Describe Colombia

Colombia is situated in beautiful South America has two coastal borders located along the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Colombia enjoys being the sole South American country to be afforded the luxury of having two coastal borders. The country spans 440,831 square miles of diverse land that lies about the equator . Visitors enjoy this aspect because they enjoy sunlight year around. The population is around 40 million and 70% of which is considered urban. Entrepreneurs and business owners alike choose to settle in Colombia to capitalize on the country’s rich culture, abundant resources, collectivism beliefs and favorable climate. Upon embarking on your Colombian journey, you will quickly note the characteristics
of a collectivist culture; these characteristics have proven to be profitable by businesses owners. For example, Colombians prioritize belonging to a group and are concerned about how the other members perceive them. People of Colombia are extremely loyal and are focused on working as a team so that a collective goal can be attained. Also, Colombia is that it is a masculine culture. This means that they are highly driven and successful people. The great thing about their culture is that they are highly competitive and status oriented but collectivist. Therefore, you get the best of both worlds. You have very driven successful people, but are willing to work with and through others to accomplish this Whether planning a leisurely visit to Colombia, or shifting your business to Colombian ground, careful consideration should be given to the social expectations of the culture, and one should not only be familiar with the etiquette, but should also adhere to it. Men shake hands while making eye contact; whereas, women grasp forearms, avoid shaking hands and also avoid eye contact. When shaking hands or grasping forearms, it is appropriate to greet them. Proper greetings may consist of, “Buenos Dias” (good day), or “Buenos Noches” (good evening/night). As relationships grow and friendships develop, men hug and pat each other on the shoulder. Women will kiss each other once on the right cheek. Colombians always want to be greeted by their honorific title and surname. If a visit to a home is anticipated, keep in mind that bringing a gift like chocolates, fruit, plants, expensive alcohol, or gold is customary. If the gift of flowers is chosen, the bouquet should be sent in advance. Marigolds and Lillies are used in Colombian funerals; therefore, those flowers should not be sent as a gift. When receiving a wrapped gift, proper etiquette dictates that one waits until the company leaves to open the present. Also, Colombians earn respect based to their age and position; great importance is placed on, and immense respect is given to, the elder generation. Elders are considered very wise and a concerted effort is made to cater to them. Visitors to the country should adhere to this expectation as well. Colombian’s have a strict set of dining etiquette guidelines in place. One should wait to be seated by a host and the host will say “buen provecho” when it’s appropriate to begin eating. The eldest in the group will be served first, a practice with is derived from the Colombian tradition that respect is always given to elders. Elbows are never to be rested on the table, and hands are always to be kept visible. Lastly, to display a bit of politeness, a small amount of food should be left on one’s plate. Business decorum is starkly different from that of the U.S..
When shaking hands during meetings, men should always wait for the female to extend her hand. After shaking hands, it is imperative that “small talk” takes place. Asking about one’s family, children and business builds trust and legitimacy. Colombians want to know that a person cares about them, and are genuinely concerned. As with initial greetings outside of business meetings, titles and surnames are preferred unless the other party initiates a name change. A good show of respect is also to have your business cards translated into Spanish. Be prepared for any business negotiation to be slow and protracted. Colombians do not hurry and do not like people that seem rushed. A great deal of time will be spent building relationships, information gathering and bargaining. They do not like doing business with people that are overbearing and impatient. Bogota, a very modern bustling city, is the capital of Colombia. If working in the city or, traveling to the city, one must be cognizant of the heavy traffic congestion. Bogota has endured an increase in the number of cars within the city, which has compounded the problem of traffic congestion. The city of Medellin houses Colombia’s only metro, so the most efficient method of travel in Bogota, the main is the Transmilenio, which is a rapid transport system of red busses. Any other form of travel in the city will call for the assistance of a local,
or the use of a taxi. Colombian culture is high uncertainty avoidance, meaning that their emotions are openly expressed. However, something to consider is that it is very difficult to change the status quo. If Colombians find a leader that is competent and can bring on board the entire group, then change is possible. In general, the Colombian culture is optimistic and enjoys having a great time. Residents place a great deal of emphasis on leisure time and spending money. Roman Catholic is the country’s main religion; approximately 95% of the population is Catholic. Of that 95%, it is estimated that 85% regularly attend mass services. The Roman Catholic Church established the first universities in Colombia. This great influence of religion directs the culture greatly. The local priests are usually the primary authority figure within the community. Colombia supports 80 convents and over 30 monasteries. The mild climate assists Colombia in being blessed with an abundance of resources.
Colombians are privileged to have a supply of gold, emeralds, petroleum, iron ore and so much more natural resources. Vast reserves of coffee plantations enable Colombians to produce, and export, the best quality coffee in the world. In this climate, they have over 1,500 species of birds and over 13,000 species of plants. Preparing to be in a high elevation is necessary in order to avoid the unpleasant experience of having altitude sickness. The capital city, Bogota, is elevated 8530 feet, this provides Spring type weather year round. However, other cities like Medellin, Cali and Cartagena are a bit warmer with temperatures reaching the
90’s. The Colombian economy is dependent upon manufacturing and agricultural exports. Colombia is world renowned for its commercial agriculture, which focuses primarily on the export of bananas, coffee, sugar and flowers. Colombia is the second leading exporter of coffee. Labor forces are divided into four categories; manual and semi-skilled, highly skilled, managerial and professional segments. In agricultural and manufacturing jobs, the labor force tends to be semi and manual skilled because the wages are typically low. Highly skilled workers are typically artisans, supervisors at industrial facilities and carpenters. Managerial and professional work forces are highly educated people who occupy top roles in government, colleges and industries. With a strong colonial influence, gender role and status is marked by sexual segregation. Men occupy a dominant role within the household and are the financial providers. Men also are the disciplinarian and take responsibility for the family name within the community. Traditionally, this culture has the wife placing her husband’s needs above her own. The wife’s responsibilities consist of taking care of the home and the children. However, a woman’s social status dictates the freedom she is afforded. Lower class females have to work outside the home in order to help provide for the family whereas upper class wives stay at home to preserve the family virtue, status, and honor. A very important issue within every culture is health care. That is no different in the Colombian culture. With the increase in health care availability, there has been a reduction in infant mortality rate and life expectancy has increased. Also, the use of many traditional remedies is still used. This is possible because of the excellent resources and preservation of the Amazon region.