{"id":465,"date":"2011-05-12T19:31:55","date_gmt":"2011-05-13T00:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/?p=465"},"modified":"2016-02-19T20:34:19","modified_gmt":"2016-02-20T01:34:19","slug":"5-more-little-differences-between-english-and-colombian-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/2011\/05\/5-more-little-differences-between-english-and-colombian-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"5 (more) Little Differences Between English and Colombian Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few weeks ago I wrote a little feature called 5 Little Differences Between English and Colombian Culture. Well, today I’ve decided to continue with that and approach these differences from a personal perspective: how do people interact, what makes them different? Here’s 5 things I’ve found that make Colombians stand out from other cultures.<\/p>\n

People shake hands<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Welcome!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This might not sound so strange since we English-speakers enjoy a good handshake, too. What you swiftly realize here in Colombia, however, is that unlike in England where we might shake hands the first few times we meet someone, the people here shake hands every<\/em> time they meet. It\u2019s a much easier situation; to know unequivocally that you will <\/em>shake hands (or, with a girl, a kiss on the cheek) is much better than in England where I spend far too long wondering whether a kiss, hug, handshake, head nod or \u201calright\u201d is going to be appropriate, only to extend some open arms that are met with an extended palm in my chest. Awkward. And bruisy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

People are polite. No, really<\/em> polite.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
In Colombia good manners are part of the culture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Us English folk have a reputation of having exceptional manners. While I maintain it\u2019s true in terms of table manners, holding doors open etc, I don\u2019t think we\u2019re quite as polite when we talk. In fact, often we opt for a barely audible mumble. Here in Colombia it\u2019s quite different. Almost without fail you\u2019re greeted with a polite \u2018Buenas tardes\u2019 <\/em>and \u2018\u00bfcomo estas?\u2019<\/em>, or even \u2018A la orden\u2019<\/em> (at your service). What will follow is a barrage of attempts to make sure you\u2019re absolutely fine and your every need is catered for (more on that later), which is great until you start feeling bad that you actually don\u2019t need anything else. Still, if you\u2019re finished, you\u2019ll be politely seen off with \u2018que estas muy bien\u2019<\/em> (roughly, be very well). Lovely gente<\/em>.<\/p>\n

People order food really fast<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cooking up a storm – probably 2 minutes after we enter the restaurant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maybe this is just me being indecisive (then again, maybe not\u2026), but it seems to me that Colombians order food incredibly fast. Often before I\u2019ve even begun to look at my menu the waiter is at the table and my Colombian amigos<\/em> are ordering. I watch distractedly as the order circles around the table, eventually reaching a bumbling and fumbling me, trying to locate something on the menu I can recall being recommended. Fortunately, as you\u2019ll have read above, Colombians are also really polite and they\u2019ll quickly lean across me to point out something they know I\u2019ll enjoy.<\/p>\n

People love to help you<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
In Colombia people help you, not machines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2026Which brings me nicely to my next point. People here love to help you. Absolutely everyone I\u2019ve met goes out of their way to ensure I\u2019m safe, happy and know exactly where I\u2019m going and how to get there. As a fairly confident traveler, there\u2019s times when I absolutely insist I\u2019ll be fine taking the bus (for example), only to have my Colombian friend insist even harder that they\u2019ll walk me to the bus to hail it for me. Similarly, I\u2019ve been in taxis, not knowing exactly which house I\u2019m going to and the driver has waited with me until he knew I\u2019d found the right place. Even then, as I wandered around, people stopped in the street to ask if they could help. Relinquish your pride, amigos, and just accept people\u2019s help here in Colombia, because they actually<\/em> want<\/em> to give it.<\/p>\n

People like to party<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Not exactly typical dress for a party…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not to suggest all the Colombians I’ve met are raging alcoholics or anything, because that would be a lie, but in my experience Colombians do love a good party. In fact, most my Colombian friends are happy to dance and party without touching a drop of alcohol, and not just week nights either. A little like Buenos Aires (only going to bed at a humane hour), people here are happy to join you for a little rumba almost any night of the week and, since they don’t even need to drink much, they’ll be just fine for work the next day. Not me, of course. I need to loosen up before I find my way to the dance floor and unleash my inner John Travolta.<\/p>\n

Paul<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A few weeks ago I wrote a little feature called 5 Little Differences Between English and Colombian Culture. Well, today I’ve decided to continue with that and approach these differences from a personal perspective: how do people interact, what makes them different? Here’s 5 things I’ve found that make Colombians stand out from other cultures. 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