The first in a series of conversations with students from far corners of
the world
By Lukas Vallo
Luisa Fernanda Avendaño Tobon: My decision to study in Europe was based on the fact
that in Colombia, your opportunities of getting a great job depend on knowing
the right people. I moved out of Colombia, and for me it was very illogical to
go back and study at university there, since I also moved one step further away
from the Colombian mentality and became a much more open-minded person. My
decision to study in the Czech Republic was something that neither my family nor
me were expecting.
UNYPRESS: Was it a difficult decision to go study so far away?
LFAT: Yes it was, although I left my country back in 2008 with my parents.
Still, living abroad by myself was quite a difficult thing to process.
UNYPRESS: What did you know about the Czech Republic before you came here?
LFAT: I knew very little; this part of the world for us Colombians is quite
far and unknown. Sad to say but true, most people in Colombia still think of the
Czech Republic as Czechoslovakia.
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| Luisa disapproves the stereotypes of Colombians |
UNYPRESS: Did you experience cultural shock when you arrived?
LFAT: I believe I haven’t had that yet – I am still in the process of being
amazed by the culture. However, as I said before, my way of thinking was quite
traditional, and here it’s very liberal. What has been most shocking to me so
far is the way teenagers behave here, and how drugs are very common, not a taboo
like they are in Colombia.
UNYPRESS: What are the main differences between the Czech Republic and
Colombia?
LFAT: The main difference is the people. In Colombia, they will all be your
friends after one minute of meeting them. We are very open people and quite
happy as well. Here, I find that hard to encounter. The lifestyle is different
in the sense that people here are quite organized and follow a pattern, whereas
in Colombia we go as the day goes. Not to mention the weather, which is totally
different here.
UNYPRESS: What have you done to adapt to Czech culture?
LFAT: I watched and learned. Some things I have adopted from the culture, but
for others I would rather keep my own. I realized that in order for me to
experience living here, I had to let go of all the barriers and stereotypes.
UNYPRESS: What is the best and worst thing about living in the Czech
Republic?
LFAT: The Czech Republic is beautiful, and Prague is just a fairy-tale city. I
love how so many
things happened here not only 30 years ago, but hundreds of years. It’s a
city full of history and cultural value. The food is amazing. The only thing I
moderately dislike is the treatment of foreigners by some people in public
offices; they tend to be rude and not friendly because you don’t speak the
language.
UNYPRESS: What benefits has studying in the Czech Republic brought you?
LFAT: My life basically changed. My mentality transformed from a quite
traditional way of thinking to a much more liberal one. The culture is different
in the sense that people here tend to be more aware of the impact of their
actions in society, while in Colombia this is something that is just starting.
Another benefit is that I’m learning not only about Czech culture, but Europe
as a whole.
UNYPRESS: The Czech Republic is known for its great beers. Do you share this
positive relationship?
LFAT: I believe that this is a much better way to know a country than drugs.
The Czechs are very proud of being known for great beer, and I do not find it
diminishing at all.
UNYPRESS: What are the most well-known stereotypes about your country, and
are they true?
LFAT: To start with, not all of us are drug dealers or in the Mafia. Some
people think we are “poor” because we have farms all around and there is no
developed economy. But if you go to Colombia, you will most likely be shocked to
realize that first, we are not all about drugs, and second, that we are as
sophisticated as Mexico or Argentina.
UNYPRESS: What should a person be aware of before going to Colombia?
LFAT: As I say to my friends, you should be aware that in every part of the
world there are some conflict zones in which you should not go. In Colombia it
is the same – there is absolutely no problem if you don’t go to the conflict
zones, which are mainly in the rural areas.
UNYPRESS: What do you recommend people see when visiting Colombia?
LFAT: There are many things a person shouldn’t miss! Definitely go to the
north coast of Colombia, and if you want to be impressed, climb up to a peak
about 4,000 meters right next to the beach, a beautiful landscape. Also, you
should see the colonial neighborhoods in almost all the cities, which represent
the influence of the Spanish colonization.
UNYPRESS: What food should a person try when visiting Colombia?
LFAT: Definitely coconut rice! Also patacones (plantain) and empanadas, things
that you can’t find here.
UNYPRESS: Many people associate Colombia with cocaine. Is it really a big
problem?
LFAT: Nowadays it is not. People often joke about it, and honestly I do not
like the jokes that much. Back in the ’90s, it was quite a big problem. But
since 2004, with the help of the US, we have decreased the cultivation of the
coca flower radically. Mexico has bypassed us in the production of cocaine, and
drug cartels in Colombia are not as noticeable as they are in Mexico now. A
bigger problem we have is corruption, which leads to drug problems and armed
conflict.
UNYPRESS: What do you like and dislike most about UNYP?
LFAT: I like learning about so many countries that were vague for me. It’s
brought much more value to my life and my studies to be here rather than in a
more internationalized university, I believe.
UNYPRESS: Would you advise other people to study at UNYP?
LFAT: Yes, I would. However, it would not be what they expected, which is to
interact mostly with European people rather than people from Russia or Central
Asia. We Colombians know very little about that part of the world.
Name: Luisa Avendaño Tobon
Age: 20
Major & year: International Economic Relations, 2nd year
Favorite Music: Latin
Favorite book: Madame Bovary
Favorite Sport: Sailing
Favorite place visited: Seoul, Korea
Every month, Passport will bring readers an interview with a UNYP student who
will introduce us to his or her country, and share impressions of UNYP and the
Czech Republic.
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