Kenyan Matatu Drivers

1. How are matatu drivers treated in his experience with the BBC? 

There can be seen two totally different treatments: 

In one hand there's BBC's: whith "the normal treatment, matatu drivers are recieving nothing but respect from them. In the other hand, Kenyans treat matatu drivers like thieves, and the only reason Wambaruru doesn't get treated even worse is because of the presence of BBC in the vehicle. 

2. Do Barranquilleros have the same negative opinion of mototaxistas as the Kenyans have of matatu drivers?

I believe at first there sure were some negative opinions of mototaxistas but it certainly has changed. Actually, some time ago, I was on a taxi and the driver was telling me he would rather be a mototaxista than a taxi driver, because he thinks that mototaxistas's community is more like a family and the only reason he was not a mototaxista was his age, he was too old for that. Anyway, there might be people who still sees mototaxistas as a negative, and even dangerous group,  but those must be just a few.

http://wambururu.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/one-good-chance-is-always-worth-another/

AfroColombians

There is a high percentage of the population in our country who are afro-descendents. However, in ancient times, people with darker skin were taken as slaves, which has made it difficult for them to be able to be considered an equal to people with lighter skin. Even though nowadays it's not like that, at least in most cases, they have problems because of racism and, of course, racists. In Colombia it's not seen in large-scale, but it is still something you would probably see in some places.

In conclusion, we all should to something about it: they're human beings, not monsters for God's sake! So next time you see an afro-descendent you should just treat him/her the same way you would like to be treated.

Favorite Carnival Moments

I actually have never been into parties, dancing along and that kind of things. However, this year I decided to try and see how was all this Carnival stuff, and it turned out to be pretty cool. Even though I didn't go to every parade, event, concert nor celebration, I attended to 3 of them: Garabato del Country, La Guacherna and Festival de la Cerveza, each one better, by far, than the one before, maybe because every time was getting closser to the actual Carnival.

Now, all I can say is that I'll be ready for next years, so I can attend to Festival de Orquestas, La batalla de Florez and every single one I can.

Tinariwen - Iswegh Attay

LYRICS

This pain is a burden

If only my cell would turn into an open plain.

I drank a glass of tea that scorched my heart.

You told me something and I never answered

But if we meet one day, I’ll remind you

This woman, who I glimpsed

Without even sitting down or kneeling

If only this cell could become as vast as a prairie

I’d fly off like a bird

The lion is intrepid and the frog is vulnerable

But the latter is better at finding the path to water.

Throughout the video we are able to notice certain things.

About the way they dress we are now able to say that not everybody wears the long tunics, there are also people who wears clothes, which we consider as the normal ones to be worn, such as pants and  t-shirts, not too formal by the way.

The musical composition, even though is not that complex, is pretty good, at least that's what I think. It reflects pace, serenity (maybe for being so basic). Now, the lyrics is all about them being trapped by their hearts because of some woman, but all they want is freedom, to be able to be free like a bird. This thought leaves us to think about a huge love for nature due to its different metaphors related to it, lyrics even have tea as the solution to be free.


www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5P0oO8nphMY  

Barranquilla - 2013 Cultural Capital

1. Why was Barranquilla chosen? 

 Barranquilla was chosen as the cultural capital 2013 by the Bureau Internacional de Capitales Culturales because of "the will of the city determined to make culture a strategic element of social cohesion, civic dynamization, economic development and international projection" as said by its president, Xavier Tudela.

2. Will Barranquilla receive any of the economic benefits Liverpool hoped to from being named a cultural capital?

Yes, Barranquilla will recieve economic benefits. As its the cultural capital 2013 Barranquilla will have international recognition through Bureau and its contract with antena 3-Spain and Discovery Networks.

http://www.elheraldo.co/tendencias/barranquilla-elegida-capital-de-la-cultura-2013-70019

An American in Uganda

1. What different points of view do we see in this story?

First  a black man is mentioned, described as the hardworking type, someone who has a daily routine, a man who has grown up in a difficult situation. In the other hand, we have the "well educated" white man type who can not even stand some attitudes from the black man.

2. Explain the reasons behind the miscommunication that occurred between these two men.

The miscommunication is due to the differences of culture basically. While one of them thinks that doing something is okay for the other one it is just disrespectful.

http://mulkatime.blogspot.com/2012/01/two-worlds-collide.html

Introducing Me

Hi... I'm Rachel Fontalvo Orozco student of graphic design at Universidad del Norte. Born and always lived in Barranquilla, for 19 years now. Like to keep on moving, can't stand staying still, that's why I try to get in different activities in and outside Uninorte: Sports, dancing and even some singing, I'm actually not that good at it, but I do it anyway! :)