Colombian Culture isn't on Narcos

Speaking of the Day of the little Candles, we attended a Colombian cultural event in Burnaby today. It was very nice. Young and old as well as families with young children all mingling together listening to Christmas salsa.

We know people from Cali and from Buenaventura. There are some buff brothers from Buenaventura at the gym. Several young ladies from Buenaventura are taking English classes in Surrey. I guess the word's out.

I think some of the Hillbillies need to get out of the fishbowl and travel. Then you'll realize that white people are the minority. Several years ago we had a refugee family from Colombia stay in our home. The mother was from Honduras and the father was from Buenaventura. Their two young children were adorable. 

They told us that when they were in Mexico the father would get jumped for being black. I found that disturbing. When we were at Superstore in Surrey black guys would come up to him, shake his hand and say it's really good to see you. I laughed and said see, here you're a celebrity. 

In Colombia the Blacks and Latinos get along great just like back in New York. Not like in LA. LA was more racial. Tonight I saw Blacks and Latinos hug each other, dancing salsa and mingling all night. Reggaeton is also popular in Colombia. 

Alot of the music tonight was from Cali and you can sure tell Cali has heart. It's supposed to be the salsa capital of the world. I guess 2025 is the year I finally learn salsa. I was looking at a salsa video on YouTube once trying to get the footwork down. My son was visiting and he could hear me getting frustrated. They were counting off, 2,3,7,8 and I was like WTF? Three steps forward three steps backwards that's 6 beats not 8. 

Then my son, who's very good at music casually says I think there's a rest beat in there. I thought about what he said and replied I think you're right. It's 1,2,3 rest, 5,6,7 rest. It's still hard for me to get but I think he's right. It's three beats with a rest. 

Narcos isn't Colombia. The guy from Cali I know came to Surrey and said everyone here smokes marijuana. Back home that's not socially acceptable. He goes to the gym he doesn't blaze. That's why it's good for people to get out there and travel. 

There's a fun Christmas song in Spanish about a donkey bringing gifts to baby Jesus and another sad song where a kid wakes up Christmas morning and says why don't we have any presents or food. Times are tough but we take a lot for granted. 

Some tourists go to Colombia for the cocaine and prostitutes. The locals don't like those kind of tourists. Colombia has so much more to offer. If you don't look for it you'll never see it.

You know how on birthdays we make a wish when we blow out the candles on the cake? Well in Colombia on the Day of the little candles they make a wish when they light a candle. Catholics light candles in memory of loved ones passed away. 

Now that I have a car on the road, every day on the way home from work I scan through all the FM stations twice then turn it off. It's full of old white /80's songs.  It was OK in the /80's but that was a long time ago. I'm ready for new music. Salsa is nice. It's kind of like jazz in that it all sounds similar. Except Jazz gets kind of irritating after a while but Salsa doesn't.