When I was on high school, I used to play piano with the Symphony Orchestra in my city (Barranquilla) it was a wonderful time in my life, I went to many cities in Colombia and we played in different scenarios. In that moment, I thought to study music, until I began the last year on high school. When I confirmed to my parents that I wanted to study music they did not refuse, nevertheless, when I told them that I wanted to do it in other city (Bogota) because in Barranquilla the School of Music is to become a teacher and I wanted to become a soloist, they told me in a polite way: “Vanessa, Don’t you think you are not prepared to move to another city? You only are 17 years and you don’t even know how to boil water !!”. So, I must think in other career because I did not want to study in my city.
Photos: Music Staff, Musical notes and Symphony Orchestra. We always had the same places in scenario.
It was a real confused time for me, I began to think: “Oh my God, What I am going to do!!!”. Then, I continued taking English class while I had 2 months to decide what to study, and one day I was in my English class when my teacher said we must do a speech or role play as we were politicians. I worked on this and I got 95% of succeed. My partners laughed because they said I looked as a real politician and my teacher told me: “ Vanessa, You should think about it, to tell you the truth, I did It and you convinced us the way you did your speech very well, you should study Diplomacy or something like that, just think about it”. In that moment my partners stopped to laugh because they realized that my teacher was not taking it as a joke.
I that moment, I realized I must study a career where I show my aptitudes and my way to lead. So, I began to search and I went to a conference about International Relations Program at North University in Barranquilla, and I really enjoyed it, it had different fields to work: Politics, economy, communication, diplomacy, languages, international cooperation, etc.
I began to study on 2003 and today I am an Internationalist, I graduated on 2007. I am doing my master in Bogota about International Affairs and Conflict Resolution since 2009, I am almost finishing it. Do you remember the city I mentioned I wanted to study music?, well I am living there!!, today my parents don’t say: “you don’t even how to boil water!! “, although I have a maid who helps me once per week, I know, at least, how to boil it!!!
Photo: International Student Organization AIESEC. (Global Village 2008).
Well, what happened between 2007 and 2011 with my jobs?? This is the best part of my story, I love my professional career because I had the opportunity of work and to know with different cultures. I worked in the Colombian Embassy in Panama, I lived in Panama two years and I became the Cultural Coordinator at the Embassy, so I had to prepare many events about how is Colombian culture. I always must invite to the Ambassadors of others countries and I really enjoyed the different ways to say hello, to dance, and I had to take care about some customes. For example: Once I met the Ambassador of Panama in my country in one of the events I was responsible to organize. In Panama, there is a word: “chichi” that means “baby”, but in Colombia, that word is used when you are going to the restroom and you are going to do pis. You can say: “Voy a hacer chichi” (I am going to do chichi). So, I told to one partner of the Embassy, but unfortunately I said it a little laud: “Vicky, I am gonna do chichi” and the Ambassador and others Panamanians heard me and they saw me astonished and he told me: “Are you leaving to see your boyfriend?” … and I got to be blushed, I couldn’t have say anything, I just leaved. When I came back of the restrooms, one Panamanian guy who worked with the Ambassador told me: “Sorry about the Ambassador’s comment, he didn’t know that “chichi” in Colombia means to go to restroom”, then the Ambassador asked me for an apologize: “I would like to ask you for an apologize, sorry about it”… so, I think I got to be more blushed than before because it is so crazy to receive an apologize from a Diplomatic and authority person of other country.
Photo: 198 Anniversary of Independence of Colombia (2009). Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, Mr. Samuel Lewis and the Ambassador of Colombia in Panama. Ms. Gina Benedetti (She was my boss).
Photo: The entrance of the event in commemoration of the 198 Anniversary of Independence of Colombia. It was one of my multiples functions at the Embassy. I was the Cultural Coordinator.
Photo: The audience at the 198 Anniversary of Colombia
It is one of my many experiences working about I love to do, during my experiences working in Panama, I met many famous politicians, business people, diplomatic people, military people and many more of Colombia, Panama and others countries. So, as I said, I loved to know about other culture, languages and the way to negotiate. I confirmed that cross cultural differences is not only to speak different languages or to be located in the opposite part of the world; even at the same region or Continent, you could see that we have different customs and culture. The best part of this is that you can learn simple things, since a word until a traditional custom from other city, country or region.
Photo: President of Colombia 2002-2006/ 2006-2010. Mr. Alvaro Uribe and the Counsellor of the Embassy of Colombia in Panama; Mr. Victor Echeverry
Photo: President of Panama 2004-2009. Mr. Martin Torrijos
Bilateral meeting between Colombia and Panama, and the award to the Deputy Minister of Colombia, Mr. Camilo Reyes. From left to right: Mr Camilo Reyes, Mr. Jaime Bermudez (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia), Mr. Samuel Lewis (Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama), Mr. Ricardo Duran (Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama).
Today, I am working in an Academic Institution, I am the International Cooperation Coordinator in the International Affairs Office at La Salle University in Bogota and one of my responsibilities is to negotiate understandings and agreements to other Institutions located abroad and also, to receive many international students; so I am proud to say that in all my professional life I had had a dynamic jobs. Each day is a different day and you never know what is going to happen until your day is running.
Photo: International Affairs Office and international students at La Salle University. 2009-2010. (Mexico, China, France, and Jamaica.
Photo: International Affairs Office and international students at La Salle University. 2010-2011. (Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, China, France, Portugal, Austria and Jamaica).
Photo: English Intensive Program students at Olemiss.
Photo; Outreach International of Olemiss and La Salle Universitiy. International Cooperation between both academic institutions.
So, Today I appreciate that my parents told me that It could be better to stay in Barranquilla until to became a graduate student and a good chef (well, today I am a graduate student but not a good chef, maybe normal). Today, my life is not the same without to learn other languages (Today, I can speak English and French), without to know about other cultures, the governments, the people and each adventure I have with foreigners, for me, is an interesting knowledge for my life. But, You know what?, I never have forgot the music, I think that one day, when I become an important person, like Minister of International Affairs or Ambassador of Colombia in any Country, I hope to buy a big piano and to continue my classes as a hobby. In that case, I can do the two more important activities in my life: To work as an Internationalist and to play the piano…why not!? .. In the future, I can add another: To become a good chef J. !!!
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