12º Task

Intercultural Communication

Cultural patterns in Colombia that I think a foreign visitor should be aware of a foreign in order to adjust more easily and avoid intercultural conflicts and misunderstandings. 

• The main topic to be avoided is the drug traffic problem and the stereotypes associated with it. A minuscule proportion of the population is involved in drug trafficking, and all Colombians are very sensitive to the issue.
• Colombians like to get close to communicate. They’ll move their face as close as a foot from yours and poke your arm (your leg if you’re seated) to make their points.
• They’re great talkers and the volume can be high.
• Serious faces, direct and sustained eye contact in the highlands, give way to broader smiles and quicker.
• Display of anger is common, however, it draws attention from the public, and that is something that you would like to avoid.
• Colombian business environment is formal, and when addressing a person with a senior position within an organization is a general practice to address him/her as "Señor (last name)".
• Colombia is increasingly equalitarian with regard to the gender issue; however, women are not well perceived in some types of jobs such as aircraft pilots. Is common these days to see women high up in the corporate ladder, and gender is not an issue at all if her level of education is comparable to her colleagues.
• Colombian people are very outgoing. They like a lot the parties and go dancing and drinking every weekend.
• Colombian people are very kind they always want to help you in whatever they can.