International Speaker Profile

Alvaro Rodriguez

I’m a PhD. Student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Akron.

International Speaker Profile

I arrived to United States in December 2002

Colombian mapSouth America

Official nameRepublica de Colombia

CapitalSantafé de Bogotá

32 provinces

Major citiesMedellín, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Pasto.

Neighboring CountriesEcuador, Perú, Brazil, Venezuela and Panamá.

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 sublimederrama las aurorasde su invencible luz.La humanidad entera,que entre cadenas gime,comprende las palabrasdel que murió en la cruz.

The fearful night has ceased.Sublime Libertyshines forth the dawningof its invincible light.All of mankind,moaning in chains,understands the wordsof 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

GEOGRAPHY

Area1,138,910 sq km land

1,038,700 sq km water

Approx. 10 X

Colombia - Quick Facts Colombia is named after Christopher

Columbus

Capital: Bogota

Approx. 10 million

Language: Spanish

Population

46.9 million

Independence

July 20, 1810

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

EARLY CIVILIZATIONS

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

Muisca civilizationLived 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

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

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITESUNESCO World Heritage Sites

San Agustin – Huila, Neiva

Malpelo – Fauna and Flora Sanctuary

Tierradentro - Underground tombs and chambers

Lost City Ruins - Tairona

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Quinchia Coffee Farms

Risaralda, Caldas

Cartagena de IndiasBolivar

Official Language: SPANISH

English is also official in San Andrés and Providencia Islands

75 ethnic languages and dialectsHola, como estas?Mucho gustoBuenos diasHabla Ingles?Hasta la vistaFeliz NavidadNo comprendoGraciasPerdoneNo me gusta

Hello, how are you?

Nice to meet youGood dayDo you speak English?See you laterMerry ChristmasI don't understand

ThanksExcuse meI don't like

ETHNIC GROUPS

GOVERNMENT

Current PresidentJuan Manuel Santos

2010-present

Presidential House

Casa de Nariño

ConstitutionalRepublic

Voting starts at 18 years old

KEY ISSUESColombian Armed Conflict

*Illegal drug trade*Guerrilla

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)National Liberation Army (ELN)United Self-defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)

ECONOMYFlowers, coal,

coffee, banana, sugar cane,

textiles, emeralds, chemicals, gold, concrete, rice, tobacco, cocoa

Currency denominations – Bank notes

Currency denominations – Coins

Colombian fruits

CULTURE – ARTS AND LITERATURE

Art

Literature Nobel PrizeGabriel Garcia Marquez

Fernando BoteroPainter and Sculptor

CULTURE - MUSIC

VallenatoSalsa

Cumbia

CULTURE – POP MUSIC

Shakira Juanes

SPORTS - SOCCER

Carlos Valderrama

Rene Higuita(Scorpion kick)

Metropolitano Stadium

SPORTS - CYCLISM

BMX Olympic Gold MedalistMariana Pajon

King of the Mountains

Vuelta a España(1987, 1991)

Tour de France(1985, 1987)Giro d'Italia

(1989)

SPORTS

Juan Pablo Montoya

Camilo Villegas 2010 World Series MVPEdgar Renteria

2012 Inline Speed-Skating World Champions

CUISINE

NATIONAL FESTIVALS

Blacks and Whites' Carnival

Flowers’ Festival

Coffee festival

Barranquilla’s Carnival

Cali Festival

Flowers’ Festival

Silleteros

Medellin

Coffee Festival

Coffee farmers and beauty pageants

Barranquilla’s Carnival

Marimondas

Afro-Colombian

Mother of the forest

End of the Carnival by the burial of Joselito Carnaval

Cali Festival

BullfightingSalsa

Horse parade

Blacks and Whites' Carnival

Great ParadePasto

Blacks and Whites day players

LinksNews Radio and

TV

Magazines

Summary

Adios