Did you know that...?

CULTURAL TIDBITS:

1. Colombians do not like to sit on a warm seat. (When someone leaves their seat on public transportation no one will take it right away and the next person to occupy the seat may even fan it with their hand before sitting down.)

2. Fanny packs and man-purses are totally acceptable and very common in Colombia.

3. Colombians do this crazy fast wrist-flick-finger-snap thing to show they did/saw something crazy or bad or unbelievable...I think it's an ability they're just born with because I have yet to see any gringo do it successfully.

4. Colombia loves its holidays; many are celebrated on Mondays and there are even some mandatory days off (that don't hold any significance) that schools must give!

5. Colombians will answer a phone call no matter when it comes or what you are doing because it is considered rude not to.

6. In Colombia it is considered impolite to throw/toss something to someone. Instead it is polite to hand it directly to them.

7. Colombian Christians tend to be very conservative in regards to drinking, dancing, and tattoos. (I didn't expect this to be the case considering the nature of Colombian culture.)
8. It is very rude and disrespectful to "throw" a car door (you may even be asked to get out of a Taxi for closing a door too hard).

9. Colombians show a person't height by holding their hand sideways with the bottom/pinky side of the hand showing the height. Holding the palm down is only used for animals and objects.

(Please Note: These are GENERALIZATIONS. However, I have heard each of these things come up in conversation with both Colombians and Americans and have also seen/heard many of these truths with my own eyes/ears while living in Bogotá, Colombia.)