magazine sk3

GOSSIPING
SERIOUSLY
1

Index
TOURISM .......................................................................................................................... 3
THREE (3) THINGS THAT I LEARNED AFTER A TRIP ........................................................................ 3
THE BEST AIRLINE IN COLOMBIA ............................................................................................. 5
CRUEL TOURISM ............................................................................................................... 7
BEAUTY .......................................................................................................................... 10
THE MAKEUP, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION................................................................................... 10
POLITICS ......................................................................................................................... 14
VOTE WELL: THE FUTURE OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IS IN YOUR HANDS ................................................ 14
THECH ............................................................................................................................ 17
RENEWABLE ENERGIES THAT YOU CAN USE IN BOGOTA ................................................................. 17
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING GMO IN COLOMBIA ...................................................... 19
EDUCATION ...................................................................................................................... 22
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN COLOMBIAN UNIVERSITIES ................................................................... 22
WHY DO SKILLS STUDENTS ABANDON IT? .................................................................................. 26
2

TOURISM
By:
Johanna
Gutiérrez
C
THREE (3) THINGS THAT I LEARNED AFTER A TRIP
You are going to travel, but you have not planned anything yet?
Some things can be forgotten by people, your travel can be
complicated because of these things. In my last and most important
personal travel, I have learned three things that you should consider
when traveling. Things that are not physical but are very important
for your trip to be a success. Choosing the type of plan, the type of
friends and a good bag will be a good start for your trip.
The type of plan will depend on different situations like the
budget, time, or the things and places you want to visit. If you have
more money than time, you can make a luxury trip or if you have
more time than money, you can make a longer but backpacking trip.
Depending on this point, you can look for places, transportation,
hotels, if you are going to travel in high or low season and you can
think about which friends you could go.
3

In my experience have a good kind of friends is very important
because you can have bad times due to the type of personality of each
one. You should be clear about the plan with your friends for avoiding
inconveniences that could damage your trip and/or your friendship.
Perhaps some of your friends do not like your plan.
Finally, no forget a good travel bag. At this point, you can think
very differently from other people, there are people who prefer to
travel with a small bag and other with a large bag. Only one carry-on
bag can be used for traveling during 20 days, you might love your
small bag because you do not need to wait for luggage at the airport.
You do not need to help to carry your bag, and your bag can be stored
for less cost and anywhere, but most importantly, you will always feel
comfortable.
So, choose a bag not pretty, but practice, where everything can
be stored. You choose a good plan and start looking for the other
details for your budget and time, and do not forget that your partner
must be an ally, an accomplice and not a burden; the trip should be a
good memory for both. Now that you know what is most important
for your trip, think about your comfort and enjoy your trip.
…GOOD TRAVEL…
4

By:
Beronica
Forero
THE BEST AIRLINE IN COLOMBIA
Transporting people on airplane is a different way to travel. Air
companies give safety, good attention, schedules that fit customer
needs. If airlines are recommended or recognized, it is better because
customers will know that they will have a safe and enjoyable trip.
What are the most important air companies in Colombia? In
Colombia, there are seven important air companies, such as Avianca,
Latam, Copa Airlines, Wingo, VivaColombia, Easyfly and Satena. If
people want to know other places around the world, in this case
Avianca and Viva Colombia air companies are important when the
people want to travel to different cities or countries because they
look for economic tickets, itinerary compliance and comfortable
flights.
If you need to be transported on an airplane, you could save
money in your trip. For instance, Avianca loves gift miles when you
travel and you enjoy having a special account (LifeMiles) with them.
Moreover, Avianca and VivaColombia have had promotions on
Tuesday and Thursday, so midnight or “early in the morning” you
could find cheap tickets, but in Avianca, you can carry a big luggage
5

without paying an additional cost. However in VivaColombia you
have to pay big luggage and if you forget the ticket, you must pay
a lot of money; VivaColombia really has not had any discounts.
When you travel on plane, you like arriving on time. Avianca and
VivaColombia have not had delay in their flights; they fulfill their
itinerary; although, sometimes the breach is dued to the weather.
As a result, with Avianca you do not have to wait, but when an
airplane is fixed by the airline, you have to wait; this happens with
VivaColombia because they have not had enough planes, otherwise
if you have to wait, the companies prefer giving you food or in
special cases, they pay you a hotel, recognizing your time and your
wait.
Air companies offer wellness in your trip. For example, Avianca
is better than VivaColombia because new airplanes have been
bought by Avianca and Avianca has been a big company in air safety,
also airplanes of Avianca have TVs, comfortable seats and large
space, you enjoy traveling; however, VivaColombia is a good
company, although, they do not mind giving an excellent attention,
For instance, if you want to travel in the best airline, Avianca
suggests traveling with them because they have given drinks and
food to all their passengers during their flights.
Avianca and Vivacolombia are airlines that we can be easily
compared. All airlines offer different services, promotions, discounts;
although, Viva Colombia sometimes offers discounts, compliance
and they permit more weight in the carry-on luggage, but it is not
enough. However, Avianca is the best option because they offer
cheap tickets, punctual arrivals and enjoyable flight.
6

By:
Albert
Ayala
CRUEL TOURISM
I have had a strange form to think about violence, dead and dark
things, I reckon that it is a topic for sick minds and it would not
interest to the majority. However, I have thought about many people
looking explore morbid destinations, for example Nazi execution
concentration camps. That is why, in this article you will find my top
three places of cruelty in the world, Pripyat, Aokigahara and Auschwitz
if you want to know if you are a fan the cult of the dark.
My first recommended place is Pripyat in Ukraine. It was a city
affected by the nuclear power plant failure in Chernobyl in the 80s.
How was this radiation affected us? It killed all those who have been
directly exposed by dangerous levels of radiation. From my point of
view, it is a wonderful place to feel pain and the fear; to create anxiety
and horror about an environment polluted expect to affect our health,
7

like Hiroshima or Nagasaki in Japan, the entrance is prohibited and
this is another ingredient to run the risk.
The second recommended place is Aokigahara or called the suicide
forest. It is a forest at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan and it is the
most frequented site of the world by those who decide about ending
their life. For instance, people who are going to visit this forest expect
to find some bodies hung in this sea of trees, due to the fact that
people feel cold and fearless. Nevertheless, they are depressed about
waiting a new hope to living and give a new meaning to life.
8

My third and one of the most important places is Auschwitz in
Poland. Auschwitz was the largest center of Jewish extermination
driven by the Nazis, in which it was estimated that more than a
million people died, the fact of arriving at this place and imagining so
many tears and regrets, so much hatred and resentment creates an
idea of a perfect place to feel new sensations; it must be a place full
of violence and cruelty. It is terrifying.
Pripyat, Aokigahara and Auschwitz are my combination for a good
plan to auto punishing ourselves and you have a different, but
excellent trip. Dark and cruelty are other environments that generate
powerful feelings, these feelings are the power to desire traveling to
know places charged with pain, and it is a perfect plan to you
experiment different experiences and have an unforgettable time.
9

BEAUTY
By:
Yasmin
Guzmán
THE MAKEUP, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Historically some communities have used makeup as
preparation of ritual, to transmit different emotional states and to
separate the economic classes between high and low class. However
and over time the concept of makeup has expanded, becoming
inclusive in people with different characteristics such as the color
and kind of skin, the economical stratum and cultural streams
which make it possible to talk about free expression.
Day after day the makeup has been diversified and innovated to
catch the people’s attention in cultural, social and economic fields.
The makeup has evolved through time without losing its main
purpose that is to bring out the beauty. Its origins date to ancient
civilizations like Egyptian, Roman, Chinese civilizations and
indigenous communities where the people painted their eyes, lips,
face used mixtures of natural products to show their role in society,
their wealth, protect your bodies of diseases, camouflaging in the
wars, pay tribute to gods. The colors are a form of expression and
10

they are important in the world of makeup, the reason is that
disguise is an art; for example, many products were used to the
public could see their entertainment. Today, the actors used
different products not only this but to represent different figures.
Also, the artistic makeup is a different form to disguise and is
common in special parties, kind of carnivals, children’s parties,
Halloween, etc. The face and body are a beautiful canvas to
representing art. There are people that study to disguised other
person and they become professionals in this activity, also they
specialize in different technics, they are happy about learning new
things and technics like makeup for TV, cinema, photograph,
publicity, conventional and other. In the present it is easy that you
find tutorials on internet about makeup thanks to the technology.
The makeup has been accepted by society despite of stigmas
and concepts about it. In the past, the makeup was used to identify
and separate the social classes, for example the Queens, princess or
wife of pharaohs worn makeup because they had time to beatify
their faces and bodies and they were rich; at one point, the makeup
was prohibited in some places because the high classes said that it
was worn for bad girls; then as time went by, it began to be used
11

for a lot of women until men that like or feel identify with it. Also,
the makeup was used only for special occasions or important events
kind of weddings, business meetings, cocktails and else. Day to day
the makeup has become part of our routine, a lot of women use
products for face care and they do not use this for special occasions,
if you enjoy making up, you can use a few products to go to work
or study, for meetings, and any moment; additionally exist a lot of
types of makeup like of day and night.
Today, all people can easily acquire any makeup product. The
industry of these products are big and it offers a lot of prices, there
are products for each type of skin, of different colors, textures and
shapes. There are many brands that you can choose to exalt your
eyes, nose, lips, and different parts of body according to your need.
Also, you can buy these products not necessarily in the physical
stores, you can order on internet, today exist many virtual stores in
Instagram, Facebook, and other apps, technology has made this
possible. Other important topic is that many people sale of makeup
is a big business and is truth, supply and demand grow every day,
you can find sales that are made through catalogs even online,
12

Makeup has transcended for generations to show the beauty
of people in different ways and teach different forms of expression,
today makeup is used by women and men who love making up and
be made up either to attend an event or in their daily routine. The
diversity of makeup products today innovates in the market for its
diversity in textures, colors and other characteristics. Nowadays
the makeup has been accepted by the society and most people use
a lot of products because it is an important topic in their lives
without matter their culture or economical stratum
13

POLITICS
By:
Carlos
Alberto
Junca
VOTE WELL: THE FUTURE OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IS IN YOUR
HANDS
Voting well and conscientiously is important to maintain
democracy. We need to choose the best leaders because they will
develop public policies that will have an impact in the future of our
regions. How to make a good use of the vote?
To know the
programs of the candidates and their trajectory or backgrounds is
very important to choose the best leaders. Not to sell your vote
because the result could be worst, and to report or denounce the
transfer of voters from one place to another. On October 27,
regional elections were held in our country.
We will need to choose the best leaders. Therefore, getting
to know the programs of the candidates is very important. Voters
should know and search about the background of candidates to
choose the best and most honest ones. To achieve this, we should
listen and analyze the debates that are transmitted in the mass
14

media. It’s also important to be informed by listening the best
journalist and source of information. Last week, the nongovernmental
“Transparencia por Colombia”, reported that “about
200 politicians elected in 2015 are in serious corruption problems”.
In countries with high levels of education the best mayors and
governors are chosen by the electors.
Selling your vote is an electoral crime, thus you should not sell
your vote. In addition, we should denounce to the authorities the
buying and selling of votes in different regions of the country. A
couple of months ago, a congresswoman was sentenced to 15 years
in prison for buying votes in the coastal region. However, last week
she ran away while she was attending a medical appointment.
Hundreds of cases of vote buying have been detected in many
regions of Colombia, according to the non-governmental
organization MOE. If you sell your vote you will be choosing a
corrupt one
Avoiding transfer of voters from one city to another city it
is very important because this activity is an electoral crime too.
Authorities have already annulled nearly one million of illegal votes
registrations. It has been detected that in several municipalities the
number of registered voters exceeds the number of habitants.
Acording to the newspaper El Tiempo and the Attorney General’s
15

Office, in several regions of Colombia about one million voters were
illegally transferred from one city to another.
Regional elections are very important because local leaders
manage public budgets and have the responsibility to
implement policies for social development and plans for the benefit
of the community. The programs of the candidates and their
trajectory can be found in different specialized web-sites, tv
programs, articles written by renowned columnists and the most
important newspapers. You also should be aware that corrupt
candidates will try to buy people’s vote. The best way to act is to
vote conscientiously and for the candidate that seems to have the
best program. Think about your future and that of your family, and
report the purchase of votes to the authorities. Do not accept
voting in a region other than yours. Vote where you live for the
benefit of your neighbors and your community. Voting well and
conscientiously is important to maintain democracy. The future of
millions of people is in your hands, too. If you choose well, we will
surely have a better country.
16

THECH
By: Juan
Huertas
RENEWABLE ENERGIES THAT YOU CAN USE IN BOGOTA
The renewable energies are the new and the most important
topic that maintains in conflicts about learning the different
opinions of multinationals but nowadays the question is what are
you doing for our environment? Exists many types of renewable
energies that you can use in Bogotá without spending a lot of
money, such as biomass, solar and mechanics. Renewable energies
are important because, you help the environment using these,
reduce the greenhouse effect gases and help with our economy.
If you use any renewal energies, you are helping the environment.
In Bogota you can use renewable energy as biomass using it for the
creation of clean gas, solar energy for the creation of electrical
energy and wind energy for the production of mechanical energy,
these depend on what is needed. Renewable energies have been
17

cleaned, inexhaustible and increasingly competitive sources of
energy.
Using the renewable energies, we reduce the production of
greenhouse effect gases. The greenhouse gases are very common in
Bogota, the most common are methane, which is the culprit to
destroy our ozone layer and CO2 is the most popular because it is
the gas produced by all aerobic organisms in the world but this gas
It is harmful by burning fuels producing large amounts of CO2 and
causing it to acidify the ocean. Using renewable energies helps the
environment by reducing many greenhouse gases but especially
these two.
Renewable energies are friendly to the environment and to our
pocket. One of the advantages of using renewable energy is that
you can get many benefits from the government, the mayor's
office of Bogota provides monetary benefits if you use some of
these renewable energies: wind systems, biodigesters and solar
panels. The development of clean energy is essential to combat
climate change and limit its most devastating effects.
The renewable energies nowadays have been accepted by
Bogota society, the people consider helping the enviroment using
biomass, solar energy and wind energy these are the easiest to use
here in Bogota and the most friendly with the environment. In
order to successfully combat climate change we need to put
people and the planet at the center of how we produce, consume
and distribute energy: 100% renewable, efficient, intelligent and in
the hands of the people.
18

By:
David
Puerto
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING GMO IN COLOMBIA
Genetic engineering of food is a science that uses the
manipulation in genetic material with plants or animals. Many
countries have tried to use this method, with the technology
support, to alter the nutritional quality and some components of
the food. For example children in many places used to eat fruits
manipulated, because it’s cheaper than the normal one, but also the
flavour is different. This method is popular in the industry for its
benefits in the health and the economic prices that it gives to
people. In Colombia the genetic food manipulation could change
some traditional forms to cultivate, helping to people who works in
a farm; but it could influence the health, and transform the
Colombian’s trade.
First of all, the farmers could be affected by the genetic food
manipulation in their traditions. On the one hand the soil changes,
and the way of cultivating too, due to Colombia’s climatic regions.
Therefore the crops adapt themselves to different conditions. On
the other hand as more people specialize on genetic food
manipulation, it can be helpful to reduce farmers job. Each farmer
19

knows about old techniques to grow, but the soil has to be adapted
to new methods of farming. The new technologies can remove all
plagues like insects, bacteria and fungi; and help farmers in their
daily life. If the cultivators include the method, it will support
farming.
The manipulated food influences the health of the people and
the environment in Colombia. Some crops have chemical that
causes birth and fertility problems. Since The ground is
contaminated by The GMO (Genetically manipulated organisms)
with the Bt toxin. Also people may have allergies and become these
sensitivities to new proteins in the crops. For that reason this
affects directly to health state.
Lastly the economic situation of the country can change
dramatically. GMO investment is high, as several procedures are
required to achieve good results. The GMO exportation could
increase the economic factors but it changes farming. Also, some
big companies interrupt the incorporation of this method, because
it does not suit their developing the new technology in Colombia.
Finally this will cause the economy to decrease considerably by
generating this type of food in the country.
20

It exists more negative aspects than positive to include this
engineering in our farming. For instance the farmers are helped by
the modern techniques of the genetic food manipulation to
modernize their crops about the plague. However, the Colombian’s
health can have some changes like new allergies and problems (Like
fertility), and trade may decline if a sustainable plan is not
developed to increase the economy in this sector. These aspects
have been planned by Colombian scientists, but people consider it
risky for their lives. Do we need to continue with our traditional
forms to cultivate? Have you ever thought about this situation?
21

EDUCATION
By:
Luisa
Espín
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN COLOMBIAN UNIVERSITIES
Racism has been present throughout the history of mankind
especially during the twentieth century with apartheid in South
Africa and racial discrimination in the United States. Colombia is a
region that has also been influenced by racism, mainly affecting
indigenous and Afro-Colombian populations. Racism has diminished
over time and there are organizations in the country that are
responsible for protecting the rights of these people. However,
universities are an environment where many students are still
discriminated and this produces real effects on their academic
performance, interpersonal relationships and self-esteem.
The attitudes of rejection in the universities produce several
troubles in the academic life of students. Afro-Colombians and
indigenous experience isolation when they must do group work or
exams. Usually, they must work alone or get together with another
discriminated students, being the segregation, one of the
22

mechanisms of racism most experienced by them. Generally,
discrimination against afro-Colombian and indigenous is not only
performed by other students but also some professors can harm
these students by means of grades, occasionally they treat them
more severely in the application of the rules and assess them in a
biased way. In addition, due to the social stigma of being inferior,
these people have fewer opportunities to show their abilities and
excel in a group of students. These situations make Afro-
Colombians and indigenous can not carry out their academic
activities in a normal way.
One of the fields that is most affected in racism victims is their
personal life, especially the way they interact with other people.
According to Quintero’s research (1), racism in universities is
expressed through explicit practices that aim to segregate and
reinforce subordination in the classroom. Segregation is reflected
when most students avoid establishing a friendship with Afro-
Colombian and indigenous people, they therefore avoid interacting
with any student and prefer to relate to people of the same race or
ethnicity. Subordination is reflected by racial and ethnic jokes that
are a cause of the feeling of rejection experienced by the affected
23

students. If the feeling of rejection is deep, they may develop
attitudes of resentment towards their peers and society. In this
way, the personal relationships of Afro-Colombians and indigenous
people are conditioned by the attitudes of racism to which they are
exposed.
The rejection, segregation and exclusion suffered by Afro-
Colombian and indigenous students affect the way they perceive
and love themselves. Scientific racism, that began in the 18 th
century, has proposed the existence of biological differences
between human groups that explain the inferiority of some races.
This concept remains in force consciously or unconsciously in the
society and is reinforced in educational institutions. In this way,
sometimes the university community doubts the abilities of Afro-
Colombian and indigenous students and for this reason they can
lose their self-confidence; this conception also makes it easier for
rejected students to lose their self-esteem and get accustomed to
being humiliated. Additionally, if they do not have a positive
perception about themselves, sometimes they may self-segregate
24

y feeling inferior to others. Thus, the hostile environment that
these people experience in universities has a negative impact on
their personal perception.
In general, Afro-Colombian and indigenous students are exposed
to various situations that hinder many aspects of their daily lives.
Stigmatization is one of the factors that most affects these
students, reducing their opportunities to perform normally in both
academic and social life. In addition, many times small rejection
actions that may seem harmless are cause of great damage to their
personality and self-perception. Finally, believing that
discrimination is an insignificant action and adopting this attitude
as normal is nothing more than an aggravating factor. This is a
situation that involves us all as either victimizers or victims and
on which it is necessary to reflect. Have you ever been
discriminated, or have you ever discriminated someone else?
(1) Ramírez, O. El racismo cotidiano en la universidad colombiana
desde la experiencia vivida por los estudiantes negros en
Bogotá. Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá. 2013.
25

By:
Mariana
Medina
WHY DO SKILLS STUDENTS ABANDON IT?
Since English is the most popular language around the world,
different type of places have been looked for studying it. Bogota has
many places where you might study English, one of these is the
Colombo. Basic, Skills and Challenge are the blocks of the adult’s
program. Now I am in skills three, and some of my partners have
abandoned this course. I was thinking, why people abandon this
amazing education when they pass to skills? Talking with some
Colombo’s teachers, I found that some of the reasons are that
people lack of money, people do not have a lot of time and the
proposed methodology into the class is not understood by people.
Some people do not have enough money to pay the skills courses
because education in Colombia is too expensive and the minimum
26

salary is not the best. If people have little money to move on skills
course, people will prefer taking care with the money and saving it
for future.
Many people have more familiar responsibilities than others.
That is why people do not have time to study. Currently, they have
been making a lot of activities every day and some of them prefer
passing time with their families. Sometimes people have had two
jobs and they do not manage doing anything else; also, there are
people living outside Bogota and they do not have enough time to
arrive to class. This kind of life is demanding, and it consumes all
the time of their lives.
It is not easy to learn an other language because people need to
practice it constantly. Since every place has a specific methodology
to teach English, some places prefer teaching virtual education, but
it does not work for everybody. Some places have fewer blocks than
others, and they have given a lot of topics in a little time, and
sometimes people need enough time to learn and practice it.
27

As a conclusion, people have looked for ways to learn English, but
it is impossible if people do not try to maintain focused on it. People
have been paying education without finding the perfect method,
perfect time and perfect age to learn. Believe or not, family, job and
money have been used as excuses for people to not learn English.
Now, a new world is opened for us.
28