¡Hola! ¿Estás preparado?
(Hello! Are your prepared?)
If you're not quite prepared, don't worry. As your host and guide, I have complied some information that will help you acclimate to the cultures and customs here in Caracas, Venezuela.
Let's start with the basics.
Caracas, officially known as Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital of Venezuela. It is located in the northern part of Venezuela close to the Atlantic Ocean. Some call Caracas the melting pot of cultures because of its various influences from surrounding countries - Columbia, Brazil, Guyana, and the Europeans that traveled across the North Atlantic Ocean. I've been here most of my life and have gotten to meet a variety of people with vast experiences different than my own. Through learning about my friends' cultures, I have learned more about my own. I've got a lot to tell you. And remember, the primary language here in Venezuela is Spanish, so, like I said in my introduction, don't laugh at my English skills.
Language (Verbal)
In addition to Spanish, there are other languages present. Some of the languages include Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, Arabic, and English. Of the foreign languages present, English has a smaller speaker population. Working in business, I chose to learn English because it seems to be a relatively universal language in the business world. Language can be a huge barrier to communication often requiring a translator to assist with vocabulary differences. I have listened to the various dialects and languages, and have gotten better at identifying which translator would be the most valuable for that situation/exchange.
Here are some tips that might come in handy when learning Spanish. The Spanish alphabet has 27 letters, one more letter than the English alphabet. In addition to the 26 letters of the English alphabet, Spanish has and 'ñ', pronounced "en-yay." There are added sounds to the Spanish alphabet. For example, double Ls (ll) are pronounced as a 'y' sound.
Pollo (chicken) is pronounced "poy-yo." There is also the signature double 'r' rolling sound. If you are having difficulties with rolling your 'r's, try saying 'butter' multiple times and quickly. It is supposed to help with the muscles that are used in rolling your 'r's. Attuning your ears to pick up the sounds of the Spanish Language will help you to understand native speakers. I'll be along to help translate as best as I can, but it would be a good idea to study from Spanish before getting on the plane.
Languages have different dialects based on geographical areas. For example, Spanish in Mexico does not always use the same vocabulary as Spanish in Spain. Ordering
una torta could result in the waiter bringing you a sandwich or a cake. You may also notice a difference in the pronunciation here. Spanish spoken in Caracas, being close to the Canary Isles, has a strong influence from African languages. The Spanish in Venezuela also has influences from various European languages, and shares similarities with Spanish spoken in Colombia. You know how Scottish use "wee" to describe small things? When describing things in Venezuela, we add "ico" to the end of the word. For example,
uno perro (dog) would become
perrico (small dog).
Other modifiers present in the language include being able to change verb endings to reflect the social class of the person we are talking to. When speaking to someone that is older than you, or has a higher social class than you, it is important to use the formal verb ending to demonstrate respect. If you are speaking to friends or in certain family situations, it is okay to use informal vocabulary. For example, if I were to ask how you were I would say, "¿Cómo estás?" If I were speaking to a police officer, I would say, "¿Cómo está?" Dropping the 's' changes the verb (estar = to be) from informal to formal speech. Which brings me to my next point...
Power Distance
Venezuela has a high power distance, which means that power is distributed unequally here. You can see how this power distance plays a role in our media outlets. I have heard from other visitors that the United States is a little bit more relaxed in what the media is allowed to say. They describe media in the United States as being only slightly biased, but there are a lot of facts embedded in their stories. Combining Venezuela's high power distance with their high Press Freedom Rating results in press that is not free from government involvement and/or judgement. The media outlets are only providing half stories about what is happening here in Venezuela.
So, the constitution in Venezuela is similar to the United States'. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution grants freedom of the press. While Venezuela's also grants freedom of the press, there is an added clause under the government associated with Hugo Chavez saying that we have the right to 'true' information. The government is choosing what the 'true' information is and censoring the rest. To find the real stories, look to those who may not hold positions of power, they might have a different perspective to offer. The popular media is littered with half truths and sides with benefiting people how hold power. But don't let that deter you, there are plenty of other good things here in Caracas.
Food and Cooking Culture
Food is a fun and important aspect of the culture in Venezuela. While there are multiple meals that we eat throughout the day - you know, the standard breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks - there is one that hold importance above the rest. Venezuela really values it's lunch hour, it can almost be considered a ritual in some cases, an every day ritual at that.
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| Hallacas, traditional Christmas dish in Venezuela. |
I usually go home on my lunch "hour" to prepare and eat the most important meal of the day. I say "hour" because in reality, it can be multiple hours. Cooking together as a family is valued, it brings us together as a family. And family does not just related to your nuclear family, it includes extended family, friends, and often coworkers. If you are planning to visit around Christmas time, you can help us make hallacas. Hallacas uses a corn dough, similar to tamales. Inside the dough is a mixture of chopped meat and vegetables. Once that is assembled, we steam them in banana leaves. It's really yummy. Making Hallacas every Christmas is a tradition in my family, and one that I hope to pass down to my children.
My mom taught me that being a good host means always offering food to the guests. We want them to feel welcomed and at home. Meals are a big thing, and the meals themselves are huge. You might want to leave your diet at home so that you can enjoy all of the different flavors that Venezuela has to offer you. And don't be surprised if you look away for a second and my mom has already filled your plate back up. She does that to everyone. And don't worry if you don't know everyone that shows up, lunch can begin with 6 people and end up with 10 staying for dinner.
I have heard the idiom in English, "What does not kill you makes you stronger." Well, in Venezuela we say, "Lo que no mata engorda" which means, "What doesn't kill you makes you fat." Dishes here are indulgent - savory and sweet indulgences. One of my favorite fried foods are empanadas. They are rich with flavor and come in a variety of combinations. My favorite is called reina pepiada, which is chicken, mayo, and avocado stuffed into the dough made with corn. And then it's deep fried in some oil. I get really excited and forget to wait for the empanadas to cool off sometimes and end up burning my tongue.
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| Leche de Burra |
If you're looking for something to drink along with your empanadas or hallacus, you could always order espresso. In Venezuela it is not recommended that you drink the water from the sinks. If you don't like your espresso black, I recommend asking for cream or... some rum. Venezuelans know their way around a cup of coffee really well. If you are feeling adventurous, I would recommend ordering leche de burra, which translates to donkey's milk. The drink contains flavors of anise, which is what gives licorice its distinctive flavor, the warmth from the liqour, as well as egg and cow's milk. There is not donkey's milk in there despite the name. It's similar to the Moscow Mule - no mule, but regular cow's milk.
Once everyone has had their share of rich and indulgent flavors, the host family works to clean up the table and kitchen. Families that cook together also clean together. It's a ritual that expresses collectivist ideas of working together as a team for the benefit of others.
Collectivism
Venezuelans really value groups and community. We are what you would call a collectivist culture. You can really see thing in observing interactions. In the business workplace, during our weekly meetings, our goals are centered around what we can do as a team to reach our goal. I am not as worried about competing with my colleagues as colleagues from other cultures have experienced. At my job, even the boss is helping us to maintain communication and coordination so that we can all reach our goals. I know that I don't have all the answers, but I'm really thankful that together as a group, my team has all the answers. It's nice to know that the people who work with you have your back in any situation.
People say that Canadians are super friendly, and Venezuelans can be too. I tend to avoid conflict as best I can through being open, and also conscientious of the words that come out of my mouth. There have been times of conflict in the past, but they were solved quickly and with an agreed upon beneficial solution. And sometimes conflicts get swept under the rug because they aren't worth anyone's breath. As long as you're loyal at the end of the day, you can be part of our group. Once you find your niche with a group, most will be willing to go out of their way to help you.
There is a slight downside to Venezuelans having a strong value connected with collectivism. The downside is that if you're not part of the "in-group" than you may more easily be excluded and cast as an "outsider." That isn't to say that you could warm up to them and see if they want to extend the relationship further. Take this as a warning to not be offended if you are not accepted by a group right away. We want to help you find a group that works for you, so here are some tips that will help you from accidentally offending someone in a group you may be interested in joining.
Language (Nonverbal)
If you are male, a firm handshake upon greeting someone goes a long way. As a male greeting females my handshake becomes softer because women are delicate. This is not to say that we are a touchy culture because we begin encounters with handshakes. Wait until the relationship develops to take the next step. However, if you are meeting a woman for the second time, it is okay to greet them with a kiss on the cheek.
I feel I should warn you after a recent discussion with a business partner, we like to stand in close proximity of each other in Venezuela. I hear that in other cultures, it can make some people feel uncomfortable, but here, if you step too far back, you may burn any future bridge that could've been built for that friendship. Stepping back may be interpreted that you uncomfortable with that person, as opposed to the real reason that you may be uncomfortable with their proximity to you. If you like a large personal bubble, perhaps having your conversations sitting down with a table in between will help the closeness not feel so close. You'll find yourself in the best graces of getting into a desired group if you maintain eye contact. We like to think of it as looking through someone's soul. Maintaining eye contact shows us that you are trustworthy and interested.
It would also be a good thing to understand that in Venezuela, people use time more fluidly. We enjoy small talk to help us build trust and relationships. It is rare that one will make a decision directly after beginning a meeting. Don't rush things. For one, you're in a new place, and for two... That's just not how things are done here. Slow down and take your time to build those relationships and you will find that soon enough you have found your own little place in the perfect group.
That being said, do your best to show up on time. If you are making appointments, leaves more time than you think you'll need in between. One may run long, but it is best to show up on time for the other. Caracas is known for some crazy traffic sometimes, so if you think you're gonna be late, just give them a call and apologize for being late. Let them know that their time is valued and you will be there as soon as possible.
Prejudice
Lastly, something important that I think you should know about the culture here is that most Venezuelans may be unaware of any prejudices that they may have about other residents/citizens. You may find that you are picking up vibes that are less than friendly, people here may not know that's the vibe they are projecting. The majority of people here are of mixed race, and I see various skin tones as I walk down the street. I see people with dark skin, medium skin, light skin, and shades in between. Most identify as "brown" and refer to themselves as
mestizo.
I was hosting some college kids a little while back and they asked about the nicknames that we use in our family. I refer to my oldest brother as El Catire because he had the lightest skin. Someone compared it to calling someone 'Blondie.' It's a joke in my family because the rest of us are relatively brown in skin tone. And then my dad refers to himself as El Negro because he has the darkest skin in the family. It wasn't until a little while ago that I really started looking at the color of people's skin, but it is still not something that I personally let define a person.
While in Venezuela, there are also some TV shows that may be playing that shows prejudice towards the LGBTQ community. They are rather discriminatory. Venezuela's Comision Nacional de Telecomunicacions is working to make sure that these stereotypes of the LGBTQ community are addressed and recognized as harmful to make sure that shows like these get stopped. Homophobia has been the topic of stereotypes and prejudice in the past, but we are hoping that the negative media will soon cancel the shows or at least show our members of the LGBTQ community in a positive light.
See You Soon
My hope is that when you land, you begin to look for the similarities between our cultures. Write down any questions that you may have and don't be afraid to ask them. And know that it's okay to generalize, but come from a place of understanding where you aren't focusing on differences between us. Rather, focus on the similarities between us. What is familiar and what is new? I can't wait to be part of this cultural adventure with you.
¡Hasta luego!
Domingo Mendoza
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