Created by Alvaro Rodrigues Copyright of Global Ties Akron & Know Your Community - Know Your World

3. International Speaker Profile
Alvaro Rodriguez
I’m a PhD. Student in
Chemical Engineering at
the University of Akron.

4. International Speaker Profile
I arrived to United States in December 2002

6. Colombian mapSouth America
Official name
Republica de Colombia
Capital
Santafé de Bogotá
32 provinces
Major cities
Medellín, Cali, Cartagena,
Barranquilla, Pasto.
Neighboring Countries
Ecuador, Perú, Brazil,
Venezuela and Panamá.

7. CHORUS
¡Oh, gloria inmarcesible!
¡Oh, júbilo inmortal!
En surcos de dolores,
el bien germina ya.
Oh, unfading glory!
Oh, inmortal joy!
In furrows of pain,
the good now
germinates..
I
Cesó la horrible noche.
La libertad sublime
derrama las auroras
de su invencible luz.
La humanidad entera,
que entre cadenas gime,
comprende las palabras
del que murió en la cruz.
The fearful night has ceased.
Sublime Liberty
shines forth the dawning
of its invincible light.
All of mankind,
moaning in chains,
understands the words
of the one who died on the
cross.
It is mandatory to
broadcast the
national anthem on
radio and TV at
6:00 am and at
6:00 pm
It is mandatory to
broadcast the
national anthem on
radio and TV at
6:00 am and at
6:00 pm
Republic of Colombia
Coat of Arms

8. GEOGRAPHY
Area
1,138,910 sq km land
1,038,700 sq km water
Approx. 10 X

9. Colombia - Quick Facts
Colombia is named
after Christopher Columbus
Capital: Bogota
Approx. 10 million
Language: Spanish
Population
46.9 million
Independence
July 20, 1810

10. Colombia - Quick Facts
Currency: Colombian peso
Gross National Income per capita:
US $6,110 (World Bank, 2011)
Religion: 90% Roman Catholic
National tree: Wax Palm
National flower: Orchid
Andean Condor
Spectacled Bear

11. EARLY CIVILIZATIONS

12. Quimbaya civilization
This civilization
flourished during
the 4th to the 7th
century
The Quimbaya artifacts are displayed at the Gold
Museum in Bogota and they represent birds,
lizards, amphibians and insects common in that
region and during that period.
Poporo quimbaya
Quimbaya airplane

13. Muisca civilization
Lived in the eastern highland
savanna from 1000 – 1538
Muisca sacred raft going
to Lake Guatavita
Bachue:
goddess of
water
Bochica: chief and hero
of the muisca
civilization. Political
figure and agriculture
savior

14. Tairona civilization
The Tairona was established in
the region of Sierra Nevada de
Santa Marta and was present
mainly between the 1st and 11th
century
Tairona gold
pendants

15. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
San Agustin – Huila, Neiva
Malpelo – Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
Tierradentro - Underground tombs and chambers
Lost City Ruins - Tairona

16. UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Quinchia Coffee
Farms
Risaralda, Caldas
Cartagena de Indias
Bolivar

17. Official Language: SPANISH
English is also official in San Andrés and Providencia Islands
75 ethnic languages and dialects
Hola, como estas?
Mucho gusto
Buenos dias
Habla Ingles?
Hasta la vista
Feliz Navidad
No comprendo
Gracias
Perdone
No me gusta
Hello, how are you?
Nice to meet you
Good day
Do you speak English?
See you later
Merry Christmas
I don't understand
Thanks
Excuse me
I don't like

18. ETHNIC GROUPS

19. GOVERNMENT
Current President
Juan Manuel Santos
2010-present
Presidential House
Casa de Nariño
Constitutional
Republic
Voting starts at 18 years old

20. KEY ISSUES
Colombian Armed Conflict
*Illegal drug trade *Guerrilla
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
National Liberation Army (ELN)
United Self-defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)

21. ECONOMY
Flowers, coal, coffee,
banana, sugar cane,
textiles, emeralds,
chemicals, gold,
concrete, rice,
tobacco, cocoa

22. Currency denominations – Bank notes

23. Currency denominations – Coins

24. Colombian fruits

25. CULTURE – ARTS AND LITERATURE
Art
Literature Nobel Prize
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Fernando Botero
Painter and Sculptor

26. CULTURE - MUSIC
VallenatoSalsa
Cumbia

27. CULTURE – POP MUSIC
Shakira
Juanes

28. SPORTS - SOCCER
Carlos Valderrama
Rene Higuita
(Scorpion kick)
Metropolitano Stadium

29. SPORTS - CYCLISM
BMX Olympic
Gold Medalist
Mariana Pajon
King of the Mountains
Vuelta a España
(1987, 1991)
Tour de France
(1985, 1987)
Giro d'Italia
(1989)

30. SPORTS
Juan Pablo Montoya
Camilo Villegas 2010 World Series MVP
Edgar Renteria
2012 Inline Speed-Skating
World Champions

31. CUISINE

32. NATIONAL FESTIVALS
Blacks and Whites'
Carnival
Flowers’
Festival
Coffee
festival
Barranquilla’s
Carnival
Cali
Festival

33. Flowers’ Festival
Silleteros
Medellin

34. Coffee Festival
Coffee farmers and beauty pageants

35. Barranquilla’s Carnival
Marimondas
Afro-Colombian
Mother of the forest
End of the Carnival by the
burial of Joselito Carnaval

36. Cali Festival
Bullfighting
Salsa
Horse parade

37. Blacks and Whites' Carnival
Great Parade
Pasto
Blacks and Whites day players

38. Links
News
Radio and TV
Magazines

39. Summary

40. Adios