A challenge that the youth must assume…

By Laura Fonseca (undergraduate FIGRI student)

Nowadays, the entire world is facing social problems. In the past, we used to think that in European countries and in the USA, people lived a dream-like life even if it wasn´t the case. However, after the financial crisis of 2008 it’s clearer that problems are everywhere and the illusion of magical places to live is more and more ambiguous.

Social problems are clearly a government issue but the way people react to them essentially is too. Lack of opportunities, poverty and the lack of a state presence, which is the case in our country, have bound people to look for a better life even if it is by illegal ways. Also, we can’t forget about the government corruption that has excluded people instead of gathering everyone together.

The story of many people whose lives have drastically changed, like Pablo Escobar, just to mention the most common example from our country’s history, encourages young people to take the easy way to make money and get power. Pablo Escobar was a drug dealer who after a few years doing illegal business became one of the most influential people in the country.

The drug problem, even if it seems to be the biggest problem, is not the only one. Robberies and fraud are part of the daily life of many neighborhoods, not just in Colombia but around the world. The main feature of these neighborhoods is the lack of education due to the lack of government action.

It’s a cliché to hear that young people are the future. They reflect the level of life of where they live and as a result almost everywhere, they are the outcome of an accumulation of defects in the education system.

No matter why the conditions are as they are, either by violence and poverty as is the case in underdeveloped countries, or as a result of a financial crisis as is the case of European countries. The important point is not what generated the panorama; the really important fact is the way people find solutions to get over the problems. Young people can leave their countries looking for better opportunities abroad. For example, in Spain, the emigration rate increased sharply between 2010 and 2012 (during the financial crisis), and Colombians have always gone to the United States to follow the American dream. Another option for young people is to stay and work for the country, in order to create jobs and contribute positively to the social conditions.

Discovering the country’s needs is not an easy task. Creativity, leadership, and invention are capabilities that should be taught and encouraged from an early age. All this with the aim of preparing better people that could lead the world to a better future.

The Oriental Animation World of Hayao Miyazaki

By Daniela Hernández (undergraduate Figri student, level 3 English)

Have you ever seen an oriental cartoon? If so, you are sure to know the great master of Japanese animation, Hayao Miyazaki, and if not, then I will tell you about him and his magnificent work.

First of all, Hayao Miyazaki was born in Tokyo on January 5^th, 1941, and he became strongly influenced by Osamu Tezuka, “the father of manga”, with whom Miyazaki became obsessed. He was also influenced by his family environment due to the work of his father who directed a business which made rudders for war planes, and because of this he developed a fascination for aviation and war literature. These topics would later appear in his movies with the inclusion of flying gadgetry and the pacifism that he promotes. On the other hand, we can see the admiration that he felt for his mother, who was a woman with a strong personality. This also became a distinctive sign of his movies: decisive women with a strong personality. 

Although his work consists of movies that seem targeted to young audiences, they have a thematic background encouraged to create awareness of current problems such as the necessity to take care of the environment. In addition, they offer interesting stories where magic and romanticism are mixed.

ß His first movie is entitled Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), which discusses the topic of the war and of the environmental damage that man will cause to the earth if he does not become responsible.

Other movies he has created are My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) and Princess Mononoke (1997).

There are also those films that are part of the most brilliant stretch of his career, like Spirited Away (which won the Oscar for best animated movie 2002), Howl's Moving Castle (2004) or Ponyo (2008).

If you find this information interesting, you can find both reviews and the movies themselves on the Internet. Snap out and discover a new alternative and vision of cinema animated by the hand of this great master.

Enjoying Work

By Catalina Reyes (undergraduate FIGRI student)

Statistics related to people who don’t like what they do for a living are astonishing. According to a Gallup survey published by Forbes magazine, 71% of workers are not engaged in their work. This is a consequence of not loving what they are supposed to do and not being able to take the risk of quitting and searching for new job opportunities that are suited to their skills, dreams and passions.

I believe that we can turn those numbers around if we take the time to get to know ourselves better, make a life plan and execute it. So if you are worried about getting a job after graduating, this might open up your mind and probably help a bit.

A good start in order to make this possible is to identify what you are passionate about. If you have no idea, it is worth writing down a list of those activities which fulfill you; those that make you happy and during which time passes so fast that you don’t even notice because you are completely absorbed by it. It is also important to evaluate what you are good at because it is not a secret that as human beings we are all different and that’s why everyone has different talents and develops different abilities. 

When you combine both aspects, your mind will clear and you will be able to picture yourself working in the right place. It doesn’t matter if it is in an enterprise or as self-employed; what really matters is that you are good at it and that you enjoy it at the same time.

Even though it is crucial to have a clear goal of what you want, it is also necessary to make a plan of how to reach it. In order to do so, you must know the requirements to obtain the desired job and from now on work hard to fulfill them. So, if you are supposed to perfectly manage Excel, why not take an Excel course? Or if you are required to speak French, It would be a good idea to go on a foreign exchange program. For this reason, action must start NOW.

Finally, I encourage you to start working on your CV, preparing for an interview, asking for job recommendations from your friends and relatives, volunteering for social work and getting some work experience.

I hope that with these suggestions you can think again about your future plans related to the labor experience. I am pretty sure that if more people started liking their jobs or whichever activity they do for a living, people would have better lifestyles, better health, and most importantly a better relationship with their families.

"Colombianadas"

By Laura Gonzalez (undergraduate FIGRI student)

On February 25^th I was reading a magazine and I found an article, which I think describes us Colombians very well. The article is called “manual to distinguish a Colombian abroad” written by Maria Jimena Duzan (revista semana online).

The author begins by saying that Colombians are the only ones that, when they want to buy something, say “Me Regala” which means to get the product for free. According to Maria Jimena Duzan, if you go to Spain for example and ask the waiter: “Me regala…” he will probably answer that you have to pay for it.

Another fact is that Colombians usually clap when the plane lands; this is the best way, according to the author, to know if there are any Colombians on the plane. This might be because Colombians love to clap; they do it even when it is not necessary.

I know many of you who have family or friends abroad have suffered from the famous “Encargo”. Colombians do not have any problems about asking you to take for them whatever whim they have, and they are usually things which are difficult to carry like Obleas with Arequipe, Bocadillo, Coffee Delight or sometimes even bigger things like decorative items for their houses.

Finally, something I think should not be this way is that when Colombians travel abroad they do everything they do not do inside Colombia. They do not throw trash in the streets, they respect the lights, and in general they are well behaved and obey the other country’s laws and traditions. So I do not understand why it is possible to do all of this outside Colombia instead of doing it within Colombia and taking care of our country.

You have probably noticed how Colombians tend to name everything in English; that is why you can find someone called Usnavy or Onedollar and restaurants with a terribly misspelled English name. This may be because many Colombians wish to be North Americans or from any other place but Colombia; basically in Colombia there is a lack of patriotism.

To conclude, we Colombians are full of weird and funny features; if you stop and take time to think about it, you will notice how special we are.

Eastern Directions for your Life

By Andrea Lozano (undergraduate FIGRI student)

A few days ago, I had to read the “Analects of Confucius” for my seminar called “Asia” and in this article I would like to share some of the passages of moral teachings that I have found useful. I have realized that they are so basic and helpful for making your life simpler since they are guidelines of how to approach different circumstances and to maintain your relationships with others in the most peaceful and smart way.

The passage I liked the most is “Don´t have friends who are not like you”. I think that if you consider this a rule when getting to know somebody, you will avoid most of the possible conflicts that end up making people hate each other and feel resentment. It is not about seeking people who have same ideas, tastes, hobbies, way of life or thinking as you. It´s about being sure the person has the same values you were taught to have before you give the best of yourself in a friendship that the other person won´t appreciate. If you find out the person is like you in that sense, then you will be sure about what to expect from her/him when facing tough situations and you will probably make a constructive relationship that affords beauty, calm and support to your life.

Another relationship that becomes essential in your life when it happens is the one you have with your boyfriend/girlfriend. If you have a mate, it is supposed that he/she is your friend, so should have already implemented the first rule that says he/she is like you. For that special relationship you should add: “Make fidelity and sincerity your baseline”. This will assure the building of trust between both of you and will keep you away from jealousy. In a very logical way, one can assume that this special kind of friend will offer you respect, tranquility and love while helping you grow as a better human being. You will gain self-confidence, self-esteem and joy while sharing beautiful moments together.

However, I think that not even practicing every single instruction of Confucius can really assure you that you won´t be harmed by people you love, like being betrayed by a friend or suffering heartbreak. In those kinds of moments in which it is difficult to keep calm and think clearly of what to do or say, and basically because you may realize you haven´t grown up enough, you need a very definite direction to get over it. Then is when the following quote is useful: “Don´t talk about matters already done, you may not protest about what has happened, you may not blame the past”. If you have got the willpower to do what Confucius said, you will see that you will have your mind clean about what happened up to the point you forget it, as you are not constantly bringing it to your mind when talking about it and when hearing what people have to say about it.

I hope you have learned something useful from reading this article as I did when reading the Analects of Confucius. You should really consider these directions for experiencing harmony in your life and finding equilibrium between your inner and outer person, the interactions with other people and the situations that result of that way of life.