Magazine Awesome Colombia by Viviana

AWESOME AN UNUSUAL BUT FASCINATING JOB

MUSIC IN COLOMBIA

COLOMBIAN MYTHS AND LEGENDS

VACATIONS IN COLOMBIA

COLOMBIA CITIES AND CULTURES

TYPICAL FOOD IN COLOMBIA

INTERESTING ARTICLES! HOW THE SCHOOL TEACHERS PREVENT AND CONTROL THE VIOLENCE INTO THE CLASSROOM? IS IT POSIBLE TO QUIT SMOKING? MOTOCROSS IN COLOMBIA

n this Magazine you can find different articles about interesting topics of Colombian culture. Also, there are several articles that be thought-provoking concerned our Colombian reality.

1. Typical food in Colombia………………………….............………….4 2. Music in Colombia ……………………………………......…………..6

3. Colombia cities an culture………………………………………...…8 4. Vacations in Colombia ………………………………………...……..10

5. Colombia myths and legends…………………………...…..……….12

6. An unusual but fascinating job…....................................................14

7. How the school teachers prevent and control the violence into the classroom?.....................................................................................17

8. Is it possible to quit smoking?.........................................................19 9. Motocross in Colombia …………………......................................…21

Written by Myriam Carrillo his wonderful country has different food. In Colombia you can enjoy all dishes, however it depends on which city you are in, but, always you can find all dishes in all parts, for example, in Bogota city you can eat bandeja paisa, tamal, ternera a la llanera, mute, etcâ&#x20AC;Ś .Further, the gastronomy of Colombia is the result of a fusion of food and culinary traditions, and even if Colombia does not have a typical dish that represents all the Colombian gastronomy, the arepa and sancocho stand out as the most representative. Colombian dishes vary in preparation and ingredients by regiĂłn. Some of the most common ingredients in the preparations are cereals such as rice and corn, potatoes, choken, meats, among others. Additionally, we will know the different gastronomic cultures of the main cities of Colombia, to find and know the great variety of dishes with their cultural different and traditions that characterize our country, we will also know some of the best cooks of Colombia.

Daily food is different in cities around Colombia, for example, in Medellin city people eat for breakfast arepa, calentado de frijoles and chocolate, but, in Bogota city people eat bread with chocolate, eggs or changua. Also, in Cali city for lunch people eat

sancocho de gallina it is usually accompanied with patacones, white, rice, chili and avocado. But, in Cartagena city people eat for lunch fish mojarra and red snapper, which comes accompanied with

patacon pisao ,rice with coconut and salad.In addition,in the main cities we find different fast food, for instance, empanadas, cholao, ants, culonas, arepa rellena, chicharron, envuelto, almohabanas among others. In Colombia leads the list of the so best restaurants in Latin America, the chef Leonor Espinosa was the winner for rescuiting local ingredients and transforming them into new dishes. It is a restaurant that supports the culinary artisans and local products. Finally, the new generation of chef in Colombia are seven talented young Colombian chefs Ivan Cadena, Marcela Arango, Maria Garcia, Jennifer Rodriguez, Alex Salgado, David Rodriguez and Pablo Ravassa, Colombians, their kitchens and their flavors are directed to our culture and culinary tradition it is a

brotherhood of chefs that has the same objective, rescue, promote and highlight Colombian cuisine in all it is essence, from the peasant, artisan and producer, through the techniques and ancestral recipes, to the ingredients, creating novel, fun and tasty proposal in order to enamorar his clients with the flavors of the country. I invite you to visit our Country and know our great gastronomic variety of the different cities of our Country, you will find the gastronomy for all tastes and for all budgets, you just have to cheer yourself up and take the first step, you will not regret it.

Written by Alejandra Gualdrón

olombia is a country with a lot of kind of music and this music is very interesting and excellent to enjoy it. The type pf music that represent Colombia is Vallenato, it is a part of the music of the Colombia’s Caribbean coast, this Colombian musical rhythm is one of those that has gained popularity at national and international level, usually with the accordion, box and guacaracha are interpretation Vallenato. Colombia has some famous singers around the world because people like the lyrics, rhythms, voices singers and their concerts.

all over the country, and the last years it has been known by artist like Carlos Vives. In the Andina region, the genres were developed on string instruments, like the corredor, bambuco, guabiana and toberllino (dance) in addition, the salsa entered to Colombia to a coast Pacifica and o Cali became the capital of salsa, the first salsero movement was ‘’Fruko y sus tesos’’ group, then ‘’Niche group’’ assumed the movement. Some famous singers that represent the different musical genres of Colombia like Jorge Celedón to the vallenato, he was born on March 4, 1968 in Villanueva, Guajira. Celedon won a Latin Grammin in 2007, in the cumbia vallenato category, his wellknow most songs as ‘’no te olvidare’’, ‘’ay hombre’’ and ‘’tengo corazon’’ on the other hand Juan Aristizabal was born on August 9, 1972 in Medellin, Antioquia better known as Juanes, he is Colombian singer, song writer and activist of pop and in Spanish.

Colombia’s music around the world is very representative from our culture and history in some lyrics. This music has various genres that identify each region, the cumbia is one of musical genres most representative of all the categories of Colombian flock music. The Vallenato also of great importance has its origin in Valledupar’s province of the maroon slaves of the colonial period with the instruments, gave this genre spread 6

In conclusion, the music that Colombia has is very famous in different places for the excellent singers that represent our country, it is important to recognize what are the Colombiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s genres culture? For example, cumbia as flock music, also in emphasize the Vallenato

and salsa with its interesting singers and lyrics and other important Colombian classics, further, it is important to know about the culture that belongs us and when someone asks you about Colombia, you can talk at it.

Written by Luis Alejandro Cristancho Gonzalez

s Colombia an interesting place to travel and to know its cities and typical cultures? Colombia is a very fascinating country to travel and enjoy the culture, because here we have a bunch of different customs. I love Colombia and I think that there are sufficient reasons to try different dishes, music and the culture from each city. This is the fact why I’m going to talk to you about main cities that are rich of culture and why Colombia is a paradise.

capital of Colombia its population comes from all regions and also hosts a increasing number of people from other countries, this makes the city a great place to find different offers of cultural activities, museums, historic buildings, and a great variety of food and in other cities the typical customs are different. We have a rich cultural heritage in all of our territory this is a reason to think in comes here and enjoy Colombia. Also near to Bogotá and other cities are beautiful towns in which you can spend your day eating o trying dishes and desserts, knowing important or emblematic places, like “el Salto de Tequendama, El Cerro de Monserrate, El Chorro de Quevedo that are in Bogota, in Cartagena de Indias visit The Castle of San Felipe de Barajas, The walled city, The House of

Colombia's diverse culture is a product of its unique history, and it’s African, European and Native Indian influences. Due to its rich heritage Colombia is an attractive country with a lot of cities that you can to enjoy and know important things and don’t forget the great people there. The most populated and principal cities are Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena, Bogota is the 8

Rafael Nunez and historical places and museums, and many places with magical history.

changes in each city, for example in Bogota we say “Bolsa, Escaleras and Cerveza, and in Medellin or some Antioquia towns people say “Chuspa, Escalas and Chela.” Colombia is the greatest place to take your vacations, spend your time knowing histories, cultures, taking photos and making great memories. Just here are some reasons why I say that Colombia is a paradise

The culture in our cities is different because in each city are different customs and behaviors and the people there are used to do and celebrate traditional parties and holidays, some important days in Colombia are Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Independence Day, Battle of Boyacá Day, Independence of Cartagena, and Feast of the Immaculate Conception, that are only some of feast or parties that are in Colombia, it depends to the date and the city. In Colombia you will find cities in which people speaks in different accents, and uses words that have many meanings that

Don’t waste your time thinking in other places. In Colombia you will find cities, cultures, and things that I didn’t tell you, like a great night life, very good places in which you can buy gifts, handicrafts, delicious food and nice clothes. Don’t forget, Colombia is a paradise in the world.

Written by Viviana Otálora Cortés

f you want to take beautiful and memorable vacations you´d better go to Colombia. In this territory there are a lot of touristic places, you can select some places according to you preferences and likewise choose peculiar activities about the region or zone that you select. For this reason, in this article I want to show you three kind of touristic places, natural places, to visit, religious and historical places if you want to learn about Colombian´s history and culture, as well as relax places if you want calmer vacations. In all regions of Colombia there are a lot of natural places to visit, all with unique characteristics that will more you get in touch with nature. Each region has its own climate, fauna, flora, as well as rivers, lakes, watersheds or waterfalls. In this different regions of the country you can find natural parks for example in the Caribbean region are Tayrona Natural Park, Natural Park of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, In Amazonia Region is Chiribiquete Natural Park and the

Andes Region is Purace Park. Besides, there are other kinds of natural places like desert, mountains and islands. In all places you can do different activities as well as sports and cultural ones that you to know the country more deeply. Another kind of places that you can visit in Colombia have to do towards the historical and religious orientation of the country, in this kind of trip you can know more closely the Colombian´s history and some religious beliefs. In relation to historical places also there as a wide variety of places that you can visit in all country, like San Felipe Castle In Cartagena, Historical Town in Popayan, Ciudad Perdida in Santa Marta Bolivar Square in Bogotá etc… About the religious places you can visit a lot of churches around the country for example Lajas sanctuary in Ipiales, Nieves Chapel in Giron Santander, Monserrate Mountain and church in Bogotá, Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica in Medellin, among 10

hundreds of other churches in which you can do or practice of religious activities like religion procession, Eucharist and other activities in historical places like guided walking or cycling tours and talks about Colombian history and culture. And the other kind of vacation places, are places are you can hinge on company of beautiful beaches, landscape, quite village among other places in which you feel relaxed and like new, in this kind of places you can stay away frame the routine and worrier and you can find those in all parts of Colombia depending on the climate by which you want to pass, the places that you want to see among other preference that you have. Among the places you can visit in your relaxed vacation are some thermals some village of Cundinamarca, QuindĂo and BoyacĂĄ; horseback riding in Villa de Leyva or Barichara Santander, also you can visit some landscapes in Huila or Eje Cafetero and camp out between the nature and you can visit the beautiful and calm beaches of San Andres, Santa Marta or

some islands. This kind of trip has a lot of activities and unique place that can give you tranquility and rest. In conclusion, Colombia is a terrific place to visit because you can find a lot of touristic places around the country to visit like natural places as well as natural reserve or parks with diversity things, religious and historical places in which you can know the history and costumes of our country, and relaxed places where you can walk away the routine and take a calm vacations in naturals thermals and outdoor camps. Also, in each of these places you can meet a lot of activities depending on the kind of trip that you want. If you want to take different, unique and fascinating vacations come to Colombia, in all regions you can find a lot of places with unique characteristics and things to know and discover.

Written by Jorge Ivan Campos Castaño

olombia is full of magic and mystery, so that its mythology embarks a rich cosmology of creatures and tales. So much so there is rarely a village in the country that doesn’t have its own spirit or superstition, in this way, over the years those stories have become so entrenched in the national culture they are known countrywide since have been passed out through generation to generation, shaping the customs and believes of the Colombian people today. However, it wouldn’t be possible without the encounter and assimilation of Spaniards, Native Indians and African slaves during the colonization period marked the rise of a new culture rich in language and customs. So that Myths and Legends of Colombia aim to stress the importance of the oral tradition and how this has survived through time in the form of a culture diverse in beliefs joined by the magic of the unexplainable. Myths and legends took shape thanks to the collective imagination of people and provided the first nonscientific explanations for natural phenomena and interpretations for unexplainable events. Some of them are common with other Latin

American countries but this article is going to emphasize in a few of the most important Colombian myths. The Mohan is probably the greatest referent of the myths and legends in Colombia. Although his description does vary from place to place, he is usually a huge creature, covered in long hair with claws like nails. Sometimes he has red eyes and gold teeth and loves the mischievousness. Fishermen say The Mohan capsizes boats and steals bait and hooks. Washerwomen claim he bewitches girls with music and tricks. He is also said to guard ancient treasures in his underground palace and his appearance heralds the arrival of floods, earthquakes and plagues. The Mohan is sometimes known as “Poira” and his story is most commonly told in Tolima. The Llorona is a wandering woman who cries and screams while 12

carries a dead child in her arms. Her appearance is muddy, wild-eyed, dressed in rags and never shows her face, the spirit is said to stalk lonely places and appear to anyone that walks late on the streets. There are different versions of her story, some say she was a jealous woman who killed herself, and a child she had with her lover, when she heard her errant husband was returning to the war. Also she kills her child by drowning him, in order to be with the man that she loved, however it is rejected anyway. This story is particularly popular in eastern Colombia.

drag all over the ground and proclaims his menacing phrase: “if I reach you, I’ll put this hat on you”. The significance of myths and legends within the culture has been very relevant because, in their content, reflect the beliefs and ideologies of society. In addition from these, customs and traditions emerge and make characteristic the place where they are developed. Thus, the oral tradition forms part of the popular culture which allows, preserves and maintains by means of time, the most representative customs of a group. In this way, this article is a small reflection about our cultural identity, since, in the desire to immerse ourselves in the knowledge of the world, we have forgotten to value the traditions of our country. We must not forget the legacy of the cultures that determine what we are as members of the same national territory and have been maintained through years of history in an unidentified Colombia where foreign ideologies and traditions continue to blend, which simply reflect the little we know of our culture and history

The Sombreron is recognized for wearing all in black, using his black poncho, hat and for traveling on his black mule with his two big black dogs restrained by heavy chains. This legend supposedly began with a real villager that was a sternfaced, well-dressed man who harmed no-one. But when he died his spirit became the terror of those who wander the street at night (drunks, cheaters, gamblers and thieves). The Sombreron is said to chase his victims through lonely places, he makes noisy appearances galloping and whistling, letting the dog´s chains 13

Written by Odmahr Forero

hell peas and beans, more than a job, it is a skill that people learn to develop, and so they can do it without any effort or complication, you only need to be fast and steady. That work helps people who don’t have the skill to qualify in a company by the advanced age to work or for some illness that prevented them to work or to have an academic and financial level lows or to have to live without the help of a partner at home. Because in all the cases they have to work by their children and take care of them, alone. In this opportunity, I would teach the secrets to learn this skill that you could help in your life financially If you don’t have a good job. HOW DO YOU GET TO LEARN TO DO IT? You have to shell peas only with a hand above all, whether you want to get a lot of money in less time, since you couldn’t get a good salary if you

shell peas with both hands of these way, you couldn’t do it if you don’t have the necessary skill. There was an employer in my local store that learned to do it about fifteen days more or less I remind. Because you could get to develop this skill yourself while you do shell. I’ve taught to shell peas since 2008.Also,I’m going to learn some secrets to do it the right way TIPS TO LEARN TO CARRY IT OUT First, you have to grasp it from the tip of the shell with your thumb and index finger. Second, you must press it on with these fingers meanwhile, the other ones can finish to shell it. After, the shell is thrown toward back. While a hand finished to shell the pea the next hand is seizing other pea likewise the first one. And so you could keep up with your both hands. You must use the fingertip to break the shell and not your nails, since you could hurt your fingers. Before starting, you must warm up the sinew of the 14

hands with exercise not to mistreat your hands. And so you could shell a pound of pea only in three minutes. Therefore, you could shell between 12 or 14 pounds per hour. The next secret consisted in catch it, and you must put the thumb in the tip of the pea. Then, you have to put one and must slide one through the shell and subsequently the shell is thrown towards the back. These techniques has been so great although, It is effective to shell peas. In fact, you get ten pounds per hour.

vegetables local stores in Corabastos. The people who help me shell between 600 and 800 pounds of peas daily in my own vegetables local store. Otherwise, the storekeeper on this country couldn’t sell many pea in their grocery stores in Bogota. Whereas some storekeepers sell 10 or 20 pounds per day. As revealed by themselves that in other stores they sell between 50 and 100 pounds per day. According to my own research, the pea is one of the most sold in this country. Therefore, It is a necessary vegetable in everywhere. If a customer enters the shop and doesn’t find pea, he doesn’t purchase other products that he had to carry.

WHY IS THIS JOB SO IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY? The people who’s working for me, they have improved their lives. Also, they rely on themselves to get a lot of money if they carry it out faster. They could put their own salary without any experience to work in different areas. They just must know to shell peas well and fast. My employers have spent to learn it about twenty days or a month. In the case of mine, I spent to learn to do it about a month. People shell about 10.000 pounds daily between people that’s working in this activity in different

WHERE COULD YOU PRACTICE, AND DEVELOP THIS SKILL? There are 87 vegetables local stores in Corabastos. where many people have the opportunity to learn and keep up to shell correctly. I have my own vegetables local store. Furthermore, there are ten employees who help me to shell the pea, Moreover, some of them have many years of experience developing the skill to shell one on this job. I have worked with my wife 15

since 2008. Also, we have worked together all the time. We have to do business, buying and selling the peas. As well as I work like a business man, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the manager of our employees. I must pay them about $400 the pound they will be able to shell. IN the case of people who begins by first time, they get to shell about 30 or 40 pounds daily. However, there are people who get to shell between 80 and 100 pounds daily. Therefore, I must to pay the salary to each of them between $20.000 and $40.000 daily. I have had to pay up to sixty thousand pesos of salary to the person who has gotten to shell 150 pounds during nine hours.

Finally, shell has been a way of job to improve their lives in my own community. This technique has been effective to develop that skill also, to get a good salary because whether you do not make it moreover, if you are shelling of the traditional way, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough money. that activity has done that many families have progressed moreover, they have improved their life of style and have gotten new opportunities to study and give one their children too. That activity has helped to give job to people that couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get one also, to help with the lack of jobs in this city that we live.

Written by Maria de los Angeles Quintero Garcia

wo years ago I was working in a school as a mathematics and physics teacher, it was my first job when I found a student with aggressive behavior. This student was very violent with the other classmates; I saw how this student hit three students at the same time. I sent this student to the coordinator in looking for help but when the coordinator spoke with this kid, the coordinator was aggressive too! But all the schools should help students who act aggressively. Because of that, the people who work in a school must learn about this topic every day. For example, the UNESCO has a guide for teachers because is necessary that the teachers learn about: how they can identify and help children with aggressive behavior, because they can react in two different ways.

The teachers who react in a bad way, are those ones who don’t know how to react when they find one or more students that act with violent behavior. Some of the research done by Jaana Juvonen, one of the most important teacher and researcher at UNESCO, shows a few examples that she found in the research about jesting that some teachers use in a high school when they confront cases of violence into the classroom, like: “You are the rotten apple” or “You are the worst student that I’ve ever had”. Another article by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) indicates two of the worst reactions that could have with the aggressive student, are the ones: when they answer with equal behavior and allow that one student harms physical or psychological integrity of the others. All this happens because teachers don’t know how to react. 17

On the other hand, the teachers who know how to react when they identify a student with violent behavior are those ones who create supportive and safety spaces for the student with aggressive behavior and his/her partners in and out of the classroom. According to the guide for teachers “Stopping violence in schools” written by the UNESCO there are specifically 10 actions to stop violence in the school among them the two more relevant are: The teachers propose an environment of constant dialogue and include all the community (classmates, teachers, counsellors, family members and others) to build a healthy environment for all the students. This may be possible if all

the teachers learn and apply these things. In conclusion, the teachers have to research about the possible causes of this bad behavior individually without generalizing (for each aggressive student). They should pay more attention to the different forms of violence and their consequences in that way they can help to the students with aggressive behavior. And, all the school community always must observe the students and their behaviors and if it changes, it can be an alert so listen, talk and help. In my opinion, there are many sources that we as teachers can read to learn in this way we can be the difference starting from school with children and remember the proverb says “Educate children and you will not have to punish men”

Written by Brayan Leonardo Rueda

moking in Colombia is constantly increasing, young people are more likely to take this habit, knowing that it is one of the main causes of death in the world, according to a report by Corporate Accountability International (CAI) Twenty percent

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if it is possible to leave these habits is enough to follow some steps to eradicate this threat of our lives, but the best solution, is the prevention and arrest of this habit. The World Health Organization has 10 tips you eliminate tobacco from people. 1. Indicate the date when you smoked the last cigar. 2. You have to change your routine. 3. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look for excuses to quit. 4. You must think positively. 5. You should exercise and stay active. 6. You should a drink lots of liquids. 7. You must control your meals. 8. Think about the day. 9. Seek the support of your family and friends. 10. If possible professional help.

of Colombians are smokers, this produces about seventy-two deaths a day from smoking a cigarette seems harmless and sometimes causes no effects on people, but, still remains a threat to society, other than being the leading cause of lung cancer, produces in people, respiratory failure, Pneumonia, bronchitis, pulmonary obstruction diseases and others. Now, id it possible to quit smoking?

With these simple advices and adopting the right decision many 19

people can make their lives better, their health will improve progressively and changes will be seen immediately, will have benefits, not only for them, but also for their relatives, everything is a process in which it is necessary to have patience, character and willpower.

from the house, schools universities, just say No!

and

Smoking donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make you look more attractive, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make you popular, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make you look sexy, this habit is a slow death for you, finish your money, finish your physique, smoke takes you away from your loved ones, smoking is a burder to you. If you want to have a healthy, long and lasting life you should eradicate it from your life and if possible never smoke cigarette.

It is necessary to affirm that the best solution is avoid the use of cigarettes in your life from beginning, we have to prevent it

Written by Daniel Rodriguez

he motocross in Colombia is not similar than the American’s motocross, Why?

violent changes of Water courses, etc., and on a surface of earth that is generally muddy. All this makes that in the races of motocross are followed by jumps and skidding. Over time, motocross has derived in different parallel disciplines, such as free-style and supermotard, the latter a mixture between motocross and speed motorcycling that is performed on mixed surfaces (asphalt and dirt)

Because in United States this type of sport is so cheap, they have lot’s of sponsors like Red bull, Fox etc. In the 90’s Colombia had a big quantity of harriers and sponsors but with the time this sport is less, because it is so expensive and without sponsors. I’m going to talk about the meaning of motocross and the categories of this.

Supermoto Supermotard is a fusion between road motorcycling and motocross. Races commonly take place on tracks with off-road sections within the same circuit; approximately 70% is of asphalt and the remaining 30% is of land and usually with some jump. Motorcycles are often creations made from off-road motorcycles with race wheels or motorcycle tires. Drivers also wear a combination of race and off-road suits, usually leather, helmets and off-road boots. Unlike normal road

Motocross is a motorcycle discipline that takes place on unpaved circuits or in the field and in which the different participants compete for a race in order to finish in first position in the goal. It is one of the most spectacular motorcycling modalities, combining speed and skill to control the motorcycle against the natural (and in some cases artificial) irregularities of the terrain, with closed corners, mounds, bumps, 21

competitions, the emphasis is on slow runs (maximum speeds below 100 mph / 195 km / h), and long runs with many curves, where competitor skills are more important than machine performance.

objective is to make trips usually outdoors through the field, or in controlled circuits, similar to motocross but of greater distance. It is similar to a vehicle rally, in which competitors must perform the routes by routes established in indicated intervals of time. The term "enduro" comes from the English endurance ("resistance")

Enduro The Enduro (or also, All Terrain) is a motorcycling mode whose