IAN’S OPINION Who cares? Who cares about what? Well, I ask myself constantly if anyone cares about anything these days. What am I talking about? Well, I’m an Englishman in Colombia, trying desperately to help Colombia drag itself into the 21st century but I feel I’m fighting with a culture which wants to stay in the 20th or even the 19th century! The English Café Club strives to offer an insight into my world and to educate students about my culture and traditions but I fear my efforts are wasted. People mockingly talk about the British “obsession” with punctuality when all I ask for is for some simple decency and respect. I give up my free time to help people who don’t arrive for events or meetings, who don’t deliver the things they have promised, who forget to say “thank you”, who only remember to do things when asked 4 times, who simply don’t value my time as I value theirs. Put simply, some Colombians may learn another language but they will always be Colombians at heart. In my culture we are constantly reminded that “Time is money” and you don’t need to be a top mathematician to see why this is so. If 20 million Colombians arrive just ONE MINUTE late for work tomorrow, that’s 20 million minutes of productivity lost in only one day! Bosses will have paid for 333,000 hours of work which wasn’t done. Can you imagine how many pairs of shoes you could make in that time? How much oil could you produce? How much beer you could manufacture? How much coffee you could pick? That’s just calculating it for ONE MINUTE of ONE DAY!
How late were you for class this week? How many times was your teacher late? How many times were you outside a bank waiting in line for someone to open the door 5 minutes late, or your favorite restaurant closed early because they “weren’t busy”. Every time we are late we make someone else late and there are always consequences. When 30 students arrive at a class to find a teacher is absent, or 20 people are waiting outside a bank for it to open, who pays for all those wasted bus fares and all those lost hours? Maybe it’s time our attitude changed and we started demanding that banks and shops open on time and that large companies and institutions reimburse you for their lack of service. I love this country and that’s why I live here but I’m constantly told by people that their dreams are in lands far from here. Well, if this these people’s attitude doesn’t change those dreams are going to stay that way, far far away. SECTIONS COVER. Café Club’s Sexy Lady IAN’S Opinion + SECTIONS P2 UQ ZONE Translator’s day.P3 FROM ENGLAND TO YOU II: I Swear P4 CULTURAL SCHEDULE ARTICLE: Cultural people in Armenia P5
Two
PASSTIMES Crossword + Synonyms Quiz P6 CHARACTER OF THE MONTH: our “sexy lady”. Want you know her? P7 BACK COVER. Café Club’s Photos.
Norma Rules! I had not been to the English café until some students from English I told me about this lovely spot to speak English. Thus, it occurred to me that Jessica, our assistant professor of Modern Languages program, and I could take English I students to the English Café. Indeed what we planned to do with Ian’s help was something not only academic and cultural but also entertaining and unforgettable especially for the students. The fun began as we got there.
on the table and play some of the games that were also displayed on the table. I was telling some of the students near me how to say some things in English. Meanwhile breakfast was served and we all ate some delicious food. Some students started to take pictures to be uploaded on Facebook, Ian and Jessica provided an interesting cultural experience by speaking about the differences between the British and American breakfast and most of us even asked questions! This experience at the English café was very enriching and I recommend it to everyone who is interested.
Absolutely Charming!
TTeeaacchheerr NNoorrm maa iinn tthhee CCaafféé CClluubb My first impression about the place was positive, and it was even better to have finally met Ian. Lots of students had asked me two particular questions: “Have you been to the English Café? Have you met Ian? At last I did. Of course, the students were absolutely right about the spot and about Ian, too. At first, I felt like I was at home because he gave us all a warm welcome to the club. Now that I am writing for the English Café magazine, I can still recall the lovely memories of that day. As it was about 8:00 A.M. and time for the tasty breakfast, we sat down and started to speak, have fun, read the tongue twisters that were
Guess what the English Café did on September 28th? You won´t believe it! There was a huge crowd gathered in the Education Building right here at Uniquindío. Still wondering? I could not believe my eyes while watching the amazing interpretation Ian and Felipe made as part of the Translation- Interpreter Day celebration. It was an unbelievable performance; it reminded me of T.V. shows I used to watch about parrots when I was a couch potato. Something else I won´t forget about that day is how much the translation professors and students enjoyed singing one of Bon Jovi´s most popular songs together. We had such lovely time singing, watching the sketches and presentations, and seeing the performances in Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, and Persian. It is absolutely charming to see that the English Café Club is continually attracting new members to become immersed in the English Culture.
By Norma Diaz Alvarez
FROM ENGLAND TO YOU... I SWEAR I am a 67 year old grandmother, with little knowledge of your language and country. You meanwhile are young, intelligent and motivated to making the most of your opportunities and talents. Many of you are studying English – language and culture and I
the judge and witnesses. I also used to “swear in” the witnesses, making sure that they used the correct religious book or testament that they needed to tell “The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. A person’s “word” is still the basis for English law to this day. We didn’t have stenographers like in all the American filmsthe judge made his own handwritten notes. Imagine if they had to do that now! We had the occasional outburst from an irate Plaintiff, Defendant or witness but mainly things went off without a problem. Just once a Plaintiff (Claimant) got pushed down the stairs!
CCaarrttoooonn ooff tthhee m moonntthh bbyy W o l f Wolf SSppiirriitt hope I can help you in some small way. When I left school at 16 years old I didn’t go to University. I chose to follow my Dad into The Civil Service, which is another name for our Government Departments. I was lucky enough to join the Civil (non-criminal) Courts department for 11 years. The United Kingdom has 3 different legal systems because as the 4 countries merged it was impossible to integrate their complicated laws which had been written over hundreds of years. So England and Wales have one set of laws and Scotland and Northern Ireland have a set each too. The work was fantastic-I really enjoyed it. I used to prepare the list of cases and on a bench in front of the Judge, call out the names of the parties in the cases and label and pass documents and exhibits to
“My” regular Judge was a real old English Gentleman: he was even a “Sir”-an inherited title, not an earned one. He was brilliantly intelligent and a pleasure to work for but he sometimes had bouts of bad moods and temper, usually when he was trying to give up smoking! I well remember often having to dodge out of the way of a flying wig thrown across his private chambers, when the case he was hearing wasn’t going well. Since 1680, judges have worn wigs when sitting in Court; the full name of the wig is “periwig”, from the French “perruque”. Normal Court wigs are much smaller than the ceremonial wigs which the Judges wear during the State Opening of Parliament, when they are dressed in full ceremonial regalia. These ceremonial wigs are very long and curly and known as a “spaniel” because they resemble the long ears of the Spaniel breed of dog.
By JennyCarthew, Shepperton, England
Two cultural people Little Armenia is a peaceful place to live; it’s free of the stress caused by the external bigger movement politically or economically. People here are so quiet. That may be the reason why it’s so lovely. Here, hundreds of cultural groups make events for their friends: little concerts, little art expositions, etc. There are two people shining above all this, who try to share and have an intercultural exchange with Armenia’s city. Their motive, they are already enamored by Armenia. They area French lady of twenty-eight years old who we will call French Alice; and a little British boy just two years old, we’re going to call English Kafka. Both have the great purpose of sharing their culture through events and language classes. Come on, you know I’m talking about Alliance Françoise, the French Alliance of Armenia and The English Café Club. November is no exception to the trend; this European couple (European friends) have events for you. French Alice invites to you:
With a touch of damned poetry, a Theatre play Sur la vie de Rimbaud by Teatro Equiz Date: Tuesday 20/ 07:00 p.m. Place: Auditorium Euclides Jaramillo Cultural point: Colombia is one of the countries of America with less foreign inhabitants. Take advantage of the few that there are near to you to learn, to share. The young boy, English Kafka, supported by The ORI [International Relations Bureau], invites you to celebrate a cultural week [6 to 10 November] at Universidad del Quindío:
Be part of the Inauguration of the cultural week Barbecue. There is surprise finale to the night! Date: Tuesday 06/ From 05:00 p.m. Place: Near Maria Cano, by The Cafe Club. Take advantage of your radio station UFM 102.1 and participate by calling and writing to the radio: music and news from the 40s until today. Each weekday, you will be in a different decade. Date: Each weekday from 11 a.m. to 12 m. Place: Hear it on UFM radio station 102.1
Café Literally Trilingual is a place to learn more about literature, read and listen in Spanish, English and French. The subject, “La cita amorosa en lo Queer” Date: Wednesday 08/ 07:00 p.m. Place: Museo del Oro Quimbaya
Go and enjoy of the Live Music Festival in the coliseum of the Uniquindio, with Lovysol; The Hougthons, Masai And Many more Acts singing in English Date: Friday 09/ from 5pm to 9pm
In the Alliance’s walls, there will be a political cartoon exhibition by Feroz, La Crónica’s cartoonist. Get to know this smart critic. Date: Thursday 08/ 07:00 p.m. Place: French Alliance
There are more cultural activities. Find all the information on the different web sites and Facebook spaces of French Alliance, English Café Club, ORI and Universidad del Quindío.
Place: El coliseum, Uniquindio.
By Shingtso/ shingtso@gmail.com
PASTIMES Down 2. Person who lives next to you.3. Otherwise. 4. Hotel. 5. To say something untrue.6. To think very hard about something.7. Something that happens by accident, or chance. 8. Misreading of a situation, or audacious. 9. Therefore.10. To bend.13. To work with a needle and thread.14. To perform an action. 15. Not sure.16. The capital city of the world. 18. Without a male parent.21. What scalesmeasure.22. To rotate.24. Tip of a pen.29. Third personsingular present of be.31. To direct eyes atsomething. 35. Repose36. To inhabit/to linger. 37. Unintelligent38. Lazily39. The only natural satellite of the Earth.40. A negative answer. 42. To esteem. 43. Possessive adjective for she. 45. All right.
CROSSWORD By Muffin’s Girl
CROSSWORD By Muffin’s Girl
QUIZ: SYNONYMS By IAN
Across 1.Small insect. 8. Character or behaviour. 11. Extinct flightless bird. 12. Happiness14.Hil l of sand.17. Ultra-famous person.18. To run away. 19. A black gemstone. 20. Our surroundings. 21. You and me.23. Dog controller. 25. Bank of coral.26. Third person singular. 27. External 28. Lowered prices. 30. Nervous twitch 32. Possessive adjective for he.33. An exaggerated sense of selfimportance. 34. Completely. 39. The human race; man, taken collectively. 41. To run away hurriedly. 44. An error or mistake. 45. A shell which produces a pearl.46. To cry out.47. Its Anthem is: "God Save the Queen” 48. Armed force.
CHARACTER OF THE MONTH: OUR “SEXY LADY” The English Café Club’s neighbors: the library people. They are not just incredible people; they have been an important support for the Café Club since the beginning. The Café is kind of the library’s baby. Among these amazing people there is a charming person, known as the Sexy Lady to her friends in English Café Club. Blond hair, eyes with the color of honey and a kind expression: yes, she is pretty; but that nickname was earned, I’m sure, for her charm and her skill to get on well with everybody. Her name is Gloria Inés Murillo Wills. Talk with this lady for five seconds to hear sweet words and a polite greeting. Talk with her five minutes and you get the smile and if you have the opportunity to talk with her for more time you won’t fail to be charmed by her.
GGlloorriiaa IInnééss M Muurriillloo W Wiilllss iinn tthhee CCaafféé CClluubb Gloria’s first job was as a reference clerk in the University’s library to assist the students. That was how she started a long journey filled with personal and work experiences that have made her the great person that she is.
She lived in The United States for seventeen years. Although that time was marred by a personal tragedy, Gloria values that
era because she learned punctuality, loyalty, transparency, honesty, friendship and how to work hard. Due to her husband’s business she came back to Colombia and worked in a variety of jobs: she worked in banks, at Florida’s Department of agriculture, one of the first trainers in computers in Colombia (“Quindío was the first city with Internet in this country”, affirms the lady); she was an accountant, a teacher of Windows and Accountancy for 12 years, she worked in Public services (EPA), she had an internet Café and pizzeria. She is always learning: courses, specializations and now she is trying to learn Italian. Of course she also keeps up her English by visiting the English Café Club whenever possible. Her life came full cycle when two years ago, she came back to the library, again as reference clerk. She is happy because she has a deep desire to help, and a genuine love for the students. Sexy Lady’s advice: “Reading open doors and doors into other cultures can clarify concepts and help to identify opportunities. Big doors are there to be able to meet people, to go out into world and take the opportunities on offer.” And she adds smiling: “I pleased when young people read classics. I like seeing kids reading and talking in other languages” If you are in the English Café Club, lift your eyes and through the window you will see her. But don’t just sit there. Go and meet her. Visit the club and the library: find new books, meet great people and of course, get to know the English culture. By Shingtso/ shingtso@gmail.com