Here in Colombia, work doesn’t rule a person’s life. There are a lot of holidays as well, which means lots of four-day weekends! Just in this month, there was a four-day weekend last weekend and one this weekend as well! On holidays, only a select few stores will open because people enjoy having time off and spending the holidays with their family.
Furthermore, relationships are highly valued here, both socially and in the work place. When it comes to making friends, it’s a slower process. You wouldn’t meet a person for the first time here, get a long really well, and just assume after that meeting that you are friends. Friendship is formed more slowly, and people have to really get to know each other before deeming each other friends. However, because the friendship process is longer, the relationship is normally stronger! Friends here can count on each other when they need help, and are willing to go out of their way to do favors for one another. For me personally, I have a few people in the United States I would consider my friends, but still probably wouldn’t ask them to do a favor for me. Relationships in business are just as important here. Before a business meeting, it is common to ask about the person’s family, because jumping right into business matters would be seen as rude. However, contrarily, in the United States, asking somebody about their family in a business meeting would be seen as inappropriate.
Becoming familiar with these differing perspectives has really helped me “fit in” and adjust to life here in Colombia!
