Describe Colombia

Colombia is situated in beautiful South America has two coastal borders located along the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Colombia enjoys being the sole South American country to be afforded the luxury of having two coastal borders. The country spans 440,831 square miles of diverse land that lies about the equator . Visitors enjoy this aspect because they enjoy sunlight year around. The population is around 40 million and 70% of which is considered urban. Entrepreneurs and business owners alike choose to settle in Colombia to capitalize on the country’s rich culture, abundant resources, collectivism beliefs and favorable climate. Upon embarking on your Colombian journey, you will quickly note the characteristics
When shaking hands during meetings, men should always wait for the female to extend her hand. After shaking hands, it is imperative that “small talk” takes place. Asking about one’s family, children and business builds trust and legitimacy. Colombians want to know that a person cares about them, and are genuinely concerned. As with initial greetings outside of business meetings, titles and surnames are preferred unless the other party initiates a name change. A good show of respect is also to have your business cards translated into Spanish. Be prepared for any business negotiation to be slow and protracted. Colombians do not hurry and do not like people that seem rushed. A great deal of time will be spent building relationships, information gathering and bargaining. They do not like doing business with people that are overbearing and impatient. Bogota, a very modern bustling city, is the capital of Colombia. If working in the city or, traveling to the city, one must be cognizant of the heavy traffic congestion. Bogota has endured an increase in the number of cars within the city, which has compounded the problem of traffic congestion. The city of Medellin houses Colombia’s only metro, so the most efficient method of travel in Bogota, the main is the Transmilenio, which is a rapid transport system of red busses. Any other form of travel in the city will call for the assistance of a local,
Colombians are privileged to have a supply of gold, emeralds, petroleum, iron ore and so much more natural resources. Vast reserves of coffee plantations enable Colombians to produce, and export, the best quality coffee in the world. In this climate, they have over 1,500 species of birds and over 13,000 species of plants. Preparing to be in a high elevation is necessary in order to avoid the unpleasant experience of having altitude sickness. The capital city, Bogota, is elevated 8530 feet, this provides Spring type weather year round. However, other cities like Medellin, Cali and Cartagena are a bit warmer with temperatures reaching the