Colombia: Building a Culture of Peace Summer 2020
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Colombia: Building a Culture of Peace Summer 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS General Information ............................................ 3 Climate and Geography ...................................... 4 Local Customs .................................................... 4 Safety, Security, and Health ................................ 6 Homestays .......................................................... 7 Other Accommodations ....................................... 7 Transportation ..................................................... 7 Communication .................................................. 7 Phones and E-mail ............................................. 7 Mailings .............................................................. 8 Money ................................................................. 8 Visitors and Free Time ....................................... 9 Clothing Guidelines ......................................... 10 Computers and Other Electronics ..................... 10 Gifts .................................................................. 11 What You Can and Cannot Obtain in Country ... 11 Alumni Contacts ................................................ 11 SIT Study Abroad - 2 Flight, Passport, and Visa Information 2/20/20 COUNTRY OVERVIEW institutions, Colombia’s history since acquiring independence from Spain has been largely GENERAL INFORMATION characterized by a series of violent conflicts. Colombia is a democratic, constitutional republic with thirty-two departments. The country’s From 1899 to 1902, a bitter rivalry between the capital, Bogota has a population of over 8 million, or Conservative and Liberal parties resulted in over 16 percent of the country’s total population. The Thousand Days' War, which cost an estimated 100,000 lives. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the Colombia is listed as one of the world's parties returned to conflict after the assassination of “megadiverse” countries, hosting close to 10 percent Liberal candidate Jorge Eliécer Gaitán. During this of the planet's biodiversity. Its territory spans from time, known as “La Violencia,” over 300,000 the Amazon rainforest, vast open grasslands, Colombians lost their lives. tropical coastlines along both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and several small islands off the As a response to such violent partisan conflict, in coast of Nicaragua. Colombia’s rich, geographic 1957 the Conservative and Liberal parties proposed variety is matched by its incredible cultural diversity. a "National Front," whereby the parties would Each region boasts its unique customs, music, govern jointly. Every four years the presidency dialect, and cuisine. would alternate between the two political parties, while all other elective offices were split evenly. The National Front ended "La Violencia," but eventually evolved into its own form of political repression and corruption. Marxist guerrilla groups began appearing in Colombia in the early 1960s. The first was the National Liberation Army (ELN), created by Colombian students who had studied in Cuba. Soon after, the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) were founded, which was more connected to Soviet-influenced communist movements. The 1970 election that declared victory Spanish conquest of modern-day Colombia began to another National Front conservative president in 1525, with the founding of Santa Marta on the gave rise in to another guerrilla group, the 19th of north coast. In 1533, Pedro de Heredia April Movement, or M-19. founded Cartagena de Indias, which quickly developed into one of the Spanish empire’s primary The first paramilitary groups were organized by the naval bases and richest ports of trade for stolen Colombian military, following advice and funding treasures and kidnapped African from US counterinsurgency advisors during the Cold slaves. Bogotá was founded a few years later in War. Paramilitaries, in particular the United Self- 1538 and named capital of the Spanish Empire’s Defense Groups of Colombia (AUC), have grown to New Granada territory, including modern day control the majority of Colombia’s illegal drug trade Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and are responsible for the majority of the war’s and parts of Peru and Brazil. massacres as well. Gran Colombia’s liberation movement began in Negotiations between the Colombian government 1810, with Simon Bolivar leading the territories to and rebel forces began in the early 1990s. victory and independence in 1819. By 1830, Gran Colombia dissolved into three separate countries: September 26, 2016, President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Timoleón Jiménez signed Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. Despite a long-negotiated peace accord during an maintaining economic growth and its democratic SIT Study Abroad - 3 Flight, Passport, and Visa Information 2/20/20 international ceremony in Cartagena. Although a public vote that October rejected the agreement, a The Caribbean Coast has two seasons: wet and dry. month later the Colombian government and FARC The first wet season is from May to June, with signed a revised deal ratified by Congress. The UN another rainy period from October to November. monitored the three-step disarmament process, This later wet season tends to feature much which was completed in August 2017. In 2018, Iván stronger rain storms than the earlier wet season. Duque won the presidency on a campaign that was During these times of the year, torrential downpours highly critical of the peace accords and promised to can develop in just minutes, so you need to be lessen the accords’ leniency to FARC members, prepared with truly waterproof (not “water-resistant”) with greater prison sentences and less economic rain gear and an umbrella. and political benefits. Due to Cartagena and Sincelejo’s tropical climate, Today the Colombian government and civil society mosquitos can be common, so it is recommended to continue the complex process of building peace, be prepared with mosquito repellent as well. with critical issues such as mass migration from Venezuela, the continued assassinassions of social LOCAL CUSTOMS leaders, and deeply embedded political corruption As mentioned above, Colombia is an incredibly growing as primary complicating factors. diverse, multicultural country. Racially speaking, the country is made up of mestizos, whites, Afro- CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY descendants and First Nations people. Each of the Colombia can be divided into six very six regions feature distinct customs and ways of life. distinct geographies, each with different climatic Even within these regions, each city has specific conditions. These consist of the Andean Region, the traditions, holidays, dialect and cuisine. For colder, high altitude sector that forms the most example, Barranquilla is a city just two hours away populous region of Colombia; the Caribbean from Cartagena, yet despite both being large coastal Region, covering the hot, tropical territory adjacent urban centers, the two cities have very distinct to the Caribbean Sea; the Pacific Region, a dense identities. jungle area with some of the highest precipitation rates in the world; the Orinoquía Region, a sparsely There are especially prominent differences derived populated region of vast grassland plains along the from rural or urban conditions as well, given that border with Venezuela; the Amazon Region, rural communities are far less populated, tend to be comprising just 10 percent of the famously more conservative, and are characterized by higher biodiverse rainforest that crosses into eight other levels of poverty. Throughout the country’s armed South American countries; and finally the Insular conflict, rural regions suffered especially. Massacres Region, comprising islands in both the Atlantic and and violence in rural Colombia led to massive Pacific oceans. displacement from these areas into the cities. As such, today the country has a primarily urban Cartagena, Sincelejo and the rest of the Caribbean population, with over 76 percent of Colombians Region enjoy tropical climates and some of the currently living in cities. highest temperatures in the country, with a high of 95°F to a low of 78°F. The humidity averages high Despite such cultural diversity, there are a few at about 80%. June and July are summer months, aspects that remain constant and which need to be expect temperatures above 90°F (32°C). The sun is observed by students: particularly strong in Cartagena, so be prepared with - Greeting: always greet with enthusiasm and a good UV protection including light-colored clothing, smile (not observing this rule is considered plenty of sunscreen, and a hat. Due to such high rude). Depending on the time of the day, saying temperatures, hydration is critical for your health buenos dias, buenas tardes, or buenas noches while in Cartagena, so it is important to keep a water is a must. Colombians tend to greet with a kiss bottle on hand at all times. on the cheek, regardless of gender. SIT Study Abroad - 4 Flight, Passport, and Visa Information 2/20/20 - Informing your homestay family at all times Diet about where you are and respecting your SIT Study Abroad provides experiential learning family hours. This is also a must for any type of opportunities where students become embedded in family in Colombia. Failing to do this is their host community. As such, we strive to considered highly disrespectful and is a source accommodate serious food allergies where possible of stress and discomfort for the local families. but simply cannot ensure that all dietary