Third Edition by shingtso Muñoz Gómez

THIRD EDITION CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

E D I T I O N

N O V E M B E R

DECEMBER 2 0 1 2

featuring famous

O ZZ FF EE RR O

local cartoonist

IAN

BOND

CC H HR R II SS TT M M AA SS STORIES

OF THE MONTH UQ

ZONE

And

M or e Much

GAZINE

Want to be ‘in the know’? Read Felipe’s Letter British Cultural Week

CHARACTER OF M A THE MONTH HIS NAME IS BOND

...

FELIPE’S TURN Hello and once again thank you for picking up the special Christmas edition of the English Café Club magazine! Indeed, and as you may have guessed from the title, this is a very special edition for various reasons that this short editorial column will not have the room to host. However, I shall try my best to keep you guys “in the know”. A lot has happened lately, so here goes nothing… I’d like to start by addressing the Semana Cultural event that ORI and The English Café Club organized. We had a blast! We kicked the week off with a barbeque in which we served over 300 people… And yes, it was exhausting! We continued with a trilogy of movies by British directors, namely “Closer”, “The Gentle Giant”, and “The King’s Speech”. The third day saw an avalanche of publicity stands for various student exchange programs in English and French speaking countries happening right here in the Café Club. And finally on the last day we had an amazing concert with several local acts and some Club members. Aside from some security problems, the concert was probably the most successful event during this week, as approximately one thousand people showed up! It was mind-blowing! Ok, and now onto the serious stuff… As many of you know, tragedy has struck the Bond household. The father of our very own Ian Bond passed away nearly three weeks ago, and this forced him to go back to his native England. But rest assured folks, for Ian will surely be back on January to continue his noble cause of “Britishising” as many of you as he can! The English Café Club will continue its normal course next year as usual…

…But I will not. The reason I’m writing this editorial letter instead of Ian is that this is both my resignation letter and my goodbye letter to all of you. I will be leaving the English Café Club to pursue other interests. So farewell, my dear club members! I hope you guys keep on having a lot of fun with Ian and whoever is going to be the new Felipe here. My only desire is that he (or she, who knows) gets some credit for what he does for all of you guys. Treat him/her right! Well… That’s it for this brief farewell letter. And speaking of, here’s to a farewell for the semester and the year that has passed. Merry Christmas to you all! SECTIONS COVER. Ian as character of the month and his mates in the Café Club: Felipe Jaramillo, his right hand and Jhoan Muñoz (shingtso), director of the Magazine. P2/ FELIPE’S TURN Pipe talks about the cultural week and say specials greetings. P2/ SECTIONS P3/ CHARACTER OF THE MONTH. Ian C. Bond: a tribute. By Wendy Gutiérrez. P4-5/ CULTURAL ARTICLE: cosmopolitan Christmas journey in Armenia. P6/ CHRISTMAS IN COLOMBIA VS “X-

MAS” IN THE USA by BILL P7/ A CHRISTMAS MEMORY P7/ PASSTIMES Crossword + FEROZ’S cartoon BACK COVER. Café’s Club Photos.

CHARACTER OF THE MONTH: IAN C. BOND (A TRIBUTE)

heart to you and you have opened a path for all of those who appreciate all your effort.

Ian Christopher Bond when those three words come to my mind I think of the person who can deal with the impossible. A man, who has lived, has seen and conquered. Yes, that’s right conquered. Ian Christopher Bond conquered the hearts of all of us, has changed the life of many and held the hand of the lost. Ian has always been the light in the dark paths of life.

My friend, it’s always nice to have you near and to enjoy your company and your loyalty; it’s important to have the friendship and affection of someone with whom we can share our joys and sorrows, and discuss our problems without fear or reservations. But, the best part of knowing someone like you is not to feel obliged to do something when we’re together, is to be able miss you when you’re far away, taking care of your life while we take care of ours.

By definition Ian would be just a man. But from the bottom of all our hearts I’m sure we know Ian is more than a man. We know how much Ian cares and works for one another’s interests and wellbeing. Today I want to thank Ian for being there for us, for always knowing what to say and when to say it. For helping all of us learn from life. And making us better people who care about others. A comrade, a hero, and an angel… whatever you call him, he is a friend who listens, who comforts, who understands and who is worthy to be one of a kind. It’s always gratifying to know you are there for all of us. Colombia has opened its

To be a friend is to be able to enjoy the best things the other person has to offer, to recognize their faults and, on the other hand, to be a friend is to offer our virtues with all the generosity in the world and to live without masks or farces to hide our faults, habits or differences. To us that is what you are, a true friend. Friendship is something that surrounds us in such a natural way that we don’t even bother much to understand what it truly means. Maybe we can’t really express that meaning, but it’s good to know that there’s someone supporting us, even if sometimes they don’t fully agree with what we are thinking or doing and they don’t hesitate to show their point of view. That’s what true friends are like, because they know that a different opinion will not change a deep feeling of mutual and sincere trust. By Wendy Gutiérrez.

CHRISTMAS IN ARMENIA COSMOPOLITE Close to ax nestled on a tree trunk, at Parque Fundadores, there is a Fashion Café where the owner, an Italian from Rome, dwells. The first coffee of this little endeavor happened there, in Mozzafiato. I asked Baldassarre Aufiero about Christmas in Rome. For he, his Rome is the most beautiful city of the world, “certainly no comparison possible: each corner is Art, Culture and History from all time- from before the Romans up to the Renaissance of Michelangelo, Caput MundiCapital of the World, as the Latin people used to say” Well, I’m interested, How is Christmas there? –I asked- “We spend the Christmas holidays with family and eating a lot. Especially fish. And playing a familiar game called "tombola". Well on Christmas Eve we all go to Mass, the Mezzanotte. On New Year’s Eve we all dance and party all night until the next day, when we greet the New Year. He will be back in Rome shortly, ‘With the help of God’, to be with his big family: parents, sisters, his brother, nieces and nephews. And so, with a warm 'Ciao', I left the Café. Then I thought about continuing my journey and ask a little more about how my foreign friends live Christmas, what will happen in their hometowns this December. After walking fifteen minutes along avenue 14th, I arrive at the French Alliance of Armenia. Upon entering, I took my second coffee and I was lucky to meet Mr. Thomas, a French man from Anguulême (Charente). Pierre Thomas, the dedicated teacher, says that in his hometown Christmas is a family celebration in which a tree is decorated and the children put their shoes in front of

the fireplace so that the father can put the Christmas gifts that will be opened on the 25th, in the morning. The children go to bed early, but 24 adults have to remain sleepless: a midnight mass and a delicious and varied dinner that includes bread roll (Bûche de Noël), turkey with chestnuts (dinde aux marrons), oysters, foie gras and champagne. This evening is called Reveillon de Noël laying arise later on 25. After that, comes the next family celebration, Reveillon de San Silvestre, which is a farewell to the year that has passed. This year Mr. Pierre will spend the holidays with his Colombian wife, accompanying her to a farm to share a succulent pig with friends and family. Sitting in the English Café Club, I asked for my usual light breakfast with black coffee. To think of Ian was inevitable, because I wanted to ask him about their Christmas customs. But he was not there, he is with his family because of the sudden absence of his father. At that time, an American friend comes over and asks me how I am and what news I have of our British friend. A couple of phrases in, he becomes interested in answering my question about Christmas. The many details he wanted to express about Christmas left me with no choice but to propose a full page for the magazine. I’ve left our English Café Club to head home. But before that, I felt I had to pay a visit to that Middle-Eastern shop just in front of my usual bike parking lot, over the 14th avenue. But Of course I could not claim my fourth coffee; I have not the confidence and knowledge of their culture enough to dare ask, but still, curiosity was took over. Upstairs, and amongst symbols, ornaments, clothes and small mementos of Middle

Eastern culture, there was a Persian man.

displayed.

They don’t celebrate Christmas in his beloved Tehran. For starters, the Persian calendar puts us in 1391. Holidays: Christmas (for Christians) and Hanukkah (for Jews) are respected but very discreetly held by a minority compared to the 85 million people that inhabit Iran. They celebrated New Year ’s Eve in the March of our calendar. The family celebrates by eating Moah Polo (Fish and Rice) Mr. Hamidi is a disciplined man of great heart but still joins his Colombian wife and daughters in their Christmas celebration,

For Christmas 2012 I will be spending it with my Colombian wife in Armenia, Quindio along with her relatives arriving from Bogota, the capital city. Our home has already been decorated (inside and outside) with multicolor lights, has set up our Christmas tree, and displayed several Nativity models from my wife's collection (so far she has 10). For our midnight supper on Dec. 24th we plan to eat "tamales" (stuffed with rice, chicken and vegetables), "pernil" (roasted pig leg), "ajiaco bogotano" (soup made with chicken and 3 varieties of potatoes), "leche asada" (some sort of milk brule), "bunuelos" (fritters), "natilla" (custard), "breva con queso" (cooked fig with cheese), etc. We will be drinking avena, Colombian soda and "sangria" (mixed drink made of wine, orange liquor, brandy, orange juice and freshly cut oranges and apples).

Colombian style. He just doesn’t drink or smoke and at half past twelve the next day he will get up to go to work. At home, my Portuguese friend who lives in Armenia, Jose Morais, has written me. He is originally from the Cape Verde Islands, in the west coast of Africa, about 300 miles away from Senegal. He loves cultural events. He’s helped me with the questions: Our Christmas celebration in my home country usually starts on Dec. 24th (Christmas Eve) around 9pm, as we gather together (the entire family) to chat, eat snacks and drink. Around 11pm we start eating our "midnight supper", which consists of roasted turkey, "cachupa" (stew of hominy, beans, meat and veggies), yams, "cuscus" (steamed cornbread), cheese pudding, pineapple cake, figs, sugar-coated almond, etc. We drink juice, sweet wine (martini, Port wine), and "grog" (sugar cane liquor similar to rum). We don't have the habit to decorate our homes (inside NOR outside); however in many homes the Nativity and the Christmas tree are usually

Starting on Dec. 16th our community will be starting its own "novena" (nine evenings prior to Dec. 24th, in which we take daily turns to meet at different family homes to pray, sing Christmas songs - also called "villancicos" - and eat several Colombian delicacies. Now, taking my last coffee in the day, and while I write this, I wish peace for Ian and the Bonds. I hope to see him next year just so that I can ask him ‘How is Christmas there?’ I wish every single English Café Club Friend and member a very merry Christmans. By SHINGTSO/ shingtso@gmail.com

CHRISTMAS IN COLOMBIA VS “X-MAS” IN THE USA Not long ago someone asked me if I have noticed a difference in the way that the Christmas holiday is celebrated here in Colombia compared to my native United States. I must say while there are many similarities between the two there are also many cultural, holiday differences between these two wonderful countries. This could be a complicated topic. However, I would like to share two of my Christmas observations. The first is a basic religious contrast between the two cultures and the second is how my family celebrated a “normal” Christmas when I was growing up in a small town in Colorado. One of the strongest differences that I have noticed is how much more intensely and prominently Colombians celebrate this premier Christian holiday. It seems like everyone is celebrating the birth of Jesus in so many forms. You see his image and references to his birth throughout Colombian culture including: in schools, businesses, government buildings, buses, taxis, homes, hospital as well as in the media such as television and radio stations. In the United States this is totally different. You will see very few religious references and images to Jesus’ birth in churches outside of churches.

The United States’ constitution requires separation of church and state.” As a result, most advertising and commercial Christmas references are of a non-religious orientation i.e. Santa Claus. You know, when I grew up in the state of Colorado in the United States, I never questioned that the principal Christmas holiday was celebrated on December 25th. Our family as well as all the other families I knew would have maybe a Christmas Eve party on the evening of the 24th. Maybe after a little party my family and others would head to a Christmas Eve mass at the local church Catholic and many others. Then, if you were a kid…it was time to get to sleep very soon and wait for Santa Claus to deliver his gifts. Then, Christmas morning you would want to wake up as early as possible, walk out into the living room, and discover what Santa had brought. Of course, we had to wake our parents up to tell them what we had received. They always put on such a great “surprise” act for us!!! We NEVER suspected the real “Santa Claus truth.” Later in the morning we would open some more presents and have a nice breakfast. Early in the afternoon some of the family would become “couch potatoes” and watch American football games on the couch while others would go outside to play. Finally, about 2 or 3pm we would all gather around our big, family dining room table and have a big feast of turkey with all of the “fixin’s.”

Truman Capote once wrote a celebrated narration bearing exactly the same title of this one. Through his Christmas memory one realizes that he was a lonely child, having no one but a single friend who was at least 50 years older than he was. They had a natural talent to make the most of Christmas. In their eyes this season was simple, unpretentious, and beautiful. That was the way I used to perceive it in my childhood.

CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY

The image of a large green pine, packed with Christmas ornaments, twinkling in the darkness. I remember that December used to last longer, years used to last longer. For some reason I do think that the clock strikes used to be more generous. In My Christmas memories lack does not exist. I suppose it was also the fantasy for the day to come, the mysticism and the ignorance (or maybe innocence) about the One who was to bring the presents on Christmas Eve. No other child could be happier, for I received the perfect presents. The two cousins I lived with were equally happy, but we did not realise that we were having such a special time. None of us realised that, even though we were privileged, we were suffused with joy. There must be something powerful in the soul of a child to perceive reality the way he does. I understand it is transparency, the same lingering transparency Miss Faulk, sixty-something-year-old Truman Capote´s mate, still had for Christmas, as the author says, “my friend, my pal…she is still a child”. DALIHANA BAZAN

ACROSS 1. Object with ringing sound 2. Jesus’ place of birth 3. He died on a cross for people’s sins 5. The night before Christmas 6. The mother of Jesus 7. A man who watch over his flock

DOWN 3. Earthly father of Jesus 4. What the wise men saw to let them know the Savior had been born 8. Decorative foliage (inverted) 9. Where the baby Jesus was laid.

Designed and designed by shingtso/ shingtso@gmail.com

2 0 1 2

THE ENGLISH CAFE CLUB CAN BE FOUND IN THE UNIQUINDIO, AT MARIA CANO, BEHIND THE LIBRARY, NEXT TO THE CHAPEL. ITS OPEN FROM MON TO FRI 800AM-200PM AND ONLY ENGLISH IS SPOKEN THERE ! english.cafe.club.magazine @ gmail.com