[ Ford Venezuela ]
In Venezuela, or at least in Valencia, you hardly ever see any type of social awareness campaigns, but there is one that caught my eye. It is called SENOS AYUDA (senos meaning breasts or do us and ayuda means help.) I applauded the iniciative and participated in donating through text messaging. But Ford´s campaign aid to Breast Cancer did let me down.Ford presented a campaign and decided to use the naked female form and use it as a landscape with an SUV. (nipples and all) Now, John Neff in autoblog.com celebrated the Ford campaign; however I have to disagree with John. There is one thing right with the campaign, and that is that it supports breast cancer awareness but there are so many things wrong with it that I am almost insulted.I dare to say that a man designed the ads. As a woman they have no appeal to me. In fact one of my male co-workers was "you know laughing and telling the other guys about the boobies on the back of the sunday news" that made me noticed it.In my humble opinion and without wanting to sound like a prude, the images are too sexual for the message. The model´s hand positions are too distracting for the message, and in reality more appealing to men. I´ve disscussed the usage of SUV with others, but I do believe that more than a vehicle that is a status definer in Venezuela therefore women are attracted to it. But the true message get lost along the laughing and the shock. This is a campaign that in my opinion has gone wrong and only stimulates men rather than its target, women. The ads fail to make me want to go through the bothersome mamogram, but it has created what it meant to create: awareness. Though it does not call to action. (except maybe get your a car and run it through your wive´s or gf´s body?)Now, I just wish that there were more women in the higher decision making positions in advertising here that targeted and reached women for the right reasons.Labels: advertising and graphic design, breast cancer awareness venezuela, senos ayuda, venezuelan culture, venezuelan society
[ El Fortin Solano]
A few saturdays ago my husband woke me up and said I should prepare for a surprise. I was asked to dress in comfortable shoes, sun protection and to bring along some water.
Though I was curious, I was afraid it would be another auto related outing so I kept quiet and let him drive. We went towards Puerto Cabello and started looking for a small town, this threw me off since it looked like we were off to the beach. After a few tries I figured out where we were going as my husband handed me a small travel guide he had put together abot the Fortin Solano.
We climbed 500 meters up the mountain and encountered a cop on his bike. It must have been around 10-10:30 am, and we continued a few meters up to the parking lot. We parked when I noticed a man dressed in a blue t-shirt and pants waving something at the cop on the motorcycle slowly climbing up. To my surprise the man was waving a gun, I inmediately told Oscar and he started to back away from the parking spot. A bit dissappointed he called the officer on his bike and had this little convo:
- Sir, is it my imagination, or did that man have a gun?
- Oh yeah, he does. No worries he is the officer that takes care of the place.
Oscar stopped the car, turned to me and asked if we should go back. But I just spoke to the officer and asked why was he waving the gun like that. To which he replied:
- Oh yeah, no worries, he´s just drunk.
Oh yeah, I was surprised. We got out of there as fast as we could.
Ah! Only in Venezuela the land of the possible.Labels: fortin solano, venezuelan culture, venezuelan society
[ Colonia Tovar ]
At 16C and approximately 200 meters above sea level on top of a few mountain tops sits the famous Colonia Tovar, offering a very different experience in Venezuela. Getting there is half the fun, the inclined roads on the mountains and the cool air welcoming visitors to the Colonia. Once you are there the landscape and architecture are just breath-taking. Aragua hosts the descendants of the Germans who came here from Schwarzwald, Wyhl, Edingen, Oberbergen and Kaiserstuhl, and settled in 1843. Because of its isolated location the newcomers managed to keep their traditions in foods, drinks, wardrobe and architecture and though everyone here speaks Spanish, the German feeling remains. Besides the cool temperature the Colonia offers, there is a fresh air of peace and a simpler way of life. As far as I could see there was no signs of political tribulations anywhere. The locals who do not seem to be concerned about the country´s political situation, but focus on a happier way of life.
There are peaches, strawberries, plums and vegetables of sorts produced and sold in the street markets, there are tons of souvenir stores and restaurants offering locally brewed German style beer and German sausages.
At only 63 Km west of Caracas the Colonia is a must-see when in Venezuela.Labels: colonia tovar, venezuelan culture
[ The Circus ]
If I had a choice about renaming the company I work for, it would be called the Circus. I´ve never laughed so much in my professional life as I have here in Valencia. We work hard oh yeah, but we laugh harder. I sit in the middle of a male dominated office, where we have the kid, the heartbreaker, the hardworker, the boss (nicknamed Kraken), the Scoundrels, the King of the motorized messengers and me. There is administration and the witch. Admin is made up of Blondie, the Mermaid, Xhiomi without boobs and the bosse´s wife. The witch is the witch and nobody likes her. Eveyone has nicknames I am M del Carmen (if I am in a bad mood) M del Valle (if I am am being a diva) M Matilde if I am joking around, and whatever other little nickname my office mates will call me (muñequita, amor, linda, princesa, etc) typical of the venezuelan society I am told. The sexual harrasment term doesn´t mean much here and the only way to fight it is to become one of the guys (but that is another post altogether).
Three rings, jumping hoops, fire eating and spitting, it all goes one here. We have fun clowns, amazing animals and fabulous fun. We watch cartoons, eat cookies, tell jokes, make fun of things and create wonderful work. It is a fun place to work and quite honestly a the circus is like a family and though you do a lot of work, do you have lots of fun and it is better than being out there in the jungle.
Click here to find out how you would fit in a circus.
Labels: advertising and graphic design, tinkering and tonkering, venezuelan culture
[ Getting a Venezuelan Passport ]
It´s a wonder why so many venezuelans are getting their passports ready. (?) I am not sure if it is demand or supply but like most things government related, it is quite the trek to get any type of documentation done here.
You can find someone to set up an appointment for you for a mere 100Bs.F. (up to 300Bs.F.) I am told, but some of my friends and I decided to beat the system. (yes we are rebels!)
(unfinished post, still in process)
----
So I decided to spend sometime and arm myself with patience, and tried out three application forms. We filled out the forms and got 3 appointments through the site and we have had 2 succesful passports delievered so far. I made sure I read the instructions and gave each of the applicants the right amounts and documentation required.
The interesting point of this post is that everyone whom we´ve told about this little process has asked if we know someone in the DIEX (government office in charge of identification) or if we paid someone there, and if we didn´t pay, how much can they pay us to do it. All this leads me to believe that corruption is so deep in the DNA of everyone here, that to get anything done, corruption seems the easiest and in most cases the only way to get things done.
Labels: venezuelan culture
[ BureauTourism ]
It´s been quite the trek to get all kinds of documentation to live and work in Venezuela. Who would have thought it was so hard to do so?If you ever contemplate the idea of migrating to Venezuela but are afraid of the endless bureaucracy to get all your documentation in order ( cedula, rif, residency, visas, bank accounts, credit cards, cadivi, etc) Be afraid no more.
I have specialized in the patient art that is getting your affairs in order, in this earthly paradise. From the culture shock, ordering food to getting people to actually serve you at stores, to obtaining ID, renewing VISAS I am now offering a guided tour to get all those things done in a jiffy. YES! You think, why bother, I can just ask the clerks and read the signs, but not so. Clerks don´t tell you what to do and there is no signage in government buildings, just ask me and I will tell you what you need, when you need it and where to take it to get all those documents done. It´s called Bureau Tourism and I am now offering it in english and spanish! for a very reasonable fee according to Venezuelan standards. (of course)
Labels: venezuelan culture
[ Chao 2007 ]
Though I was born in the tropics, after living up north for so long... Christmas isn´t Christmas without snow. Palm trees decorated with lights, fake snow and a lot of new found hybrid mixture of traditions. Christmas wasn´t Christmas this year, but a learning experience.These holidays have brought me to meditate...So here we go....
Ah! the start of a new year, new hopes, new goals.
Hopefully new successes and triumphs!
Salud!
Labels: holidays, venezuelan culture
[ cedula ]
If you are a foreigner trying to get ID in Venezuela, brace yourself for an endless saga. Everything you hear at the windows is NO, NO and NO. No help is offered and you are better off finding out about it on the web, than asking a goverment worker.
I´ve been here for awhile and have been avoiding getting an ID, but in order to work, get a bank account and walking around, you need a cedula in Venezuela. Everything started on a friday, I travelled at 4 am, embarking in a 2.5 hour trip to Caracas. The government offices open at 8 am, therefore an arrival of 6 or 7 am seemed ok, not so. Due to traffic, the bus arrived at 10 am. After a hectic subway ride,
Labels: venezuelan culture
[ Dear Santa ]
Dear Santa:Please send milk, eggs and sugar for Christmas.Signed,Venezuelan Kids.P.S. Please make sure it comes before December 24th.Labels: food shortage, holidays, odd sense of humour, venezuelan culture
[ Carlos Cruz-Diez ]
The first time I arrived in the Caracas Airport, it was late and I was tired, but I couldn´t help to notice the floor at the entrance, an interesting geometric arrangement of color. I later found out the artist is Carlos Cruz-Diez and last week I had the pleasure of running into his museum by mistake. There was also an Evita Perón display in the main room of the museum. Entrance at this museum is free and the workers are extremely helpful. A must see in Caracas, if this is the sort of thing you enjoy.Labels: carlos cruz-diez culture art design, venezuelan culture
[ Viva La Revolución ]
Labels: Robolution, venezuelan culture
[ Cachapas ]
The question of the day was: How do you make cachapas?
And three designers I work with replied at once:
D: corn
J: milk
A: a little bit of sugar and tiny bit of salt
D: and lots of love... yum
Then I said, but seriously what happens after?
A: you make a pancake out of it
D: then you eat it with pork
J: Fresh cheeseHow many can you eat at once?
J: it depends, if it is made out like a sandwich with cheese in the middle 2, if not more
D: does it have sausage? three? if not two
A: I eat lots of them
They are as fun to eat as they are to make. Oscar and I recently visited a Cachapera, I have yet to try to make them at home. This dish is one I believe I will miss when I go back home.
Labels: cachapas, venezuelan culture
[ Cachapas at the Market ]
Labels: cachapas, venezuelan culture
[ Discovery Saturdays ]
Husband and I decided to drive around town, like the song says, with no particular place to go...
We found a small arabic restarurant in a place called Los Colorados, with authentic middle eastern treats. Later on we drove on to a place near Los Mangos, where we found a small street market with fruits, cachapas, eggs (scarce nowadays), spices and all kinds of veggies. Quite the colourful experience and a delicious way to spend a saturday morning in Venezuela.
Labels: venezuelan culture
[ Better late than never...]
For the last 2 months or so you can see all kinds of billboards and hanging ads for the goverment, and I who spend most of my days wondering, wonder why is this huge sign hanging from the outside of the tunnel, when the tunnel itself is falling apart inside?
Labels: advertising and graphic design, venezuelan culture
[ Food: cuturally speaking ]
When you travel, I think the most readily available pleasure and way to capture the culture of a place is through its food. From japanese food to chinese and arabic, Venezuela has it all.
Trying to get used to a place also has a lot to do with the food you find, nevermind all the political circumstances you may encounter in order to get some foods. The most fun I´ve had is in finding cream cheese in sushi rolls, or fried plantain served at chinese places. Or the fact that hamburgers are served with ham and cheese and tiny potato chips with a ton of mayo-based sauces....and so the exploration continues.
Labels: oriental food, venezuelan culture
[ Whatever you do, do it in style! ]
...an unfinished thought.
A rant.
Why do people feel the need to label others by the way they look or dress, religion or politics?
Why do I have to like anything specific because of the way I dress, what I eat or listen to?
What if I want to be a hippie, a professional, a writer, a drifter, a singer, a cook, a wife, an executive, an artist, a kid, and yet not be labeled anything?
What if tomorrow I want to go listen to hip-hop or reggae?
What if I like to rock it, yet I love dancing salsa?
What is this obsession to define and group people into a one particular genre of anything?
And what if I disagree with capitalism and I abhor communism?
The essence of a human being is his individuality, the whole concept of being able to choose and change your mind as he pleases.
The death of personality, of individuality is lack of originality and the following of trends dictated by anyone. So, I beg of you, do not label, misjudge or pre-judge anyone, not until you have gotten to know them, and whatever it is you do or choose to do, do in whatever style you want.
Confused you say? Self-identity issues? Perhaps. Or, it just maybe that I just get fed up of living in a society that labels me, you, everyone and orders what we can eat, what we can watch and why not, pretty soon what we think, if we let them.
Labels: freedom of expression violation, venezuelan culture
[ New! Hugo Chavez Action figure! ]
I just wonder what the psychological effects of children playing with this toy?
And what socialist will pick up the capitalist earnings these toys make?
(note: I found them in a corner in a store I counted 24 hopefully the whole case is still intact)
Labels: odd sense of humour, venezuelan culture
[ Quesillo ]
One of the most basic forms of culture lies in the cuisine of the region. Needless to say I´ve had to discover, adapt, change or adopt Venezuelan food into my diet. I will try to post my most treasured discoveries and things you may want to try at home.
A pretty successful recipe to try, if you want to indulge your sweet tooth is called Quesillo. Looks like a mexican flan, but it is much richer and a true Venezuelan treat.
(warning: not for those afraid of calories or cholesterol)
Quesillo.
Ingredients:1 ¾ Cup of water
3/4 Cup of sugar
6 Eggs
1 Splash of Rhum
10 Tablespoons of Powder milk OR a can of condensed Milk
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla
1 Teaspoon of Melted butter
Caramel:
1 ½ Cup of Sugar
Splash of Vinegar.
How to:
Caramelize the mold. In a pan put the sugar in high heat until it starts turning gold, add a splash of vinegar and turn it over to the final Quesillo mold.
Now the fun part, take all the remaining ingredients and put them in a blender at high speed.
Pour into the caramelized mold and put it in a "Baño de María" or Bain Marie in the oven for 30-40 mins or until you can introduce a knife and pull it out clean. Let it cool and turn it upside down in a plate to serve. Keep it in the fridge.
Oven:350F
Time:30-40 mins
I recommend you make it one day ahead of serving it or wooing that special someone with it. Enjoy!
Labels: quesillo, venezuelan culture
[ Negra Hipolita ]
In the middle of Valencia, with River Cabriales running through it, there lays a green jewel of greens, bamboo, and wild life. La Negra Hipolita is a nice walk in the park, well, it is a park. There are a few interesting things that caught my eye while walking here. First, the garbage cans produce music. Yes, music. All throughout the park there is music coming from speakers hidden in garbage cans.
Second, you are not allowed to take pictures, unless you have previous permission obtained at the Parks Authority between 8-4, monday thru friday. But we were there on a sunday, therefore these images are contraband.
Third, there is a ton of bamboo growing all over the place. If there were cherry trees I would have sworn I was in Japan.It is such a nice way to spend an afternoon... I can´t wait to walk around the park again. mmmm
Labels: negra hipolita park valencia, venezuelan culture
