Cultural Richness and Safety - Balancing Your Travel Insurance Needs in Colombia Colombia enjoys an outstanding safety reputation; however, some areas still carry increased crime risks. Travelers who avoid areas with lower safety ratings will enjoy an even better trip experience in Colombia.
Ask any Colombian about personal safety, and they are likely to suggest following “no dar papaya”, meaning don’t give papaya. Stick with your tour group and heed general travel advice such as not flashing valuables and accepting drinks from strangers (drink spiking is known to occur). Furthermore, buying travel insurance like travel insurance for Costa Rica early can get you an expanded coverage.
Social Class Colombia’s social class structure is highly stratified, with wide disparities between rich and poor citizens that is evident in healthcare provision.
Colombia’s upper class was traditionally composed of an elite white population whose wealth was tied primarily to property ownership. Over time, however, Colombia’s middle class grew rapidly through industrialization and diversification of economic activity - this group includes small business owners, merchants, professionals working for government bodies or white collar workers as well as other workers such as white-collar employees.
Colombia implemented an innovative system of social stratification, ranking housing from 1 to 6. While income plays an integral part in ranking classes, its primary considerations are physical condition and location of dwellings - creating a less open social class hierarchy than would exist elsewhere, leading to individuals tending to interact primarily with those from their same class and family ties/roscas playing an essential role in determining individual social standing.
Family Relations Staying close with their family provides Colombians with security and support during times of distress. This is particularly true among Colombia’s lower classes where extended families and neighbours play an integral part in everyday life.
As such, Colombian children typically live with both of their parents until marriage. Though intermarriage across classes does occur occasionally, most often men prefer marrying someone from their own social class instead. Colombians hold women in high regard as pure and moral individuals who make a valuable addition to any family unit.
Colombians tend to place great value on personal relationships and take time to establish them with colleagues. This can be seen through long greetings where individuals inquire about each other’s health and families. When asked by anyone about how best to avoid crime, most Colombians will tell you “no dar papaya”, which translates as: do not flash valuables and put yourself into potentially risky situations.
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