Colombia Among Colombians: Introductory Comments

Colombians Are New-World Americans

             They live on and in the best part of  of the far north of South America. They are largely of Spanish heritage and they speak Spanish.

            When you intend to visit Colombia, it may contribute to your pleasure to be prepared to deal with Colombians in their own language. You can have have an oral translation app on your iPhone, or a bilingual friend with you. You might take some Spanish language lessons where you live or sign up for some here in Colombia. All the biggest cities and the more important tourist cities have language schools available when there is no pandemic. It's also possible to arrange to have your visit guided by one who speaks your language.

            If you are making realistic plans for a visit, investigate getting a correct chip for your mobile phone. It may be that phones of your country won't work here without a change of chips. There are smartphones available here, but you could find them an unneeded expense.

However, with some care, you can buy an ordinary cell phone here and have it nicely set up for use at a reasonable price.

            In many parts of the major cities and tourist areas one finds pleasing places to eat and sleep. It is good to take special care of your eating at first without being overly fearful of trying local specialties. When eating at a bit less than average restaurant, it may be best to stick with dishes hot off the stove.

                Ah, yes. In those same parts of tourist areas and major cities you have a fair chance meeting travelers or Colombians with whom you may speak your own language.

            Enough about you.

            This is meant to be a series of tiny essays about Colombia and Colombia. But first, a few words about me.

            I am an old American citizen who has lived in Colombia among Colombians for some time. Some have said to me, "Why haven't you written about Colombia?" and "Why don't you write about Colombia?" and other such questions. Instead of considering answers, I thought, "Why not?" I thought to myself, "I can note some observations of mine and maybe even say something about what I have made of them."

            

More About Colombia and Colombians:  Come for a visit. The flight from the south of Florida is cheap.                
 

                 I've been in Colombia for some time and know something about Colombians and their beautiful country. I began to get acquainted with Colombia in the early 1960s, so I ought to now more about Colombia than I do. But, I left. But, I've been back for about eight years. I still have a lot to learn and find that I am beginning to forget.

     

                OK; you may know more about Colombia than I do. Please correct the errors you encounter here, even errors of omission. Also tell me when I have been right on, even if was just a good flight of fancy, or not so fancy. There is a "comments" widow below which is there for you to use.

                There is a lot to learn about Colombia. It may approach infinite. Online you can check out flights to this land of  high mountains,  nice beaches, plains, desert, some jungle, and surprises. Check out prices here for a  a pleasant little surprise. Then pack a small bag and come on down.

             

                Colombians are New World Americans who live in the best part of the far north of South America. They are largely of Spanish heritage and speak Spanish. When you do intend to visit, it may improve the quality of your visit to be prepared to deal with Colombians in their own language. Have an oral translation app on your smart phone or have a bilingual friend with you. You might take a Spanish class where you live or better yet begin some classes right here. Its easy to extend your visa and take some more classes. There are plenty of language schools available.

 

                In your realistic plans for a visit investigate getting a correct chip for your mobile phone. It is likely that your phone won't work here without a change of chips. There are smart phones available here, but you may find them expensive. However, you can, with some care, buy an ordinary mobile phone and have it nicely set up for you to use here at a reasonable price.

 

                In major cities and tourist centers you can find places in which you will be pleased to eat or sleep. In hostels and some hotels you will find Colombians who speak your language or English. You can also find fellow travelers with whom you can speak and share info. Enough about you.

 

Troubles:              

 Colombia like Ireland and many other countries around the world have had their troubles, some of it violent. Much of Colombian troubles have been with Colombians. If you care to understand more about such troubles, study the first 20, 30, or 40 years of U.S. just after our Civil War, not very civil. Why did some Americans come to see some of the people of the South as a sort of underclass. Why did some 50 years after that "Civil" war did some think that damn Yankee was one word.

 

                There are a significant number of Colombians who have bee interested in " a Dialogue for Peace." And, a significant number of them have been disappointed in the process. Still they have considered dialogue and they still have an understanding that some kind of communication may help maintain a better social balance.

 

                Colombians like America and Americans; their respect for them has become more realistic. Many Colombians  have come to really love Disney Land. They go their as much as they can. The great little city of Medellin and its international airport are closer to Florida Disney Land  than is Los Angeles, California.

 

                Not all Colombians who go to the U.S. are tourists who go to Disneyland or to visit relatives in Boston. Some go to work. Recently two such were talking on an international call. A: in Colombia had called his friend in USA. After an exchange of "How are you s" and such A: says, "What are you eating?" B: answers "This America food" A: replies, "Man that stuff tastes like shit."  B: Answers, "Yeah, but its gringo shit." You may not understand this or you may think it is vulgar nonsense. However, these two workmen did not know that anyone was listening to their conversation; and they understood one another, and irony.

     

            Those of you who will visit here are likely to find that Colombians like you, and find you interesting. You may find them to be more courteous than many of your countrymen. Still it is a different part of the world and and a different world view. 

 

            One afternoon I was in a short line waiting to buy a bus ticket. I was getting close to the ticket window and was talking with a couple I had just met who were inviting me to visit them at their home. I was not surprised by that because I had experienced similar invitations. What did surprise me was a group of four suddenly cutting in line in front of us to buy their tickets. I was more than surprised. I was shocked at this happening without a word from the four. The couple noted my reaction and calmly told me that the four were not well brought up and that they were about to miss their bus, which seemed very important to them.              

            

            Thank you for reading.

 

                                                                                                         RCS

 

                                                                          

 

VERY Short Intro to Early Irish Genomes

Brief video peek into what genetics may tell us about ancient history. Ireland is a wonderful place to begin.

                                                                                                                            rcs

Benefits of the Dialogue

Dialogue With RCS: more meaning in you your life, better understand others, a way to a better world, being listened to.  
           

                On this new blog I intend to continue a number of posts on a kind of dialogue with which you may be becoming familiar. Some churches, corporations, civic organizations, and others have been this sort of dialogue for years, so it is not brand new.

               

                For those who may not be certain of what I mean by dialogue, In brief, it is meaningful talk within groups.

                

                Below I will begin to note a few of the dialogue's benefits. As we are now on the internet I will say now that, I do not know of cases of the dialogue's being used successfully online. However, I believe that it is now possible to do so, but am not sure how. If you would like to suggest something the "comments" window below is for your use.

                

                As I know it the dialogue is best used face to face, in person. And seems most effective in groups of between 20 and 40 participants. Groups of 15 and less have been please with it. Much of it can be used to good effect between husband and wife. It has been used with groups with groups much larger than 40 with professional facilitators and more as a demonstration than as well functioning group. I would like to see it use online. 

                

                The following list is far from inclusive and not completely representative, but can serve to introduce something of the dialogue.

                I am calling it the dialogue now, have called it Magic Table Dialogue and Dialogue For Peace.

                    

 Benefits include:

~ learning to make yourself heard.

~ being heard.

~ being listened to.

~ coming to enjoy being heard.

~ an opportunity for the practice of listening.

~ learning that dialogue is more than talk.

~ gaining motivation to listen.

~ improving your use of language.

~ practicing a language new to you.

~ learning new listening skills.

~ the possibility of getting in touch with traditions of knowledge new to you. 

~ getting to know yourself better.

~ getting to know an interesting other.

~ knowing new people.

~ having fun while realizing that the dialogue is a serious activity.

~ experiencing the creation of culture. 

~  increasing your word power.

~ Seeing how better dialogue can be a way to a better world.

~ sharing meaning and understanding.

~ the possibility of beginning an interesting new exploration with safe, comfortable "baby steps." Still there might come a time that you will want to take a step beyond your comfort zone.

~ improving your ability understand others, even those quite different from you.

~ learning more of the effect of assumptions in our lives.

~ the possibility of increased meaning and understanding in our lives.

                                     

                 More to come.

                There are about 50 little essays at Dialogues With RCS. It's okay if you read a couple.

                Thank you for reading!

                                                                                                              RCS

 

 

Irelands Treasures Uncovered

Organization, Effective Citizenship, and the Power to Do

  Governance With RCS: Organization, Effective Citizenship, and the Power to Do
               

Organization                 

Your organization can make you a more effective citizen. There seems to be a new or renewed urge toward new political organization and active citizenship these days. Many of us have a growing understanding of democracy. We see that more active citizenship brings more democracy.

                A new organization is much like an old organization. It takes people to organize, but many of those organizing are new not old. Persons new to organizing, especially political organizing, have a lot to learn. Their energy and enthusiasm will be an important aid to their progress. 

                An organization may have a beginning in individual minds, but its realization will be in a group. A group of people is most often a mess and a mess of people is not an organization. To become an organization there are doings such a mess of people must do. They can begin with a bit of togetherness and continue with a growing ability to cooperate. 

                Agreement that a new organization is necessary or a darn good idea can be a useful beginning. Agreement, perhaps tacit, to work together can be another important step. Finding ways to cooperate is important. Old organizers found many ways to facilitate cooperation.

Purpose and Members

                Soon the purpose of the organization must begin to be identified and clarified. Clarification of purpose is an ongoing process and activity. This may often be begun by a small group of leaders, but must be carried on by many others.

                Say that the original growing group is made up of citizens who have discovered that they want a brand new political organization. They have some willingness to work together. The also have understandings and misunderstandings to work out. A lot of work.

                Members of this very new organization need to maintain an ongoing understanding of the aims, values, and wants of others in the organization in so far as they affect the organization. Not easy, but important to their ability to increase their effectiveness.

Benefits              

  An important benefit of an organization is that which needs to be done, need not be done by one or a very few, but rather can be shared among and by all members. In fact the more involved with the important work of the organization that are all members, the better the moral and effectiveness of the organization is likely to be. 

                The members of a well functioning group can feel themselves to be effective doers, and can be those effective doers in fact.

There are some doings and practices which have helped others to start and maintain their organization.

Doings and practices to begin promptly:

~ Consider how you intend to keep in contact.

~ Begin identifying your goals and aims.

~ Clarify goals and aims.

~ Restate goals and aims.

~ Arrange to have each member help to achieve these goals and aims.

~ Take care of all business promptly.

~ Arrange for the ongoing education for all members.

~ Practice dialogue skills.

~ Arrange for members to have opportunity to be educators.

~ Enjoy your participation.

~ Keep in mind that teaching one another is important. Outside help can be very good, but seldom as good as that which we do for ourselves. As we teach, we learn.

~ Demonstrate abundant and appropriate trust of one another.

~ Keep in mind that the fewer the secrets the better. "No secrets" is a good policy.

~ Be inclusive.  as a policy, help anyone who wants to be a member to be one.

~ Encourage equality.

~ Remind one another that each of you is important to and responsible for the maintenance of your organization, its philosophy, and its doings.

~ Lay out clear steps for achieving important and doable goals and plans for your organization.

~ Aims and goals ought to be not only doable and important but also be an attractive and challenging big deal.

~ Set out one or two doings or goals to be worked on today. Your organization will benefit by having important things to be done right now.

~ Keep in mind that there is much to be done and that each member ought to help with those doings.

~ Make clarifying the "grand vision" of your organization an ongoing activity. "Learning, teaching, and practicing democratic self governance for all" might be an example of such a vision.

~ Aim to govern yourselves by practicing self-governance.

                There was a 'comments' window below for comments on the content of this posts.

                Have you already reviewed the other posts on the Governance site. 

                                                                                                           RCS

An Introduction to Science with a Hint about Self-Development and Knowledge

 Science: It's an Introduction

 

A Method of Understanding: 

               Science is the practice of a method of understanding and of communication. It may be called the scientific method. This method can be a great help in self-development and in being a successful human being.

                As you become better acquainted with this method of understanding you become a more effective person. You will also develop a better understanding of the sciences in general and of each individual science, even ytterbiumology.

Scientific Doings:                

                The scientific method generally includes the following doings: observation, identification/recognition, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of natural phenomena. So, a scientist observes a doing or happening and begins to explain it. The method is much about how she does this. That is, how you do it may be more important than what you do.

                To start well, let's try to define some of our terms. We can begin with the word 'science.' Starting at the beginning we see that science means knowledge, the business of knowing. Just how one knows is a serious subject. A subject we could check into later. Early in its history science became knowledge gained  by study. Science brings its history with it. It still means knowledge and it still means knowledge gained by study. The science quickly came to be the study of particular and specific subjects. In its more modern meaning it has come to mean the technical and mathematical study  of a subject. However the basic method of doing science is both a simpler and more powerful attitude then one might suppose.

                We already know that "method" means "the way how." So, science is a particular way of understanding, a particularly effective way of understanding. It may be useful to remember that the suffix -ology means study. So anthropology is the study of human species, of humanity in most of its aspects. It has often been a comparative study of behavior, biology, societies. Whereas biology is the natural scientific study of life and of living organisms. It is one of the more nicely developed sciences. Cells and genes are now important factors in this study.

Observation:                

It is important that a person interested in science develop a good grasp on the nature of scientific: observation, identification, explanation, knowing, researching,  and theoretical description. Also to develop their ability to recognize and observe natural phenomena is helpful to their use of scientific methodology.

                To gain and to communicate scientific knowledge one needs to become familiar with its concepts and vocabulary. As interest is shown, I hope to write more on the topic. I believe that you already have an understanding of the scientific method as a way many have found useful for gaining practical, productive knowledge and of communicating that knowledge.

                You probably already have the understanding that science is well begun and carried out with studied and practiced observation. 

                The ways of scientific observation are important to the development of knowledge. My dictionary says this about "to observe:" to notice, to perceive, to watch attentively, to make a scientific or systematic observation. "Systematic," that implies that there is a system to be learned. It seems that the way of a scientific doing is, at least, as the what.

                Observation is the act of observing; that is the act of noting and recording of a phenomena, doing, or happening, perhaps with instruments. Observation might lead to developing a judgement or inference. What are the methods for developing a judgement or an inference!

                "Identify" could be our next term to examine. If you would like me to continue some sort of exposition of science, please leave a comment to that effect in the "comment" window below.

                Identifying a phenomena is, in large part, for the purpose of being able to recognize the phenomena yourself and to enable others to also recognize it. There is more to say about the recognize/identify part of of our scientific process,  but I will leave it for another time.

                Oh, yes. Ytterbiumology is beyond my present knowledge; still it can be studied, known, and used. It's about a chemical element with the symbol Yb and atomic number of 70. I may not live long enough to get deeply into the study of this element. Perhaps you can tell us more about it.

                This little essay comes from RCS Posts were you can find other little essays dealing with science and other topics too.

                Thank you for reading this far.

                                                                                                    rcs

                                                                                            RCS