AJIACO - TYPICAL COLOMBIAN FOOD

AJIACO

Ajiaco  is one of the national favorites in Colombia. It is rich stew which is liked by most of the people in Colombia. This is the recipe:

INGREDIENTS

•         1 (4 pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces.

•          2 teaspoon salt.

•         1 teaspoon black pepper.

•         3 tablespoons unsalted butter.

•         2 teaspoons dried ``guascas``.

•         1 large white onion, finely chopped.

•         1 pound of ``sabanera` potatoes.

•         2 pounds russet potatoes.

•         2 pounds yellow potatoes (Yukon gold) peeled and cubed 6 cups chicken broth.

•         1 cup water.

•         3 ears of corn, cut into 1 inch pieces.

•         Avocado, capers and heavy cream.

PREPARATION:

•         Pat chicken dry and season with 3 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.

•         Heat butter and brown chicken, for about 10 minutes. 

•         Add onion, ``guascas``, and salt/pepper to pot and cook for about 5 minutes.

•         Peel 3 kinds of potatoes and add to pot with chicken, broth and water. Stir occasionally until chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes.  Add corn, cover, and simmer about 15 minutes.

SERVING

Serve with, 2 tablespoons of heavy cream, 3 tablespoons of drained capers and 1 avocado.

`Paramo de Santurbán” : Gold Or Water

``Paramo de Santurbán” : Gold Or Water

      Colombia has one of the highest number of hydric resources in the world. The hydric richness is reflected in the large web of rivers all over the country, lakes, ponds and streams. One of this largest sources is where the ``Paramo de Santurbán”, currently the focus of great controversy in Colombia.

     The “Paramo de Santurbán”, is a vast gold, silver reserve. It has an enormous commercial value, and its exportation will result in large and very needed financial benefits for the country.

     The problem is that researches shows that if the gold and silver are exploit, the environment and hydric resources will be in serious danger of extinction. However, if it is not exploit the financial benefits to the country will not be obtain.

     The company in charge of the project recognizes the strong impact on the region, but also emphasis the importance of financial gain for the region and the country in general.

     On the other hand, environmentalist sustain that they are not against exploitation projects, but that this specific one is altering the fragile  environment in a drastic way and with it several spices of plants and animals that inhabit the area.

    In conclusion, I think that Colombia should keep the Paramo de Santurbán and continue to be a country with vast hydric resources.

GENDER DIFFERENCES

       In my country men and women should be treated equally, both have the opportunity to study and work in equal conditions, but as they grow up, the treatment people give them is different. People differentiate between boys and girls. The differences define their role in society. Consequently in my country the Political Constitution protects rights of women establishing it as Fundamental Right and prescribed in section 43; that men and women have equal rights and opportunities and that women may be subject to any kind of discrimination. For this reason Colombian women receive the same education as Colombian men. They receive a salary equal to men. Women can enter the same jobs as men. Women can participate in decisions that are transcendental for my country. This process was a legal and social evolution over many years. In Colombia men and women are equal to the law regardless of gender differences or social stereotypes.

Gender diffrences in language

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LANGUAGE

     Men and women have difficulties communicating to each other due to the way each one uses to communicate. Identifying the differences between genders prevents error in interpretation and creates a better work environment.

     In the office I work, I have eleven lawyers under my supervision: four are male and seven are female. I had noticed that when I had to address issues with them, men and women have fairly different response. Women respond in a more emotional manner, sometimes they cry and other times they get upset; but finally they accept the attention call. Men, on the other hand, are more direct. It may be that they don’t like the attention call, but the simply don’t express any emotion and accept it and terminated the whole issue.

    As a result, I have developed different ways to approach my employees when I need to address problems. With the females, I use a softer language than with the males. With the women, I need to speak longer about the problem and emphasize the positive over negative, since they normally have more questions before finding a solution. Men they go straight to the point and the solution for it.

    Another topic that marks a difference is in relation to organization.  Women have the tendency to be more organize and responsible. They make more detail presentations of the tasks assigned while men go directly to the point in a broader way.

     Another variable of gender communication is in regards to the topics of conversation between them. Generally, women speak about their personal life, feelings, fashion, family issues, food, relationships amongst others; while men in general rather to talk about money, business, sport, politics and others.

       Definitely, keeping in mind the differences between genders in regards to way they convey ideas helps to improve communication and reflect at the work place making it better. 

LA TOMATINA

LA TOMATINA

     La Tomatina is a festival that is held in the Valencian (Spain) of Buñol, in which during the week of festivities of Buñol.

     The origins of La Tomatina aren't clear with several theories explaining how Buñol has become home to the world's biggest tomato fight. However, the most plausible suggests that the most likely explanation dates back to 1945 when an annual parade of enormous figures with big heads (Gigantes y Cabezudos) was passing through the streets of Buñol.

     It seems that some youngsters tried to join in the parade and accidentally knocked over one of the giants who got to his feet and started swinging out at everyone around him. In retaliation the youngsters grabbed some tomatoes from a nearby vegetable stall and started throwing them at him until the police arrived to break things up.

    The following year on the same last Wednesday of August these young people returned to the town hall square and started another tomato fight using their own tomatoes. Again the police intervened and in subsequent years the local council tried to ban the 'El día de la Tomatina' (The day of La Tomtina) but with little success as event continued to grow year after year reaching the size it is today.

At around 10am festivities begin with the first event of the Tomatina. It is the "palo jabón", similar to the greasy pole. The goal is to climb a greased pole with a ham on top. As this happens, the revellers work into a frenzy of singing and dancing whilst being showered in water from hoses. Once someone is able to drop the ham off the pole, the start signal for the tomato fight is given. The signal for the onset is at about 11 when a loud shot rings out, and the chaos begins.

     Several trucks throw tomatoes in abundance in the Plaza del Pueblo. The tomatoes come from Extremadura, where they are less expensive and are grown specifically for the holidays, being of inferior taste. For the participants the use of goggles and gloves are recommended. The tomatoes must be crushed before being thrown so as to reduce the risk of injury.

      After exactly one hour, the fight ends with the firing of the second shot, announcing the end. The whole town square is coloured red and rivers of tomato juice flow freely. Fire Trucks hose down the streets and participants use hoses that locals provide to remove the tomato paste from their bodies. Some participants go to the pool of “los peñones” to wash. After the cleaning, the village cobblestone streets are pristine due to the acidity of the tomato disinfecting and thoroughly cleaning the surfaces.

    The following rules have been set down by the Buñol Town Council:

·   It is illegal to bring any kind of bottles or other objects that could cause an accident.

·   You must not tear t-shirts.

·   Tomatoes must be crushed before throwing so that they don't hurt anybody.

·   You must be careful to avoid the lorries which carry the tomatoes.

·  

     I hope someday you can participate in these wonderfully Spanish holydays.

    Watch the two videos to know La Tomatina.

JONI MITCHELL

Joni Mitchell is a famous singer. She was born in Ford Macleod, Alberta in 1943. She went to Art School. After she learned to play guitar and write songs. People liked her work liked. At 9 years she had polio. In the hospital she started sing. In 1964 she became pregnant and had a girl. She couldn’t care for her daughter and gave up for adoption. She didn’t see her daughter until 1997.

            She married Chuck Mitchell. They sang in some coffeehouses. She started writing songs for other singers. After she wrote a song called “Both Sides Now”, and it was a hit for singer Judy Collins. After many hit albums, she moved to jazz music. Then she retired in 2002, but made a comeback in 2005.  She released 18 albums, she won 9 Grammies and worked with many artists in folk music and jazz.  

              Many people love her voice and her songs are heard in many countries around the word. Her song “Both sides now” was heard at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winters Olympics in Vancouver.  I had never hear of this singer but I liked the lyrics of her songs. I think she has a talent that has converted her into a celebrity.

  

 

Extreme Sport.

Extreme Sport

     The only extreme sport I have practiced is rafting. This sport utilizes a raft to navigate a river.  Rafts are propelled with ordinary paddles and hold 4 to 12 persons with a good physical condition and excellent concentration. For this sport you need: a raft, paddles, life vest, helmet, slippers an sting. The firts time I practiced this sport was in village called Tobia (Colombia). Before sailing I was curious and nervous but I was determined to try. When I got on the raft I felt insecure but when I pass by the first descent only experience a lot of adrenaline. At the end of this experience I was totally wet and I was sure that never in my life would return to practice this sport, because the risk is big.  Finally, I think that when you practice an extreme sport, you must be an expert and necessary security measures.