Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

Casual thoughts about interacting wih the untouchable (and other Web 2.0 short reflections)

2011-05-21T11:12:00.000-03:00

Disclaimer: I am neither a social networks expert, nor even an empirical “knower” of the topic. I am just a user, that sees things from a user perspective, probably in a very naïve way.

So … I`ve been using Twitter since maybe around a year. Pretty late for the standards, I know. I started way earlier with Facebook and especially with blogging, since 2003 actually (and yes, I know blogging is not a network and not comparable to Facebook and/or Twitter, no worries, yet it`s for many part of the Web 2.0 trend).

Coming back to Twitter, I must say that I just love it and as much as one is emotionally attached to Facebook, for what my personal interests are …

a) following thought leaders
b) getting fast, sweet, short news of topics I care (the amount of relevant info I get over Twitter in let`s say 3 minutes, I would never get it sitting a whole morning watching newspapers) AND
c) INTERACTING WITH THE OTHERWISE UNTOUCHABLE in the physical world

… Twitter is simply a hit.

INTERACTING WITH THE OTHERWISE UNTOUCHABLE in the physical world. It`s my favorite. What do I mean with that? Well, even if nowadays lots of companies and celebrities (politicians, artists, governmental institutions, companies, leaders, whatsoever) hire someone to manage its digital presence (which in the case of individuals might seem everything but genuine) INTERACTING WITH THE OTHERWISE UNTOUCHABLE interacting with the otherwise untouchable means being able to address directly people, organizations or simply BRANDS and if lucky being able to get a response from them.

Two days ago I talked with @CoCaCola … I said over Twitter that a new can presentation seemed very cool to me. In seconds, they replied back. What do I win with this? Nothing probably, but @CoCaCola surely wins certain particular appreciation from my side, and it`s highly likely that next time I`ll order s Coke over a Pepsi.
What about interacting with your favorite books authors? I do it often. How faster would you be able to tell that his/her book sucked or not and why, and get an answer
When a delivery service I order takes more that promised, or when any other of my providers suck (public services, telecom, airline, health, etc.) I instantly complain over Twitter. In minutes they apologize and if I`m lucky, they even compensate with a treat. That does not happen in the “physical world” or at least not with the same effect: x thousand followers wouldn`t hear (read) my claim. Now, I know it might sounds unfair/evil, but it works. I guess bottomline it is helping companies to be better, to serve better in a society like the Colombian where customer service is an inherited weakness.

Web 2.0 is not a technology, it`s an attitude.

As much as I praise it, I also know that if tomorrow a meteor falls into Twitter, Blogger and Facebook offices and their systems collapse, the world will keep moving, for sure, we have been doing it for centuries. A break wouldn`t be bad, I guess.

Ps. A propo Twitter here are some cool lists to follow, especially if you are an Entrepreneur, the Endeavor Global Twitter lists:

Las cuatro fiestas PARTE 2, Novenas & 24

2010-12-19T14:26:00.000-02:00

Bueno, como lo prometido es deuda y estoy en el mood, seguimos con la descripción de las 4 Fiestas. Habiendo anteriormente descrito “La noche de las Velitas” ahora el turno es para el 24 de Diciembre, pero con el anexo de los 8 días anteriores: LAS NOVENAS.

Como muchos sabemos, La Novena de Aguinaldos es una costumbre católica arraigada en Venezuela, Colombia y Ecuador que está relacionada con la festividad de Navidad: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novena_de_Aguinaldos

Cundo uno es niño la explicación de lo que es una novena es simple: “es la historia del Niño Dios, que la leemos en 9 días, hasta que el nace el 24”. Suficiente ilustración.

Conseguir el librito de la Novena donde están todas las oraciones y gozos nunca fue un problema: hay casas que tienen un libro pasta dura súper sofisticado que ha sobrevivido generaciones, como también otras (que creo éramos la mayoría) que teníamos un librito maltrecho, de papel periódico, arrugado, pero que era el preferido y que normalmente lo guardan en el mismo cajón donde están los arreglos de navidad. Y mejor aun si el librito nos lo regalaron en una cadena de supermercado (Ley, Superley, Comfamiliar, etc.), o venia en un paquete de galletas de Noel o de embutidos Zenu (recuerdan la típica “compre sus galletas navideñas y lleve gratis su novena de aguinaldos”). El libro es vital tenerlo, pero creo que si somos honestos, muchos de nosotros nos sabemos algunas oraciones de memoria, o si no recuerden la famosa “Benignisimo Dios de infinita caridad …” – ¡estoy segura que un alto porcentaje puede completarle asi sea saltándose unas palabras!

En las casas, las mamas siempre decían: “Este año no voy a poner pesebre, nada mas el arbolito, eso da mucha lidia montarlo” o “Ay! se perdió el niño Dios, no encuentro a José y ya no quedan casi ovejitas (refiriéndose a las figuritas del pesebre)”. Pero pese a eso, todos nos terminábamos poniendo en el aparente dispendio de armar el pesebre que incluía el ritual de buscar las cajas que se piden en la tienda del barrio, comprar las figuritas adicionales que se han perdido (generalmente el plan era ir a la Feria Artesanal que ponen todos los años en Barranquilla en el parquedero del estadio Romelio), aserrín o tierra pegada con Colbon, papel verde “de pesebre” (porque ese es el nombre), la estrella para arriba, entre otras. Entonces ahí era donde comenzaba la “competencia” sin querer queriendo en el barrio frente a que pesebre era mas grande y mas bonito. Siempre hay la casa que se sobreactúa y feliz corre por ese mes de diciembre los muebles de la sala y monta un “sipote” pesebre, con figuras de 20 cms (a veces algunos se movían), instalaciones de luces con música incluida, espejos para representar el agua y la estrella de David psicodélica. Todo el mundo quería entrar a esa casa: “Ay dejame entrar a ver el pesebre” y obviamente, el día en que tocaba la novena en esa casa era el mas esperado.

Y eso nos lleva al próximo aspecto: la sede de la novena era rotativa. El compromiso para ser “host” de la novena era tener el pesebre, tener el “LP” o cassette de Villancicos de CODISCOS (ojo, de CODISCOS pues son los clasicos), contar con sillas (uno veía sillas de la sala, comedor, banquitos de la cocina, la famosa silla “Rimax”, sillas de tocador … de todo tipo pues el gentío a veces no deba “abasto”) y por su puesto, “brindar algo de comer y tomar al final”. Y asi como habían casas que se distinguían por su pesebre, había otras que se distinguían por su comida. Pero digamos que el estándar eran las galletas, papitas, rosquitas, gomitas, masmelos y coca cola. El tan famoso “rebote de barriga” era común después de ir a novenas en casas generosas. A diferencia del interior del país, en Barranquilla no se comen natillas ni buñuelos … bueno, si se llega a comer natilla, es de caja (no como en el interior que mucha gente la hace de cero) y los buñuelos si que menos, si venden en Barranquilla pero no necesariamente están asociados al plan navideño (por cierto, ¿recuerdan los buñuelos de la Panaderia 20 de Julio?). Entonces, mas bien la casa que quería ofrecer algo “de sal”, se iba por los deditos de queso (si, de esos comprados congelados y que uno los fritaba y se les salía todo el queso, pero asi sabían mejor), empanaditas, salchichas/manguera con salsa rosada, quibbes, etc.

Haciendo un paréntesis en el tema de villancicos, aca les comparto algunos clásicos de CODISCOS, las personas de Barranquilla saben que son bandas sonoras imborrables.

“Pastores venid, pastores llegad …” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkkWu0L1ha0&feature=channel
“Tutaina tuturuma…..” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHxg73ppMbs&feature=channel
“Anton pirulilulilu … (que es realidad es tirulilulilu, con T)” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJlU2aD4Rag&feature=channel
“Zagalillo del valle venid …” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6z_ZuWm2_g&feature=relmfu
“A la nanita nana, nanita nana, nanita eah …” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGgK0U0EHiU&feature=related
“A Belen pastores debemos marchar, que el rey de los reyes a nacido ya …” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvruAA-aGUg&feature=related

Con o sin disco oficial de villancicos de fondo, cada niño tenía que tener su respectivo instrumento musical para acompañar la cantada de los villancicos. Y es aquí cuando en las novenas uno podía ver todo tipo de matracas estridentes, panderetas – muchas de ellas hechas con “checas” clavadas en un palo de madera (que a veces las hacíamos en el colegio si no estoy mal) - pitos, y hasta ollas de cocina con cucharas. Igualmente, no conscientes muchas veces de la seriedad del rezo por ser niños, habían las bromas típicas asociadas a la novena:

- Reirse porque Jose era padre “PUTATIVO” de Jesús o hacer sobre énfasis en la palabra cuando se estaba leyendo la oración …

- Cambiarle la letra a los villancicos. Los clásicos que le cambiábamos la letra con mi hermana eran “Tu vaina, cual es tu vaina” o “Los ladrones de Belen, vienen a robar al niño, la Virgen y Rambo 3, los reciben a cuchillo” (en vez de la letra original Tutaina). Obvio, eso no era en la novena misma, pero si después.

Las novenas eran la prueba de fuego para ver que tan bien leía cada uno - normalmente niños entre 6 y 12 años todavía se están acostumbrando a leer o por lo menos a hacerlo de manera elocuente y fluida. Y ahí había de todo: los que leían a paso de tortuga y todo el mundo se miraba como diciendo “termina yaaaa”, o el que leía pero cambiaba la mitad de las palabras, o el que leía perfecto pues practicaba antes de la novena (debo confesar que yo lo hacía, ya saben que el que es nerdo no lo improvisa). La pelea era también por quien leía le oración del día, que es la más “importante”. No faltaban los que “mamaban gallo” toda la novena, y la mama que lo regañaba “respete que estamos rezando, ahora no le voy a dar gasesosa”.

Finalmente después que terminaba la novena, la noche iba para largo, pues uno se quedaba jugando en la calle. Los típicos juegos post-novena de mi época era el escondite y “se quemó el rancho”… y asi por nueve días el mismo ritual.

El cierre era como todos sabemos el 24 de diciembre – ese día era la novena de “gala”. Nuevamente la pinta oficial navideña salía a flote, el zapato de charol con media blanca no podía faltar. Ese día la novena iniciaba mas temprano, ya que cada niño tenía plan propio con su familia. No faltaban las que eran hermanas (os) que se vestían igual. Ese día todo el mundo solía llevar un regalo, y se hacía una especie de juego de amigo secreto. Ese día había helado, ponqué, gelatina, en fin, cosas que no se habían visto los 8 días anteriores. Ese día se intensifica la conversación frente a “que te va a traer en Niño Dios” a niveles nunca antes vistos. Las discusiones frente a que Barbie es mejor que la otra, pueden llegar a ser subidas. Y termina la velada, y uno se va para su respectiva fiesta familiar, prometiendo que “mañana” se ven para mostrarse sus regalos.

El rumba del 24 es mas bien calmada en comparación a las 7 o el 31 de diciembre. Se come bien, estando en el menú los típicos como pernil de cerdo, de pavo, los cuales pueden ser home made o la desencartada de comprarlos ya listos. La verdad es que en Barranquilla uno no se sienta a cenar, al mismo tiempo, en una sola mesa (a lo Thanksgiving), sino que es algo mas desestructurado, la gente va comiendo cuando quiere, pues no falta el que dice “Yo no aguanto hasta después de las 12”. Y pese a la llenura del la novena, ¿con ese olor que sale de la cocina, a quien no le dan ganas de comer YA? Pero eso si, uno dura hasta las doce para darse la feliz navidad y luego, sobre todo los niños, se van a dormir así no tengan sueño, pues si no, no viene el “Niño Dios”. Uno intenta quedarse despierto, pero no puede… asi que es inevitable cerrar los ojos y al dia siguiente ver que el niño Dios llego.

“Ay no tiene pilas” – y comienza uno a montarla para que los papas le consigan unas pilas a las 6 a.m. para el juguete nuevo. Obvio, a esa hora uno nunca las consigue y no queda nada más que atacar cualquier tipo de control remoto o reloj de la casa que tenga una pila que sirva, pila que obvio a dura penas da para una o dos horas, y eso metiéndolas a la nevera.

¡EN BARRANQUILLA NO SE PRENDE "ALUMBRADO", SE PRENDEN "LAS VELITAS" Y DE MADRUGADA!

2010-12-07T11:33:00.001-02:00

I love writting in english, but this is a topic that I just feel like writting in my native spanish!
Enjoy it, specially if you are colombian! It`s about the celebration of the "Candles Day" (7/12), which oficially marks the start of Xmas in my home city, Barranquilla (Colombia).

Cuando uno deja de vivir en la ciudad en donde nació, no deja de maravillarse de las particularidades que tienen sus propias costumbres. Hoy es 7 de Diciembre y en el colectivo colombiano HOY ES EL INICIO DE LA NAVIDAD (asi el comercio se haya encargado de meternosla por los ojos desde el 1 de noviembre y a veces hasta mucho antes).

En Barranquilla, particularmente, el 7 de Diciembre tiene su propio "brand", es el "Día de las Velitas". La historia es simple, se celebra la inmaculada concepción de María. Para los que quieran leer el detalle al estilo de nuestra querida Wikipedia, bien puedan: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inmaculada_Concepci%C3%B3n

Ahora, volvamos a Barranquilla.

Aunque este día es conocido y se celebra (de diferentes maneras) en todo el país, aparte porque mañana, 8 de Diciembre es un festivo oficial, tiene un significado emocional muy especial para los barranquilleros. Todo se dispara al escuhar esta cancion, con la que todos crecimos (incluyendo la particular introducción del locutor de OLIMPICA STEREOOOOOO imposible de olvidar):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHIo2mJ4OBc&NR=1

Si eres de Barranquilla sabes a lo que me refiero - ya la cancion te transportó a otro nivel. Y es que como dice tan famosa canción, un himno mas de Barranquilla en su original cantado por Nury Borraz y compuesto nada mas y nada menos que por la novia de Barranquilla, Esthercita Forero, el DIA DE LAS VELITAS no solo es en comienzo de la navidad como ya dijimos, sino la PRIMERA DE "LAS CUATRO FIESTAS", siendo este el titulo de la cancion. Las cuatro fiestas para los barranquilleros son LAS VELITAS, el 24, el 31 y PERO POR SUPUESTO LOS CARNAVALES!

Todo comienza en la noche del 7 de Diciembre. De niño, sales por ahi de 6.30 a 9 - 10 p.m. NO a prender velitas (ojo que eso viene despues, el que prende velitas en la noche del 7 esta "out of timing"), sino a "berrochar" (como diría mi abuela) con los amigos de la cuadra o con el primo que nunca falta que llega a visitar o que tu vas a visitar. Esto incluye prender nuestras inofensivas "CHISPITAS MARIPOSA ... LAS LUCES DE BENGALA PARA NIÑOS" (¿recuerdan el jingle?). No se si al dìa de hoy estan prohibidas, creo y espero que no pues la verdad es que hay que estar muy de malas para hacerse daño con una de ellas. Lo mejor en un 7 de Diciembre es que los papas fueran generosos con un uno y le comprarn la paca completa como de 20 paquetes de chispitas y pues si no, siempre había un amigo del que uno pudiera gorrear chispitas ...

Esa noche, obviamente había pinta nueva y zapatos nuevos, generalmente ... de un toque mas "sport" que las pintas del 24 o 31, pero se estrenaba. Ya cuando uno iba creciendo, la "berrochada" por la noche con los amigos se convertía en la salida tradicional a rumbear, y esa en general ya saben como funciona. El plan de niños o el plan de adolecente de salir a rumbear sin embargo, no son mutuamente excluyentes con la tradicional "fiesta de casa", ya que siempre había un vecino o familiar que la hiciera, ya sea sacando un "pick up" a la puerta o contratando el propio "grupo de millo" o conjunto vallenato. En mi familia CHAVA, una tía, cumple el 7 de Diciembre y hubo una épocas donde esas fiestas eran lo maximo.

Moviendonos en la noche, los niños se iban a acostar y los papas tambien o se quedaban en sus rumbas, depende del plan escogido. Y ahi es cuando empieza lo bonito. Entre 3 y 4 de la MADRUGADA, en todo caso, estand aun oscuro, es que UNO SE LEVANTA A PRENDER LAS VELITAS! Los papas levantan a los niños que muchas veces salen en piyama, los que estan en la rumba bajan un poquito (pero un poquito nada mas!!) la musica y salen a prender sus faroles, asi como el que estaba rumbeando empieza a llegar a la casa. En la "PUERTA" (lease, entrada, terraza de la casa que da a la calle y que todos pueden ver) la gente entra en un rito único en donde todos se ayudan en la dificil tarea de prender las velas y ponerles el respectivo farol encima. "Tapame, tapame que se me apaga la vela" ... "Ve que la pones en el centro que sino se quema el farol" ... "Cambia la vela que ya se gastó" ... es lo que se escucha en el fondo ... Finalmente, no sobra el ñino que de "arrayuo" vuelve y saca unas paquitas de chispitas mariposa y se pone a prenderlas a esa hora ...

Esta es una realidad privilegiada que nos regala nuestr clima calido de Barranquilla y por un lado no culpo a la gente del interior de que prenda su "alumbrado" en forma de flores y muñecos a las 7 p.m. por muy extraño que parezaca, finalmente, ¿se imaginan con este frio salir a las 4 a.m. en Bogota a prender velas?

Y por si no saben que es un farol barranquillero, si ... es aquel que se hace manualmente, muchas veces incluso en el colegio, que consiste en una estructurita de un solido hexagono irregular, de tapa mas angosta que la base, cuyas paredes son forradas con el tan economico papel celofan de todos los colores. Hay que aclarar que ese cuentico que todos los años se compran faroles no es el todo cierto ... no falta el que si los compra en los cientos de esquinas donde los venden en la calle, pero muchos "reparabamos" los faroles dañados del año pasado y es hasta divertido! Siempre y cuand la estructura de madera este bien, uno simplemente le volvia a pegar papel celofan a las paredes y quedaban como nuevos. Obvio, hay que tener mucho desocupe, pero ese es el plan perfecto para niños en vacaciones con por ejemplo, un abuelo jubilado ...

Tipo 5 a.m. la velada sigue y siempre hay alguien que hace la pregunta del millón: "¿Que vamos a comer?" - que por cierto es una de mis preguntas favoritas. Y es ahí donde empiezan los clasicos: en el menu esta "ir a buscar unos fritos" (aerpa e huevo, carimañola, empanada, arepa e dulce ...) o calentar un pastel, o una hayaca, o calentar lo que sobro de la comida del 7 en la noche, o lo que sea que haya por ahi ... pero ese dìa el desayuno es temprano y sabe a gloria ... para la muestra un boton, FRITO EXPRESS, un punto muy conocido en Barranquilla abrirá mañana a las 4 a.m. como lo muestra el siguiente evento:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174562679239719&index=1

Despues de la comilona, generalmente uno se va a dormir, o a pasar a guayabo. El 8 es un dìa de pereza, sin embargo no faltan los que van a misa, a hacerle tributo a la verdadera cause de toda esta rumba: la vrigen de la inmaculada concepción.

Y asi comienza o mas bien, se ratifica el comienzo de las 4 fiestas ... ya la gente tiene las tres fiestas que siguen en el radar y no hay nada que hacer.

La calidad es malita, pero este video que encontre les da la idea del ambiente ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5oJwlTe94Y&feature=related

A ver si nos inspiramos y seguimos escribendo de las 4 fiestas!! Quien se pide el 24 (con descripcion de las novenas por favor!!), el 31 y carnavales?

On commitment

2010-06-14T20:18:00.000-03:00

Hi all,

I invite you to follow my newest blog, http://gmatresilience.blogspot.com/

And remember: "people never fail - they just give up"

Have a great day!

True commitment is serious and it is powerful. Commitment is not just saying
you'll do it. Commitment is doing it. True Commitment is not conditional,
for to be committed means to be absolutely committed.

Commitment is more than doing just what is convenient or comfortable.
Commitment is doing what is necessary. Commitment is making the sacrifices
and the tradeoffs that are required to uphold it. Commitment is more than
just wishing for the right conditions. Commitment is working with what you
have.

Commitment is not easy. Commitment does not back down or run away at the
first sign of trouble. Commitment perseveres until the goal is reached.
Commitment does not waste time and effort whining or complaining or seeking
to find blame. Commitment adjusts to reality and moves forward.

Too many people have been deceived for too long, and have come to expect
that they can know fulfillment without the gritty effort of commitment. They
are sadly mistaken. Real, solid commitment is real work. And well worth it.
The evidence is overwhelming -- it gets results like nothing else can.

--Ralph Marston

My sister made it to Italy to visit our family!!

2010-03-28T15:31:00.007-03:00

I just had to post about this!!

(It was also about time to write on my blog again ... too much work at Endeavor, the MBA application, and the opening of Sizzlers mistakenly became my own excuses to procrastine this .... terrible!!! how i missed it!)

My younger sister Luchy, who lives in The Netherlands finally made it to Italy! You would say ...."so, what?". Well, Italy is an amazing country, but the hype is not about Italy itself, but about the fact that she made it to the small town in South Italy where our grandmother`s family ancenstors come from. In 2005, I was the first one from the younger "generation" to travel to Italy to get to know them ... I still remember the post I wrote by that time. It is freaky to sit here, today, almost 5 years after to see that the contact with them goes on and more than contact, there is this familiarity. I can`t wait for the day they come for a Colombia familiy reunion!

Now the next one is my mom. If all goes well, she`ll make it to Italy this summer - her first time in Europe, ever.

WOW

2010-02-28T14:19:00.000-03:00

Tribal leaders, you have to see this!

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/spa/seth_godin_on_the_tribes_we_lead.html

"Hey, I´m here, I love my job, I greet you and please feel safe: the army is here".

2010-01-08T16:28:00.000-02:00

During this past holidays I traveled by car from Bogota (Colombia´s capital) to Barranquilla, then from Barranquilla to Manizales and finally back from Manizales from Bogotá. Since last year we started travelling by car and it has been a safe and enyojable experience. So, the thing that called my attention the most during the trip was the "campaign" run by the colombian army on the roads these holidays ... "every time there was a soldier on the road, every single time he greeted every car that passed by making -thumbs up- in an extremely friendly manner". Now imagine a 16 hour trip experiencing the same synchronized gesture from (I repeat) every soldier. Come on, how many cars pass by in a road in such a holiday season and this guys waved their hands to almost every car! That´s impressive.

Well, I have to clarify it´s an assumption that this is an structured campaign, but I bet it should be, such a perfect coordination usually does not happen by chance. And if it indeed was a campaign, at least for me it worked. It felt so nice. It felt like they all were telling you as you passed by: "Hey, I´m here, I love my job, I greet you and please feel safe: the army is here".

¿Pa´ qué me sirvió el colegio?

2009-06-02T16:49:00.003-03:00

¿Pa´ qué me sirvió el colegio?

Por Oriana Torres

(escrito a finales de 2008)

El pasado domingo estaba hablando por teléfono con mi mamá acerca

de la final de la Eurocopa 2008 (a ser jugada entre Alemania y España).

En la mitad de la conversación de repente me pregunta sarcásticamente:

“¿Y a quién le vas a dar?”. Yo con voz ridículamente orgullosa

le respondí: “Pues a quién, crees, ¡a Alemania!”. Ante esto ella me

respondió para mi sorpresa igual de orgullosa y decidida: “Pues yo

también, acá en la casa todo el mundo le da a España, pero fueron

casi 20 años entre el tiempo que tu y tu hermana estuvieron en el Colegio

Alemán, y ese Colegio ha hecho tanto por ustedes, que le tengo

que dar a Alemania”. A primera vista, la respuesta de mi mamá me

sonó totalmente desenfocada (o como se dice en inglés “random”),

¿qué diablos tiene que ver el apoyar un equipo de fútbol - cuyos jugadores

ni idea tendrán que hay colegios alemanes en Colombia- con la

gratitud que uno siente para con su propio colegio? Pero no le dije

nada al respecto a mi mamá, porque en el fondo yo sentía lo mismo…

y todo lo que se asocie a mi colegio, por muy “random” que sea a mí

siempre me va a causar un gran sentimiento de orgullo y añoranza.

Hugh McLeod (http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000009.html) hizo hace cierto tiempo una caricatura que

me encanta, cuyo mensaje dice: “The market for something to believe in is infinite”. Esta frase me encanta ya que me recuerde

el espíritu libre que tenemos los seres humanos para creer en lo que queramos y actuar conforme a ello.

“¿Qué tiene que ver esto con el Colegio Alemán?” – estarán pensando. La respuesta es sencilla; para mi los cimientos de lo

que uno cree y por ende en lo que uno se convierte, los da en gran parte el colegio donde uno estudia, y esa libertad de pensamiento,

creencia y acción definitivamente es para lo que mas me sirvió el colegio.

Cuando pasa el tiempo, y uno de vez en cuando se pone con el novio o con los amigos de la universidad o del trabajo a hablar

de sus épocas del colegio, es impresionante como uno empieza a darse cuenta que muchas cosas que uno vivió en el colegio

eran excepcionales. Todos hablan o de las monjas y los curas y los castigos que les ponían, todos hablan de los uniformes y

las reglas irrompibles, todos hablan de los idiomas que nunca les enseñaron y de malos profesores que nunca disfrutaban el

placer de maltratar… Y que placer da cuando uno se da cuenta que para los alumnos del Colegio Alemán no tener uniforme

era una delicia y que cada uno se vestía a su modo sin temer ser la lanzada o el boleta del curso, para nadie era raro ver un

cabello teñido de rojo o un hombre con arete y cabello largo. Qué alegría da pensar que teníamos una emisora, que aunque

era simplemente un chuzo se manejaba con toda la mística del caso, que teníamos un periódico, que aunque éramos solo 5

personas las que nos inventábamos los artículos, salía cada 6 meses, y traía un motivo más de polémica y diversión al colegio.

Que nota reconocer que fue el colegio quien me enseño a emprender, que si no había plata para las meriendas, para rumbear

o para viajar a Alemania, nadie me impedía sacar un tarro de obleas con arequipe y ponerme a venderlas en el recreo o a la

salida del colegio, como tampoco nadie me impedía vender camisetas “batik” o perfumes de San Andresito, de hecho personas

como la “Profe Cecilia” me compraba fielmente. Que lindos recuerdos hay de aquellos bazares, donde uno añoraba montarse

en los “caballitos de mula”, comerse un paella hecha por el Profesor Lobo, luego comerse un postre en el salón de té de las

damas alemanas (que quedaba en la sala de profesores), eso sin contar las ganas de meterse al polideportivo a bailar al ritmo

de “Bananas” … y que importa si había que ir al día siguiente a limpiar el colegio, bien que mal era un día chévere, que sin

querer queriendo nos inculcó responsabilidad y disciplina. Que admirable saber que uno creció entre animales y supo siempre

respetarlos, o quien no se acuerda de las iguanas que se metían en nuestros cursos, o de las boas que dormían todo el día en

su jaula que quedaba camino al salón de dibujo, o de la cantidad de jaulas de pajaritos que habían por todas partes. Que buenas

las competencias deportivas, donde hasta los más malos concursábamos y salíamos felices con nuestro cartón de participación,

que buenas las premiaciones de final de año donde los mas nerds nos veíamos recompensados por tantas horas de

estudio y colaboración. Que maravilloso a la edad de 15 años haber tenido la oportunidad por 5 meses de vivir el otro país, ver

lo grande que es mundo, lo diferentes que son las culturas y hacernos entender que solo somos un puntito en este planeta.

Que inolvidable poder haber leído un discurso de grado en un idioma diferente al español, que aunque el 80 % del auditorio no

le entendía, sentaba el precedente que esa era una promoción de seres humanos de preparación excepcional.

¿Qué para que me sirvió el colegio? Todas esas maravillosas experiencias me formaron como alguien sanamente competitivo,

con pensamiento global, emprendedor, sostenible y sobre todo, libre de expresar lo que piensa y en lo que cree. He tenido

oportunidades maravillosas en mi vida, antes y después del colegio, la formación de mi familia, mi universidad, AIESEC, pero

jamás pese a lo irremplazables que están han sido, le negaré el crédito a mi querido colegio de haber sentado las bases más

sólidas para ser quién soy.

Y por eso, ¡qué importa si mi mama le quiere dar Alemania durante la final de la Eurocopa 2008, porque el lugar que me hizo

ser lo que soy se merece todo!

Ecological Debt Day

2008-12-02T21:28:00.002-02:00

By Annie Leonard

Taken from: http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=

This past September, news of the economic crisis dominated the headlines. At the exact same time another debt crisis was intensifying, yet was barely noticed.

Earth Overshoot Day, also known as Ecological Debt Day, was September 23.This is the day in 2008 by which humanity had used all the resources that the planet will generate this year. As viewers of The Story of Stuff already know, we currently consume 1.4 planets’ worth of global resources each year. From September 23rd on, we’re eating into the natural capital, undermining its ability to produce for the future. We’re consuming on credit and accumulating ecological debt that we have no way to repay.

Ecology and economics share a common root: the Greek word oikos, meaning “home.” Economics and ecology both are about managing our home. In our current situation, we have messed up both. Continue reading here.

We’re obsessive over economic indicators. We track indicators hourly, panic at the slightest decline, invest billions when it is shaky. Yet, we have a huge collective blind spot to the other ecological management, even though it’s a bigger problem, both in terms of survival and even in terms of finances. There is a growing call coming from all over the world, to integrate our understanding of the economic and ecological crises and to ensure that a solution to one is a solution to both.

Crisis and opportunity are often referred to as two sides of the same coin. That is definitely true here. The current economic crisis provides us a much needed opportunity to re-evaluate the priorities of our economy, to develop new metrics for measuring real progress, for reducing superfluous consumption while increasing economic equity and ensuring the integrity of the ecological systems on which life depends.

My friend Rita always says “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.” Clearly, what we’re doing isn’t working. As David Korten, author of The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth, suggests, it’s time to try something new.

NETworking or NOTworking? - and other Silicon Valley Stories

2008-10-30T19:45:00.002-02:00

Taken from gapingvoid.com

ALSO TAKEN FROM MY ENTREPRENEURSHIP BLOG

http://entrepreneurial-discovery.blogspot.com/

I want to start this post highlighting this amazing quote I found recently on gapingvoid.com: "BLOGS AREN´T DEAD, PEOPLE ARE". It´s amazingly simple and logic, but at the same time it was amazingly harsh for me to read it ... "Man it means I´m dead ... my creativity is dead, my capacity to share experiences is dead since I do not blog since a good couple of weeks"

Anyways, after couple of minutes I recivered from my paranoia and well, FYI, I´m not dead!

I was busy doing NETworking, ehemmm, and NOTworking as well!

I was for a week abroad, half of it on a very short vacation and half of it participating in an amazing Immersion Tour of Endeavor in Silicon Valley (SV).

At Facebook, San Jose (CA)

The experience was just amazing, it felt like being in the "mecca" of entrepreneurship and capitalism, well in some aspects, it still is.

We had the opportunity to witness interesting and content-rich panels with all sorts of Venture Capitalists (VCs) of the Bay area that were willing to tell Entrepreneurs lessons on how the industry works and how to raise money effectively.

Another big block of the tour were of course the company visits ... we visited companies that today are icons for all of us, such as Google, Facebook, eBAY, PayPal and Eletronic Arts. Of course we saw what we all expected to see ... "thousands of crazy, diverse-looking employees living in wide campuses within a very unique, free, wild organizational cultures". However even if that was cool, won´t deny, I must say that was not what amazed me the most. What was unique of the experience was reflecting on how small these organizations started (just as any other entrepreneur) and how someone believed in them, invested in them, how the chose the right people to manage and envision the business and ... eureka! how they turned to be what they are now. It was a powerful lesson on THINKING BIG, on TAKING RISKS. Failure is not one of the options, but if it happens, it´s well embraced and powerful reason to stand up again.

At Electronic Arts

Well, since I´m a quotes person, I leave you with some of the most interesting quotes or expressions or terms I heard in the tour from VCs, Entrepreneurs and employees from some SV-based Companies:

"In Silicon Valley one new company is born every hour"

"We work on technology because we want to change the world" - COO Facebook

"Silicon Valley - Wild West approach to risk"

"DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION"

"Queen Isabel of Spain - one of the first Venture Capitalists of history" - Bill Draper making the analogy since as we all know the Queen financed Columbus, one of the greatest Entrepreneurs ever

"Demographics Vs Psicographics"

"It´s not the strongest of species that survive, not the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change"

"You´re the heart of our existence" - Venture Capitalist Bill Draper refering to Entrepreneurs

"Being a VC is all about making money without working. The job is about identifiying great business ideas and put in the right management"

"Self-actualization", "Identity refreshment"

"VCs serve Entrepreneurs, it´s a service"

"I do not do HR, I advice the leaders of the organization to do HR, I empower the business leaders to do their job" - VP HR PayPal

"People want to work for winners, people want to for something that is going somewhere" - VP HR PayPal

"The culture of you organization tomorrow is who you are recruiting today" - VP HR PayPal

"If you are scared with the crisis right now, maybe you should not be an entrepreneur"

"There are 3 kinds of people: people that start companies, that grow companies and tha run companies - not all entrepreneurs are ready to make this transition"

"5 words an Entrepreneurs does not want to hear from an employee: - IT IS NOT MY JOB - be ready to look for people that are willing to go beyong its resumee"

"You do not need to be in high-tech to make a lot of money"

"Finding one´s calling by looking at one´s purpose and it´s impact - not at the tasks we do"

"The ultimate time to differentiate ourselves (as companies) in the the times of recesion/crisis"

"VC money is not a commodity, it comes with a partner that makes it special"

"Fun is a very important element when building a culture"

"Sucess is failing repeatedly with ENTHUSIASM"

"It´s all about IQ that generates IP" - IQ= Intelligent people who generated Intellectual Property!

"The (Silicon) Valley isn´t anymore the only thought leader ... we need to re-create the valley in other places"

"A great business leader deeply understands the motivations of his/her employees, investors and of course, customers"

1492

2008-10-30T18:53:00.003-02:00

TAKEN FROM MY ENTREPRENEURSHIP BLOG

http://entrepreneurial-discovery.blogspot.com/

This is supposed to be an old movie; it was released in October 1992 for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. I never heard of it before last weekend though, that I randomly stopped by the video store to ask for any movies related to Columbus, and in general, the preparation of his endeavor to discover “the new world”.

The reason why I was looking for such a movie, is because I kept intrigued by one of the analogies I heard at the Silicon Valley Tour, pointing Queen Isabel of Spain as one of the first Venture Capitalists of the history, when she accepted financing Columbus on his “crazy” project of reaching Asia through a new, never tried before route.

I´m not a movie expert. Also I am aware that movies many times are not as good as books to describe history. Though, I loved the movie … and I think it´s a wonderful piece to use and display, if anyone wants to set up a workshop to explain what entrepreneurship is.

Key moments of the movie to capitalize on:

- The first time, that the project of Columbus was presented to the University of Salamanca, it was harshly rejected. The “experts” did not believe in his not proven, risky proposal, so it did not even reach the stage of being eligible to be presented to the Queen. Even if he had a crisis, he did not stop believing. Lesson: Entrepreneurs never give up. They´ll find many “NO”s on their ways, but that won´t be a reason to quit their dreams.

- He kept fighting, and fighting and despite of the previously described rejection, he reached the Queen. How? Networking … even at that time networking was a key tool for things to happen. A sailorman that knew Columbus and somehow was attracted by his project (and wanted to make part of it), approached him and introduced him to a banker, which had “contacts” with the Queen and was willing to enable a direct meeting with Columbus. Basically, the Queen owed this banker money, so she could not refuse the favor of meeting Columbus. Lesson: Networking matters.

- Columbus was a genuine seller. The movie showed a great first conversation between Columbus and the queen, where you could really see how good he could sell what he wanted to do and how Spain could benefit from that. Beyond that, he was charming enough to make the Queen feel comfortable in his presence, and well, in general, make her just love him. At the end of the day it was clear that the Queen did not necessarily believe in the project, but she believed in him. As a today´s Venture Capitalist would do, Queen Isabel bet on Columbus, she took the risk. Lesson: The entrepreneurs as individuals, their charisma, and their ability to inspire others, is the engine of the entrepreneurial activity. The business is just the platform for the entrepreneur to show its geniality.

- Columbus was a starter. He was maybe the only man of that time that could dare to find the Indies the way he did. But once the “new world” started to be conquered, he showed not to be the best man to rule this new land. The movie shows all kind of crisis he confronted managing the first colonies, even if the Queen upgraded him to Vice-king. I would even say he did not even enjoy running these islands (Columbus discovered first some islands, not the continent), he looked miserable, his heart and mind were focused on moving on, sailing further until he could reach the continent. But he couldn´t, cause the “logic” said that since he was the leader of this new world discovery, so nobody else could be the governor of this new land. Lesson: "There are 3 kinds of people: people that start companies, that grow companies and that run companies - not all entrepreneurs are ready to make this transition".

- At some point of history, nobody recognized and valued Columbus work. The movie shows an amazing scene about this. After the new colonies were “a mess”, under Columbus administration, the high administration of the Kingdom of Spain just decided to send a replacement for him, someone that really had the profile to run the colonies. They did not only decide this without even consulting or announcing Columbus, but parallel to the arrival of the new governor, they arrested Columbus, blaming him for incompetency. The bad news for Columbus were not leaving his position as governor, he textually said “it was a relief for him, because now he was free to sail away and reach the continent”. What broke his heart was hearing that while he was so busy ruling the colonies, the explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci, another Italian, was the first person to reach the continent. When he came back to Spain, all the “flowers” of the new discovery, were given to Amerigo. Colombus was a random person, “the guy that could not rule the new world”, but nobody acknowledged that because of him, this entire discovery started. The movie showed though, that Columbus gained his position back in the history, thanks to his son Fernando, who years after and before his father died, started to write his biography. Lesson: "Humanity/society isn´t many times ready to recognize real entrepreneurship”

Well, Amerigo Vespucci did an amazing thing actually – he demonstrated that the New World discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 was not the eastern appendage of Asia, but rather a previously-unknown "fourth" continent - and that was huge. With all the right this new world was called AMERICA. Still while watching the movie, one has the feeling that Columbus should have been the one responsible for doing that … he deserved it.

The thing that makes me happy is that at least my country is called COLOMBIA, in honor to Columbus (in Spanish “Colón”).

Feel free to see the movie review of 1492 at IMD: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103594/

About Vertigo and being kids again

2008-08-16T13:29:00.003-03:00

August 2008

Last weekend I went after 4 long years to an amusement park ... it´s not the kind of first plan that comes to your mind when it´s about having fun (at first it feels sooo random), but indeed when you go there, it´s always like the very first time ... vertigo, anxiety, laughters, curiosity, it´s indeed a funny mix of feelings that after some hours become a perfect therapy to kill routine.

Well, but when was then my last time?
VIENNA, back in 2004 when I lived there. *Sigh*

June 2004

The house car

2008-08-03T21:20:00.003-03:00

These are the kind of random things you see only in Colombia. The photo was taken in a town called EL ROSAL, 1 hour from Bogota. The "car" was driving extremely slow towards us, at the beginning we did not know what the hell that was, but then we realize it it was just a mobile store!

Endeavor profiled in The Economist

2008-08-02T09:42:00.001-03:00

You can red more on my Entrepreneurship Blog.

Yesterday´s view from my office window

2008-08-01T10:56:00.002-03:00

Before yesterday, I did not remember tha last time I saw a rainbow. It was such a beautiful surprise when yesterday, after a small rain in the city I looked outside my window and saw this spectacular rainbow all over the eastern hills of Bogotá. Happy weekend!

Life Update

2008-07-29T19:30:00.006-03:00

Yes, I know ... long time.

But I won´t start one more time with the typical "oh sorry, it´s been a while, bla, bla ..."

Lately I have identified I fall under the category of "expat" or "tourist" blogger, then it looks like that my high seasons for blogging have been the ones when I´ve lived abroad ... too bad, specially since it´s kind of unfair with my current life, one might thing there is nothing interesting going on! But it is .. :-)

So, I decided to stop procrastination today (see my previous post on this blog, how inconsistent am I!!!) on this my personal blog, as well on my Entrepreneurship Blog - let´s see how ot goes. So, what have I been up to?

- I started trekking a month ago. I used to do that when I lived in India back in 2006. With so much work going on back in Colombia, we tend to become sedentary, so Javier took the lead and we joined a Trekking Group called Viajes Clorofila, in Bogotá.

You can also check other trips here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=135326&l=db845&id=787435612 and http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=137230&l=f8bd8&id=787435612

- Oh yes, I started using Facebook, but that has nothing to do with my lack fo blogging. I realized after trying it that, sure, you have to be on Facebook and it´s indeed fun and "light" (you re-estabilish contact with so many old friends and family), but it will NEVER replace or be equivalent to the experience of blogging. So the ones that changed the blog for Facebook, you definitively changed "strawberries for nuts" - both good, but certainly different.

- Job gets every day more instense and challenging. After almost 1,5 years at Endeavor Colombia the "excitement/learning" phase is over and now it´s all about maximizing performace and increasing contribution. The portfolio of the Entrepreneurs I manage keeps growing and that demands more focus. But it still is an amazing experience - we started to set up real Talent Management Systems (perfomance appraisals, development plans, upgraded job roles) and that has increased even more the motivation towards what I´m doing!

- I kept volunteering. I closed my third course on entrepreneurship for children with Junior Achievement and closed my trainning on NGO mentoring with Alianza Social Uniandina. I guess by next month I shall get some NGOs assigned to start consulting them.

- I went home for vacations last april/may.

- We celebrated the 50 years anniversary of AIESEC in Colombia. Nice party (awesome organization) and great to meet with friends.

- I happen to be in the organizing committe of the 10 years anniversary of my school! It will take place in december this year, in Barranquilla.

All that ... but now that I´m writting this, I realized how much I´ve missed blogging!

Stop Procrastinating!

2008-03-11T11:14:00.001-03:00

Too funny!

Attitude

2008-02-28T12:20:00.002-03:00

I just found again this beautifully simple reflexion of Swindoll about attitude.

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gift, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."

Charles Swindoll

Back to study!

2008-02-25T11:06:00.003-03:00

In two days "school" will start again for me! I was selected by the Alianza Social Uniandina to participate in a 17 session program on "Institutional Strengthening" (hope the translation makes sense!). They funded this year in total 8 students like me to get trainning on how to make organizations, specially those in the social sector, stronger through consulting. After the program ends, we shall still provide consultancy to some organizations they will assigned to us on a volunteer basis.

Looking forward!

Love on the Streets - a propo of St. Valentin´s day

2008-02-14T16:45:00.003-02:00

St. Valentin´s day (even if worldwide known) is not precisely "the most celebrated day" in Colombia, we celebrate the love "day" in the month of September ... still today I found a very nice set of stories - actually videos - narrated by former homeless and current homeless people ...

"Love that brings you to the streets" and "Love that takes you out of the streets" are two of the most impressive and touching stories ... (all in spanish)

Random B-day pics

2008-02-14T16:31:00.002-02:00

So, maybe bit late to report, but I turned 27 last 23.01!

Below some random pictures of the day! It was a working day, so there was not much space for wild party, still was a very special one ... as always, the winning gift of the day was Javier´s: a wonderful 2-hour wine-therapy (all kinds of messages and aromatherapies based on grapes/wine)!

Hope to make it to this great wedding!

2008-01-30T13:13:00.000-02:00

http://www.veroandjoost.com/

And hopefully our first AI 05 06 Team reunion!

For all you fishetarians and sushi lovers - be aware of this new study

2008-01-29T14:36:00.000-02:00

From the NY Times

January 24, 2008, 2:40 pm

National Study Finds High Levels of Mercury in Tuna
By Marian Burros

The international conservation group Oceana has issued a report that found levels of mercury in fresh tuna in stores and restaurants across the United States that were as high as those reported yesterday in a New York Times article on tuna sushi sold in Manhattan.

Like those samples tested by The Times, many of the Oceana samples had levels of mercury exceeding those that would allow the Food and Drug Administration to take legal action to remove it from the market.
Mercury is believed to affect neurological development of fetuses and young children. Some studies have suggested it may cause health problems in adults, too. Since 2004, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have recommended that women of child-bearing age and young children eat no more than 12 ounces of fish a week, including no more than 6 ounces of canned albacore tuna, and avoid swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel and shark because they are high in mercury.

Oceana tested samples of fresh tuna, swordfish and tilapia, as well as tuna and mackerel sushi bought in 26 cities and found that the average mercury concentration of tuna steaks in 23 grocery stores was 0.68 parts per million, even higher than the 0.57 parts per million that was the average for tuna sushi that The Times bought in stores. Swordfish levels were even higher; tilapia and mackerel were very low.

The mercury content of tuna sushi from the 24 restaurants in the Oceana study was 0.86 parts per million, quite similar to the average of 0.88 parts per million that The Times found in tuna sushi in restaurants. One third of the tuna sushi in the Oceana study had more than one part per million of mercury, the level that would allow F.D.A. to remove the fish from the market, something it rarely does.
In 2005 Oceana launched a campaign to make major grocery chains post at their fish counters government warnings about tuna. Since then several chains, including Whole Foods, Vons, Dominick's, Safeway and Trader Joe's, have agreed to post some information.

But Oceana said that when seafood counter attendants were asked what the FDA advice is for those women and children, they found that 87 percent either gave an incorrect answer or incomplete information or simply said they did not know.

Oceana is asking the FDA to require warnings at seafood counters, to add fresh tuna to its "do not eat" list and to increase the frequency of its testing of fish.

One Red Paper Clip

2008-01-22T13:53:00.001-02:00

What an amazing story!

Join us! For a peacefuly Colombia

2008-01-21T18:35:00.000-02:00

A million voices against FARC...

We need our voices to be heard.

Let’s not be silent anymore, let the world hear us; let every guerrilla man or woman hear us: We repel FARC - EP (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army).

We DON’T want more armed fight.FARC have deceived the world once again by not freeing the thousands of kidnapped people they have kept captive for almost a decade now, recurring one more time to all kinds of tricks and evasive lies.Kidnapping is the worst of acts against human dignity, and FARC have kidnapped and kept captive thousands of people over the last years, while they keep growing their drug production and drug traffic business, perpetrating all kinds of crimes and terrorist attacks against people, bringing poverty and misery to our country, which has suffered this plague and humanitarian tragedy for more than forty years now.

Colombia, Colombians, friends from all over the world, let’s unite to shout loudly:

NO MORE!

NO MORE KIDNAPPING!

NO MORE LIES!

NO MORE MURDER!

NO MORE FARC!

Let’s commit ourselves to join a million voices in this group so we can make a difference, and let the entire world know that we don’t need that “People’s Army” here in Colombia; that FARC is a terrorist group, led by murderers and enemies of the Colombian and World’s People.

This is a cause beyond all political interests or colors. It’s a humanitarian cause, encouraged by a simple sense of solidarity, for the sake and welfare of our citizens. Join us; We need our voices to be heard.

A million voices against FARC.

Join us on Feb. 04 in a global march against FARC.

PLEASE VISIT www.colombiasoyyo.org AND GET DETAILS!

Meeting points in Colombia

BARRANQUILLA, AtlánticoPlaza de la Paz. Al frente de la Catedral. 12:00 del medio día Contactos: Oscar Morales Guevara nomasfarcbarranquilla@gmail.com

BOGOTA, D.C.Movilización en toda la ciudad. En donde se encuentre salga a la calle y hágase sentir. Puntos iniciales: Plaza de Bolívar y Calle 72 con 7a. Corredor vial: Av Cra 7 Contactos: Pierre Onzaga, Rosa Parra, Cristina Lucena nomasfarcbogota@gmail.com

FUSAGASUGA, CundinamarcaPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: Jenny Angelica Quicano nomasfarcfusagasuga@gmail.com

FACATATIVA, CundinamarcaPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: Catherine Miranda nomasfarcfacatativa@gmail.com

SOGAMOSO, BoyacáPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: Jorge Ferney Cubides nomasfarcsogamoso@gmail.com

MEDELLIN, AntioquiaPlaza de Banderas de la Alpujarra, al lado del Centro de Convenciones Plaza Mayor. 12:00 del medio día Contacto: Edward Naranjo nomasfarcmedellin@gmail.com

CALI, ValleParque del Perro. 12:00 del medio día Contacto: Andrew Cupp nomasfarccali@gmail.com

ARMENIA, QuindíoPlaza de Bolivar. Carrera 14 Calle 21. 12:00 del medio día Contacto: Alejandra Estrada nomasfarcarmenia@gmail.com

BUCARAMANGA, SantanderPlaza Luis Carlos Galán. 12:00 del medio día Contacto: Carlos A. Santiago nomasfarcbucaramanga@gmail.com

OCAÑA, Norte de SantanderPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: nomasfarcocana@gmail.com

SANTA MARTA, MadgalenaPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: Oscar Ortiz Celedón nomasfarcsantamarta@gmail.com

MONTERÍA, CórdobaPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: León Jaime nomasfarcmonteria@gmail.com

VILLAVICENCIO, MetaPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: María José González nomasfarcvillavicencio@gmail.com

International Meeting Points

CENTRO Y SUR AMERICA

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINAObelisco, Avenida 9 de Julio. 3:00 p.m. (Hora local Buenos Aires) Contacto: Laura Puerta nomasfarcbuenosaires@gmail.com

CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA, GUATEMALA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Sergio Ramírez nomasfarcguatemala@gmail.com

SAO PAULO, BRASIL Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: nomasfarcsaopaulo@gmail.com

PUNTA CANA, REP. DOMINICANA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Maria Catalina Serna nomasfarcpuntacana@gmail.com

MEXICO, D.F. Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Jorge Hernández nomasfarcmexicodf@gmail.com

NORTEAMERICA

NEW YORK CITY Al frente del edificio de las Naciones Unidas. 12:00 del medio día. (hora local NY) Contacto: Jaime Caballero nomasfarcnewyork@gmail.com

MIAMI, FLORIDA Parqueadero del consulado de Colombia. 10:00 a.m. (Hora local MIA). Contacto: Adelaida Vengoechea nomasfarcmiami@gmail.com

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Carlos Grajales nomasfarcwestpalmbeach@gmail.com

PHILADELPHIA, PA Capilla de la Catedral. 12:00 del medio día. (Hora Local Phily) Contacto: Maria Martinez

BOSTON, MA Plaza de Government Center, en frente del City Hall. 12:00 del medio día. (Hora Local Boston) Contacto: nomasfarcboston@gmail.com

CHICAGO, IL Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Paola Susan nomasfarcchicago@gmail.com

WASHINGTON, DC Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Laura Busche nomasfarcwashington@gmail.com

SAN FRANCISCO, CA Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Marcela Junguito nomasfarcsanfrancisco@gmail.com

HOUSTON, TEXAS Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Javier Saavedra nomasfarctexas@gmail.com

STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Natalia Santamaria nomasfarcstatecollege@gmail.com

IOWA Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: William A. Montoya nomasfarciowa@gmail.com

TORONTO, CANADA DUNDAS Square. Centro de Toronto. 11:00 a.m. (Hora local Toronto). Contacto: Luis Orellano nomasfarctoronto@gmail.com

CALGARY, ALBERTA - CANADA Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Daniel Vargas nomasfarccalgary@gmail.com

EUROPA Y ASIA

PARIS, FRANCIA Place de l'Hotel de Ville. 75004 PARIS. 1:00 p.m. (Hora local París) Metro: Hotel de Ville. Lineas de metro: 1 y 11. Contactos: David Velilla. Heider Pardo (Bordeaux). nomasfarcparis@gmail.com

MADRID, ESPAÑA Plaza Mayor en Madrid. Contacto: Camilo Garavito nomasfarcmadrid@gmail.com

TORINO, ITALIA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Jorge Tobón nomasfarctorino@gmail.com

DÜSSELDORF, ALEMANIA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Javier Amaya nomasfarcdusseldorf@gmail.com

HAMBURGO, ALEMANIA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Camilo Palacios nomasfarchamburg@gmail.com

MUNICH, ALEMANIA Marien Platz. Contacto: Susana Vélez Haller nomasfarcmunich@googlemail.com

LONDRES, INGLATERRA Por confirmar sitio. 5:00 p.m. (hora local Londres) Contacto: Carmelita Hurtado nomasfarcengland@googlemail.com

LA HAYA, HOLANDA Plein al Frente del Parlamento. 11:30 a.m. (Hora local Holanda) Contacto: Alejo Bernal nomasfarclahaya@gmail.com

COPENHAGEN, DINAMARCA Contacto: nomasfarccopenhague@gmail.com

TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Juan Valenzuela nomasfarctelaviv@gmail.com

DUBAI, EMIRATOS ARABES Contacto: nomasfarcdubai@gmail.com