Next I promise you a Colombian poem in English…

ElViajero comments on navidad

Pues Manisero, Feliz Año. Te digo que soy paisa, pero por ello no me siento diferente a todos mis compatriotas. Al contrario, me siento muy colombiano ante todo y amo a toda mi patria, de Leticia a San Andrés, de Arauca a Buenaventura, de Ipiales a Maicao. También sé que el regionalismo paisa puede ser arrogante, pero ello viene en general de personas rudas. Por otra parte siendo la zona más montañosa, fue una región que hasta la década de los 30 del siglo pasado estuvo bastante aislada del resto del país creando una cierta psicología de autosuficiencia. El tren y después las carreteras pondrían a la región de frente a la realidad nacional. Científicamente te digo que es inexacto lo que dices acerca de cuáles departamentos son “paisas”, pues históricamente y geográficamente son cuatro: Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda y Quindío. La razón es sencilla, ellos hacían parte de un solo departamento hasta la década de los 60 y fueron divididos por los caprichos políticos y económicos de nuestro país. En compenso y para que no protestaran, a Antioquia se le dio Urabá (que es zona costeña y no paisa). De esta manera no toda Antioquia es paisa ni todo paisa es antioqueño. Por eso existen costeños antioqueños y paisas costeños. Siendo así, decir que un manizalita es paisa no es ningún “título” o “cédula real” o “subcolonialismo”, sino que es una verdad histórica cuando la ciudad fue fundada en 1841 por paisas venidos de la zona suroriental de la actual Antioquia.

El paisa hace parte de la identidad del colombiano, como el costeño, el bogotano, el valluno… desde esta perspectiva no debemos enfrentarnos ni dividir nuestra patria. Si bien Medellín es hoy una ciudad con mucho progreso, a mí eso no me hace sentir superior a mis compatriotas, sino que en cambio me hace sentir preocupado, pues ello nos debe llenar de orgullo solo cuando en cada región del país todos los colombianos tengan las mismas oportunidades. Un país que progresa por pedazos no es un país en progreso, sino un país con profundas divisiones. El regionalismo, por otra parte, tan natural en todas partes, no debe ser excluyente ni arrogante y en eso debemos educar a las nuevas generaciones de colombianos. Porque me parece que en nuestro país todavía vemos las otras regiones como una especie de tierra extranjera. Cuando todos podamos decir que también Bogotá me pertenece como colombiano, que Cali también es mía, que Barranquilla me incumbe, que Leticia es parte de mi patria, que San Andrés no es sólo una playa, entonces seremos profundamente colombianos y hemos abierto una vía segura a la paz.

Manisero, seguro, como colombiano, me siento absolutamente costeño, totalmente valluno, parte integrante de los amazónicos, rolo ciento por ciento, boyaco con todo el amor del mundo, pastuso sin titubeos, chocoano lleno de sonrisas, santandereano de pura cepa, guajiro de mil amores, sanandresano con todo el encanto, porque cuando se vive en el extranjero y se encuentra uno a un compatriota, siente que se encuentra con su familia, venga este de Mitú, de San Bernardo de los Vientos, del Lago Calima o de Condoto.

El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on Pregunta a los Colombianos

1) Cuando alguien es descrito con la palabra "gringo" de donde crees tú que viene esa persona? (primer instinto)
De los Estados Unidos de América, pero para muchos colombianos, especialmente la gente más sencilla, “gringo” es uno que no habla español. Existe la expresión “quedar gringo” que significa “no entender nada”. En el colombiano el término no tiene un nivel peyorativo en absoluto, a menos que se le quiera dar, especialmente por posiciones ideológicas. “Películas gringas, comida gringa, un montón de gringos van por ahí, música gringa, Gringolandia, las ciudades gringas”, en absoluto es una referencia a los Estados Unidos: “ se volvió gringo”, “hablás como un gringo”, “estás muy gringo vos”. Aunque para muchos se generaliza, para otros es muy concreto que un “gringo” es aquel que viene de los EEUU, tanto que muchos europeos no españoles que han entendido bien la cultura colombiana aclaran, como hacía una amiga mía irlandesa: “ve ole, yo no soy gringa, yo soy de Limerick”, y los colombianos que la oían se quedaban gringos. Uno de Londres me pidió que le explicara el origen del término y cuando le mencioné lo de la historia mexico-gringa quedó plenamente convencido que es un término conveniente y que él en particular no era gringo.
2) Cuando alguien te pregunta la definición de la palabra "gringo" que respuesta das?
Ciertamente doy los datos históricos “GREEN, GO HOME”, y termino diciendo que la palabra entró tanto en el ethos latinoamericano que asumió un significado más genérico. En principio designa todo lo que es extranjero a la cultura hispánica, pero más precisamente a los ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos (incluso los gringos negros e indios). En Colombia en verdad no tiene sentido de ofensa. “Yanqui” si podría ser más ofensivo e ideológico. Si vamos a ver a los colombianos del Mar Caribe les decimos “costeños”, a los de la región cafetera “paisas”, a los de Boyacá “boyacos”, a todos los de Nariño “pastusos”… pues a los de Estados Unidos “gringos”. El mismo Ernest H. –uno de los más grandes escritores gringos-, usaba el término con mucho cariño. El diálogo intercultural entre la América gringa y la América hispánica debería comenzar por aceptar este tipo de maneras en que los pueblos acogen al otro que, siendo diferente, se le trata de dar un sentido.

ElViajero comments on Colombian Spanish

Sorry, I cited Sr Tertius but the sentence does not appear in the body of the text. That is: "Sr Tertius said: A language is more than a tool, just like food is more than nutrients. So much agree...

ElViajero comments on Colombian Spanish

Sure SantiBOG… We need to work hard in our national identity. Until now I am sure that our political and social problems came just from the time of the Colonial times and the way we have founded our Republic. Maybe names like “Santafé”, “Santiago”, “San Juan” are unnecessary, but I don’t think they’re ridiculous, because although we are Chibchas, Taironas, Paeces, Guajiros… we have Spaniards and Africans in our veins as well. I respect very much the decision to take off the name of “Santafe”, but I thought in it as a synthesis of our identity also…. But, anyway, I prefer the 100% Chibcha as you said.

ElViajero comments on Colombian Spanish

Well Utopiacowboy: “The Colombians, including my wife, are always babbling about how their Spanish is so much blah, blah, blah....”, well, that does demonstrate nothing in particular. In Malta, a country of 300 thousand persons, they say that Maltese is a great language (only they can speak that); in Cambodia a Buddhist monk said some years ago in a congress of that religion that Khmer language is the best and more beautiful language of the universe, so every sacred text –if it is really sacred- must be writing only in Khmer…
“Does anyone who speaks English as their native language really care whether American English is better or "purer" than Canadian English or Irish English or Australian English. I seriously doubt it.” Well, maybe in USA no, but in Ireland and England –at least the people I know- use to say that they speak a purest language than the American one (normally I am not agree with that). BBC for example takes a lot of care in the use of English… In Ireland they say that the English in Limerick City (South) is purest than the one of Dublin…
“We're pragmatists - the language is just a tool to communicate and whatever makes the tool better is what goes.” Who? Sr Tertius said: Colombians are pragmatists… I can demonstrate it (but it is other discussion). Languages do not communicate just words, but a culture and values… You can know the deep soul of a country just for the way its people use the language.
Then… Spanish is a Latin language. It belongs to a big Latin family with France, Portuguese, Italian, Rumanian and a numberless European dialects. Latin (a language not so dead) has a lot of to see with the ancient Greek and Greek has relations with Semitic and Easter languages that were spoken millenniums before. The proud of Colombians about their Spanish is not a Colombian characteristic but it is a Latin identity. That´s why Italians are proud of their Italian, Portugal of its Portuguese and so forth. For this reason –and it can be demonstrated-, Latin people (not only Latin Americans, but Latin Europeans as well) have a natural resistance to change the logic of a Latin language to a non-Latin language (English for example) Why? Because Latin people aren’t pragmatists???? Absolutely no… Latin is –like Greek- a humanist and philosophical language (that´s why I am here explaining all this to you… because I am a Latin), and for all these Latin languages the logic of ideas is very important thing. So when a Latino faces a non-Latin language, his/her natural philosophical chromosomes feel the same that the Romans felt before the primitive Germans. In stead, English has a long history of formation, you must know it.
Actually the idea that Colombian Spanish is the best of the world isn’t a Colombian idea. You can consult other non-Colombian sources. I gave reasons for it as well. It involves geographic and historical reasons. True, it is a particular Spanish and paradoxically there are a lot of Colombianismos, many of them included in the Real Academia de la Lengua Española.
El Viajero Paisa

ElViajero comments on Colombian Spanish

Thanks Thank you Miguel: yes, I meant “Impressive”.

Cajeta, there is a friend of mine in Rome that prefers to say: it is not the best Spanish but the most carefully used… Anyway, when I listen some Spaniards from Madrid, I prefer your affirmation.

I am agree with you, Desideria, Colombians speak too loud… but no louder than other Spanish countries like Spain, for example.

Thank you SantiBOG… I really did not know that “new” change of the name of our Capital… I really did like “Santafé”…. Anyway, I hope it continues being the “Athens of South America”.

Carlos el Paisa Viajero