Colombia

Colombia's various regions and climates influence its culture through food, music, and dance. Colombians are also known for their "rumbero" spirit, which is the ability to work hard and play hard. They are forward-looking and confident of the future.

When entering or leaving a meeting or a home, men shake hands. An "abrazo" is reserved for close friends or relatives. Women kiss each other on the cheek if friends or it not a verbal greeting or handshake is used. Kissing on the cheek is usual among young people. Formal titles such as Senor or Senora are customary.

Colombians will use their hands expressively during the conversation, especially if it becomes heated. It is considered rude to back away or interrupt during a discussion. Eye contact and standing close are important while conversing. People may beckon each other with their palms down, the waving of fingers, or the entire hand. Smiling is important to indicate goodwill between parties. Colombian men open doors, and offer seats to women and older people.

People often sit on their verandas and chat with people who pass by. Friends and relatives visit without notice, especially in rural areas. However, one should make arrangements if they do not know who they are visiting. Colombian hosts are generous, offering refreshments such as coffee, fruit juice, or a soft drink. Dinner guests usually arrive up to thirty minutes late. Alcoholic beverages such as rum or beer are offered before and after dinner. Etiquette is valued. Visitors wait until they are guided to a chair by the host.

Colombian dress is both conservative and fashionable. In larger cities, men wear suits and ties. Women wear comfortable dresses, while youth in the cities dress casually.

Breakfast foods vary from region to region. They include juice, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit eggs, bread or changua (potato and egg soup). A mid-morning snack, merienda, may include empanadas concarne (meat turnovers) or bread and a drink. Lunch is the main meal for the day. Many businesses close so the family may gather for lunch. Supper is usually not till 7 or 8 PM. Staple foods include soup, rice, meat, potatoes, salad and beans. Favorite national dishes include arroz con pollo, (chicken with rice), frijoles con chicharron (pork and beans). A cornmeal pancake is called Arepa.

If one is offered more food, it is polite to refuse if it may be considered overindulging. It is considered polite to keep hands above the table. One should offer food to others before taking it for ones self.

Lunch is the main meal for the day. Many businesses close so the family may gather for lunch. Dinner is usually not served until 7 PM or 8 PM. Typical foods include rice, soup, meat , salad, potatoes and beans. Favorite national dishes include arroz con pollo, (chicken with rice), frijoles con chicharron (pork and beans). A cornmeal pancake is called Arepa.

Family unity and support are highly valued in Colombia. Family members share their good fortune with other members of the family. Divorce is relatively uncommon, mainly due to the influence of the Catholic Church. The family unit usually consists of a mother, a father, and two to four children. Children traditionally live with their parents till they marry. Families support each other through their life spans. Urbanization is changing roles within the extended family. One-third of the workforce is now female.

Dating begins around 14 or 15, depending on family customs and region. Going to movies, restaurants, and discos are popular activities. Sports and shopping at the mall are also attractive for youth. On the night before the wedding, the groom may hire a small band to serenade the bride. Marriage ceremonies generally follow Catholic traditions, with mass included. The reception will always involve music and dancing.

Soccer is the most popular sport in Colombia. Many Colombian children play the game. Watching professional soccer is also a national pastime. Colombians are very passionate about their national team.

Bullfighting is also popular throughout Colombia, and most big cities have plaza de toros (bullrings). Horse, car, and bicycle racing are other spectator sports that draw thousands of fans.

A traditional form of entertainment for Colombians is tejo, a game that may have been played by the Chibchas in ancient times. The object is to throw a small metal disc at a gunpowder detonator lodged in a metal ring. Explosions and the number of discs in the ring determine the winners. A similar game is sapo, in which players must throw a small disc into a receptacle shaped like a metal frog.

Colombians love to dance. One of the most popular dances is called the bambuco. It has a complex series of steps with different names. Every year, there is a festival of bambuco dancing in Neiva. On the Caribbean coast, people dance to salsa and its variants, as well as the cumbia and the vallenato. On the Pacific coast, energetic dances called the berejú and patacoré are popular, danced to music that includes strong drumbeats. In the region of Los Llanos, the favorite dance is called the joropo.

Children must leave early for school in Colombia, so getting ready in the morning is usually simple and fast. Breakfast may consist of fresh fruit or bread and a drink of fresh fruit juice. Unfortunately, because many Colombians, especially those in rural areas, are comparatively poor, many children arrive at school undernourished. As a result, more schools offer breakfast programs for their students, especially those with a proven economic need.

Depending on the local circumstances, kids usually walk or ride a public bus to school. They will catch their bus between 6:00 and 6:30 and arrive at school around 7:00. The roads in Colombia are often windy and mountainous, even within the cities. Students return home the same way they came. Schools will provide one meal daily or light snacks throughout the day. In either case, the food provides about one-third of the recommended daily nutrition. However, for poorer families, this school-provided food may be their primary source of nutrition each day.

Local governments run primary schools, whereas the national government supports secondary schools and universities. The Colombian government spends at least 10% of its budget on education by law. Colombia has one of the highest education expenditure rates in Latin America. Rural elementary schools tend to have one room and one teacher. Nearly 70% of those teachers had not received formal training to become teachers, and over half did not register as teachers. In rural schools, the teachers tended to focus on practical subjects to teach the children how to succeed as much as possible within the realities of their lives. Most schools have simple uniforms that children wear: dark skirts for girls, dark pants, and light shirts for boys.

Schools do not buy textbooks for their students; rather, parents buy them from local businesses, and after school, teachers or administrators tell them what books will be used. When a school chooses a textbook, it usually uses it in its classes for about three years. Although secondary schools have traditionally offered mostly academic subjects, the Ministry of Education is trying to move more towards a practical or vocational approach. Very few students will graduate and then go on to university studies, instead joining the workforce because they must help support their families. If the subjects studied in secondary schools are more focused on preparing students for jobs instead of academic studies, they seem to better help the students with the realities of their lives. Classes in Colombia are generally taught in Spanish. However, in small villages or rural areas where another language is spoken more frequently, the law requires that the schools teach in both the local language and Spanish. The second-most frequently studied language is English. In general, only the wealthier private schools teach other languages, such as French or German. Secondary schools are rare in rural areas. To address that problem, the government offers educational radio and television broadcasts. Where secondary schools are available, the courses now include practical training and agricultural education, so students are more prepared to get a good job upon completing high school.

Extracurricular activities in Colombian schools depends largely on the amount of money the school has. Some high schools have marching bands, Boy Scout troops, intramural and extramural sports teams, and student-run radio broadcast facilities. However, many other schools are unable to offer such activities.

Colombians love futbol (soccer), which is easily their favorite sport. However, they are also fond of basketball, volleyball, golf, tennis, and swimming. Coastal or river areas enjoy boating and fishing. Those in cattle-ranching areas participate in rodeos. And because of Colombia’s mountainous roads, some of the best-trained cyclists come from this country. Colombians are friendly and love to party. They mix play with their school and with their work. They are creative and social with one another. Unfortunately, so many families are poor that many children must work after school or drop out of school altogether in order to help support the family.

Colombian family life is influenced by three major things: the Catholic religion, the geographic layout of the land, and the economy. All three influences help families stay close together, including extended families. Catholic rituals, such as marriages or other events, often bring family members from miles around to visit together. Because of Colombia's mountainous nature, many small villages tend to keep families and friends close together rather than spread out in large cities. The relatively poor economy of much of the country means that children must work with their families to help the family survive. All of these add up to close family relationships. Thus, much of the evening is spent at home with family, either working, celebrating, or just plain socializing. Sports and other social activities are frequent with friends, and folk art and dancing are important parts of the native culture for Colombian children and their families. Evening meals are often traditional and comprise great varieties of fruits and vegetables. The conventional national stew can have as many as 20 types of vegetables in it. Along the coast, fish is a standard part of the diet and can be fried, grilled, or placed in a soup. Rice and red beans are famous in some parts of the country, as can be beef in the ranching areas of the country. Rice and some variety of potatoes are usually involved in nearly every meal. In short, much of the food is local, homegrown, and prepared according to various local Spanish, Amerindian, and African traditions.

Private organizations operate preschool and can start as early as four years old. Almost 92% are Catholic and are located in larger cities. Elementary school is free to all students, and children are required to attend school for nine years (five in elementary school, ages 6-10, and four more in secondary school, ages 11-14). For many, as we will see, only the first five years is likely. Most of the schools are operated by the Roman Catholic church, so courses in that religion are required study in all public schools. Protestant churches also run a number of schools, especially in Bogota. Elementary schools are maintained by local governments where possible. If there is not enough money locally to support the school, the national government will step in to provide needed financial support. The national government also supports secondary schools and universities. An increasing number of nonprofit and private organizations are working to improve education in Colombia as well. Keeping children in school can be challenging. Experts disagree on exact figures, but all agree that recent improvements have been helpful in improving education. In 1999, one study reported that 5.1 million students attended elementary school (88% attendance), and 3.5 million attended secondary schools (54% of the possible total number of students). Almost all secondary schools are in the larger cities, leaving children in rural areas with little chance to attend school after the age of 12. Nearly 650,000 students attended universities. Illiteracy had fallen to 3%. Another study for the same year, however, reported that more than 3.5 million children did not attend school (no age range was given), and 8% of the population over the age of 15 could not read. In 2003, 93% of the adult population was considered literate in the cities, but only 67% in rural areas. Furthermore, when children go to school, too many are undernourished and hungry, which makes learning very difficult. Schools that have been able to provide breakfast programs are seeing tremendous improvement in their students’ abilities. These breakfasts often provide up to 75% of the children’s daily nutrition and consist of foods like oatmeal, milk, fruit, eggs, and toast. Two basic school schedules are available for schools to choose from: the first begins in February with a four-week vacation in June and July and finishes in November; the second begins in September with a four-week vacation in December and finishes in June. Both schedules have 198 days of classroom instruction. The school day is usually six hours long, divided into two sessions. Each session has three 45-minute classes and a 45-minute break. Subjects include Spanish, arithmetic, social studies, aesthetic and manual training (such as art), natural science, physical education, and religious and moral training. The school system requires that children receive training in Roman Catholicism, and the remaining courses are not allowed to include teachings that contradict Roman Catholic principles.