Spanish Language & Culture
Columbia, a republic in South America, is located in the northwest region of the continent. Its neighbors are Panama and The Caribbean Sea, also Venezuela and Brazil, to the south there’s Peru and Ecuador, and to the west there’s the Pacific Ocean. Did you know that Colombia is the only country in South America that has coasts on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean? The Capital of Colombia is Bogotá, which is also the largest city in the country.
Prior to the settlement of Europeans in the America’s there were many groups of indigenous groups in South America, for example there is the Chibcha who occupies Colombia in the present day. Spain had colonized Colombia, from the 16th century to the 1800’s. They achieved independence in 1819. It soon became a republic with an elected government, even though there was a period of time where the country was plagued with civil unrest and dictatorship.
The society of Colombia is classified by either upper or lower classed citizens, with a large and growing gap between them. A middle class was established in the 20th century, but is still a small percentage of the population. Many attitudes the led to the Colombia’s sharp class divisions originated in 16th century Spain and became the ingrained Colombian society during the colonial period. The status of power was determined by your family lineage, or inherited wealth, also your racial background.
The Economic progress through the 20th century has slightly reduced the concentration of political, social, and economic power in the hands of small upper class.
Land and Resources
Colombia is also known for its famous Andes mountain chain. The Andes are located in the central and western regions of the country and is extended north south across almost the whole length of Colombia. Two fifths of the country lies in the Andes highlands. The ranges of the mountain are separated by deep depressions. Majority of the population live in the narrow valleys and basins right along the mountains. In the east Andes there’s a region of land called llanos, or the grasslands, and selva, or rain forest.
The llanos lie right along the plain that drains northeast into the Orinoco River, and the selva drains into the Amazon River basin.
Climate
Colombia in located in a Torrid Zone, a meteorological term denoting the areas tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn.
“Latin America includes the entire continent of South America, as well as Mexico. Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. Physical geography has played an important role in the economic development of Latin America.” (Doc A and Doc G) Latin America has many unique cultural characteristics, industrial products, agricultural products, and human activity.
Colombia, Off2. "Pablo Escobar - Life and Influence of Pablo Escobar on Colombia." Off2Colombia. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May
Colombia’s history has had many episodes of violence ever since it won its independence from Spain in 1819. After independence, the people of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northern Peru, western Guyana, and northwest Brazil united to form a single nation called Gran Colombia. Simon Bolivar became this new republic’s first president. However, Gran Colombia would not last for long. Its leaders would become divided on how the new republic should be governed. Some of its leaders would favor a strong centralized government whereas others would prefer a federal form of government. Liberal and conservative views would divide the country. Finally, in 1831, Gran Colombia would divide into the nations that originally formed it
Child rearing and family structure within the Hispanic culture is noticeably different than what is present in the mainstream Western culture of today. One apparent difference is in gender roles. There exists a vastly different expectation in Hispanic culture for males and females. The male is considered to be the independent breadwinner, and the head of the household. Accordingly, the female role is one of submission and provider of childcare. In contrast, it is more than acceptable in Western culture for a female to maintain a non-traditional role. Hispanic culture additionally differs from Western culture in the traditional makeup of the family. Within Hispanic culture the extended family plays a huge role
Colombia lies in the northern most part of South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea the Bogota is the capital of Colombia. Bordering between Panama and Venezuela and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama. The size of Colombia is 1,138,910 square kilometers less than three times the size of the state of Montana. Mainland territory divided into four major geographic regions. Andean highlands are composed of three mountain ranges and overriding valleys and Caribbean lowlands; Pacific lowlands; and llanos and tropical rainforest of Eastern Colombia. Colombia also has small islands in both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. Climate in Colombia has unique variety in temperature resulting in changing differences in elevation not much seasonal variation. The rocky terrain cut by large rivers that flow into the Caribbean the Pacific. The Amazon and the Orinoco facilitates the construction of enormous reservoirs, which have steadily increased the country’s generation of energy and supply of drinking water.
the world's leading coca producer. Twenty years ago almost no coca was grown in Colombia. Only
One of the most disputed superimposed borders within Latin America is the Colombian-Nicaraguan dispute concerning sovereignty over the maritime features located between both countries in the Caribbean Sea. For 11 years, Nicaraguan lawyers have argued that nearly 50,000 square kilometers of Colombian sea in truth belonged to the Central American state. The area in question includes the archipielago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, a group of tropical islands surrounded by coral reefs. The archipielago is located 482 miles from the Colombian coast and just 140 from Nicaragua, but has been settled by Colombians since the 19th century.
“The word 'leukemia' is a very frightening word. In many instances, it's a killer and it's something that you have to deal with in a very serious and determined way if you're going to beat it” - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Many people, including tons of children, fight leukemia every day trying to beat this vicious cancer. Without knowing how leukemia is exactly caused, it puts a damper on how to avoid it.
The country’s two coastlines are referred to as the Caribbean and Pacific, rather than the north and south coasts. To the east is Colombia and to the west Costa Rica. Pacific. Dominant features of their landform is highlands forming the continental divide. The higher elevations near borders with Costa Rica and Colombia. The highest point in the country is the Volcán Barú which rises to almost 3,500 meters. The lowest elevation is in the middle of the country where it is crossed by the Panama Canal.
Folklore is a collection of stories passed down from generation to generation that includes Legends, Myths and Fairy tales. Legends are a semi-true story, which has been passed on from a person to another person that has an important meaning. Myths are a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon. A Fairytale is a children's story about magical which they have imaginary beings and lands. Hispanic Folklore is the traditional is mostly about beliefs, legends, customs and stories of the community of the hispanic culture. Hispanic or latino culture encompasses the traditions, language, religious beliefs and practices, legends, music and history.
Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. It begins in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside the bones. Within the bone marrow is where white blood cells are created, that help fight off bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms within the body that cause infections. The disease develops to when the white blood cells are being produced out of control. The cells that are being produced do not work properly as they should, they grow faster than a normal cell would and don’t know when to stop growing. Overtime, if not treated properly, the white blood cells will over crowd blood cells, creating a serious problem such as anemia, bleeding and infection. Leukemia cells can spread to the lymph nodes and other organs in the body causing swelling and pain.
The emphasis on health and fitness has become paramount in our society today in an effort to prevent and combat diseases such as Cancers. Cancers are a group of over 100 diseases that affects every aspect of the human system from skin, to bones, to muscles, to blood. One of the most common blood disorders is Leukemia. As defined by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bone that is responsible for the production of blood cells. The term leukemia means white blood. The term leukocytes refer to white blood cells, which are body’s defense against infections and other foreign substances. When Leukemia occurs there is an uncontrolled increase in the number of white blood cells. When this occurs, these cancerous cells inhibit the production of healthy red blood cells, platelets, and mature white blood cells. Over time the cancerous cells can spread to the bloodstream and lymph nodes. They can also travel to the Central Nervous System and the rest of the body.
To understand where and how leukemia occurs it helps to know a little about the blood and lymph systems. Bone marrow is soft inner part of the bone where blood cells are formed There are three different types of major blood cells; white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. In infants active blood cells are found in almost in all bones but by the teenage years they are found in mostly flat bones (skull, shoulder blades, ribs, and pelvis) and the vertebrate. Bone marrow consist of a small number of blood stem cells, more mature blood forming cells, fat cells, and supporting tissues to help the tissue grow. They go through a series of changes to make new blood cells. With this process 1 of 3 things is made- red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all the other parts of the body and transport carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Platelets are cell fragments made by a type of bone...
Leukemia is another type of cancer it is a malignant progressive disease. Some symptoms of leukemia is people weight loss, frequent infections, and easy bleeding or bruising. Also chills, dizziness, fatigue, fever, nausea, night sweats, weakness, or sweating are also side effect or symptoms of leukemia. Most people have to shave their hair of and some people fight the cancer and win. Leukemia involves abnormal white blood cells these cells responsible for fighting infection. The abnormal cell in leukemia does not function in the same way as normal white blood cells do. The leukemia cells continue to grow and divide, eventually crowding out the normal blood cells. There is over 50,000 cases of leukemia occur yearly in the U.S.
What it is is simple. Leukemia is a form of cancer that damages your body’s strength to make blood cells (Siegel & Newton, 10). If you have Leukemia, lots of abnormal white blood cells are made from your bone marrow (WebMD). These abnormal blood cells have a name in which they are called and that is, leukemia cells. These cells do not do the same wo...